Dual-radio offers high-reliability networking option

Paul Boughton
ProSoft Technology has developed two new Automation-Class industrial 802.11n solutions. These are dual-radio Industrial Hotspots. One is water-tight (IP67). Both enlarge the option given to Automation Engineers for high-speed wireless networks. Dual-radio solutions will allow longer distances, better performances while repeaters are involved, and allow two channels to be used simultaneously (for example: one for the automation application, while the other one can be used for maintenance purpose, without impacting the application).

These new Automation-Class RadioLinx industrial radios support IEEE-802.11n standard and provide premier performance for high-capacity networks. They offer high-reliability networking option to applications with moving devices and/or obstructed environments that are traditionally difficult to solve with wireless solutions.

These radios implement the latest technology to provide greater flexibility and performance to a broad range of manufacturing and production applications. In short, while Industrial 802.11a/b/g solutions are already suitable for a wide variety of applications, industrial 802.11n radios ease implementation of wireless network for some critical cases, and they will offer the wireless option to a wider range of applications.

RadioLinx Industrial 802.11n full range now consists of 1 single-radio Industrial Hotspot, 1 single-radio Industrial Client, 2 dual-radio Industrial Hotspot solutions, including 1 water-tight version.

The 802.11n Dual Industrial Hotspot solutions provide two radios in one and only require a single Ethernet connection.

The dual radios can be used in lieu of a repeater to extend the range of your wireless network without sacrificing speed.

The RadioLinx 802.11n family allows transport of demanding industrial protocols (provided by the »reliable I/O message delivery functionality). VLAN (Virtual Local-Area-Network) support allows network traffic segmentation: while one connection is reserved to the automation control application, another connection will allow programming or maintenance, for example, to be done simultaneously without interfering with the application.

The MIMO technology (Multiple Input, Multiple Output) is used with up to three antennas connected to each radio, to benefit from multipath due to reflections (typically on metal parts on the plant-floor). This enables high-speed data rates (up to 300 Mbps), and advanced performance in industrial environments.

For configuration and monitoring of the 802.11n Industrial Hotspot radios, RadioLinx WirelessN Discovery licence-free software tool, allows viewing the network topology, assigning IP addresses to radios for configuration, monitoring network diagnostics, updating radio firmware and detecting the presence of any 802.11 radios on the network. Automatic or manual network configuration is user selectable (can be prioritized or fixed) with self-healing functionality and master redundancy for reliable large networks.

All these radios operate within extended temperature range (-40 to 75˚C) and offer hazardous location ratings (including ATEX Zone 2 Category 3). Other industrial specifications include: high vibration/shock resistance, DIN-rail mounting, Power over Ethernet and simultaneous bridge / repeater / Industrial Hotspot mode.

As other 802.11 RadioLinx solutions from the manufacturer, the new family of radios supports 802.11i and RADIUS security for centralized management of security policies. Quality of Service (QoS) for data prioritization is supported as well for background applications such as VoIP (Voice over IP) and video.

Compatible with existing 802.11 RadioLinx solutions, the RadioLinx 802.11n Industrial radios improve performance for high-bandwidth applications and high packet-rate control applications. They also provide better signal sensitivity and range in environments like mobile factory settings.

For more information, visit www.prosoft-technology.com