Softing announces PB-T3 PROFIBUS Electrical Tester

August 23, 2007, Newburyport, MA, USA - Softing announced a new version of its PROFIBUS Electrical Testers - PB-T3. The PB-T3 is a powerful, yet easy-to-use tool used to determine the signal quality to each connected PROFIBUS device.Potential faults in PROFIBUS networks such as device failures, communication errors, or even plant shutdowns, are frequently linked to poor signal quality and poor cabling. Softing’s Electrical Tester automatically analyzes the physical layer of PROFIBUS networks and visually displays the signal quality for each connected PROFIBUS device separately, thus helping users to quickly locate and correct errors. Automatic baud rate detection and the discovery of duplicate address assignments also contribute to the ease-of-use aspect of this innovative product.The included PROFIBUS master simulator enables the PB-T3 to verify the integrity of PROFIBUS networks during commissioning without having the actual controller (e.g., a PLC) on-line. In addition, PB-T3 provides the exact location of the problem within the PROFIBUS network through its powerful topology-scan feature that measures the distance (cable length) from PB-T3 to the device in question. Note: A topology-scan can only be performed without an active PROFIBUS master connected to the network! Thus, it is not possible to determine the location of a master station in the network.The user-friendly software package connects to the PB-T3 via a USB cable. The software visualizes the diagnostic information and automatically generates test protocols. The following list summarizes the functionality of Softing’s Electrical Tester for PROFIBUS networks: