How to Deliver IP Telephony in Harsh Environments

Have you ever needed to deliver voice-over-IP traffic to outdoor endpoints?  What about emergency phones in such places as parking lots, roadsides, or rail right of ways?  How can you provide IP-telephony services within underground tunnels or other locations where environmental factors are beyond your control?

ALL-IP. The recent and continuing expansion of ALL-IP networking means voice terminals everywhere need to be adapted to VoIP.  Yet most—if not all—voice media gateways on the market today are designed for installation in an office, IT closet, or similar indoor location where heating and cooling systems are in place. So how do you deliver ALL-IP telephony in harsh outdoor or industrial environments? Is there a solution?

SmartNode 4140E Application Drawing

SmartNode 4140E Application

Challenges. In order to meet such challenges, we need a ruggedized VoIP gateway designed to operate in extreme temperatures and high humidity. What if there were an industrial—or military-grade—VoIP CPE that could even withstand the shock and vibration encountered in vehicle-mounted applications? Well now, the good news is…  such a product has arrived. Finally!

SN4140E Photo
SmartNode 4140E Ruggedized
Industrial-Military VoIP Media Gateway

Enter the SmartNode 4140E Ruggedized Industrial VoIP Gateway from Patton.

Housed in a hardened metal enclosure, the SN4140E device is designed to withstand shock (IEC 60068-2-27), vibration (IEC 60068-2-6), extreme temperatures (-40 to +70o C), up to 85% humidity (conformal coating option protects up to 100%), condensation, and frost.

DIN-rail mounting and shelf mounting are supported. 12-48 VDC terminal block power input is standard, while an AC-to-DC adapter with a screw-down plug fastener is also supplied.

Protection against power spike and surge is also built in according to MIL STD 1275.

Offering flexible combinations of up to eight analog (POTS) FXS and FXO interfaces, Patton’s industrial gateway provides interconnection and conversion between modern IP-based Voice networks using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and traditional analog phones, analog PBX equipment or PSTN lines.

So NOW… when your project requirements involve connecting traditional POTS phones to a SIP telephony network, you can say “YES” to the prospective customer. With thanks to Patton and the SN4140E Industrial VoIP gateway.  🙂

Want more detailed information about the SN4140E? You can…
>>Read the press release…
>>Study the product web page…


What do you think?

  • Have you ever had to turn down a project because the phones were located in a harsh environment? Can you tell us about it?
  • Do you have any current application requirements where might you employ such a ruggedized VoIP gateway as described in this post?

Add your thoughts in the comments below…

W. Glendon Flowers
Product Marketing Manager | Patton LLC
Glendon is responsible for creating corporate marketing and technical content including press releases, web copy, white papers, case studies, educational and tutorial pieces as well as other publications. He serves as editor-in-chief for Patton's email newsletter and other outbound communications. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from UMUC and a Bachelor of Music in percussion performance from UMCP. Mr. Flowers is a single father with three adult daughters: Lauren, Hannah & Sarah (twins). He plays guitar, bass, keyboards, drums, and percussion and enjoys composing and arranging music and songs.


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