BradCommunications diagnostic tools expand to include NetDoctor, a passive DeviceNet monitor that can access information remotely using Ethernet.

The device is said to provide extremely accurate measurements of the network parameters using high-speed sampling. Storing a baseline measurement of a “good” network helps predict imminent failures on individual devices. When an OPC status tag is analyzed and found to be outside acceptable limits, steps can be taken to replace the device prior to downtime. NetDoctor can diagnose current faults on a non-functioning network by measuring hundreds of network parameters, helping minimize downtime by pinpointing the faulty node or location. Data can also be stored to historian software for future analysis, which is useful for companies involved with batching applications, such as pharmaceutical and food and beverage. If there’s a batch problem, historical data can be viewed to see if network problems occurred during that time frame.

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