WP - Industrial Wireless Technology

Industrial wireless technology
A White Paper presented by: Don Dickinson Project Engineer Phoenix Contact P.O. Box 4100 Harrisburg, PA 17111-0100 Phone: 717-944-1300 Fax: 717-944-1625 Website: www.phoenixcontact.com Industrial wireless information: http://www.phoenixcontact.com/signallevel-matching/31240.htm
PHOENIX CONTACT
Industrial wireless technology Key concepts: The demand for industrial wireless technology is growing Because there are numerous types of wireless technology, the user needs to understand the advantages and limitations of the various technologies With a better understanding of these differences, an industrial user can realize the full benefits of wireless while avoiding problems resulting from its misapplication
Introduction Wireless technology has come a long way since the development of wireless signaling techniques in the late 1800s. Today, wireless technologies of many types are used in a variety of applications ranging from garage door openers to satellite communications. The fundamental process of sending data through a wireless medium is the same regardless of the technology used. Data is piggybacked or encoded onto a carrier wave through a process known as modulation. The carrier wave is sent over air to a receiving device that extracts the data from the carrier wave (demodulation). This process of modulation and demodulation, along with the frequency of the carrier wave, are key attributes that define a particular type of wireless transmission. For example, a radio station broadcasts a signal that uses amplitude modulation (AM) or frequency modulation (FM) to encode an audio signal onto a carrier frequency (the radio stations broadcast frequency). A car radio receives the carrier frequency, extracts the audio information and sends it to the radio amplifier that powers the speakers. There are many types of wireless technologies and many questions that arise when considering which wireless technology to use. How far does it go? How fast can data be transmitted? Is it secure? Is it reliable? How much does it cost? The answers to these questions can vary greatly depending on which wireless technology is being considered. Generally speaking, there is no one technology that does everything the user wants it to do. A wireless technology is chosen for a given application because the performance characteristics of that wireless technology best align with the application requirements. Which wireless technologies are rugged enough to be considered industrial wireless? An awareness of the fundamentals of wireless technology, and more specifically the types used in industry, will help determine which technology should be considered for a particular application. The wireless landscape We are surrounded by electromagnetic radiation, both naturally occurring and man-made. The sun radiates energy that includes visible light and ultraviolet rays. Man generates electromagnetic radiation such as TV station broadcasts and cell phone communications. Electromagnetic radiation is defined by its frequency measured in Hertz (Hz). The electromagnetic spectrum includes all electromagnetic radiation ranging from the extremely low frequencies, below 3,000 Hz to the extremely high frequencies, above 30 gigahertz. This spectrum includes the radio frequencies found at the lower end of the spectrum, microwaves, infrared rays, visible light, ultraviolet rays and x-rays and gamma rays that are at the upper end of the spectrum. The radio frequencies (RF) are the lower frequencies in the spectrum and are well suited for communications. Generally, the lower the frequency, the farther it will travel, and the better its ability to penetrate solid objects such as walls. However, the higher frequencies provide greater bandwidth, allowing more data to be transmitted at higher speeds. Selecting an industrial wireless technology usually requires a balance between distance and data rates. Within the RF spectrum, the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) band is of greatest interest to the general public. The UHF band includes frequencies from 300 to 3000 MHz. The UHF band includes cell phone transmissions, licensed transmissions such as TV broadcasts and unlicensed transmissions such as Wireless Ethernet, also known as Wi-Fi. Most of the industrial wireless technologies discussed in this paper operate in the UHF band.
PHOENIX CONTACT P.O. Box 4100 Harrisburg, PA 17111-0100 717-944-1300 Fax: 717-944-1625 e-mail: info@phoenixcon.com www.phoenixcontact.com Industrial wireless information: http://www.phoenixcontact.com/signal-level-matching/31240.htm PHOENIX CONTACT
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates the air waves in the U.S. and oversees many types of wireless transmissions. Figure 1 shows many of the wireless technologies used by the general public today and how they relate to one another in terms of their data rate, relative distance covered, cost, complexity and power consumption. Some of the technologies, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, are quite familiar. 3G (third generation) cell phone technology is gaining popularity because it provides high-speed access to the Internet via cell phone. Some technologies are proprietary and intended for specialized applications.
Figure 1: The wireless landscape Certain technologies have been used in industrial applications for many years, primarily in industry market segments that have a decentralized infrastructure, such as water and oil and gas. Traditionally, the use of wireless in industry has been driven by the need to monitor and control operations over long distances. However, wireless increasingly is providing new ways to address common needs in all industry segments. But with new technology comes new concerns - especially for mission-critical operations. Which wireless technologies are suitable for industrial applications? What are the advantages and limitations of each technology? Wireless for industrial applications Wireless technology must meet certain common requirements for use in an industrial control application to be considered by the market as industrial wireless. First, it must be reliable. Reliable performance and operation are essential for ensuring maximum uptime for an industrial process. If the appropriate industrial wireless technology is selected for an application, it can be as reliable as a wired connection. In some cases, industrial wireless can be even more reliable than a wired connection. Machinery with moving components may require festooned cables or slip rings to send signals from moving components to fixed components. Repeated flexing of cables and wear on slip rings can create recurring problems for maintenance. Also, runs of copper cable that are thousands of feet long can become unreliable over time due to corrosion or electrical shorts resulting from the deterioration of wire insulation. Additionally, long cable runs can be prone to surges from lightning. Wireless can be an easy and cost-effective solution to problems resulting from unreliable wired connections. Because data is transmitted over air, there is an inherent delay, or
latency, that must be taken into account when applying wireless. The latency of a given wireless technology must be appropriate for the application. The second requirement for industrial wireless is that it must be secure. Preventing intrusion and malicious jamming of frequencies are primary concerns when applying wireless technology. Some technologies inherently have higher levels of security than others. Some technologies rely on encryption to protect sensitive data. Depending on the application, the required level of security can vary and may determine which wireless technology is suitable for use. Third, if wireless is to be employed in industrial applications, it must be rugged. It must be easy to set up and install, and it must be suitable for harsh industrial environments. Commercial products do not meet the demanding environmental standards required for industrial equipment. Typically, industrial-grade components meet specifications for temperature, shock and vibration, and noise immunity that far exceed the specifications for commercial-grade equipment.
Licensed and unlicensed wireless The FCC regulates the airwaves in the U.S. Most wireless transmissions require an FCC-issued license that authorizes transmission on a particular frequency over a defined geographic area. If another transmission interferes with a licensed transmission, the licensee has legal recourse to terminate the interfering transmission. Conversely, a licensees transmission cannot interfere with a transmission on another frequency. There has been a dramatic increase in wireless technologies that do not require a license to operate. The rapid growth of wireless technology used by the general public and industry is occurring in the unlicensed spectrum.
Industrial, scientific and medical bands The FCC permits license-free transmissions in the industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) bands but with specific requirements for frequency, power and technology used. No license is needed for use; however, the manufacturer of the wireless device must meet provisions of FCC Part 15 regulations, which ensures unlicensed transmissions do not interfere with licensed transmissions. License-free transmissions are allowed in three bandwidths: 900 MHz, 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz. These are shorthand designations for the bands. The specific range of frequencies for each band is listed in Table 1. It is important to note that other countries may not recognize these same bands for license-free transmissions. The 900 MHz band is not for public use in a number of countries. Generally the 2.4 GHz band is considered licensefree throughout most of the world. Confirm suitability before selecting a wireless device that will be used outside the U.S. Band 900 MHz 2.4 GHz 5.8 GHz Frequency Range 902 928 MHz 2.400 2.500 GHz 5.725 5.875 GHz
Table 1: The ISM Bands The frequency band in which a wireless device operates greatly influences its performance. As previously noted, the lower the frequency, the farther the signal will travel, and the better it can penetrate solid objects. Chart 1 shows the signal loss (attenuation) in free space for the three ISM bands. Differences in attenuation are even greater when objects are introduced into the signal path.
120 120 115 115 110 110 105 105 dB dB 100 100 95 95 90 90 85 85 80 80 75 75
5 12 5 0. .12 0 5 37 5 0. .37 0 5 62 5 0. .62 0 5 87 5 0. .87 0 5 5 12 5 37 5 1. .12 1. .37 1 1 Miles Miles 5 62 5 1. .62 1 5 87 5 1. .87 1
Loss @ 900MHz Loss @ 900MHz Loss @ 2.4GHz Loss @ 2.4GHz Loss @ 5.8GHz Loss @ 5.8GHz
Chart 1: Signal loss in free space Why use the 2.4 or 5.8 GHz bands if a signal in the 900 MHz band goes farther and is better at penetrating solid objects? The reason is that more data can be sent faster in the higher frequencies. Which band is best depends on the application. A wireless link sending network data needs as much bandwidth as possible. On the other hand, a wireless signal controlling a pump two miles away has to contend more with the challenges of distance than the speed or the amount of data being sent. The choice of which band to use is not determined by the user. Public wireless standards specify the frequency band to be used. The band for a proprietary device is selected by the manufacturer for the intended application. A key difference between the 2.4 and 5.8 GHz bands is channel allocation. When used for Wi-Fi, the bands are segmented into sections called channels. In the 2.4 GHz band there are 11 channels available for use in the U.S. Of the 11, only three do not overlap. Communications on overlapping channels can interfere with one another and diminish performance of wireless transmissions. The 5.8 GHz band has eight channels. None overlap. The 5.8 GHz band offers the flexibility of having multiple networks that do not interfere with each other. However, there is greater attenuation in the 5.8 GHz band, resulting in potentially shorter transmission distances than in the 2.4 GHz band. As stated previously, the 2.4 GHz band generally is allocated for license-free transmissions throughout the world. Many wireless devices operate in this band. In addition to wireless standards such as Ethernet and Bluetooth, many cordless phones and even microwave ovens operate in the 2.4 GHz band. As a result, congestion could be a potential issue for new or future installations. Regardless of the source, high concentrations of RF energy translate into possible interference for wireless devices. Different wireless technologies deal with interference in different ways. Knowing how the different wireless engines work is useful in understanding why different wireless technologies perform differently, and why one technology may be better than another for a given application.
Spread spectrum License-free wireless transmissions in the ISM bands require the use of one of the spread spectrum technologies. Spread spectrum refers to a method of transmitting a signal by spreading it over a broad range of frequencies, much wider than the minimum bandwidth needed to transmit. The benefits of spread spectrum technology are: Increased transmission speed for faster throughput Operation of multiple networks in the same area for greater flexibility in system layout and expansion Minimized impact on performance due to interference
Reduced power consumption for battery- or solar-powered installations
Three wireless technologies come under the spread spectrum umbrella. They are: frequency hopping, direct sequencing and orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM). Each technology has its advantages and limitations. Frequency-hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) refers to a process of sending data on a carrier signal that hops from one frequency to the next in a pseudorandom hop sequence. The hop sequence is known by the transmitter and receiver and may include any number of frequencies in the hop sequence. Each hop generally is only a few milliseconds in duration. Should the hop sequence land on a particular frequency where there is interference, the data packet might be corrupted. However, that data packet can be ignored and the sequence continues to the next frequency. As a result, FHSS is said to tolerate interference and is well suited for industrial environments with high levels of electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference (RFI). Additionally, although it is not impossible, it would be very difficult to intercept or manipulate wireless transmissions using FHSS due to the pseudorandom hop sequence. As a result, FHSS is inherently a very secure means of transmitting data. The limitation of FHSS is lower data rates due to the short duration of each hop. FHSS is well suited for applications that require robust performance in environments with EMI and RFI and that do not involve large amounts of data. Direct-sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) transmissions use a coding technique that acts somewhat as a software filter. DSSS spreads a signal over a large bandwidth before transmitting. The receiver de-spreads the data, recreating the original signal. This synchronized process of spreading and de-spreading results in an improved signal-to-noise ratio referred to as process gain. Any signal that did not go through the spreading process is suppressed. DHSS is not immune to interference. When the jamming margin is reached, throughput goes from 100 percent to 0 percent. DHSS is less immune to interference than FHSS, but it provides higher data transmission rates. DHSS is well suited for applications such as wireless networks where there are many nodes sending moderate amounts of data at speeds much faster than possible with FHSS. Despite its complex sounding name, orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) is an easy technology to understand. OFDM uses multiple, parallel data streams to send data at much higher rates than DSSS. Although not technically a spread spectrum technology, it is associated with the ISM bands. OFDM is optimal for a wireless network with a few nodes streaming large amounts of data.
Power limitations As noted, the FCC authorizes license-free transmissions in any of the three ISM bands using one of the three spread spectrum technologies. The third restriction for unlicensed transmissions is power. Unlicensed radio transmitters are limited to one watt power output. There are additional limitations on the gain of antenna systems that vary depending on the type of transmission. Public versus proprietary Wireless transmissions fall into one of two categories: public standard or proprietary system. A wireless public standard involves a governing body that creates a specification guaranteeing performance and interoperability between devices from different manufacturers. Interoperability gives consumers choices in product selection. A particular manufacturers product may offer more features and benefits than another or may offer cost advantages versus another manufacturer. Standards-based components can evolve as standards evolve, protecting investments in earlier technology if backward compatibility is part of the standard. An example of a wireless standard is Wireless Ethernet, or Wi-Fi (short for Wireless-Fidelity). The standards for Wireless Ethernet were developed and are managed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and known as IEEE 802.11. The original standard was developed in the late 90s and has evolved over time as technology and needs have changed.
Public standards provide interoperability but also lead to concerns over security. With a public wireless standard, everyone knows the radio language, and everyone has access to equipment that can receive transmissions. Therefore, sensitive information transmitted using a public standard must be protected. The primary means of protecting wireless data is through encryption. With proprietary wireless systems, the manufacturer controls the design and determines which products work together and how they work together. The word proprietary can have negative connotations; however, when considering wireless technology it may be helpful to think of proprietary simply as using available technology to meet a need where no public standard exists. Currently there are no standards for industrial wireless technology; however, there have been numerous proprietary wireless products in the market for many years serving a wide range of industrial needs. Proprietary technology can provide a significant benefit in terms of security. Although the wireless engine and the frequency range might be known (e.g. FHSS, 900 MHz) for a wireless device, discovering how that device works would be extremely difficult for an outsider. Proprietary technology provides a significant barrier to intrusion. Adding encryption increases the difficulty of intercepting or manipulating a wireless transmission especially if FHSS is used. As discussed earlier, FHSS is an inherently secure wireless engine.
Wireless for industry There is no single wireless technology that satisfies all the needs of industry. As a result, numerous wireless technologies are being used in a variety of applications. Generally speaking, five technologies are used most commonly in industry. They are: licensed proprietary unlicensed proprietary wireless Ethernet Bluetooth and GSM/GPRS (cell phone) technology As noted earlier, each wireless technology has its advantages and limitations.
Licensed technology for industry Licensed, proprietary wireless technology has been used for many years in industry. It is commonly used for transmission of data, usually serial, over long distances (many miles). Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems are used in industry segments, such as the water industry, to monitor and control operations over large geographic areas. Data continues to be collected over phone lines via dial-up modems; however, wireless telemetry eliminates the recurring costs associated with phone lines. Additionally, the owner of a wireless telemetry system owns the link between the remote site and central location and has total control over the communications infrastructure. Conversely, there are costs associated with establishing and maintaining the wireless systems that include antennas, masts and towers. The FCC issues licenses for transmissions in the VHF (very high frequencies) and UHF (ultra high frequencies) bands. A license allows transmissions with a maximum power output of five watts. Although not difficult, there can be some challenges in obtaining a license. Frequency coordinators are helpful in determining which frequencies are available in a geographic area and submitting applications to the FCC. The greatest challenge in obtaining a license in the VHF and UHF bands is availability of open frequencies. Depending on the geographic location, there may not be any available frequencies in the VHF band. Unless a user already has a license in the VHF band, there may be no reason to consider new wireless systems in this band. Although UHF frequencies generally are available, there might be limitations, especially in larger metropolitan areas. Generally, users already involved with licensed, proprietary technology will continue to use it as part of a wireless telemetry system. However, the rapid increase in the use of wireless technology in industry is occurring in the unlicensed wireless technologies.
Unlicensed wireless for industry The use of license-free wireless in industry has increased dramatically in the past few years. In addition to displacing licensed technology for short- to medium-distance applications (several miles), many new uses for wireless have been discovered. Both standards-based and proprietary technologies are being used in a variety of applications.
Unlicensed proprietary Unlicensed, proprietary wireless already has a proven track record for reliable performance in various industrial applications. Many of the products available in the market are based on FHSS, operating in the 900 MHz band for use in applications such as wireless I/O (replacing wired connections between discrete and analog devices) or data radios (replacing wired serial connections between intelligent devices). For maximum application flexibility, most proprietary wireless products use the full one watt available for license-free transmissions. When end-to-end transmissions over long distances are not possible, the store and forward function is useful. With store and forward, data is sent to an intermediate device (repeater) that relays data to a final destination. Some manufacturers offer unique proprietary products such as a 900 MHz Ethernet radio. Data rates may be much lower than an 802.11 radio, and because it does not comply with IEEE 802.11 standards, it does not provide interoperability with other manufacturers 802.11 radios. However, a one watt, 900 MHz Ethernet radio transmits Ethernet data frames over the greatest distance possible without a license.
Wireless Ethernet Ethernet is the world-wide standard for local area network (LAN) technology. It is not surprising that wireless Ethernet is widely used for wireless local area network (WLAN) technology. The most common use for Wi-Fi in industry is for wireless networking. Ethernet has become an integral part of industrial control networks and is well suited for communications between PCs, PLCs, and a variety of other devices used in control systems. Additionally, Ethernet has simplified the integration of control networks and business networks. Wireless Ethernet extends the reach of wired networks and provides mobile communications and computing that are helpful in plant environments. Wireless Ethernet can be useful when implementing other technologies used in the plant, such as RFID, VoIP and wireless security devices. Wireless Ethernet increasingly is used for high-speed wireless communications between plant sites, extending the reach of wired networks beyond the plant. Wireless Ethernet or Wi-Fi is based on the IEEE 802.11 standard that defines three sub-standards: 802.11a, b & g. Each sub-standard defines the ISM band and spread spectrum technology to be used. Table 2 lists the 802.11 standards and key attributes for each. IEEE established and maintains the standards that ensure products from different vendors are compatible. The Wi-Fi Alliance tests adherence to the standards and certifies that a product meets the standards. A product that is certified by the Wi-Fi alliance can display the Wi-Fi logo. 802.11a 5.8 GHz 54 Mbps 802.11a OFDM 802.11b 2.4 GHz 11 Mbps 802.11b DSSS Table 2: IEEE 802.11 Standards Each standard has advantages and limitations. 802.11a operates in the 5.8 GHz band. It is unaffected by 2.4 GHz transmissions and can coexist with 2.4 GHz networks. As noted previously, the 5.8 GHz band has eight, nonoverlapping channels that provide flexibility when operating multiple networks in an area. However, the higher frequency means more signal loss, resulting in reduced transmission distance. The 802.11b standard has a large user base and offers longer transmission distances at a lower cost than 802.11a/g. However, 802.11b data rates
ISM Band Speed Compatibility SS Technology
802.11g 2.4 GHz 54 Mbps Backwards-compatible to 802.11b OFDM
are relatively slow for network speeds, and there is channel overlap in the 2.4 GHz band. 802.11g offers much higher data rates while using the same bandwidth as 802.11b. The key advantage to 802.11g is that it is backwardscompatible to 802.11b. A limitation of 802.11g is shorter transmission distance than 802.11b at the same frequency. Again, overlapping channels in the 2.4 GHz band may limit network layout for 802.11g. A new standard, 802.11n, is expected to be ratified in late 2009 or early 2010. 802.11n will offer much higher data rates than the current standards. Products are currently being sold based on the 802.11n standard, even though the standard has yet to be ratified. Ethernet radios can be used three ways: wireless access point (WAP), bridge and client. A WAP connects client devices to a wired Ethernet network via a wireless link. Client devices, such as laptops use an internal, wireless network interface card (NIC) to communicate with a WAP. If the client device does not have an NIC, an Ethernet radio in client mode provides the connection to a WAP. In bridge mode, an Ethernet radio communicates with other Ethernet radios operating in the bridge mode. Only the radios designated as part of a specific bridge network can communicate with one another.
Wi-Fi security Because Wi-Fi is a public standard, the security and integrity of wireless transmissions are important concerns. There are a number of measures that can be taken to make transmissions secure, but encryption techniques are the most common. WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) was the first encryption technique, but it can now be compromised with limited know-how. WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) was introduced to improve upon WEP. WPA provides better security than WEP, but still is vulnerable to attacks. Today, WPA2 or 802.11i provides the highest level of security for wireless Ethernet networks and is considered un-hackable by todays standards.
Bluetooth Bluetooth is a public standard (802.15.1) intended for short-range, low-power wireless transmissions. Originally conceived for connecting consumer electronics such as a wireless keyboard or mouse to a PC, Bluetooth is being used in industry for machine-to-machine communications and other short-range wireless applications. Bluetooth can be used to send data between a fixed device on a machine and a component that is moving or rotating. Also, Bluetooth devices sending serial data can be useful for mobile data acquisition devices. The Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG) certifies that products meet the standard, ensuring interoperability of products from different manufacturers. Bluetooth uses FHSS and operates in the 2.4 GHz band. Because Bluetooth is a public standard, all aspects of its hop sequence must be known in order for manufacturers to build devices that work together. Bluetooth shares the same frequency bands as 802.11b/g. When channels become overloaded, Bluetooth versions 1.2 or later use adaptive frequency hopping to remove overloaded channels from the hop sequence. This is one example of how wireless standards are evolving to minimize interference between unlicensed technologies. Most people think of Bluetooth as a very short range technology. The Bluetooth standard identifies three classes of devices based on transmission power and approximate range. Class 3 devices (1 mW max) have an approximate range of one meter. Class 2 devices (2.5 mW max) and Class 1 devices (up to 100 mW max) have ranges of 10 to 100 meters, respectively. Some Bluetooth installations with line-of-sight easily exceed 100 meters. When two or more Bluetooth devices are connected, they form a piconet. Bluetooth devices initiate communications and determine if they should pair with one another. Because there are many types of Bluetooth devices, there must be a way to determine which devices should communicate. Each Bluetooth device has profiles that define what the device is and what it does. By examining each others profiles, devices know when to pair. An example of a profile is headset profile used for headset voice output. A cell phone and headset can pair and exchange data because each has the headset profile.
As with any public standard, security is a concern. Bluetooth uses a number of techniques to ensure secure transmission of data. The use of FHSS as its engine adds an inherent level of security. The Bluetooth hop sequence switches channels 1,600 times per second. Capturing a single hop would be extremely difficult. Additionally, data is encoded before transmitted, increasing the security of the transmission. Password protection ensures only devices with identical passwords can participate in the protected data communication. Additional security comes from controlling the pairing process to determine which products can communicate. Also, devices can be made invisible so they cannot be discovered by other devices.
GSM/GPRS cell phone technology Cell phone technology can be useful when sending data over long distances and the cost and complexity of wireless telemetry systems are prohibitive. A GSM/GPRS modem can provide access to remote locations via a cell phone service provider. These service providers and the technology used are the same that personal cell phones use. GSM (Global Services for Mobile Communications) uses the voice network used by a cell phone. Data from the GSM modem is sent through the service provider to any device on the PSTN (public switched telephone network). The data, such as a text message or fax, can be sent to a phone number on the PSTN. GSM provides point-topoint connection via a direct dial. As with your cell phone, you are billed for the airtime used. A GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) modem sends data via the service provider to the Internet. Data is sent to an IP address instead of a phone number. The GPRS link is always active, but billing is based on the amount of data sent, not airtime. GPRS offers many options on the type and amount of data transmitted. Experienced users can purchase a GSM/GPRS modem and set up service with the cell phone service provider of choice. However, users with little or no experience can find the process of activating a modem challenging. Certain manufacturers of GSM/GPRS modems may have a partnership with a third party who will handle all arrangements with the service provider to activate the modem and manage the call plans. This service is extremely helpful when data from multiple locations involves several service providers. Additionally, the third party may offer web services that allow data collected from remote sites to be displayed on an Internet web page or sent to a central database. It is easy to access information and monitor operations from any location with an Internet connection. There are two issues to consider with GSM/GPRS technology. First, there are recurring costs. Monthly charges are incurred and vary depending on the call plan used. Second, the user does not own the link between sites and has no guarantee that the link will always be operational. Depending on the situation for a given application, these issues could determine the feasibility of using or not using GSM/GPRS technology.
ZigBee ZigBee currently does not have a significant presence in industrial applications; however, efforts to develop a standard for industrial wireless sensor networks based on ZigBee are likely to raise ZigBees profile in the future. ZigBee is based on the 802.15.4 standard. ZigBee is a low-cost, low-power, wireless, mesh network standard. The ZigBee Alliance certifies compliance with the IEEE standards. It uses DSSS as its engine and operates in the 2.4 GHz ISM band. A mesh network allows devices to connect and reconnect in any number of ways, increasing the reliability and range of the network. Low-power consumption is an advantage for battery or solar powered applications.
Antenna systems Antennas are an essential part of every wireless system. The performance of a given wireless technology is greatly influenced by the antenna system, which includes the antenna and associated cables and connectors. For reliable
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communications, antenna selection and placement become more important as transmission distance increases. As a general rule of thumb, the farther the distance, the higher the antenna must be. A key attribute of any antenna is gain. Antenna gain is not amplification of the RF signal, but a measure of the focus of the signal transmitted. A high gain antenna has a more focused RF pattern than a lower gain antenna. Different types of antennas focus the RF energy in different ways. The FCC limits the gain of antenna systems to minimize interference between signal transmissions. There are two basic types of antennas: Omnidirectional (Omni) and Directional. Directional antennas are also called Yagi antennas, named after one of the Japanese inventors (Yagi and Uda). An Omni antenna is oriented vertically and radiates energy (the signal) 360 degrees, mostly in the horizontal plane and receives signals from any direction. The pattern of the Omni could be compared with a doughnut. As the gain increases, the doughnut gets flatter and extends farther. The Omni is recommended for a central communications location where signals are sent and received in different directions. Omni antennas are generally best for industrial plant applications where there is no line-of-sight (LOS) and signals may take multiple paths to reach the receiving location. Yagi antennas radiate energy in a specific direction and are aimed towards the target receiver. The pattern of a Yagi antenna resembles a teardrop. The higher the gain, the more elongated the teardrop and the farther it reaches. Yagi antennas are used when long transmission distances are required. Having LOS between sites is a good indication that a wireless link is possible, but its no guarantee. Using GPS coordinates, computer software can predict if wireless transmission between sites is possible. However, path study software cant know everything about the application. Conducting a site survey (setting up the wireless equipment and testing) will confirm that reliable wireless communications are possible and under what conditions.
Conclusion Wireless already has a well established role in industry today. Its use, however, will grow dramatically in the coming years as wireless technologies find mainstream acceptance, and standards intended for industrial applications are developed. Understanding the advantages and limitations of the various wireless technologies will allow users to realize the benefits of wireless while avoiding unnecessary costs and lost time resulting from its misapplication. About Phoenix Contact Phoenix Contact is a world leader in electrical connection, electronic interface and industrial automation technologies. Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. KG, Blomberg, Germany, operates 46 international subsidiaries, including Phoenix Contact USA in Middletown, Pa. Global sales exceed more than 1 billion euro annually. Phoenix Contacts formal Integrated Management System is registered to ISO quality, environmental and safety standards (ISO 9001:2008,14001:2004 and 18001:2007).
References Bormann, Alexander & Hilgenkamp, Ingo, Industrial Networks: Ethernet Communications for Automation Applications, Hermann Bosmann GmbH, Detmold, Germany, 2006. Gralla, Preston, How Wireless Works Second Edition, Que Publishing, Indianapolis, IN, 2006.

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Industrial wireless technology

Reduced power consumption for battery- or solar-powered installations

ISM Band Speed Compatibility SS Technology

802.11g 2.4 GHz 54 Mbps Backwards-compatible to 802.11b OFDM

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