Moxa Technologies starts daily wireless device server essay contest

Taiwan-based Moxa Technologies reports that it’s sponsoring a daily “Wireless Device Server Contest” to promote its new NPort wireless device servers. The firm started giving away one NPort W2150 one-port wireless device server each working day starting on May 1.

However, unlike other contests, winning one of Moxa’s new palm-sized wireless device servers doesn’t depend on chance. Contestants are required to submit a short essay describing a novel application of wireless device servers. Winners are being chosen based on originality of their ideas, and the clarity with which they’re described.

Though anyone can enter the contest, Moxa says winners will be restricted to industrial applicants with a genuine need for wireless device servers. “The growing popularity of wireless local area networks (LANs) in industrial settings is due in part to the versatility they add to a wide range of applications. Reducing the number of cables used helps reduce cost, and removes the risk of devices getting disconnected when someone trips over a cable. Wireless device servers also are being used to add mobility to industrial equipment that otherwise would be restricted to a small area,” says Harry Liu, Moxa’s product manager, who will oversee judging of the entries. “We felt that requiring applicants to submit a practical application of the product would be a good way to generate interest in the contest. It’s certainly a lot more exciting than just pulling names out of a hat. Besides, if you’re in the market for a product of this type, you’ll already have a product application in mind, so it should only take a few minutes to write up a description.”

Moxa’s wireless device servers include: one-port NPort W2150; two-port NPort W2250; and four-port NPort W2004. NPort W2150/2250 can connect any RS-232/422/485 serial device to an IEEE 802.11b Wi-Fi network, and supports TCP client, TCP server, and UDP operation modes, with secure data access provided by standard WEP. NPort W2004 also supports IEEE 802.11g Wi-Fi networks, transmits at up to 460.8 kbps, and supports enhanced remote configuration via HTTPS and SSH.

Contest information is available on the Moxa Group website .

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

Do you have experience and expertise with the topics mentioned in this content? You should consider contributing to our CFE Media editorial team and getting the recognition you and your company deserve. Click here to start this process.