Cirronet’s 900-MHz antennas achieve +20-mile range

Cirronet Inc. has released 900-MHz, long-range versions of its SEM and HopNet products.

By Control Engineering Staff February 3, 2005

Cirronet’s 900-Mhz SEM and HopNet wireless solutions use omnidirection antennas to enable 20-mile range data transmissions.

Cirronet Inc . has released 900-MHz, long-range versions of its SEM and HopNet products. With 500 mW transmit power and a receive sensitivity of–104 dBm, the company says its 900-MHz products have demonstrated +20-mile range using omni-directional antennas with clear line of sight.

The ability to achieve this range without using directional antennas eliminates the costly and time-consuming need to aim the antennas. SEMs, or spread spectrum Ethernet bridges, provide long-range, high-speed wireless connectivity among Ethernet devices in industrial settings. HopNet devices offer the same performance for serial, Modbus, DNP3 and DF1 devices.

“The 900MHz SEM and HopNet products are ideal for utility, water management, and other industrial applications with their unique combination of high data rate, long range and available interfaces,” says Tim Cutler, Cirronet’s sales and marketing VP. “For system integrators and industrial resellers and distributors, these are components they can use to create complete communications solutions for their customers to enable the reliable transmission of data from one location to other facilities at distances of 20 miles or more.”

SEM 910’s family, including the SEM 910, SEM910X, SEM910D, SEM910DX, are designed to provide high-speed wireless connectivity between Ethernet devices. HopNet’s family, including HN-291, HN-291X, HN-291D, and HN-291DX, are low-cost serial and Modbus wireless modems with built-in antennas or external antenna connectors that provide high-speed wireless connectivity between serial devices. Typical uses include Ethernet bridging, SCADA networks, PLC networking, and other industrial automation, or data collection applications. Both SEM and HopNet products are based on the 900 MHz FHSS WIT910 radio module and support multi-point operation.

All Cirronet products feature the company’s patented frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) technology, known for its ability to deliver critical data in environments ordinarily considered too hostile for radio communications. The 900 MHz products will provide an over-the-air data rate of 172.6 kilobits per second.

—Jim Montague, news editor, Control Engineering, jmontague@reedbusiness.com