The Fiber Duplex Breakout Board is designed to easily create fiber serial links between embedded devices. It has the same pinout as our Serial Breakouts, allowing direct connection to the serial header of many dev boards like the Arduino Pro or Pro Mini. To set up a fiber link between two dev boards, just connect the Fiber Duplex Breakout to each board, use two pieces of fiber cable to link them, and then use the Serial library to send and receive data as usual. This board can also work with the Serial Fiber Modem to create a fiber link from a dev board to a computer. We've even managed to load Arduino code over fiber this way, though manual reset of the Arduino board is needed during upload due to the lack of a DTR signal. The Industrial Fiber Optics emitters and detectors offer an economical way to create a simple fiber link. The IF - E97 emitter is a super - bright red LED in a plastic module for easy fiber insertion and locking. The IF - D96F detector is a 5V TTL phototransistor in a similar enclosure. Connect them with fiber, and you have a simple fiber link. We recommend using PMMA plastic fiber as it's cheap, non - fragile, and can be cut with scissors without polishing. The emitter and detector are soldered but not screwed. For field use, we suggest anchoring the connectors with a screw and nut. We've tested these modules at baud rates up to 1Mbps and distances up to 50 meters with no transmission errors. Note that this is an experimental SparkX product. It's tested but comes with no guarantees, and live technical support is not available. Visit our forum for support. Key features include easy creation of fiber serial links, support for Serial Baud Rates up to 1Mbps, compatibility with most Arduino Mini style dev boards, and being 5V and 3.3V compatible. You can access documents like schematics, datasheets, hookup guides, Eagle Files, and the GitHub Repo.
Using the Fiber Duplex Breakout Board is a breeze. First, to create a fiber link between two dev boards, connect the board to each dev board. Then, use two pieces of fiber cable to connect the boards together. After that, you can use the Serial library to send and receive data just like you usually do. If you want to create a fiber link from a dev board to a computer, use the board in combination with the Serial Fiber Modem. When loading Arduino code over fiber, you'll need to manually reset the Arduino board during upload. We recommend using PMMA plastic fiber as it's cost - effective, tough, and can be cut easily with scissors. You don't need to polish it, just cut and insert it into the connector. The emitter and detector on the board are soldered but not screwed. For field applications, it's a good idea to anchor the connectors with a screw and nut. We've tested the board at baud rates up to 1Mbps and distances up to 50 meters without any transmission errors. Remember, this is an experimental product, so there are no guarantees. If you have any questions or need support, head over to our forum.
