Many specialist market instrument makers also rely on IEEE 488 for data communications and control. All provide at least IEEE 488.1 in compliance, with newer models adhering to IEEE488.2. It is particularly well suited for interconnecting computers and scientific instruments. Message transactions are hardware handshaked. The above, original features can, in many cases, be enhanced with newer hardware.
Typical examples are devices which increase the bus length, bus speed and number of devices.
For example, the 4889 Fast Bus Extender, allows the bus to extend to 25km and still allows greater than 300kbytes per second transfer rate. Mechanical specifications connector Use of a specific 24-pin connector is required by IEEE 488. Cable lengths between devices may vary, as long as total cable length does not exceed this restriction. Devices may be interconnected in a star or linear topology, or in a combination of the two, as long as the distance limits are observed. For maximum data transfer rates, the total cable length should be reduced to 15m with the average interdevice cable 1m or less.