Monthly Archives: February 2012

OTTAWA, Ill., Feb 14, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) –
B&B Electronics Manufacturing Co., Inc., a leading developer of rugged
wireless and wired M2M connectivity solutions for harsh environments,
today expanded its family of Ethernet serial servers with the Vlinx(TM)
VESP211 series of small form factor serial servers. VESP211 Serial
Servers connect RS-232, RS-422 or RS-485 serial devices to Ethernet
networks, allowing the serial devices to become nodes on the network.
With a footprint of only 5.1 x 7.6 x 2.5 cm, these compact servers make
it easy to network-enable any serial device, even in tight installation
spaces.

Vlinx VESP211 series servers are designed, tested and proven rugged
enough for heavy industrial, 61000-6-2, EMC Level 3 harsh environments.
They feature a wide (-40 to 80 deg C) operating temperature, a barrel
connector, the ability to use 10 to 30 VDC voltage input, and an
IP30-rated metal enclosure that is panel (standard) or DIN-rail
mountable (with optional adapter). The servers are shipped with a 12 VDC
power supply.

Three designs are available. Model VESP211 supports RS-232/422/485 (MEI)
with a DB9M serial port and RJ45 Ethernet port. Model VESP211-232
supports RS-232 with a DB9M serial port and RJ45 Ethernet port. Model
VESP211-485 supports RS-422/485 with a removable terminal block and RJ45
Ethernet port.

Installation, configuration, and monitoring are easy with Vlinx Manager
software. The software allows a PC to remotely manage and troubleshoot a
serial server over a LAN/ WAN via the built-in web server and an
ordinary desktop web browser. Users can access the serial port using
virtual COM, direct IP mode, or paired mode connections. VESP211 series
servers support 10BaseT or 100BaseTX. Software is compatible with
Windows XP, Server2003, Vista, Server2008 and Win 7. It is also
compatible with B&B Electronics’ VESR400 and VESR900 series Ethernet
serial server products.

The VESP211 series serial servers are priced for entry-level
applications including retail, point-of-sale, security, laboratory and
hospitality. The VESP211-232 and VESP211-485 are priced at $129, and the
VESP211 is priced at $149. All models carry a 5-year warranty.

A datasheet is available:

http://www.bb-elec.com/product_multi_family.asp?multifamilyid=168

About B&B Electronics:

Founded in 1981, B&B Electronics Manufacturing Co., Inc. provides M2M
connectivity solutions for wireless and wired networks based on serial,
Ethernet, wireless and USB communication technologies. Specializing in
connectivity out at the “edge” of networks in remote, harsh and
uncontrolled environments, the company is known globally for its easy to
use, rugged and reliable device networking products, as well as for its
knowledgeable technical support and responsive customer service. B&B
Electronics is located at 707 Dayton Road, P.O. Box 1040, Ottawa, IL
61350, 800-346-3119 and at
www.bb-elec.com
on the Internet.

Editorial Note: The Press Room contains downloadable photographs:

http://www.bb-elec.com/press-room.asp

SOURCE: B&B Electronics Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Moody & Associates
Michelle Moody, 214-363-3460
michelle@moodypr.com

Copyright Business Wire 2012

Chardelle Conway loved the Mazda3 GS, and would buy one. But theres a problem.

As a mother of two young children, Conway says the car just wont handle a double stroller.

That, and the fact she found it awkward – no, make that painful – trying to get her kids, one age three and the other 17 months, safely into their child seats.

I kept banging my head on the door frame, Conway says.

Conway admits she is just at the wrong stage in life to own a 2012 Mazda3 GS sedan – but that didnt spoil her weeklong test of the freshened compact car.

Introduced in 2004, the Mazda3 replaced the popular Protege series. The second generation appeared in 2009, and thats the year the car was given the love-it-or-hate-it smiley-face front end.

People like it, however, as the Mazda3 model is Mazdas best-selling vehicle worldwide and accounts for nearly half of the automakers sales in the US and Canada.

For 2012 Mazda tweaked that grin with a new front fascia and updated grille opening, and this appears on both sedan (simply Mazda3) and hatchback (Mazda3 Sport) models. The car is available in three different trims: base GX, mid GS, or top-of-the-line GT. For sporting enthusiasts, there is also the Mazdaspeed3 with a 2.3-litre turbo engine.

Conway, for one, says she did not mind the look of the front end.

Born and raised in Vancouver and now living in Calgary, Con-ways first car was a brand-new 1991 convertible Chevy Sprint.

She has since owned a number of vehicles, including a Mazda Pre-cidia, VW Jetta TDI, GMC Envoy and, currently, a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Getting back to the Mazda3 at hand. Other than those subtle exterior changes, not much has changed. Inside, the design has been slightly tweaked, and in the GS model, heated seats and leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob are now standard items.

Once inside, it was easy to get comfortable in the power adjustable drivers seat, and the temperature in the heated seats was adjustable with five different settings, Conway says.

And this is going to sound like a girl thing, she laughs, but the dash backlight was blue with some red, and it was a very soothing colour. I was able to clearly see the gauges, although I thought the dash just looked a bit busy. It all made sense to me after a week in the car. And I loved the sun-roof. It was very large and it gave the car a light and open feeling.

While exterior and interior changes are quite subtle, its in the engine bay of the GS model where the biggest change has taken place. In the $18,995 Mazda3 GS, the automaker fitted its new Sky-activ-G 2.0-litre power plant, and for an internal combustion engine, this is one unique bit of kit.

With Skyactiv technology, Mazda set out to optimize six engine factors, including compression ratio, air-to-fuel ratio and combustion timing. Engineers decided that compression ratio would be the most important factor of all, and developed an engine to run with a much higher 14: 1 compression ratio than would normally be found in an everyday automobile.

The Cherokee nation had a $1-billion impact on Oklahomas economy last year.

The tribe released its economic impact report at news conferences in Oklahoma City and Tulsa today.

The independent report shows that $1-billion impact includes $401-million in state income, while directly and indirectly supporting more than 13,500 jobs.

One of my top priorities is to accurately quantify the impact the Cherokee Nation has on our states economy, Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Bill John Baker said. While we knew all along the impact was substantial, we were proud to see the significant impact our tribal and business operations have on the state of Oklahoma.

The report studied the economic impact from Cherokee operations in the 14 counties of the Cherokee Nation.

The Cherokee Nation government operations employ more than 3,250 individuals. And Cherokee Nation Businesses, which includes construction, health care, hospitality, real estate and information technology, employs an additional 5,400 Oklahomans. That makes the Cherokee Nation a top employer in northeast Oklahoma.

MAUMEE, Ohio, Feb. 16, 2012 — /PRNewswire/ — The trend of using decorative glass to create dramatic entryways continues to grow as homeowners choose to stay in their homes longer and remodel for extended personal enjoyment. Adding a touch of glass with a new front entry door can be one of the most effective and economical ways to enhance a homes curb appeal.#xA0;

(Photo:#xA0; http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120216/NY52287 )

Beyond aesthetics, a new entry with decorative glass can add value to the home. According to a national home valuation study conducted by Therma-Tru and TNS, an independent research organization, simply installing a new entryway door has been shown to increase the perceived value of a home by more than $24,000 on average.

Manufacturers offer a wide array of choices for entryways incorporating decorative glass doorlites, sidelites and transoms. These choices allow homeowners to create a custom look for the home while making a statement about the homeowners personal sense of style.

The recently-introduced Avonlea#x2122; and Maple Park#x2122; decorative glass options from Therma-Tru (available at www.thermatru.com) are perfect examples of the beauty decorative glass can add to the home. With its fluid lines and free flowing leaf pattern, the Avonlea glass package is inspired by nature and features bronze water and clear baroque glass with black nickel caming. The Maple Park decorative glass option creates a peaceful, comforting design element for the home. With its water and granite glass married with clear bevels and a soft arc, the Maple Park glass creates a Craftsman-inspired look, well suited for all types of homes.

Entryway systems that incorporate decorative glass also offer the added benefit of allowing more sunlight into the home without energy loss, making for a more attractive, more energy-efficient interior.#xA0; Some of the most stunning designs are available in impact-rated versions that provide added home security and protection from severe weather conditions, such as high winds and heavy rain. Other decorative glass options include vented sidelites to allow both air and natural ventilation into the home.

SOURCE Therma-Tru