EC: WirelessHART gateway
Network Integration – wireless - Phoenix Contact - WirelessHART gateway. The rail-mount gateway can connect up to 250 WirelessHART field devices, converting the HART data to Modbus TCP, while the integrated WiFi (802.11 b/g) transceiver can serve as a backhaul connection. This is a Control Engineering 2011 Engineers' Choice (EC) Award winner.
The RAD-WGH/WLAN-XD is the first WirelessHART gateway to offer integrated Wi-Fi (802.11) and wired Ethernet network backhaul capabilities. This provides flexibility offering a wireless backhaul strategy or wired backhaul strategy where the wireless connection can be turn off, used as a backup communications path, or for mobile operator access.
More than 30 million HART-enabled devices are currently installed in plants around the world, but only 10 percent of these devices are used to their full potential. WirelessHART allows users to rescue stranded data from the HART devices currently not being used. By adding a WLAN connection as a secure backhaul, the user can increase the HART system's flexibility even more.
The 45-mm wide RAD-WHG/WLAN-XD connects up to 250 WirelessHART field devices, converting WirelessHART data to standard MODBUS TCP or HART IP for easy integration into almost any host system. To maintain a secure connection, the gateway uses the 802.11i (WPA2) standard with 128-bit AES encryption to protect the WiFi data in addition to WirelessHART using 128-bit AES encryption maintaining security throughout the wireless networks. Configuration of the gateway is simple; all that is needed is a PC with a web browser. The RAD-WHG/WLAN-XD has an embedded web server for configuring the gateway and providing diagnostics about the WirelessHART network.
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Phoenix Contact
For more, see www.controleng.com/awards.
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