Belden’s new OpenBAT range from Hirschmann is the first modular system to enable industry-standard WLAN access points and clients to be configured via the internet. This range, comprising the BAT-R (IP20) and BAT-F (IP67) series, supports the IEEE 802.11n transmission standard, which facilitates data speeds of up to 450Mbps in both the 5GHz and the 2.4GHz bands. Both series are based on entirely new hardware and also have a powerful HiLCOS operating system with extensive management, security and quality of service functions plus layer 3 IP routing. The number of wireless modules and Ethernet LAN ports can be configured individually, as can the power delivery concept. This also applies to the over a dozen certificates that qualify these access points and clients for use in, for example, the power supply industry, the gas and oil sector or rail transportation. They can be used to set up fast and stable infrastructure and meshed networks plus wireless distribution systems (WDS) or point-to-point connections. Several thousand different designs can be configured using these OpenBAT devices. The range, expected to be launched in Spring 2012, thus allows tailored solutions with an optimal price-performance ratio.
The core component of this new hardware is a patented wireless module specifically designed for applications in industrial environments, with integrated ESD protection and bandpass filters. MIMO technology (Multiple Input Multiple Output) ensures a stable wireless connection even in the presence of reflections or other forms of interference. Fast roaming guarantees uninterrupted connections when transferring from one radio cell to another.
