NEWBURYPORT, MA April 7, 2008 - Softing announced the availability of new firmware versions for its PROFIBUS Protocol Analyzer V1.20 and its PROFIBUS Electrical Testers PB-T3 V1.50. The new software versions are available as a free download from Softing's web page. With the latest firmware version Softing has enhanced its PROFIBUS Protocol Analyzer with features to concurrently analyze PROFIBUS DP and PROFIBUS PA networks without the need for any additional hardware components.
This PROFIBUS Protocol Analyzer is an indispensable tool for analyzing and optimizing communication in PROFIBUS networks. It is ideally suited for continuously monitoring a network, detecting hidden errors early on, optimizing data throughput, and analyzing configuration errors. The tool is connected to the PROFIBUS network via the PROFIBUS Probe USB interface, which guarantees easy mobile use as well.Softing’s Electrical Tester PB-T3 is designed to automatically analyze communication problems based on electrical issues without the need for an oscilloscope or expertise in electrical engineering. Softing's Electrical Tester is the only tool available to end-users that is able to determine a PROFIBUS DP topology.
The information about the topology is essential to enable the Tester to correctly line-up the signal levels of all connected devices enabling a maintenance engineer to quickly and accurately pin-point trouble-spots in the network. In addition, the PB-T3 displays the average signal level for each device and, more importantly, the minimum and maximum deviation from this signal level. Many puzzling communication problems can be traced back to sporadic changes in the signal levels. Thus, it is crucial for any diagnostic tool to display the deviations in order to detect such faults.
About Softing
In industrial automation, Softing is a specialist for fieldbus technology and has established itself as a world-leading partner for networking automation systems and control solutions. Softing provides customers the key technology to connect devices, controls, and systems with the leading communication technologies. In fieldbus technology, Softing is a world-class expert for FOUNDATION fieldbus, PROFIBUS, and CAN/CANopen/DeviceNet. The company’s wide range of expertise includes solutions for OPC, FDT, and Real-Time-Ethernet protocols such as, PROFINET IO, EtherNet/IP, and Modbus/TCP. Many of the products and services developed by Softing since the company was founded in 1979 have become reference standards throughout the world.
In addition, Softing has established itself as a provider of sophisticated diagnostic tools for fieldbus systems.