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PROSOFT TECHNOLOGY EMEA
802.11n: ProSoft Technology® launches new High-Speed Industrial Radios
The new RadioLinx® industrial radios support IEEE 802.11n and provide premier performance for high-capacity networks. They offer high-reliability networking to applications with moving devices and/or obstructed environments that are traditionally difficult to solve with wireless solutions. The offering consists of a single-radio Industrial HotspotTM, and a single-radio Industrial Client.
802.11n Industrial Wireless solutions, which leverage the latest technology to provide greater flexibility and performance to a broad range of manufacturing and production applications.
The need
Since 2002, hundreds of thousands of 2.4 and 5 GHz radios have been installed by and for Automation Engineers. They are today operating in every industry. In the past, some applications have required throughput that has been highly demanding given available wireless technology. Other applications had to consider limited RF-channel availability. In some cases, long distances impacted transmission and a changing RF-environment due to moving metal structures also influenced transmission. While industrial 802.11a/b/g solutions are already suitable for a wide variety of applications, industrial 802.11n radios are a welcome improvement. Industrial 802.11n eases implementation of wireless networks for critical and challenging applications and offers wireless options to a wider range of applications.
Since 2002, hundreds of thousands of 2.4 and 5 GHz radios have been installed by and for Automation Engineers. They are today operating in every industry. In the past, some applications have required throughput that has been highly demanding given available wireless technology. Other applications had to consider limited RF-channel availability. In some cases, long distances impacted transmission and a changing RF-environment due to moving metal structures also influenced transmission. While industrial 802.11a/b/g solutions are already suitable for a wide variety of applications, industrial 802.11n radios are a welcome improvement. Industrial 802.11n eases implementation of wireless networks for critical and challenging applications and offers wireless options to a wider range of applications.
The solution
The new RadioLinx 802.11n radio utilizes MIMO (Multiple Input, Multiple Output) technology. It uses up to three antennas to enable high-speed data rates up to 300 Mbps, providing advanced performance in industrial environments.
Where network crowding is a concern, the combination of 2.4 + 5 GHz bands offers 3 + 19 non-overlapping channels (3 + 24 for applications exported to North America). Operating at 5 GHz also provides an alternative to the popular 2.4 GHz band, which may have limited availability if already used in existing installations.
Harry Forbes of ARC Advisory Group comments: “These new ProSoft Technology radios are among the first to bring 802.11n technology to industrial automation networks. IEEE 802.11n brings a higher level of wireless performance to plant-floor applications. Also, MIMO technology reduces the multipath interference that is common in industrial installations. Standards-based radio technology is continuously improving, and ProSoft Technology is quickly making these improvements available to the plant floor.”
The benefits
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.
Two RadioLinx 802.11n solutions are available today: a single-radio Industrial HotspotTM (RLXIB-IHN) and a single-radio Industrial Client (RLXIB-ICN).
Easy to Configure and Monitor
RadioLinx WirelessN Discovery Tool is a configuration and monitoring tool for the RadioLinx 802.11n Industrial Hotspot radios. This 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. In addition, ProSoft Technology’s free OPC Server allows for HMI-based wireless network diagnostics. Automatic or manual network configuration is user selectable (can be prioritized or fixed) with self-healing functionality and master redundancy for reliable large networks.
Additional Features
The RLXIB-IHN includes the industrial features of RadioLinx products including hazardous location certifications (UL1604 Class I Div 2, ATEX Zone 2 Category 3), extended operating temperature range, high vibration/shock resistance, DIN-rail mounting, Power over Ethernet and simultaneous bridge / repeater / Industrial HotspotTM mode. All ProSoft Technology products come with a three year warranty and unlimited technical support for the life of the product.
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.
Two RadioLinx 802.11n solutions are available today: a single-radio Industrial HotspotTM (RLXIB-IHN) and a single-radio Industrial Client (RLXIB-ICN).
Easy to Configure and Monitor
RadioLinx WirelessN Discovery Tool is a configuration and monitoring tool for the RadioLinx 802.11n Industrial Hotspot radios. This 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. In addition, ProSoft Technology’s free OPC Server allows for HMI-based wireless network diagnostics. Automatic or manual network configuration is user selectable (can be prioritized or fixed) with self-healing functionality and master redundancy for reliable large networks.
Additional Features
The RLXIB-IHN includes the industrial features of RadioLinx products including hazardous location certifications (UL1604 Class I Div 2, ATEX Zone 2 Category 3), extended operating temperature range, high vibration/shock resistance, DIN-rail mounting, Power over Ethernet and simultaneous bridge / repeater / Industrial HotspotTM mode. All ProSoft Technology products come with a three year warranty and unlimited technical support for the life of the product.
