PRESS RELEASE: Transition Networks Extends Industrial Portfolio With New Managed Power-over-Ethernet Switch

2009/01/20

Minnetonka, Minn. January 20 -- /Marketwirwe/ -- Transition Networks Inc., the switching and conversion technology expert, a wholly owned subsidiary of Communications Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:JCS) today announced the introduction of a new industrial-hardened device designed to extend the benefits of Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) to high availability devices at the network edge in industrial and outdoor environments. The addition of a fully managed 8-port PoE switch with the capability to intelligently power network devices to Transition's already vast industrial portfolio enables customers to extend, via fiber, the tremendous installation and operational benefits of a PoE infrastructure.

The new offering is a fully managed, ruggedized device designed to reliably operate in harsh networking environments found on factory floors, outdoor enclosures or other hazardous environments and is backed by an unsurpassed lifetime warranty.

"Linking remote IP security cameras and Wi-Fi access points can be a real challenge considering the 100-meter distance limitation of PoE over UTP cabling. And, installing these devices in hazardous locations or at the top of citywide luminaires previously required separate, external power supplies. Our industrial-hardened PoE switch, with its built-in dual fiber uplinks, now brings all the benefits of PoE to the factory floor or outdoor locations," said Patrick Schaber, Director of Marketing at Transition Networks. "Especially as revenue-challenged municipalities deploy citywide wireless network services and add network intelligence to each and every traffic intersection, Transition Networks' exclusive Lifetime Warranty reassures planners that this switch can be a fundamental building block in that infrastructure."

8-port Industrial Managed POE Switch with Redundant Fiber
The SISPM1040-182D-LR(T) is a ruggedized, fully managed switch that is designed to provide high availability fiber connectivity with the additional capability of powering wireless access points, voice over IP phones and IP security and surveillance cameras that may be located in remote, outdoor or factory floor locations. It has 8 x 10/100Base-TX ports w/POE plus 2 x 10/100/1000Base-T RJ-45 or 100/1000Base-X SFP combo ports. All of the RJ-45 ports support Auto-negotiation and AutoCross^TM (auto MDI/MDI-X) and all SFP ports support both 100Base-FX and 1000Base-X SFP optics. The eight RJ-45 ports w/POE fully support the IEEE 802.3af standard for Power over Ethernet, providing a full 15.4 watts of power to up to eight powered devices (PD).

Software features include support for IEEE 802.1Q VLANs, IEEE 802.1P Class of Service, IGMP for Multi Media applications, X-ring, Dual Homing, Couple and Dual Ring Topologies providing redundant backup and recovery times below 20 milliseconds. The switch can be managed via Telnet and Command-Line interfaces as well as through its built-in Web interface. Support for industry-standard SNMP v1/v2c/v3 ensures manageability through third-party open management software packages.

Offered in both a standard operating temperature range of -10°C to +50°C or extended operating temperature range of -40°C to +65°C, this switch also provides dual, redundant, auto-sensing 48VDC power inputs with reverse polarity power input protection and overload current protection as well as a relay contact output circuit for controlling external alarms. DIN-rail and wall mount brackets are included as standard.

Product Availability and Configuration
Transition's new industrial-hardened fully managed Power-over-Ethernet switch is available immediately in standard (-LR) and extended (-LRT) operating temperature ranges:

Product                 Description
-------                 -----------
SISPM1040-182D-LR(T)    Industrial Managed Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) Switch
                        with (8) 10/100BASE-TX (RJ-45) w/PoE + (2)
                        10/100/1000BASE-T or 100/1000BASE-X SFP Combo Ports

Please contact Transition Networks at (800) 526-9267 or visit www.transition.com for the latest information.

About Transition Networks Products
Transition Networks' conversion products are known for their ruggedness and reliability. They have a 99.4 percent customer acceptance rating, meaning that approximately one in 1,000 experience failure in the field. All Transition Networks brand of media converters and switches carry a lifetime warranty.

About Transition Networks Inc.
Transition Networks Inc. offers networking connectivity solutions that make networks perform better, faster and more reliably while helping companies leverage their existing networking infrastructure. The company's Transition Networks brand of media converters make conversion between disparate media types possible, providing conversion technology solutions that offer the necessary adaptations without affecting the performance, nature or appearance of the network. Its complete MILAN portfolio of multilayer switching products is designed to facilitate low-cost network evolution with unique solutions, easing the stress on networks caused by high-bandwidth applications. Based in Minneapolis, Transition Networks distributes hardware-based connectivity solutions exclusively through a network of resellers in 50 countries, including Ingram Micro and Tech Data. Transition Networks is a wholly owned subsidiary of Communications Systems, Inc., a publicly traded company (NASDAQ: JCS). Statements regarding the Company's anticipated performance in 2009 are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to: competitive products and other factors discussed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

# # #