Issue
LON networks may experience communication issues due to excessive physical length or a high number of connected devices. The Xenta Repeater helps mitigate these issues by restoring and conditioning signals, enabling longer network spans and supporting more devices.
Product Line
TAC VistaEnvironment
- Vista Lon Networks
- Xenta Repeaters (Part # 007309120)
Cause
LON communication failures often stem from:
- Exceeding recommended cable lengths
- Overloading the network with too many devices
Resolution
The Xenta Repeater:
- Uses a standard Xenta 400 base
- Splits a LON channel into two segments
- Connects one segment to COM 1 terminals, and the other to COM 2 terminals
🔍 Note:
- A LON channel is a section of the network separated by a router.
- A segment is a portion of a channel divided using a repeater.
📏 Cable Length Guidelines
| Cable Type | Max Bus Length (Doubly Terminated) | Max Node-to-Node (Singly Terminated) | Max Segment Length (Singly Terminated) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belden 85102 | 2,700 m / 8,858 ft | 500 m / 1,640 ft | 500 m / 1,640 ft |
| Belden 8471 | 2,700 m / 8,858 ft | 400 m / 1,312 ft | 500 m / 1,640 ft |
| UL Level IV 22AWG | 1,400 m / 4,593 ft | 400 m / 1,312 ft | 500 m / 1,640 ft |
| Siemens J-Y(st)Y | 900 m / 2,953 ft | 320 m / 1,050 ft | 500 m / 1,640 ft |
| TIA568A Cat.5 | 900 m / 2,953 ft | 250 m / 820 ft | 450 m / 1,476 ft |
📌 Design Rules
- Max 128 devices per LON channel
- Max 64 devices per segment
- Up to 2 repeaters per channel (max 3 segments)
- If no router is used, only 64 devices allowed (single segment)
- Recommended: ≤ 50 devices per segment for flexibility during installation
🔄 How It Works
The Xenta Repeater contains:
- Two internally connected LON transceivers
- Transient suppression circuits
It:
- Reads LON packets from one segment
- Re-broadcasts them to the next segment
- Filters out noise, ensuring clean signal transmission
Unlike simple amplifiers, it does not amplify noise, resulting in strong, noise-free communication across segments.
