Fibre optic is arguably the most future-proof transmission media. However, more often than not the solutions are lacking to enable practical implementation of smooth migration from existing copper systems to fibre optic networks.

MICROSENS offers a broad range of media converters as solutions for matching the functionality of copper and fiber optic systems. The latest development in this field is the media converter integrated in the PC. It is installed in the PC without alteration to the system, and connected via a TPC (twisted pair cable) to the copper network card. In this way, previously existing copper network cards (10/100Base-TX) can continue to be used. This "smooth" migration completely eliminates elaborate reconfigurations or new installations of network drivers.

Power to the converter comes directly from the PC's power supply via an included cable. All Ethernet media converters from MICROSENS have "Link Through" functionality. In this way the connection status of the fiber optic segment is continued to the twisted pair segment, and during a failure of the fibre optic connection the twisted pair port is switched off. This enables the management to detect connection failures and to take adequate action. This means that the converter does not falsify the connection status information.

The autonegotiation protocol being switchable via a configuration switch enables the building of full duplex connections on the copper side. An additional switch allows crossing the port input of the RJ-45 connector. Therefore the copper connection can be carried out via common 1:1 patch cords.