Choosing a cellular solution for connecting devices to a WWAN.
Recent developments in the wireless and industrial automation fields have spurred businesses to consider using wireless technologies to connect remote devices. In the past, using wireless for communicating between remote devices or remote offices and the central office was not feasible due to problems with cost, speed, and reliability. However, wireless technologies have now reached a level of sophistication that makes it a feasible solution for a variety of applications.
Cellular technology for WWAN applications
Cellular technology is currently the most popular choice for implementing wireless WAN applications. This is because of the extended range and coverage that cellular technology offers.
Cellular technology is usually classified into the two standards that are widely used in various parts of the world today – GSM/GPRS and CDMA. Current estimates put the global market shares at 80% and 20%, respectively. The GSM/GPRS standards comprise several generations, with each generation offering higher data rates than the previous one.
The following table lists the various GSM/GPRS generations and the data rates supported:
With the increase in data rates and reliability that cellular technologies (especially GSM/GPRS) now offer, they are becoming the primary data communication method for a number of industrial automation applications.
Cellular modules
A cellular module is a supplementary module (or add-on) that provides a device with basic cellular capability. The module enables the attached device to connect to the cellular network using simple AT commands. Cellular modules are primarily used to enable host devices to send data back to the central office. In real-world applications, cellular modules are used as a backup data communication channel.
Cellular modules are developed by various companies and are used by hardware vendors that want to add basic cellular capability to their own devices, such as machines, gateway devices, and routers. The modules are usually supplied with a serial interface to support 2G and 2,5 or a USB interface to support 3G and 3,5G standards.
Readers wanting to understand more about wireless WAN applications and the solution options available in the market can download the full Moxa white paper at: http://instrumentation.co.za/+C14893
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