Stepping up to Wireless?

It has not always been possible, practical, or cost effective to run network cables to every device, sensor or roving unit on the factory floor. Today's wireless technologies can eliminate physical and cost barriers, offering a new world of remote communication solutions. Reliable, on-demand communication with control and monitoring down to the individual embedded machine-level sensor is becoming possible with wireless.

As wireless network equipment emerges, interest in the use of wireless within industrial environments has surged. But navigating and understanding the technical aspects of the various technologies and standards is essential in the selection of suitable wireless equipment for your application.

Selecting the right technology and equipment will ultimately lead to a successfully installed, well-designed, reliable and efficient communication system. The following diagram and chart offers insight into the different wireless standards and applications best suited for each of the new Wireless Personal Area Networks (WPAN), Local Area (WLAN) and Metropolitan Area (WMAN) Networks applications. These include wireless standards and acronyms such as: 802.15.4 and ZigBee, 802.1a and Bluetooth, WUSB, Proprietary Radio Modems, 802.11 and Wi-Fi and finally 802.16 and WiMAX.