Stay ConnectedManufacturing and industrial environments provide their own unique
challanges for wireless communications. Harsh conditions, both indoors and
out, create a daunting task for engineers work through. This is where we
come to discuss those challenges, share ideas and help one another out.
My name is Scott McNeil and welcome to the Industrial Wi-Fi Shop
Upcoming Events!
Don’t forget to check out our new document library with free valuable downloadable content!
On with Episode 28!!
Who is MP Antenna?
MP Antenna, based in Elyria, Ohio, designs and manufactures patented multipolarized antennas engineered for reliable connectivity in challenging RF environments. Its antennas are particularly well suited to mobile and industrial applications, including autonomous vehicles, mining operations, warehouses, and other congested or highly reflective spaces where motion, changing orientation, and multipath can disrupt conventional antenna performance. With in-house engineering, customization, simulation, and an anechoic test chamber, MP Antenna helps customers select and integrate antennas tailored to their specific applications.
Let’s talk about the basics first!
If you would like to connect with Ben or learn more about his employer, MP Antenna, then check the following:
Ben Baranek – https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-baranek-7b0b63293/
MP Antenna – https://www.mpantenna.com/
If you would like to connect with Brent or learn more about his employer, MP Antenna, then check the following:
Brent Miller – https://www.linkedin.com/in/brent-miller-05457447/ .
MP Antenna – https://www.mpantenna.com/
If you would like to connect with Scott or learn more about his employer, Global Process Automation (GPA), then check the following:
Scott McNeil – https://www.linkedin.com/in/americanmcneil/
GPA – https://www.global-business.net/
If you would like to connect with Jeremy or learn more about his employer, Prism Systems Inc, then check the following:
Jeremy Baker – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyabaker/
Prism Systems Inc – https://www.prismsystems.com/
Upcoming Events!
Don’t forget to check out our new document library with free valuable downloadable content!
On with Episode 27!!
Every successful industrial wireless network has one thing in common, and it isn’t just great RF design. Behind every reliable deployment is a foundation of thorough documentation, consistent layouts, and disciplined engineering habits that often go unnoticed but make all the difference when it’s time to troubleshoot, expand, or hand the project off to someone else.
“Good wireless is visible on Day One. Great engineering is invisible for the next five years.”
If you would like to connect with Trae or learn more about his employer, Prism Systems Inc, then check the following:
Trae Rushing – https://www.linkedin.com/in/trae-rushing-7874a78a/
Prism Systems Inc – https://www.prismsystems.com/
If you would like to connect with Scott or learn more about his employer, Global Process Automation (GPA), then check the following:
Scott McNeil – https://www.linkedin.com/in/americanmcneil/
GPA – https://www.global-business.net/
If you would like to connect with Jeremy or learn more about his employer, Prism Systems Inc, then check the following:
Jeremy Baker – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyabaker/
Prism Systems Inc – https://www.prismsystems.com/
In this round table episode of the Industrial Wi-Fi Shop Podcast, Scott, Jeremy, Justin, and Troy dig into the real-world challenges that come with designing, troubleshooting, and securing wireless networks in industrial environments. The discussion covers the difference between industrial Wi-Fi and enterprise Wi-Fi, how harsh plant conditions affect wireless performance, why OT priorities differ from IT priorities, and where newer technologies like Wi-Fi 6E, Wi-Fi 7, private LTE, and Wi-Fi HaLow fit into the picture.
Industrial wireless is rarely a one-size-fits-all problem. In manufacturing and other OT settings, teams have to think about uptime, reliability, roaming behavior, security, physical access, antenna placement, coverage, capacity, and the long-term maintainability of the system. This episode focuses on those practical realities and highlights why wireless in the plant is often more about dependable delivery than raw throughput.
Be sure to check out upcoming Wi-Co events at wi-co.org.
We also encourage you to visit our document library, where you’ll find free downloadable resources, including:
This episode was built as a round table discussion around 11 core topic areas:
How heat, dust, humidity, metal, vibration, and washdown conditions affect wireless design and long-term reliability.
Where the design rules diverge, what enterprise teams often miss, and what industrial sites actually need from wireless.
How to deal with noise from motors, drives, arc welders, VFDs, and other radios in crowded plant environments.
What a good wireless site survey looks like in a factory, what tools matter most, and how troubleshooting differs from office networks.
Best practices for handhelds, AGVs, AMRs, forklifts, mobile HMIs, and other devices that depend on seamless roaming.
When the issue is truly signal reach versus when it is client density, airtime contention, or application behavior.
How to balance security requirements with uptime, device constraints, legacy systems, and operational practicality.
Where wireless makes sense for PLCs, I/O, sensors, and control-adjacent applications, and where it still creates too much risk.
Redundancy, failover, mesh vs. infrastructure, backhaul options, and what “good enough” looks like in production environments.
Wi-Fi 6, 6E, and 7, private LTE/5G, LoRaWAN, Wi-Fi HaLow, and how to evaluate which technologies are actually useful on the plant floor.
What to do when you don’t have a compatible antenna available that meets your application needs.
Troy brings deep experience across a wide range of industrial environments, including pulp and paper, nuclear, oil and gas pipelines, and pharmaceuticals. His background includes Wi-Fi design tools, scanning and testing tools, mesh deployments, point-to-point links, camera backhaul, mustering solutions, and wireless sensor backhaul.
Connect with Troy on LinkedIn: Troy Martin
Justin has spent two decades with Phoenix Contact and works across wireless and automation-related challenges. His perspective adds practical insight into industrial deployments, product development, and the realities of supporting customers in the field.
Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: Justin Shade
Phoenix Contact: phoenixcontact.com
Scott brings real-world industrial wireless and OT networking experience, including assessments, deployments, security concerns, and design tradeoffs in challenging environments.
Connect with Scott on LinkedIn: Scott McNeil
GPA: global-business.net
Jeremy contributes practical insight from the engineering and deployment side, especially around wireless design choices, emerging technologies, and plant-floor realities.
Connect with Jeremy on LinkedIn: Jeremy Baker
Prism Systems Inc: prismsystems.com
One of the biggest themes in this episode is that industrial wireless cannot be treated like ordinary enterprise Wi-Fi. In OT environments, availability often matters more than confidentiality, because a missed message can affect a process, a machine, or even worker safety. That means reliability, determinism, and resilience often take priority over designs that would be perfectly acceptable in an office network.
The panel also explains why many industrial sites still rely on flat networks, why security upgrades can be difficult to implement without downtime, and why wireless must often be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. In many environments, the challenge is not whether wireless can work in theory, but whether it can work consistently in the presence of interference, harsh conditions, and operational constraints.
Security is another major thread throughout the conversation. The group discusses how wireless signals can extend beyond the physical boundary of a plant, creating exposure far outside the immediate site perimeter. They also explain why segmentation, layered defense, and proper firewall policies are essential in OT, especially where wireless devices connect to systems that can influence real-world operations.
A recurring point in the episode is that baseline security matters more than advanced monitoring tools if the foundational architecture is weak. In other words, specialized detection platforms and advanced analytics only go so far if the network is still flat, overexposed, or poorly segmented.
The episode includes a number of practical examples that show why wireless design decisions matter. The panel talks about industrial sites where radios are visible far beyond the property line, where weak security leaves control systems exposed, and where wireless sensor data can create both value and risk. They also explore how cloud-connected sensor systems and wireless monitoring tools can improve visibility without needing to become part of the core control network.
Toward the second half of the episode, the conversation shifts to emerging wireless technologies. The team discusses Wi-Fi 6E and Wi-Fi 7 deployments, antenna challenges, spectrum availability, and what industrial teams should realistically expect from the newest standards. The consensus is clear: new technology is useful, but only when it solves an actual operational problem.
Episode 26 is a practical discussion for anyone working in industrial networking, automation, OT, or plant-floor wireless design. Whether you are dealing with RF interference, roaming, security, uptime, or the decision of whether wireless even belongs in a given application, this episode offers useful perspective from people who have spent real time in the field.
If your team is evaluating industrial Wi-Fi or trying to improve wireless reliability in manufacturing, this episode is built to help you think through the tradeoffs before making deployment decisions.
Upcoming Events! Upcoming Wi-Co Events Be sure to check https://wi-co.org/ Don’t forget to check out our new document library with free valuable downloadable content! Miliwatt to dBm conversion table Wireless IoT reference charts for types and security Best practice white papers to help you stay on your game Why specialized industrial wireless clients? Wireless clients are the bridge between the past and the present. The vast majority of industrial devices, PLCs, drives, sensors, HMIs, and controllers, are engineered for deterministic performance and long service life, not wireless connectivity. They ship with Ethernet ports, not radios. Industrial wireless client radios exist specifically to give these wired-by-design devices a wireless presence without requiring any changes to the device itself or the control program running inside it. Freedom of movement changes what’s possible on the plant floor. Conveyors, AGVs, robotic arms, transfer carts, and overhead cranes all move, and running Ethernet cable to something that moves is either impractical, expensive, or eventually guaranteed to fail. Wireless clients eliminate the cable entirely, giving mobile and rotating machinery reliable network connectivity that moves with the equipment. Wireless clients enable the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) without a forklift upgrade. Adding wireless clients to existing field devices means real-time data, cycle counts, temperatures, fault codes, production rates, can flow to SCADA systems, historians, and cloud analytics platforms without replacing equipment that still has years of useful life left. The radio does the heavy lifting; the device just keeps doing its job. In hazardous, remote, or physically inaccessible locations, wireless isn’t a convenience, it’s the only option. Tank farms, offshore platforms, grain elevators, and mining operations all present environments where pulling cable is either dangerous, cost-prohibitive, or physically impossible. Industrial-grade wireless clients, rated for wide temperature ranges, vibration, and hazardous area classifications, make instrumentation and control possible in places where no wire will ever go. Phoenix Contact 1021 Industrial Wireless Client Modes: In FTB mode, the client radio acts as a wireless bridge allowing multiple wired end devices to communicate transparently via Layer 2 or Layer 3 communication. FTB is used when wirelessly connecting to a Phoenix Contact WLAN module configured as an access point. In SCB mode, data is transmitted transparently on Layer 2. Only the device whose MAC address is entered for the radio can be accessed via WLAN, and only one wired device may be connected. In MCB mode, the Phoenix radio uses a Layer 2 NAT function when communicating to the access point, allowing multiple wired clients to communicate over the wireless connection. All wired clients behind the device are transmitted with the MAC address of the radio, the number of wired clients is unlimited. Client (NAT) breaks into two sub-modes: 1:1 NAT, where each LAN device is allocated an IP address from the higher-level network so it can be reached from the WAN IP masquerading, where the NAT device acts as a proxy and all LAN devices communicate externally using only the NAT device’s own WAN address — with TCP/UDP ports used to differentiate between devices. This is useful when you have duplicate IP address spaces across identical machine cells. Client (VXLAN), the fully transparent bridge and VxLAN (Virtual Extensible LAN) enable transparent PROFINET and PROFIsafe communication, which is critical in automation networks. This mode is documented in relation to the WLAN 1000 client family pairing with the new WLAN 2300 access points. It’s standards-based (RFC 7348), so it isn’t locked to Phoenix Contact infrastructure the way FTB is. What is VxLAN? VxLAN wraps a complete Ethernet frame inside a regular IP/UDP packet so it can travel anywhere IP travels, then unwraps it at the other end, making two distant devices believe they’re sitting on the same local wire. Why it matters for industrial wireless specifically: Protocols like PROFINET and PROFIsafe are “Layer 2 snobs”, they expect to see the real MAC address of the device they’re talking to, unmodified, end to end. Modes like MCB swap out MAC addresses behind the scenes, which breaks PROFINET. VxLAN mode preserves everything inside the tunnel, the receiving device opens it up and sees the exact original Ethernet frame, MAC address intact, as if the wireless hop never happened. VXLAN vs FTB — what’s the difference? Both achieve true Layer 2 transparency, but: FTB is Phoenix Contact proprietary and requires a Phoenix Contact AP on the infrastructure side VXLAN is standards-based (IETF RFC 7348) and works with any AP or controller that supports VXLAN termination, including the Phoenix Contact WLAN 2300 series access points ProSoft Technologies RLX2-IHNF-A, Four Operational Modes Explained Master – The Master is the anchor and root of the entire RLX2 wireless network. Every other radio in the network, Repeaters, Bridging Clients, and Clients, ultimately connects back to the Master, either directly or through a chain of Repeaters. There is typically one Master per wireless network, though multiple Masters can coexist without special programming for redundancy. Repeater – The Repeater is the workhorse of the ProSoft network. It connects wirelessly to a Master (or another Repeater), extends the wireless coverage area, and simultaneously allows additional radios to connect through it. It is also the factory default shipping configuration, every RLX2 radio ships as a Repeater out of the box, ready to link to whatever Master it finds. Bridging Client – Bridging Client is the mode used when you want to connect multiple wired Ethernet devices through a single RLX2 radio to a third-party 802.11 access point, not a ProSoft Master. Think of it as the “multi-device adapter” for foreign Wi-Fi infrastructure. Bridging Client mode is specifically designed for environments where the access point is not a ProSoft radio. It uses standard 802.11 association and works with the AP’s existing SSID and security settings. Note that some third-party AP controllers (notably Cisco WLC systems) may require additional configuration to allow multiple MAC addresses over a single wireless association — the same consideration that applies to MCB mode in other industrial radio families. Client – Client mode is the simplest connection mode in the RLX2 lineup — one radio, one wired device, one wireless connection to a third-party access point. It’s the “single device adapter” for foreign Wi-Fi infrastructure. The radio can be configured in two sub-modes: Auto, the radio automatically detects the MAC address of whatever is plugged into its Ethernet port and uses it for the wireless association. Easy, fast, and appropriate for most single-device setups Specify, the operator manually enters the MAC address of the target device. The manual notes this is only necessary for devices that do not send unsolicited Ethernet packets — meaning the device is passive and doesn’t announce itself. ProSoft’s guidance is to try Auto first and only use Specify if Auto doesn’t work As you probably know, Scott and Jeremy work with different application types for the most part. Jeremy primarily touches mobility applications with mixed/client and infrastructure. Jeremy generally works with whatever infrastructure the end customer has for enterprise and occasionally gets to build both ends of the WLAN. Jeremy’s team used to use the Aruba501, which had a lot going for it. RSSI log, simple interface, remote packet capture, exportable logs.. <- You could do a lot to troubleshoot these devices. I was just on a call with a vendor and it is both nice and disheartening to hear that telemetry and data can be hidden because the “casual end customer” will generate more nonsense complaints if the nerd knobs are exposed. Sometimes you have to get into the weeds, limiting MCS, NAT/IP Masquerading to work around passive client issues. What is a Passive Client? A passive client is a device that does not actively participate in normal network communication unless it is polled or queried. In practical terms, a passive client: Does not initiate traffic on its own May not send ARP, DHCP renewals, or periodic data Only responds when another device communicates with it Examples in industrial environments PLCs waiting for control traffic I/O devices that only respond to cyclic polling Sensors that do not generate unsolicited traffic NAT, specifically IP masquerading, helps by making multiple downstream devices appear as a single active client to the wireless network. The radio handles all communication on behalf of the devices behind it, so the infrastructure only needs to track one MAC and IP address. This keeps passive devices reachable even if they never transmit, but the tradeoff is that Layer 2 transparency is lost, which can break protocols that rely on seeing the original MAC addresses. So this is one of the main reasons we lean on the Siemens hardware. Siemens Siemens SCALANCE typical models: W734 – WiFi 4 and WUM763/766 The WiFi4 stuff is well established and has tons of features. Dynamic antenna selection NAT/IP Masquerading Remote capture on WLAN interface Available APs <- helps identify interferers Signal Recorder Piecewise site survey, lots of KPIs and if you have Siemens infrastructure you can get both sides of the conversation. Detailed Logging Config Plugs iPCF Force Roam on IP Down Most of this is still present in the WiFi6 hardware. PoE capability is not present in the WUM763. Siemens cabinet based models are IP30 The hardened units are IP65, and typically use some variation of M12 connector. D-coded or X-coded 8 pin. 1. Transparent Bridge (Default / Standard Mode) True Layer 2 bridge Passes all MAC addresses unchanged Supports: PROFINET PROFIsafe Multiple devices behind the client are fully visible to the network This is the primary and most important mode for all of these clients. 2. Layer 2 Tunnel Mode (Used with IPCF) Required when running IPCF (deterministic wireless) Encapsulates Ethernet frames for controlled delivery Maintains full Layer 2 transparency Used specifically for: Real-time industrial communication Deterministic cyclic traffic Siemens explicitly calls out using “Layer 2 Tunnel” MAC mode with IPCF 3. Standard Wi-Fi (DCF) vs IPCF Operation This is a major behavioral “mode” difference: DCF (Default Wi-Fi) Standard contention-based Wi-Fi Works with any infrastructure Non-deterministic IPCF Mode Scheduled medium access (deterministic) AP controls airtime Used for: Motion control Real-time automation Important: IPCF and standard Wi-Fi cannot be mixed in the same cell Aunex Aunex wireless clients are designed to be flexible and infrastructure-agnostic. They behave more like traditional Wi-Fi clients with options for bridging or NAT, making them easy to integrate into mixed networks. The tradeoff is that they rely on standard Wi-Fi behavior, so they don’t provide the same level of deterministic performance or deep diagnostics that more specialized industrial platforms offer. They have 6E Clients. Core Design Approach MODAS clients follow a standard 802.11 client model and are designed to work with a wide range of third-party access points and controllers. They support: Single-device client operation Multi-device bridging Layer 3/NAT-based connectivity The focus is on adaptability rather than tightly controlled, deterministic wireless behavior. Networking Behavior Layer 2 Bridging Can pass Ethernet frames between wired devices and the WLAN May support multiple MAC addresses depending on configuration and infrastructure Works best in networks that allow multi-MAC clients NAT / Routing Modes Supports Layer 3 NAT / IP masquerading Useful for: Handling duplicate IP address spaces Reducing MAC scaling challenges on controllers Simplifying machine-level network integration MAC Handling Can operate as: Transparent bridge (when supported) Single visible client using NAT Wireless Capabilities Operates using standard Wi-Fi (DCF) Supports common enterprise features: WPA2/WPA3 Roaming (model dependent) No deterministic scheduling mechanism like IPCF Legacy Interface Flexibility (Key Differentiator) One area where MODAS clients stand out is support for legacy industrial interfaces, including: RS-232 / RS-485 serial connectivity Serial-to-IP conversion (serial tunneling) Ability to transport legacy protocols over Wi-Fi Why this matters Many industrial systems still rely on serial communications MODAS devices can act as a bridge between legacy serial equipment and modern IP networks Enables: Retrofit of older machines without replacing hardware Wireless connectivity for devices that were never designed for Ethernet Typical behavior Serial data is encapsulated into IP packets Transported over Wi-Fi Reconstructed at the receiving end This allows legacy devices to function across a wireless link as if they were locally connected. Diagnostics and Management Provides standard industrial diagnostics: RSSI / signal strength Link status Throughput and error counters Typically lacks deep RF time-series logging found in more specialized platforms If you would like to connect with Scott or learn more about his employer, Global Process Automation (GPA), then check the following: Scott McNeil – https://www.linkedin.com/in/americanmcneil/ GPA – https://www.global-business.net/ If you would like to connect with Jeremy or learn more about his employer, Prism Systems Inc, then check the following: Jeremy Baker – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyabaker/ Prism Systems Inc – https://www.prismsystems.com/
Full show notes at the publisherIWS Episode 24 Show Notes – Clip, Click, Survey: Modern Tools for Industrial Wireless
Upcoming Events!
Don’t forget to check out our new document library with free valuable downloadable content!
IWS Episode 24 – Clip, Click, Survey: Modern Tools for Industrial Wireless
How can the Hamina Clip Benefit OT Wireless Deployments?
https://ai-tools.teigenrf.org/
Joel’s site – https://clipboard.potatofi.com/
Joel’s site – https://spectrum.potatofi.com/
If you would like to connect with Jerry or learn more about his employer, Hamina, then check the following:
Jerry Olla – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerryolla/
Hamina – https://www.hamina.com/
If you would like to connect with Scott or learn more about his employer, Global Process Automation (GPA), then check the following:
Scott McNeil – https://www.linkedin.com/in/americanmcneil/
GPA – https://www.global-business.net/
If you would like to connect with Jeremy or learn more about his employer, Prism Systems Inc, then check the following:
Jeremy Baker – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyabaker/
Prism Systems Inc – https://www.prismsystems.com/
Upcoming Events!
Jeremy – I got a 20 minute talk at WLPC, Common Industrial WLAN Deployments
Don’t forget to check out our new document library with free valuable downloadable content!
IWS Episode 23 – What’s on the Bench?
Links to all of the interesting things we were talking about!
If you would like to connect with Ali or learn more about his employer, Nile, then check the following:
Ali – https://www.linkedin.com/in/mali77/
Nile – http://www.nilesecure.com
If you would like to connect with Mark or learn more about his employer, Northeastern Utah Educational Services, then check the following:
Mark Houtz – https://www.linkedin.com/in/markhoutz/
NUES – http://www.nucenter.org
If you would like to connect with Nick or learn more about his employer, Blitsfunk, then check the following:
Nick Schwarzenberg – https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-schwarzenberg/
Blitzfunk – https://fuenfeinhalb.de/en
If you would like to connect with Tobias or learn more about his employer, Aunex, then check the following:
Tobias Meyer – https://www.linkedin.com/in/tobimeyer/
Aunex Inc. – https://aunex.io/en-us/
If you would like to connect with Scott or learn more about his employer, Global Process Automation (GPA), then check the following:
Scott McNeil – https://www.linkedin.com/in/americanmcneil/
GPA – https://www.global-business.net/
If you would like to connect with Jeremy or learn more about his employer, Prism Systems Inc, then check the following:
Jeremy Baker – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyabaker/
Prism Systems Inc – https://www.prismsystems.com/
Free 3D Printer Plans!
Upcoming Events!
Jeremy – I got a 20 minute talk at WLPC, Common Industrial WLAN Deployments
Don’t forget to check out our new document library with free valuable downloadable content!
IWS Episode 22 – Industrial Strength, Wireless Freedom
Cybersecurity differs between IT systems, OT (operational technology), and ICS (industrial control systems) in factory automation because their priorities aren’t the same.
Form factors
Industrial OT network equipment, like switches, routers, and firewalls comes in tough, compact “brick-like” designs that fit right into factory cabinets or on machines. These smaller, modular boxes snap onto DIN rails, stick to walls, or even mount on poles, with rugged metal cases that seal out dust, shakes, vibrations, extreme heat or cold, and chemicals—think gear built to survive a noisy plant floor 24/7 without failing.
In contrast, standard enterprise IT network gear is shaped like slim, rack-sized trays for offices or data centers, sliding neatly into 19-inch shelves with fans for cooling in air-conditioned rooms. These flat boxes pack tons of ports on the front for easy cabling in clean spaces, using standard plugs and relying on steady power and no harsh conditions, so they’re lighter on armor but great for quick setups in controlled environments.
PoE structure
Power over Ethernet (PoE) in industrial switches works by sending low-voltage DC power alongside data signals through standard Ethernet cables, eliminating the need for separate power lines to devices like cameras, sensors, or lights on a factory floor. The switch acts as the power source (PSE), detecting compatible powered devices (PDs) via a handshake process before delivering power over spare wire pairs (Mode B) or data pairs (Mode A), ensuring safe delivery up to set limits without harming non-PoE gear. This simplifies wiring in harsh environments where outlets are scarce, and industrial models add ruggedness for vibration, dust, and temperature extremes.
PoE standards have evolved from basic IEEE 802.3af (Type 1, up to 15.4W PSE/12.95W PD at 44-57V) for simple devices, to 802.3at (Type 2/PoE+, 30W PSE/25.5W PD at 50-57V) using two pairs for more demanding ones, then 802.3bt Type 3 (PoE++/60W PSE/51W PD) and Type 4 (90W PSE/71.3W PD), which tap all four pairs for high-power needs like pan-tilt-zoom cameras or wireless access points. Higher versions support more current (up to 960mA per pair in Type 4) and precise power negotiation via LLDP for efficiency.
Stronger PoE versions demand more robust DC input power to the switch itself—often 48-54V or higher (up to 60V+ in some industrial setups), compared to basic 24V systems in low-power OT environments—because they must convert and budget higher wattage across multiple ports without overheating. For instance, a Type 4 switch powering several 70W devices needs beefier internal supplies and cooling, pulling from redundant DC sources to maintain uptime, while lower PoE sticks to lighter 24-48V rails common in factories. This scales power handling but requires matching the switch’s input rating to avoid failures in high-density setups.
Rockwell PoE issues – https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rockwell-versus-power-over-ethernet-matthew-parris-xfmte/
Handy tools
NetAlly LinkRunner 4000 – https://www.netally.com/products/linkrunner-4000/
NetAlly Test Accessory – https://www.netally.com/products/testaccessory/
Air Console – https://www.get-console.com/shop/en/27-airconsole
IP Explorer – https://plctools.com/products/sim-ipe
High-level overview of Traceroute Con – https://www.traceroutellc.com/training
If you would like to connect with Josh or learn more about his business, TraceRoute, then check the following:
Josh Varghese – https://www.linkedin.com/in/varghesejm/
TraceRoute – https://www.traceroutellc.com/
If you would like to connect with Scott or learn more about his employer, Global Process Automation (GPA), then check the following:
Scott McNeil – https://www.linkedin.com/in/americanmcneil/
GPA – https://www.global-business.net/
If you would like to connect with Jeremy or learn more about his employer, Prism Systems Inc, then check the following:
Jeremy Baker – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyabaker/
Prism Systems Inc – https://www.prismsystems.com/
Free 3D Printer Plans!
Upcoming Events!
Jeremy – I submitted two presentation options for WLPC Phoenix!
HaLow Outdoor Site Survey Deep Dive
HaLow Development kit from Gateworks
Morse Micro Community
Don’t forget to check out our new document library with free valuable downloadable content!
IWS Episode 21 – HaLow Can You Go
HaLow Basics
Rumor has it you can link 88 of them together and push 1.21 Gigawatts
Frequencies
What does HaLow look like on spectrum analysis?
HaLow testing at a 2MHz wide channel
HaLow testing at a 4MHz wide channel
HaLow testing at a 8MHz wide channel
“I’m fine to make the offer that the first 10 people to screen grab this image and send it out on their socials to their customers to see what their customers would like to do with the extra data throughput we can offer at hundreds of meters of distance…will get 2 x HaLowLink 1 devices from me to start their Wi-Fi HaLow journey. Just ask them to tag me (Andy), Morse Micro and the Industrial Wi-Fi Shop of course!!!” – Andy McFarlane
Just right click and “save as” for the image above! Don’t forget to tag Scott & Jeremy too!
Let’s talk Use Cases / Applications
Are there any verticals we missed?
Doing some AI digging (fast becoming a secondary hobby of mine):
**********
Several HaLow vendors have established partnerships with major industrial control companies like ABB, Honeywell, and Rockwell Automation to deploy robust industrial IoT solutions.
**********
Gateworks (Whole USA Solution) How does this figure in with tariffs, MM and working with customers with something like a no China policy?
**********
Morse Micro and Gateworks are collaborating on projects that deliver industrial-grade Wi-Fi HaLow (IEEE 802.11ah) connectivity designed specifically for tough industrial environments such as smart factories, transportation systems, and energy infrastructure. Together with Silex Technology, they have developed a high-performance ecosystem that enables secure, low-power, long-range wireless connectivity ideally suited for:
Key technology developed by the partnership includes the GW16159 industrial-grade M.2 Wi-Fi HaLow card, manufactured by Gateworks using Morse Micro’s MM6108 SoC. Gateworks also released the GW11056 Development Kit for accelerated evaluation and prototyping, enabling faster time-to-market for industrial automation and monitoring use cases.
Additionally, here’s a few links you might like to use.
**********
If you would like to connect with Kelly Peralta or learn more about her employer, Gateworks, then check the following:
Kelly Peralta – https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-peralta-ab6ab23/
Gateworks – https://www.gateworks.com/
If you would like to connect with Andy McFarlane or learn more about his employer, Morse Micro, then check the following:
Andy McFarlane – https://www.linkedin.com/in/andymcf/
Morse Micro – https://www.morsemicro.com/
If you would like to connect with Scott or learn more about his employer, Global Process Automation (GPA), then check the following:
Scott McNeil – https://www.linkedin.com/in/americanmcneil/
GPA – https://www.global-business.net/
If you would like to connect with Jeremy or learn more about his employer, Prism Systems Inc, then check the following:
Jeremy Baker – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyabaker/
Prism Systems Inc – https://www.prismsystems.com/
Free 3D Printer Plans!
Upcoming Events!
Keith Jones CEO of Prism Systems has provided 2 license codes for the PrismStats Live software (iOS) a URWB commissioning tool. Helpful for spot checking, parsing, and troubleshooting Cisco URWB Fluidity deployments created by Prism Systems! Email Jeremy if interested!
Don’t forget to check out our new document library with free valuable downloadable content to help you in your wireless endeavors in the industrial and manufacturing air space!
On with the show! IWS Episode 20 – 900MHz or Bust
Do you have ability to cover 5.9, plans for 6 GHz?
With the industrial verticals you guys operate in, what you see coming in the future of industrial wireless applications.
If you would like to connect with Dan Tolley, Eric Marske or learn more about their employer, Esteem, then check the following:
Dan Tolley – https://www.linkedin.com/in/danieltolley/
Eric Marske – https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-marske-51029b21/
Esteem – https://esteem.com/
If you would like to connect with Scott or learn more about his employer, Global Process Automation (GPA), then check the following:
Scott McNeil – https://www.linkedin.com/in/americanmcneil/
GPA – https://www.global-business.net/
If you would like to connect with Jeremy or learn more about his employer, Prism Systems Inc, then check the following:
Jeremy Baker – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyabaker/
Prism Systems Inc – https://www.prismsystems.com/
IWS Episode 19 Show Notes – C-URWB Appeal!
Free 3D Printer Plans!
Upcoming Events!
Keith Jones CEO of Prism Systems has provided 2 license codes for the PrismStats Live software (iOS) a URWB commissioning tool. Helpful for spot checking, parsing, and troubleshooting Cisco URWB Fluidity deployments created by Prism Systems!
If you are interested in one of these two license keys, please email Jeremy at Jeremy@industrialwifishop.com
Don’t forget to check out our new document library with free valuable downloadable content to help you in your wireless endeavors in the industrial and manufacturing air space!
On with the show! IWS Episode 19 – C-URWB Appeal!
*** What is MPLS! ***
Multiprotocol Label Switching, is a networking technology that uses labels to route data more packets efficiently. MPLS works by attaching a small “label” to each data packet as it enters the network. This label acts like a shortcut, indicating the path the packet should take through the network. Instead of routers making complex routing decisions based on destination IP addresses, they can quickly forward packets based on the attached label, leading to faster data transmission
C-URWB is NOT 802.11 !!! – although it is built upon and extends the 802.11 technology foundation.
Igor – been at Cisco 5 years as a pre-sales engineer, came over as part of the Fluidmesh acquisition in 2020. Prior to that, worked in the transportation sector as a systems integrator for airport people, movers and commuter rail systems for about 7 years. Back in 2012 i was tasked with finding a commercial off the shelf wireless product that would be good for mobility and wire-like roaming for airport people movers. It was at that time we were testing cisco, fluidmesh, and a few other vendors to see what would meet our success criteria as our wireless product for our train systems. We initially went with cisco 3602Es and 5500 wlc controllers running WGB and pre .11r neighbor table configurations…with later projects shifting to Fluidmesh, Fluidity architectures, and that seamless roaming, high-throughput and low latency connectivity over wireless.
Matt – been at Cisco for 18 years, pre-sales engineer supporting lots of customers – financial, professional services, hosted collaboration, shuffled to the IoT team about 4 years ago. I grew up farming and live on a small farm now, about 60 acres give or take. I have the property covered in Wifi+CURWB and have hundreds of IoT devices on-net across the property. Neck deep in all things RF and wireless – lora, 433, BLE, you name it and i’m interested. 4400, 5500, 9800, I’ve worked with all the things.
What is URWB and why should we care about it?
What is the next big release on the roadmap?
What problems will the 802.11/URWB simultaneous modes solve?
Are there any plans to provide beacons so standard tools can be used for RF Validation, or is Telemetry king?
What are the most useful documents you reference even at your current level of expertise?
Tell us about an interesting project you have worked on and how URWB solved the complications the customer faced.
Igor – Digital divide during covid using Meraki MRs for wifi and FM URWB radios to underserved areas in Dallas-Fort Worth, as well as City of Wake Forest. PtMP and relay architectures mostly. Something that can also be replicated with outdoor campus connectivity we see in hospitals, colleges, and corporate campuses. With DoTs, lots of intersection connectivity to traffic management solutions and cctv cameras on those tall vertical assets. So next time you are at a red light, look up and you might see a square panel used as the directional backhaul to another traffic light a quarter mile away.
Indoor AGV connectivity has also been a top use case with fluidity, so various customers there using fluidity, and in some cases, using wi fi wgb for not so mission, critical connectivity. MPO is a great benefit here, with packet duplication/deduplication of that mission-critical PLC.
Ports and terminals, fluidity, connectivity to these vehicles using multiple 90 degree horn antennas off of those high mast light poles to provide connectivity for terminal operating system (tos) applications.
Train to ground for mission-critical traffic backhaul, as well as not so mission-critical wifi ap backhaul, passenger signage and VoIP e-tel
Open pit mining, combination of fixed PtP and PtMP backhaul to temporary trailer setups, and then configuring fluidity to those large mining vehicles. Great for ad hoc environments with constantly changing topology and redesigning with line of sight in mind.
Jeremy- I really like the new hardware, no more overly protective hiding of my M12 cable.
Use cases & Stories
If you would like to connect with Matt Virus or Igor Moiseev or learn more about their employer, Cisco, then check the following:
Matt Virus – https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-virus-1953869/
Igor Moiseev – https://www.linkedin.com/in/igormoiseev1989/
Cisco – https://www.cisco.com/ go/curwb
Unplugged Connectivity – https://www.youtube.com/@getunplugged
If you would like to connect with Scott or learn more about his employer, Global Process Automation (GPA), then check the following:
Scott McNeil – https://www.linkedin.com/in/americanmcneil/
GPA – https://www.global-business.net/
If you would like to connect with Jeremy or learn more about his employer, Prism Systems Inc, then check the following:
Jeremy Baker – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyabaker/
Prism Systems Inc – https://www.prismsystems.com/
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
