Using Copper Wires for ITS Networks: It’s not only for Fiber Optics and Wireless Systems

The paper will present the old, new and upcoming technologies for communications over copper wires that are, or will be very useful for ITS networks. The discussion will focus on the design and implementation of various ITS communications applications that are being demonstrated using copper wires, and will illustrate specific situations where there are immediate benefits over fiber optic and wireless systems. Some of the issues that are addressed include bandwidth and distance limitations, ease of installation, equipment configuration and costs. With such a multitude of products available or soon to be available, this method of communicating with ITS field devices is poised to save agencies a significant amount of money. The paper will also the possible configurations for integrating Ethernet using copper, fiber and wireless systems into a seamless, high capacity system, and how the use of standards as they apply using copper wires to both circuit and packet-switched networks including EIA-232, EIA-422/485, VDSL, G.SHDSL, HDLC and Ethernet.