B&B Electronics APMG-Q551/APXG-Q5420 M2M Wi-Fi access point

The 802.11 b/g Wi-Fi access point to provide M2M equipment with wireless networking capabilities has been launched.

This industrial-grade wireless access point is the first fruit of B&B’s October 2011 acquisition of Quatech, whose Airborne wireless networking devices feature Wi-Fi connectivity technology to network-enable industrial M2M devices.

The latest product is in two forms: an embeddable module (APMG-Q551) allows original equipment manufacturers to Wi-Fi-enable their own products so they can either serve as self-sufficient M2M wireless communications hubs or tie into existing wireless networks; an external ethernet access point (APXG-Q5420) provides the same functionality in a ruggedised stand-alone box and adds serial device server capability as well.

The technology allows the access-point-equipped device, whether it’s the external APXG or an OEM’s device fitted with the APMG, to become the centre of its own self-sufficient Wi-Fi network.

The external APXG is equipped with a typical ethernet port, plus two serial ports not typically found on wireless access points.

With the ability to connect and route between any of its ports, the APXG can serve as an access point (handling up to eight simultaneous client connections) or as a bridge (tying Wi-Fi devices into ethernet networks), while simultaneously serving as a serial device server (bridging serial devices into either wired or wireless LANs.)