The NI-2100, NI-3100 and NI-4100 offer the same form factor as their predecessors, the NI-2000, NI-3000 and NI-4000, while offering twice as much memory and three times more processing power. These increases mean that system programmers can have more resources available to tackle elaborate control system designs.
The controllers are Duet-compatible out of the box. Duet is a dual-interpreter firmware platform from AMX, combining the power of NetLinx with the capabilities of the Java 2 MicroEdition (J2ME) platform.
"I challenged our engineers and marketing staff to increase the performance of our next-generation NetLinx controllers, and they successfully met that challenge with all three products," said Rashid Skaf, president and CEO, AMX. "By integrating AMX Duet technology into our new controllers, system integrators will soon be able to integrate products from our 43 Duet-enabled manufacturer partners with our next-generation NetLinx Integrated Controllers by simply plugging the devices in - creating the world's first 'plug and play' control system."
The NI-2100 is designed for small to medium installations such as home theatres, conference rooms and training facilities. It can support up to 15 distinct control ports - four IR, four I/O, four relay and three RS-232 / RS-422 / RS-485 serial port devices - and includes Ethernet and AXLink connectivity. An optional card is also available for installations requiring ISCNet.
The NI-3100 meets more extensive control and automation requirements within a large area or between multiple rooms. It can integrate up to 31 distinct control ports and offers eight IR, eight I/O, eight relays and seven RS-232 / RS-422 / RS-485 serial ports. It also includes Ethernet and AXLink connectivity, with ISCNet available via an optional card.
The NI-4100 is geared to meet the high-end control and automation requirements within the most sophisticated and complex commercial and residential installations. This solution is engineered with the same number of ports and relays as the NI-3100, plus four NetLinx Control Card slots for a superior level of built-in control and automation functionality. The NI-4100 enables Ethernet, AXLink and ISCNet connectivity.
(Jim Evans)
