Amplicon has introduced the new EBW H100 3G cellular router, a cost effective and safe method for remote access and data transfer.  Designed for reliable, remote access and secure routing, the EBW H100 features an industrial-grade design, integrated firewall and VPN functionality to ensure access to your data is both dependable and protected. The fast mobile wireless EBW H100 router uses both HSPA (3G) and GPRS roll-back for data transfer.

The device has an integrated 2-port switch for direct interfacing with an application or network. For installation into demanding environments, the EBW H100 has a built in DIN Rail mounting bracket, a wide ranging DC power input of 10 to 48 VDC via terminal block and a wide operating temperature range of -30 to 55°C.

The EBW H100 router provides a reliable and economic solution for remote access and data transfer applications, such as remote access to control devices (PLC’s HMI’s etc.) or networks for OEM’s and System Integrators, video monitoring in security systems for asset protection on rail or road, distributed power generation, SCADA/RTU systems, water and wastewater utilities, agriculture for the monitoring of feed and water, and many other industrial projects.

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The Fieldbus Foundation has released the final specification for integration of ISA100.11a wireless field devices into its FOUNDATION™ for Remote Operations Management (ROM) technology. Unlike solutions limited to a single network standard, this development allows automation end users to employ multiple wired and wireless protocols for greater flexibility and expandability.

FOUNDATION for ROM will extend the capabilities of FOUNDATION fieldbus to countless wired and wireless devices installed in some of the world’s harshest and most remote locations. This includes the implementation of a true predictive and proactive maintenance strategy for remote assets that could not previously support one. FOUNDATION for ROM provides a unified digital infrastructure for asset management in applications ranging from tank farms and terminals to pipelines, offshore platforms, and even OEM skids.

With this release, the Fieldbus Foundation has finalized the remote I/O, wired HART® and WirelessHART®, and ISA100.11a portions of the FOUNDATION for ROM specification. The technology integrates these protocols, along with H1 fieldbus, into the FOUNDATION fieldbus managed infrastructure. Specifications for Modbus communications are in development that will enable Modbus devices such as wellhead flow meters and submersible pump controllers to be integrated in a similar way.

The new FOUNDATION specification means that end users will be able to manage their ISA100.11a wireless devices just like FOUNDATION fieldbus devices within the FOUNDATION fieldbus infrastructure. The new specification includes parameters for ISA100.11a transducer blocks, providing the block application objects into which ISA100.11a variables may be mapped for access by other fieldbus devices. The transducer blocks also provide a mechanism to pass data to and from ISA100.11a devices directly from configuration or asset management hosts.

The Fieldbus Foundation's director of technology development, Dave Glanzer, commented, "Our new specification will benefit end users who need to be able to interface ISA100.11a wireless devices to improve their integration with a control system and field devices. It also provides a networked method for an asset-managing host to access a large set of ISA100.11a devices for configuration and maintenance purposes.

"Experienced automation professionals in the process industries have taught us a lot about the implementation of fieldbus and how to make it better. We are driving the feedback from our dedicated end user customers, suppliers and engineering partners into a continuous improvement process to make the technology easier to use and implement in a wide range of applications."

The Fieldbus Foundation's ROM infrastructure provides a single source for data management, diagnostics, alarms and alerts, data quality control, control-in-the-field capability, and object-oriented block structure. Its High Speed Ethernet (HSE) TCP/IP protocol enables remote operations information to be communicated to the control system over any wired or wireless backhaul network utilizing the architecture model developed in a joint collaboration between the Fieldbus Foundation and the International Society for Automation (ISA) under the ISA100.15 Wireless Backhaul Networks Working Group.

To ensure interoperability, FOUNDATION for ROM devices from multiple suppliers utilize Electronic Device Description Language (EDDL) and interoperability testing. This is essential to improve integration of critical functional areas, including machinery health monitoring, safety interlocks, fire & gas detection systems, and video surveillance.

Advantech, a leading industrial communication solutions provider, has announced the launch of two new GPRS IP Gateways. Designed for use in remote locations the EKI-1321 and EKI-1322 has two SIM card slots, reverse virtual COM and DDNS, Support for OpenVPN and also IPv6 and IPv4.

To help customers get the best possible connection the EKI-132x devices include two SIM card slots so that customers may choose two service providers to transmit the data. The devices will automatically switch between the SIM cards to gain the best possible signal and transmission rate. During this switch the serial data being transmitted will be either buffered in the memory or stored on an SD card where it will be sent on when the signal resumes.

ISPs will often provide a private IP address and in order for customers to still be able to remotely use the EKI-132x Advantech has developed the Reverse Virtual COM where EKI automatically connects to a server. If a public IP address is used then the original VCOM mode can be applied as usual.

For users to be able to create a secure virtual private network the EKIs include support for the OpenSource VPN software OpenVPN which uses RSA Asymmetric Encryption technology with key sizes up to 4096 bits. This level of protection is the most secure available and has yet to be broken.

To future-proof the EKI models they can use either IP version 4 or IP version 6. IP version 4 is still the most common, but version 6 is becoming more widely adopted and when a customer’s network does make the change the EKI-1321 and EKI-1322 are able to be reconfigured. EKI-1321 and EKI-1322 have passed the Phase-2 approval of IPv6 Ready Logo Committee(Logo ID: 02-C-000824).

Power management company Eaton today announced the release of the ELPRO® 450U-ETM licensed wireless Ethernet modem. Ideal for industrial applications, the product offers powerful long-range communications to extend Ethernet networks in difficult-to-reach locations. Flexible options available support 360 to 512 megahertz (MHz) configurations, providing users with an integrated and complete industrial Ethernet infrastructure solution.

“The 450U-E extends the broad range of licensed and unlicensed Ethernet modems offered by the ELPRO product line,” said Steven Toteda, vice president and general manager, Eaton. “With solutions from 60MHz to 5.8GHz, the product line’s unique features help extend end-to-end network connectivity, easily integrating with our range of market-leading networking solutions designed to provide end users with a productive and safe solution and lower total cost of ownership.”

The ELPRO 450U-E modem is designed to integrate with ELPRO wireless and wired networks to connect remote sensors, actuators and instrumentation to mission critical monitoring and control system programmable logic controllers, distributed control system and supervisory control and data acquisition. Key applications include oil and gas, water/wastewater, mining and power generation.

The ELPRO 450U-E Wireless Ethernet Modem utilizes dynamic network optimization and intelligent routing to achieve high reliability, lower latency and deterministic power management. Additionally, the ELPRO 450U-E operates in an extended temperature range designed to meet the demands of industrial environments and provides secure industry standard encryption (128bit AES, 802.11i with CCMP, WEP, WPA2) and compliance, including ATEX/IECEx (hazardous area approval). It is easy to use and simple to install with DIN-rail or wall-mount options.

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