Systems 22 Opto 22 wireless Snap PAC System

Wireless local area networking (WLAN) capabilities have been added to all of Opto 22’s ethernet-based Snap PAC system components, including all of its standalone and rack-mounted programmable automation controllers. Control system designers can now design systems with traditional ethernet wiring, wireless ethernet, or any combination of the two.

This gives engineers an effective, low-cost way to provide proof-of-concept for their projects — before investing in costly permanent wiring or building a wireless infrastructure throughout their factory or facility. It also gives them flexible options for segmenting their network.

Opto 22’s wireless technology is based on the industry-standard IEEE-802.11 specification with support for a, b, and g networks operating in the licence-free 5 GHz (802.11a) and 2.4 GHz (802.11b/g) frequency bands. The 5 GHz (802.11a) option is particularly significant as it allows users to deploy Snap PAC wireless in a frequency other than the typically crowded 2.4 GHz band, where interference from other <0x000A>2.4 GHz devices could reduce performance. Additionally, Snap PAC wireless supports both infrastructure mode, where communication among devices is routed through an access point, and ad-hoc mode, where each device can detect and communicate with any other similarly configured network device within range.