Now available in stock – JAYCOR offers a complete end-to-end solution for cost-effective industrial/outdoor ruggedized Wifi. Purchase all components for a turnkey solution:
In the late 1990’s, one of the first wireless standards was carried out. You may remember IEEE 802.11b – the first wireless LAN standard to be widely adopted and incorporated into computers and laptops. A few years later on came the IEEE 802.11g, which offered signal transmission over relatively short distances at speeds of up to 54 Mbps. Both standards operated in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz frequency range. In 2009, IEEE 802.11n (which operated in 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency ranges) was a big step up. It provided anytime wireless access and was the de facto standard for mobile users.
Understanding wireless technology and standards like these is key to making sure you are investing in technology and equipment that can support your organisation’s short-term and long-term network-connection requirements. Wireless standards layout specific specifications that must be followed when hardware or software are designed related to those standards.
Now that we have covered the major wireless standards of the past, let’s look ahead at current standards – and what is yet to come.
General-Purpose Applications
Today’s wireless standards, like IEEE 802.11ac (Wave 1 and Wave 2), operate in the 5 GHz frequency range. This standard is used for many general-purpose, short-range, multi-user applications, like connecting end devices to networks.
As we have mentioned in previous blogs, IEEE 802.11ax is the “next big thing” in terms of wireless standards. As the successor to 802.11ac, 802.11ax operates in both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency spectrums. It will offer 10G speeds, and the ability for multiple people to use one network simultaneously with fewer connectivity problems (and while still maintaining fast connection speeds). It will improve average throughput per user by a factor of at least four as compared to 802.11ac Wave 1.
High-Performance Applications
Operating at an unlicensed frequency of 60 GHz are IEEE 802.11ad and IEEE 802.11ay, which are used primarily for short-range, point-to-point applications vs. point-to-multipoint applications. 802.11ay is an update to 802.11ad, improving throughput and range. As compared to 802.11ad, 802.11ay can offer speeds between 20Gbps and 40Gbps, as well as an improved range.
IoT Applications
Operating at lower frequencies are standards like 802.11af (UHF/VHF) and 802.11ah (915 MHz). These standards are designed for extended-range applications, like connecting hundreds of remote Internet of Things (IoT) sensors and devices. They’re also used in rural areas.
Because they operate in lower-frequency ranges, they’re able to offer extended operational ranges. They can carry signals for miles, but have a low throughput of 350 Mbps.
Read full article
Worldwide IP traffic has been increasing immensely in the enterprise and consumer division, driven by growing numbers of Internet users, as well as growing numbers of connected devices that provide faster wireless and fixed broadband access, high-quality video streaming and social networking capabilities.
Data centers are expanding globally to support computing, storage and content delivery services for enterprise and consumer users. With higher operation efficiency (CPU usage), higher scalability, lower costs and lower power consumption per workload, cloud data centers will process 92% of overall data center workloads by 2020; the remaining 8% of the workload will be processed by traditional data centers.
According to the Cisco Global Cloud Index 2015-2020, hyperscale data centers will grow from 259 in 2015 to 485 by 2020, representing 47% of all installed data center servers.
Source: Cisco
Global annual data center traffic will grow from 6.5 ZB (zettabytes) in 2016 to 15.3 ZB by 2020. The majority of traffic will be generated in cloud data centers; most traffic will occur within the data center.
When it comes to supporting cloud business growth, higher performance and more competitive services for the enterprise (computing and collaboration) and consumers (video streaming and social networking), common cloud data center challenges include:
This is the first in a series of seven blogs that will appear throughout the rest of 2017; in this series, we’ll walk you down the road to 800G Ethernet. Here, we take a close look at Ethernet generations and when they have (or will) come into play.
Read full article
Nobody should pay for features they do not requiure. With the Hirschmann BAT867-R industrial wireless access point, you would not have to compromise performance for price. Space and budgets are limited. That is why the BAT867-R includes a refined set of features to help reduce the device’s size, as well as overall networking costs.
BAT867-R Blends High-Performance with Cost-Effectiveness
Its rugged design, compact size and select feature set help you maximize efficiency and performance. The BAT867-R wireless access point is ideal for industrial settings where space and budgets are limited, such as discrete automation and machine building settings.
Transmit data efficiently – up to 867 megabits per second (Mbps) – with the BAT867-R industrial wireless access point. This device supports high-speed IEEE 802.11ac data rates, making it the fastest wireless device in Belden’s portfolio.
By only including the essential interfaces, Hirschmann offers a cost-effective, high-speed solution. You also have access to extensive management, redundancy and security functions with Hirschm
Read full article
Are you new to industrial Wi-Fi and worried about perceived reliability issues?
Companies are concerned that wireless local area networks (WLANs) are unreliable or only available for (or useful with) new equipment and state-of-the-art applications. Wireless technologies are no longer a luxury or bonus. They’re mandatory for modern industrial networking. As the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) drives changes on the factory floor, wireless infrastructure is the central nervous system that keeps everything functioning.
Today’s Optimised Industrial Wi-Fi – Built to Meet Your Network’s Demands
Before high-speed Wi-Fi became ubiquitous, transmitting data without physical connections seemed like science fiction. In many industrial applications, Wi-Fi feels more like the villain instead of the hero of that story. The promise of the IIoT never seems satisfied because of unpredictable and unreliable connections as more connected applications come to the factory floor.
Today’s factories are rewriting that story by investing in better Wi-Fi optimisation. Too often, faulty connectivity is caused by building an industrial WLAN with consumer-grade components. If a power drill you buy at the local Wal-Mart can’t hold up for use on the factory floor, why should we expect an off-the-shelf wireless router to deliver reliable results?
Read full article
While attending an industry conference on Internet of Things (IoT), I came across a comment made by a panelist. A numver of them compared and contrasted the competitive landscape from various perspectives (commercial, industrial, residential and utilities), but one popped up when he spoke about the importance of focusing on infrastructure.
The panelist advised us about the nature of the sometimes-uncertain and/or shifting infrastructure capabilities of platforms, devices and software we rely on. Infrastructure is recommended for communication and a functional IoT. Further, he went on to advise that more awareness should be paid to infrastructure to hinder IoT growth from being impeded because our “things” can not communicate with each other.
Read full article
Wireless technology is entwined with daily life. Chances are, you’re reading this very post on a smartphone, laptop or tablet connected to Wi-Fi, right? Before that, you likely perrused your email, favourite news sites or other sources of information without giving a second thought.
The days of landlines and DSL have mostly faded from our daily lives.
If you are reading this in an office setting – on a desktop computer or a docked laptop – you are still “plugged-in” to a wired internet connection.
In an age where you can turn your home thermostat up while you’re sitting kilometres away in your office, why are businesses so reluctant to take advantage of these advances, especially in industrial settings?
Often, it comes down to one thing: reliability.
Read full article
JHB: +27 11 444 1039
Unit 3, 7 On Mastiff, Mastiff Road, Linbro Business Park, Sandton, Johannesburg, South Africa
CPT: +27 21 447 4247
Block C, Podium Level, The Boulevard Office Park, Searle Street, Woodstock, Cape Town, South Africa