WL-IDA/S

Wireless RS232 / RS422 / RS485 serial device server for industrial automation







Contact us


Online documentation


Product data sheet


ACKSYS characterizes its range of wireless communication solutions (WiFi) by introducing a new model designed for industrial automation applications.



WL-IDA/S 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-IDA/S 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-IDA/S 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-IDA/S devices, it's also possible to replace a full-duplex wired serial link with two radio WL-IDA/S.

 


Characteristics summary


One RS232/RS422/RS485 serial port, full duplex up to 250 Kbps
Compliant to the IEEE 802.11b and IEEE 802.11g compatible, DSSS, (2.4 GHz wireless 11 Mbps Ethernet) recommendation, buit-in antenna & external antenna connector for long distance
200 m nominal range (line of sight), 60 m in other cases (with 2 dBi antenna), up to 4 Km with a 20 dBi antennas
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 display LAN & WLAN network activity, serial transmission (TxD & RxD), link quality and radio signal level (4 LEDs)
Metalic IP30 enclosure, 35 mm DIN rail mounting
+7VDC to +60VDC wide range power supply, 3W maximum consumption

Male SUB D9 connectors for the RS232 interface, 5-point screw-in terminal for RS422/RS485, 3-point screw-in terminal for the power supply

Operating temperature: -10° to +60°C (RH 5-95% non condensing), storage: -40° to +70°C

Weight: 271 g, dimensions : L: 110 x W: 72.5 x H: 32 mm

More information about MODBUS/TCP 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-IDA/S 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-IDA/S when running the "ServerCom" firmware and when configured in the RAW mode.

The WL-IDA/S is able to answer to TCP connection request on a configurable TCP port (it is thus a server).

The application which uses the WL-IDA/S relies on the SOCKET API and not on the COM API.
COM port configuration (speed, characters, flow control) is programmed in the WL-IDA/S using the administration module.


TCP socket client mode


This mode works with any operating system supporting TCP/IP.
It is supported by the WL-IDA/S when running the "TCP Client" firmware.

The WL-IDA/S 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-IDA/S power ON of from the rising edge of the DSR signal.

The application which uses the WL-IDA/S relies on the SOCKET API and not on the COM API.
COM port configuration (speed, characters, flow control) is programmed in the WL-IDA/S 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-IDA/S 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-IDA/S's firmwares.
When the WL-IDA/S 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-IDA/S 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-IDA/S equipments like standard radio modems.


MODBUS/TCP data gateway mode


This mode is supported by the WL-IDA/S 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-IDA/S 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-IDA/S 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-IDA/S with MODBUS/TCP allows moreover integration within the same network of serial MODBUS/ASCII & MODBUS/RTU based equipments and MODBUS/TCP equipments.


 

Reference to order:

WL-IDA/S Wireless RS232/RS422/RS485 device server over Ethernet IEEE 802.11b (WiFi), with Windows COM port redirector software (VIP), MODBUS/TCP data gateway, MODBUS/TCP gateway support, 7-60 VDC power supply, built-in antenna and RP-SMA connector for an external antenna, 35 mm DIN rail mounting


External antennas, RF cables, WiFi accessories:

Click here to access the radio accessories and WLAN coverage calculation tools page ...

 

Products | Engineering & Services | Technology | New products | Applications | Distributors | News | On-line services | The company | Home