Military Embedded Systems

Portsmith Releases Ultra-Rugged MIL-STD 810G USB-to-Ethernet Adapter for Defense, Mission Critical, and Other Specialty Applications

Press Release

September 14, 2022

BOISE, Idaho.  In answer to a need for ultra-rugged, USB-to-Ethernet connectivity for DoD, mission-critical, and other specialty applications, Portsmith has launched their most durable USB to 10/100 Ethernet adapter: the PSA1U1E-EG MIL-STD 810 USB 2.0 to 10/100 Ethernet interface adapter. Designed for maximum durability in extreme environments, the product is appropriate for use on base, in the field, or in the air.

To meet the requirements of use cases where a higher degree of durability is needed, Portsmith engaged its sister company, the U.S.-based product development firm SGW Designworks, to develop an ultra-rugged, 810G design of its USB-to-Ethernet adapter for a U.S. Department of Defense client. The PSA1U1E-EG was designed, certified, and tested from the ground up and is now available for commercial use in North America. It is manufactured in the United States.

The adapter can be used to connect equipment to field computers, tablets, or mobile devices for data transfer, synchronization, programming, or other use cases where a reliable and secure wired connection is required. The adapter functions flawlessly, even when beaten, battered, and neglected, making it ideal for extreme environments. Its look evokes other military products — in which form largely follows function — and is designed to appear familiar to personnel and operators on the ground. The product’s exterior geometry also fits well in the hand and is easy to grip and manipulate when wearing gloves and/or when wet.

The ultra-rugged adapter provides USB to Ethernet in a completely encapsulated package. Engineers specified materials and production processes that fully encapsulated the PCBA using two-stage injection molding. This ensures protection from the elements, shock/impact resistance, and durability. Two connectors separate from the main body include an industry-standard USB-A connector to the host device and an RJ45 LAN connection. Portsmith plans to offer services to convert those connectors to other ruggedized connectors, when necessary. Drivers are well supported in Mac OS, iOS, iPad OS, Android, Windows, and Linux operating systems. Additionally, with its proven, stable BOM, the product won’t change over time — ensuring that, once the adapter has been qualified for a use case, subsequent deployments will be identical.

As the leader in the enterprise USB-to-Ethernet adapter market, Portsmith's adapters are commonly found in critical-infrastructure IT systems, manufacturing, home theater systems, and applications where low-cost consumer-grade adapters are inadequate. A similar model in the adapter product family won a prestigious 2021 Good Design Award for its engineering.

About Portsmith

Portsmith designs, manufactures, and distributes products that enable users of enterprise IT applications to maximize the utility and value of their equipment. For nearly 20 years, Portsmith's intelligently designed cradles, adapters, and accessories have been sought after and validated by virtually every leading rugged device manufacturer in the world. Portsmith is located in Boise, Idaho with ISO 9001 and UL-certified manufacturing facilities in Idaho, Minnesota, and Malaysia. Its sister company, SGW Designworks, applies decades of development, engineering, and manufacturing knowledge to Portsmith products to ensure its solutions are robust and reliable.

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