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Self-Healing Wireless Radio

Sept. 6, 2011

SureCross MultiHop industrial radios can be used in remote applications and operate in areas without wired power.

Banner Engineering's SureCross MultiHop industrial radios connect to existing plant-wide control system's I/O devices.

Utilities are increasingly leading the way in demonstrating how industrial facilities of all kinds can apply wireless networks to take advantage of low-power wireless technologies and more easily monitor devices that were either difficult to reach with wires or too far away to practically run cable to them.

To address remote application needs like lift station control, large-scale irrigation automation and detention pond management, Banner Engineering Corp. has introduced its SureCross MultiHop radios that can be used to connect to existing plant-wide control system's I/O devices.

Banner's SureCross MultiHop wireless sensor networks typically consist of one master radio, but may include many repeater and slave radios. Operational modes can be selected by the customer via integrated DIP (dual in-line package) switches. MultiHop radios are said to automatically form self-healing, auto-routing radio networks with multiple hops to extend the range of a Modbus or other serial communication network. In the event a communication pathway becomes unavailable, the radios find a route back to the network master without intervention from operators. Additional integrated network addressing reduces interference from co-located networks.

SureCross MultiHop radios transmit at 1 watt with license-free operation in the Industrial Scientific and Medical (ISM) band—no monthly data plan or annual fees are required. With a high-gain antenna, a range of over 6 miles per hop can be achieved. All I/O communication is performed on a Modbus platform and can be integrated with existing PLCs, HMIs or other plant-wide systems. MultiHop radios are available in the 2.4 GHz bandwidth to meet worldwide radio compliance restrictions.

About the Author

David Greenfield, editor in chief | Editor in Chief

David Greenfield joined Automation World in June 2011. Bringing a wealth of industry knowledge and media experience to his position, David’s contributions can be found in AW’s print and online editions and custom projects. Earlier in his career, David was Editorial Director of Design News at UBM Electronics, and prior to joining UBM, he was Editorial Director of Control Engineering at Reed Business Information, where he also worked on Manufacturing Business Technology as Publisher.