Each issue provides a technology focus on a topic of interest in the industrial networking field.

(No part of the Extension may be reproduced without the written consent of Contemporary Controls.)

Ken Sinclair Knows Much About Facility Operation
January-February 2008
The Editor/Owner of AutomatedBuildings.com speaks frankly about building automation.
( 660K pdf)

Achieving BACnet® Compliance
November-December 2007
This document is Part II of a two-part series explaining how BACnet devices are constructed—with emphasis on the latest BACnet/IP standard. Part II continues the discussion by addressing the requirements for achieving BACnet compliance.
( 720K pdf)

Object Modeling a Physical BACnet® Device
September-October 2007
This document is Part I of a two-part series. Together they explain how BACnet devices are constructed—with emphasis on the latest BACnet/IP standard.
( 1.3M pdf)

The Best of Ethernet Technology
July-August 2007
This Extension Supplement is a recap of some of our best Industrial Ethernet articles which will make you work smarter in industrial networking.
( 764K pdf)

Specifying a Direct Digital Control (DDC) System
May-June 2007
Depending upon the size of a building automation system, specifying a DDC can become a complex chore. ASHRAE Guideline 13-2000 provides good guidance in what is required to ensure a successful project.
( 416K pdf)

How BACnet® is Changing Building Automation Networking
March-April 2007
This document examines how BACnet® technology is changing building automation networking.
( 313K pdf)

Powering Industrial Ethernet Equipment
January-February 2007
A successful installation depends upon properly applying power to Ethernet equipment. This document discusses the techniques to power these low-voltage devices.
( 344K pdf)

Incorporating Media Converters
November-December 2006
This document reviews the issues of applying media converters to an Ethernet system.
( 190K pdf)

Inside Bill Lydon's World of Industrial Control
    and Building Automation
September-October 2006
Development Consultant Bill Lydon reveals his philosophy based on his experiences in the corporate world and forming a start-up company.
( 263K pdf)

Realities of RoHS Compliance
July-August 2006
This document gives you an overview of how Contemporary Controls is meeting RoHS compliance.
( 492K pdf)

Survey of Ethernet Redundancy Methods
May-June 2006
This document gives you an overview of the four popular redundancy schemes. Users should know the requirements of the application before insisting on a particular redundancy scheme.
( 160K pdf)

Interview With Pat Yanahan—What Engineering Entrepreneurs
   Need to Know About Marketing
March-April 2006
George Thomas, President of Contemporary Controls, speaks to Patrick Yanahan about his career and about marketing in the Internet age.
( 149K pdf)

Using Ethereal for Network Troubleshooting
January-February 2006
Network diagnostic tools can be very expensive, but there is one tool that is quite effective with the added bonus that it is FREE! Read this document to learn how this tool, Ethereal, works for network troubleshooting.
( 512K pdf)

Contemporary Controls' Ethernet Equipment Plays Key Role at BACnet Conference 2005
November-December 2005
The interoperability demo provided by Contemporary Controls played a significant role at the BACnet Conference & Expo 2005. Learn how the demo put BACnet to the test.
( 381K pdf)

Introduction to Spanning Tree Protocol
September-October 2005
This article provides an introduction to the concept of the Spanning Tree Protocol. Since the protocol is quite complex, not all issues have been addressed if a network fails.
( 481K pdf)

Power Over Ethernet—Industrial Ethernet is Now a True Fieldbus
July-August 2005
With the approval of IEEE 802.3af in 2003, the power-sourcing problem has been solved with the Power Over Ethernet (PoE) standard. PoE not only provides a safe and effective way of applying power to modern devices, but also utilizes its star topology to its advantage by controlling the amount of power each connected device receives while protecting non-powered devices from harm.
( 320K pdf)

Dick Caro—Influential in the Field of Industrial Networking—Part 2
May-June 2005
Dick Caro is without doubt one of the most influential persons in the arena of industrial networking and in the automation business at large. Contributing Editor Perry Sink Marshall caught up with Dick to find out more about his interesting career. Here's Part 2 of that interview.
( 307K pdf)

Dick Caro—Influential in the Field of Industrial Networking
March-April 2005
Dick Caro is without doubt one of the most influential persons in the arena of industrial networking and in the automation business at large. Contributing Editor Perry Sink Marshall caught up with Dick to find out more about his interesting career. Here's Part I of that interview.
( 657K pdf)

Choosing the Right Industrial Ethernet Switch
January-February 2005
R&D Manager for Contemporary Controls, Bennet Levine, says selecting the proper Industrial Ethernet switch can be a confusing task. In this extension, Bennet explains the many options to consider when purchasing such a device.
( 535K pdf)

Contemporary Controls Interviews John Pittman, Former Fieldbus Foundation President
November-December 2004
Contributing Editor Perry Sink Marshall caught up with John to discuss high-speed Ethernet, Open Systems, and the consolidation that's been going on in the process control world.
( 76K pdf)

Industrial Network Luminary Eric Byres Speaks Out
September-October 2004
Contributing Editor Perry Sink Marshall caught up with Eric to discuss the present and future state of Ethernet and industrial networks. Eric gives his opinions on Internet security, organized crime, powered Ethernet and Ethernet-enabled sensors.
( 337K pdf)

Introduction to Real-Time Ethernet II
July-August 2004
In this article, doctoral researcher Paula Doyle from Ireland introduces some of the RT solutions available to industry today: PROFInet, EtherCAT and ETHERNET Powerlink It also provides an introduction to a single standard, IEEE 1588, that is growing in popularity amongst RT Ethernet developers to provide sub-microsecond synchronization accuracy of distributed clocks over Ethernet.
( 708K pdf)

Introduction to Real-Time Ethernet I
May-June 2004
In this article, doctoral researcher Paula Doyle from Ireland introduces real-time systems and a study of Ethernet's potential as a real-time network.
( 138K pdf)

Contemporary Controls Interviews Tom Bullock
March-April 2004
Contributing Editor Perry Marshall talks to Tom Bullock, a vocal force in the motion control business. You'll gain insight into Bullock's opinions on key topics, past and present.
( 166K pdf)

Introduction to VLANs
January-February 2004
VLANs are an effective means of portioning a larger LAN into manageable subsets. VLANs restrict the broadcast domain, improve performance and security, and they are ideal for isolating industrial automation systems from IT systems while retaining the plant's structural wiring.
( 150K pdf)

Contemporary Controls Interviews Mike Justice, President of Grid Connect
November-December 2003
Our contributing editor Perry Marshall talks frankly to Mike Justice, President of Grid Connect, about the forces that shaped his life.
( 300K pdf)

Using Trunking To Increase Backbone Performance
September-October 2003
This extension supplement explains how trunking provides an incremental improvement in backbone speed.
( 126K pdf)

Interview with Mark Hoske of Control Engineering Magazine and Article by Perry Marshall:
    "Automation, Foreign Labor and the State of US Manufacturing"
July-August 2003
Contemporary Controls recently caught up with Mark, Editor-in-Chief with Control Engineering Magazine, to get his perspective on the controls business and where it's headed. This issue also includes an article by Contributing Editor Perry Sink Marshall.
( 74K pdf)

Introduction to SNMP
May-June 2003
This article examines SNMP — Simple Network Management Protocol — a protocol for managing devices on IP networks. Usually people think SNMP only applies to managed Ethernet switches, but it can be applied to any device that supports IP or TCP protocols. Adding SNMP support can lead to greater advantages.
( 402K pdf)

Dick Morley — The Man Behind the Reputation
March-April 2003
This is an "uncut" version of the interview with Dick Morley conducted by Perry Marshall for our March-April Extension supplement. Morley is recognized as the "Father of the Programmable Logic Controller" (PLC). See our current newsletter online to look at the interview in brief.
( 92K pdf)

Using Ethernet With Fiber Optic Cabling
January-February 2003
This Extension explains how Ethernet will function with no problems over fiber optics by learning some simple rules. A knowledge of cabling basics and Ethernet standards will help you understand the advantages of using fiber.
( 87K pdf)

Glossary of Industrial Ethernet Terms
November-December 2002
This extension supplement is a glossary from A-Z of common Industrial Ethernet terms used in the industry.
( 55K pdf)

Interview with Renaissance Man Jim Pinto
September-October 2002
In this issue, contributing editor Perry Marshall interviews well-known author Jim Pinto. Pinto is recognized in the industry for his opinions on technology and his predictions for the future.
( 99K pdf)

Contemporary Controls Commits to SMT Manufacturing in China
July-August 2002
The Extension entitled "Introduction to Industrial Networking" discusses the basics of industrial networks by using analogies of human interactions. Future articles will address how industrial networks involve inanimate objects communicating data in a defined fashion.
( 410K pdf)

Hubs Versus Switches — Understanding the Tradeoffs
May-June 2002
The Extension entitled "Implementation of a Control Project" discusses the role of the system integrator (SI). He is the one that makes everything work together; the SI supplements the engineering department (or lack of a department).
( 299K pdf)

Interview with Perry Sink Marshall
March-April 2002
This innovative marketing communications consultant shares his impressions of fieldbus wars, open standards and the impact of Linux and Industrial Ethernet on fieldbuses.
( 212K pdf)

Affordable Industrial Ethernet — CTRLink
January-February 2002
Four-page introduction of our new Industrial Ethernet product family, CTRLink.
( 759K pdf)

Introduction to Fast Ethernet
November-December 2001
Four-page document explains how Fast Ethernet increases the data rate 10-fold while maintaining interoperability with legacy Ethernet.
( 507K pdf)

Integral Role of ARCNET in Postal Sorting Machines
September-October 2001
Four-page application article on Lockheed Martin's use of ARCNET to control postal sorting machines.
( 704K pdf)

Introduction to Industrial Networking
July-August 2001
Four-page document provides the reader with a basic understanding of industrial networks by using analogies of human interactions.
( 280K pdf)

Implementation of a Control Project
May-June 2001
Four-page document examines how control systems are actually implemented in the industry, such as getting the "request for proposal" and the "bid set."
( 595K pdf)

Introduction to Control
March-April 2001
Four-page document introduces the reader to some of the concepts and terminology about control theory.
( 1200K pdf)

Interview With George Turnbull
January-February 2001
Four-page document is an interview with Professor George Turnbull, recognized for his skill in the design and development of control systems.
( 414K pdf)

Introduction to Switch Technology (Part 6)
November-December 2000
Four-page document focuses on the concept of switching as an alternative to the deployment of repeaters to improve network performance.
( 391K pdf)

Introduction to Subnetting (Part 5)
September-October 2000
Four-page document explains how the concept of subnetting improves the performance and maintainability of large networks.
( 262K pdf)

Interview with George Thomas
July-August 2000
Four-page document is an interview with Contemporary Controls President George Thomas about the founding of the business, the trials of operating a company and the challenges facing the industry in the future.
( 159K pdf)

Multi-Segment Ethernet Networks (Part 4)
May-June 2000
Four-page document discusses how shared Ethernet networks can be extended with repeaters as long as the network diameter does not exceed the limit of a single collision domain.
( 94K pdf)

Introduction to the Transmission Control Protocol
March-April 2000
Four-page document explains how two transport protocols, the UDP and the TCP, find service in control networks.
( 149K pdf)

Introduction to the Internet Protocol (Part 2)
Winter 1999
Six-page document addresses issues related to the IP position of the TCP/IP stack as it applies to control networks.
( 256K pdf)

Introduction to Ethernet (Part 1)
Fall 1999
Six-page document provides basic knowledge about Industrial Ethernet, Ethernet's physical and data link layers.
( 276K pdf)

Revisions to ANSI/ATA 878.1
Summer 1999
Four-page document explains why the improved ARCNET standard ATA 878.1 1999 provides the necessary guidance for users of the technology, which now totals more than eight million chips.
( 397K pdf)

Understanding EIA-485 Networks
Spring 1999
Four-page document describes why EIA-485 can be an effective physical layer technology for interconnecting devices on a network.
( 84K pdf)