FarSync T4Ee

The FarSync T4Ee card and software is designed to provide high performance hardware communications solutions for business, government and military requirements who require a PCI express high capability synchronous communications card to support a range of different line signalling interfaces and highly adaptable control of line clocks. The product includes a low level driver that allows access to the communications features available in the hardware. The comms processing is handled by a FarSite Communications Controller that can be customisable for special use.

The FarSync SDK provides a Developers Toolkit for the product.

The T4Ee is a PCI express communications card with four independently configurable sync/async serial ports. Sync operation supports transparent bitstream and bitsync (HDLC) of up to 10 Mbits/s per line with a total card bandwidth of 53 Mbits/s. The highly flexible universal network connector supports RS232, X.21, RS530 (RS422 signalling), RS485 (2 and 4 wire), RS449 (RS422 signalling) and V.35 network interfaces.

Line signalling modes: NRZ, NRZI, Manchester encoding, FM0, FM1 and Conditioned Diphase (Differential Manchester) up to 10Mbits/s are handled as well as soft selectable line termination resistance.

One of the unique features of the T4Ee is the variety of clock source options, clocks can be:

• Internally generated using local clock synthesizers, independently on each line
• External from the WAN communications line
• Sourced on one port then routed to the others
• Multiplied or divided per port to obtain the required rate

The transparent bitstream option available with the APIs is suitable for VoIP (as a subsystem), video and voice such as T-DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting), DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) ETI (Ensemble Transport Interface – ETSI EN 300 799).

The product is supplied with a free 5 year warranty.

There is also a PCI version of this card, the FarSync T4E+ with similar features except async operation is not supported.

The FarSync adapters install easily under Windows 11, 10, 8.1, Windows Server 2022, 2019, on single or multi-core 32 and 64 bit systems. The FarSync drivers are signed by Microsoft for easy installation. For use on earlier Windows versions contact FarSite.

This adapter can be accessed from customers’ native Windows applications as well as those using third-party frameworks such as LabVIEW.

All FarSync cards/devices are supported by a set of Windows FarSync drivers that support FsWinAPI, an API that provides a consistent interface across all classes of FarSync cards/adapters. LabVIEW applications can also run over FsWinAPI thereby enabling VIs to utilise the FarSync ports.

FsWinAPI allows applications developed using the FarSync SDK to exactly control the type of data sent and received in bit synchronous (HDLC framed) data and transparent bitstream formats.

The FsWinAPI is an extension of the MS COMM API and enables, for example, applications developed to support COM ports, to be easily ported to use FarSync support in synchronous or asynchronous modes. This standardization enables the API to also be readily accessible from higher level environments such as .NET, C#, VB etc. The API provides applications with access to the card/device’s communications port/s for bit sync HDLC-framing or transparent bitstream operation (video and voice type applications). In addition asynchronous lines are supported by FarSync adapters that support async operation (FarSync Flex/Flex+ and FarSync T4E).

The product is supplied with a comprehensive configuration utility and its own Line Monitor that allows the user to record, display and store line traffic with WAN protocol decoding for fast debugging.

FarSync adapters support Linux kernel versions from 2.6.12 onwards, in 32 and 64 bit formats, including the leading distributions supplied by Red Hat, SuSE, CentOS, Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, Slackware and more.
FarSite is committed to supporting FarSync adapters on new versions of Linux and Linux kernels as they are released.

Installation is simple, the driver is dynamically loadable so a kernel rebuild is not required for the driver to be installed. The driver acts as a dynamically loadable module. The driver is supplied with source code. The driver supports both big-endian and little-endian memory storage formats.

This adapter can be accessed from customers’ native Linux applications as well as those using third-party frameworks such as LabVIEW.

The char-based FarSync API provides a programming language independent, high-level interface to the FarSync base driver. This provides access to bit synchronous lines that are using HDLC-framed or transparent bitstreams. In addition asynchronous lines are supported by FarSync adapters that support async operation (FarSync Flex/Flex+ and FarSync T4E).

A configuration utility is provided to set each port’s line speed, interface type etc. Alternatively the port configuration can optionally be managed by a user application developed using the FarSync API.

If the host TCP/IP stack is required to be used over the FarSync adapter to allow access to IP-based networks, such as the Internet, then please just contact us for more information.

The FarSync SDK provides a Developers Toolkit with full documentation, useful utilities, such as a line monitor, and many sample applications for Linux and Windows. Free support from FarSite’s Engineering department is provided to customers purchasing the FarSync SDK who have technical questions using the API.

The SDK includes support for writing applications on both Linux and Windows and contains documentation, working sample applications, development and test utility applications. There is everything a user needs to rapidly develop and test a wide variety of applications such as specialist synchronous (HDLC framed) protocols or transparent bitstream data requirements including Audio, MPEG Video T-DMB and DAB ETI with bitstream encoder and decoder.

The FarSync SDK is ordered separately from the FarSync adapter.

Our Engineering department provides free email and telephone assistance to application developers using the API as part of the package provided when the FarSync SDK is purchased.

See details on the FarSync SDK Developers Toolkit and the APIs supported.

The FarSync cards are suitable for a very wide range of uses; some typical applications include:

• High speed multi-port HDLC framing support for non standard or specialist protocols
• Interfacing DAB ETI (Ensemble Transport Interface – ETSI EN 300 799) transparent bit streams to Servers
• Interfacing MPEG Video bit streams T-DMB ETI to Servers
• Interfacing high speed MPEG Video bit streams to Servers
• Watchdog systems
• Data generators for test systems
• Engineering monitoring and control systems
• Line connection card for LabVIEW applications
• Use of bitstreaming for the implementation of non standard or specialist protocols
• Multi purpose multi port communication card supplying a wide range of card generated clock speeds, FarSync T4Ee especially recommended for this function
• Manchester Encoding or Conditioned Diphase for long, reliable, high speed self clocking lines, FarSync Flex, FarSync K2Ee or FarSync T4Ee recommended for this requirement

The card comprises an AMD processor with no wait state SRAM. The whole memory space may be mapped via the PCIe interface to the PC/Server. The card has a FarSite communications controller (customisable) and the AMD processor contains a quad embedded HDLC / transparent controller with SDMA access (128 buffers per port) and a full range of timers.

The T4Ee supports four synchronous ports which can run to speeds of up to 10 Mbits/s full duplex internally clocked and 10 Mbits/s externally clocked. Total bandwidth supported by the card is 53 Mbits/s. A quad port UART (async controller) is included. Async or Sync operation is dynamically selectable on each port.

Network Interfaces

The multi function line drivers available on both ports support X.21 (V.11), V.35, RS232 (V.24, X.21bis), RS530 (EIA530, RS422), RS449 and RS485 2 and 4 wire network interfaces, all soft configurable and ESD protected from static charges.

Clock Generation and Selection

Five on-board frequency synthesisers are configurable for generating clocks to the four serial ports.

Internally Sourced Clocks

Internally generated clocks to drive a serial communications port are derived from either an on-board 8.192MHz clock (32ppm) and can be set to hundreds of different frequencies between 300 baud and 10 Mbits/s, some of pre-programmed list is in the table below. Many other frequencies can be synthesized using the custom frequency tool (supplied), contact us to discuss your requirements.

Some of the internally generated clock rates supported by the T4Ee

100, 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 7200, 8000, 9600, 12000, 14400, 16000, 16800, 19200, 21600, 24000, 26400, 28800, 31200, 32000, 33000, 33333, 33600, 36000, 38400,  40000, 40800, 43200, 48000, 56000, 64000, 80000, 96000, 112000, 128000, 160000, 192000, 224000, 256000, 320000, 384000, 448000, 512000, 576000, 640000, 704000, 768000, 832000, 896000, 960000, 1000000, 1024000, 1088000, 1152000, 1216000, 1280000, 1344000, 1408000, 1472000, 1536000, 1600000, 1664000, 1728000, 1792000, 1856000, 1920000, 1984000, 2000000, 2048000, 2112000, 2176000, 2240000, 2304000, 2368000, 2432000, 2496000, 2560000, 2624000, 2688000, 2752000, 2816000, 2880000, 2944000, 3000000, 3008000, 3072000, 3136000, 3200000, 3264000, 3328000, 3392000, 3456000, 3520000, 3584000, 3648000, 3712000, 3776000, 3840000, 3904000, 3968000, 4000000, 4032000, 4096000, 4160000, 4224000, 4288000, 4352000, 4416000, 4480000, 4544000, 4608000, 4672000, 4736000, 4800000, 4864000, 4928000, 4992000, 5000000, 5056000, 5120000, 5184000, 5248000, 5312000, 5376000, 5440000, 5504000, 5568000, 5632000, 5696000, 5760000, 5824000, 5888000, 5952000, 6000000, 6016000, 6080000, 6144000, 6208000, 6272000, 6336000, 6400000, 6464000, 6528000, 6553600, 6592000, 6656000, 6720000, 6784000, 6848000, 6912000, 6976000, 7000000, 7040000, 7104000, 7168000, 7232000, 7296000, 7360000, 7424000, 7488000, 7552000, 7616000, 7680000, 7744000, 7808000, 7872000, 7936000, 8000000, 8064000, 8128000, 8192000, 9000000, 10000000.

Many other frequencies can be synthesized to order, contact us to discuss your requirements.

Externally sourced clocks

External clocks received from a serial port and used to a drive serial communications port can be any frequency up to 10,000,000Hz.

Terminal Timing

Terminal Timing is supported to enable system-wide clock synchronisation.

Clock Routing

Clocks sourced from one port can be routed to drive the other ports.

Clock Speed Detection

A 16-bit timer enables differentiation between the clock frequencies, enabling auto-configuration of clock synthesisers when cables are connected.

PCIe Compatibility

FarSync PCIe cards are suitable for systems with a PCIe bus, covering single and multi-processor systems. These cards are compliant with PCI Express Base specification revision 1.0a and above. The FarSync adapters are bus mastering, 1x (single lane) cards.

If you are not sure about your particular system, contact us and we can provide advice on the card that is most suitable for you.

Line Signalling Modes

NRZ plus the self clocking (clock for the data is decoded from the incoming data line) line signalling modes NRZI, Conditioned Diphase, Manchester Encoding, FM0 and FM1 at speeds of up to 10 MBits/s. This means separate clock lines are not required, these line signalling modes, are a soft configurable alternative to NRZ and a reliable way of handling long high speed cable runs.

Line termination is supported on all the balanced pair signals for X.21 (V.11), V.35, RS485 (2 and 4 wire), RS530 (EIA530, RS422) and RS449 (RS422 signalling) operation. The line termination resistors may be soft selected to be selected on a port by port basis. The addition of line termination resistors can be helpful in improving signal quality on long high speed lines.

Multiple cards

The drivers supplied with Windows and Linux allow large numbers of ports to be supported by the installation of multiple FarSync cards in a Server. Typically 12 or more cards (24+ ports) can be supported; the card limit is only dependent on the resources available in the host Server and the total bandwidth of the PCIe/PCI/PMC bus.

Cables

This four port card uses a single large high density 100 pin HIPPI type connector, all four lines are available though this connector. The quad port cable HCR4 attaches to the card and splits out the four network interfaces into separate network connectors to provide support for EIA-530 (RS422) and RS232. X.21, V.35 and RS449 are available through transition connectors. Details of the cables and converters available are listed in the cables section of the Order Information table. Crossover cables, sometimes referred to as null modem cables, or DTE to DCE conversion cables are available

FarSync T4E+ PCI card

The FarSync T4E+ has a similar set of features to the FarSync T4Ee except that asynchronous operation is not supported. For full details see the  FARSYNC T4E+ DATASHEET
FarSync T4E+ 4 port adapter

For Windows, configuration is by a GUI application. A typical screen is shown below.

The port can be reconfigured and restarted without reloading the software.

There is context sensitive help and an on-line manual should it be required. An advanced tab permits users to further specify the configuration of the port if necessary.

For Linux, a configuration utility is provided; alternatively text files can be used.

The software firmware, drivers, utilities are included with the FarSync adapter. Cables are ordered separately.

The software and documentation is downloaded from this website using a code supplied with the FarSync adapter, it includes:

• Drivers for Linux and Windows
• Source code for Linux drivers
• Network monitor and various useful utility programs

New releases of the software with enhancements and fixes are made available for free download from the Download page in the Support section of this web site.

The Developer’s Toolkit is ordered separately and supplied as a download