To ensure reliable data transmission and safety, the City of Washington DC initiated a project to install traffic monitoring and classification equipment of approximately 50 intersections throughout the city. A systems integrator was chosen to assist in evaluating, integrating, and installing the equipment. Because of the nature of the equipment, the serial traffic counter would need to be installed about 150’ away from the intersection. Each intersection already consisted of a traffic control cabinet containing an Ethernet switch with a fiber link to the central server.
System Requirements
Industrial grade serial to Wi-Fi device server
- RS-232/422/485 input
- 802..11b/g radio
- Panel mount device with removable external antenna
- 24VDC power input
- WPA2 Security
Temperature hardened access point with the following features:
- Support for AP, bridge and repeater modes of operation
- 802.11b/g radio
- Panel mount device with removable external antenna
- 24VDC power
- WPA2 security
Solution
In order to transmit the Serial data stream 150’ to the traffic control cabinet and use the existing Ethernet infrastructure to transmit the data back to the central server, a wireless solution was suggested.
Since an Ethernet link back to the central server already existed, a serial device server was the best way to get the serial data back to the server.
Antaira suggested installing a serial to W-Fi device server at the traffic counter and an industrial grade access point in the traffic control cabinet. Both units have a removable antenna with a standard reverse SMA connector allowing the systems integrator to install the units inside an enclosure, with the ability to bring the antenna outside.
The serial to W-Fi device server was able to encapsulate the Serial data stream into an IP packet and send it via Wi-Fi to the industrial grade access point located in the traffic control cabinet. The industrial grade access point was then connected to the existing Ethernet switch that had a fiber link back to the central server. At the central server, the systems integrator installed the COM Port Redirector that comes standard with the serial to W-Fi device server to create a virtual COM port that allowed the serial data stream to be read by the software provided with the traffic counter.
By using a wireless solution, the systems integrator saved a lot of money on installation cost and was able to get the project up and running in a fraction of the time. Product Solution Highlights • Wide operating temperature allows the system to be installed anywhere in the city. • WPA2 Security prevents hacking. • Removable antenna allow the antenna to be placed outside the enclosure. • 24VDC power allows the units to be powered from existing sources