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ATEX equipments are designed for industrial applications in explosive environment like the chemical industries, refineries, electric stations, very dusty environments and also those where sparks and electric arcs occur...
WL-COMETH-ATEX relies on the same technology used in the COMETH range (Ethernet 10/100 serial device servers) and thus offers the same range of possibilities on the IEEE 802.11b wireless network.
The product settles like a radio bridge between the serial equipments and the access point, thus removing any cabling between the computer and serial devices.
WL-COMETH-ATEX also works as a wireless Ethernet to serial device server, based on the RFC2217 standard, featuring virtual COM ports redirector (enables legacy Windows & Linux applications to access remote serial devices across TCP/IP wireless network without modification), TCP/IP socket mode, peer to peer connection (Ad-hoc mode, virtual cable), Telnet server, TCP server ...
Because actual industrial radio modems are not WiFi compliant, there is no interoperability between radio vendors. Central and remote sites must use same brand of equipments.
WL-COMETH-ATEX authorizes a total interoperability with all the equipments compliant with the IEEE standard 802.11b "radio" connected to the network, thus, one single access point can work with up to 100 WL-COMETH-ATEX devices, it's also possible to replace a full-duplex wired serial link with two radio WL-COMETH-ATEX.
A 6 LEDs RF signal level indicator enables to easily setup the two antennas in order to get the best result while installing the device.
Characteristics summary
 Outputs for antennas, serial cable and power supply through stuffing boxes
1 RS232/RS422/RS485 serial port (SUB D9), up to 250 Kbps, screw-in terminal
Wireless link compliant to WiFi IEEE 802.11b, DSSS, 2.4 GHz, IEEE 802.11g compatible
Two 3 dBi omnidirectional ground plane type for wall mounting,
1 meter of low loss cable, dimensions: 250 x 200 x 25 mm, weight: 350 g,
protection: EX II 2GD EExe II T6, IP 66
200m nominal range (line of sight), 60 m in other cases
Auto-fallback system reduces speed to 5.5, 2 and 1 Mbps for greater range and/or
better signal immunity
4 independent 64/128 bits WEP keys
Support for TCP Client/Server, DHCP Client, TELNET RFC2217 extension,
Telnet Server, COM port re-director (VIP), multipoint or point to point virtual link over
UDP modes and MODBUS/TCP Client/Server, MODBUS/RTU & MODBUS/ASCII
protocols, direct communication (ad hoc) or from access point
LEDs signalling for TxD, RxD, network signals, link quality and radio signal level
(6 LEDs inside the enclosure)
AC power supply for 85 to 264 VAC, screw-in terminal
EEx-d IIC CCA03 aluminum enclosure, dimensions: 276 x 276 x 217 mm,
weight: 11,1 Kg, protection: EX II 2GD EExd IIC, IP 66
Extended temperature range from -25°C to +80°C (-20°C to +55°C for the antennas)
RH: 0-99%
*More information about serial MODBUS performances on radio links ...
Remote COM port mode
Works with Windows 9x/me/NT/2K/XP, Linux and requires a COM port redirector driver software on the PC (VIP).
This mode is supported by the WL-COMETH-ATEX when running the "ServerCom" firmware and when configured in the TELNET RFC 2217 mode (TELNET RFC 2217 is a standard).
This mode makes it possible to run any Windows COM applications without any adaptation (Hyperterminal for example), basically designed for a local COM port, the Windows communication API is fully supported. COM port configuration is carried out by the application itself and not necessarily by the administration module.
Other redirector softwares relying on the RFC 2217 standard exist for other operating systems.
TCP socket server mode
This mode works with any operating system supporting TCP/IP.
It is supported by the WL-COMETH-ATEX when running the "ServerCom" firmware and when configured in the RAW mode.
The WL-COMETH-ATEX is able to answer to TCP connection request on a configurable TCP port (it is thus a server).
The application which uses the WL-COMETH-ATEX relies on the SOCKET API and not on the COM API.
COM port configuration (speed, characters, flow control) is programmed in the WL-COMETH-ATEX using the administration module.
TCP socket client mode
This mode works with any operating system supporting TCP/IP.
It is supported by the WL-COMETH-ATEX when running the "TCP Client" firmware.
The WL-COMETH-ATEX is able to answer a TCP connection request on a TCP port to a server, the IP address of the server is programmed using the administration module.
Connection origin can be established from WL-COMETH-ATEX power ON of from the rising edge of the DSR signal.
The application which uses the WL-COMETH-ATEX relies on the SOCKET API and not on the COM API.
COM port configuration (speed, characters, flow control) is programmed in the WL-COMETH-ATEX using the administration module.
TELNET mode
This mode works with any operating system supporting TCP/IP and which has a TELNET client software, two cases:
Configured TCP port TCP of the Socket TCP Server mode
This mode is supported by the WL-COMETH-ATEX when running the "ServerCom" firmware and when configured in the TELNET mode.
It doesn't require any application development on the PC, TELNET is the network application !
TCP port #23
This mode is supported by all the WL-COMETH-ATEX's firmwares.
When the WL-COMETH-ATEX receives a port 23 connection request, it switches to the administration mode and can thus be configured (speed, mode ...).
AD-HOC mode (point-to-point connection: virtual cable)
This mode enables to provide a full-duplex serial exchange between two serial equipements through the WL-COMETH-ATEX and without using any access point.
However, the point-to-point connection thus carried out rely on IP and no more on the WiFi network substructure, the communication is carried out directly by radio between two WL-COMETH-ATEX equipments like standard radio modems.
MODBUS/TCP data gateway mode
This mode is supported by the WL-COMETH-ATEX when running the "MODBUS/TCP" firmware.
In conformity with the MODBUS/TCP Client / Server specifications, this mode makes it possible to connect any serial MODBUS equipments (MODBUS/ASCII & MODBUS/RTU) to the wireless Ethernet TCP/IP network.
In this mode, the WL-COMETH-ATEX settles like a radio bridge between the wireless Ethernet network and the serial MODBUS equipments which dramatically simplifies the extension from traditional MODBUS installation to a MODBUS/TCP based installation on the wireless Ethernet network.
The WL-COMETH-ATEX device can work as a slave or master device on both sides (Wireless Ethernet or Serial).
This mode also makes it possible to connect between them and in a transparent way several traditional serial MODBUS equipments through the wireless Ethernet network.
WL-COMETH-ATEX with MODBUS/TCP allows moreover integration within the same network of serial MODBUS/ASCII & MODBUS/RTU based equipments and MODBUS/TCP equipments.
Some illustrations
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