Choosing between a fieldbus gateway and an industrial Ethernet switch can feel confusing because both live in the same industrial networking fieldbus. The real question is what you're trying to do. If you need to bring fieldbus devices onto an Ethernet control network, you need protocol translation-a gateway. If you need to add more Ethernet nodes to an automation network, you need port expansion-a switch.
Quick verdict: The Bürkert 00307390 / ME43 is the bridge that lets fieldbus equipment talk to Ethernet-based controllers. The Phoenix Contact 1085255 is a rugged, new switch for expanding Ethernet capacity. Buy the gateway when protocol conversion is your blocker; buy the switch when you need more ports and want new-condition hardware at a lower price.
| Consideration | Bürkert 00307390 / ME43 | PHOENIX CONTACT 1085255 |
|---|---|---|
| Device type | Industrial Ethernet fieldbus gateway | Industrial Ethernet switch |
| Condition | Used (working pull) | New in box |
| Price | USD 249.99 | USD 194.99 |
| Model / MPN | 00307390 / ME43 | 1085255 |
Where each product wins:
- The Bürkert wins if you need a fieldbus-to-Ethernet bridge. Its model number tells you it's a gateway meant to connect the two network worlds, and the price gap isn't the deciding factor when the whole task depends on translation.
- The Phoenix Contact wins if you need a reliable, new Ethernet switch for expansion. It's priced lower and comes in box, and its rugged design resists vibration and interference.
Bürkert 00307390 / ME43 Industrial Ethernet Fieldbus Gateway
The Bürkert 00307390 / ME43 is a used industrial Ethernet fieldbus gateway, so it's built to translate between fieldbus and Ethernet rather than just move Ethernet frames. If you have legacy fieldbus devices that need to report into a modern controller, this is the piece that makes the conversation happen. It's a working pull, meaning it was removed from an operating environment, and it comes as pictured. The tradeoff is straightforward: you're buying used hardware at a higher price than the switch, and you'll need to confirm the gateway's exact protocol match for your fieldbus network. If compatibility lines up, this unit solves the protocol conversion problem that a plain switch can't.
PHOENIX CONTACT 1085255 Industrial Ethernet Switch
The PHOENIX CONTACT 1085255 is a new-in-box industrial Ethernet switch built for reliable network communication in demanding plant environments. Its rugged design resists vibration and electrical interference, and it supports stable data transmission between automation devices and control systems. At USD 194.99, it's the lower-cost option in this comparison and comes with the confidence of new hardware. The limitation is that it doesn't handle fieldbus-to-Ethernet translation. If your bottleneck is protocol conversion, this switch won't fill that role. It's the better pick when you need to expand the number of Ethernet-connected devices on a network that already speaks the same language.
Final choice by use case:
Choose the Bürkert 00307390 / ME43 if your industrial networking fieldbus includes legacy devices that must be brought onto an Ethernet network. Choose the Phoenix Contact 1085255 if you need a new, rugged switch to add more Ethernet devices and your network doesn't require protocol conversion. If both needs exist, start with the gateway when old devices are the bottleneck, and add the switch later when port capacity becomes the limiting factor.
