Digital systems have become indispensable in the trades, many of which require a network connection. An overview of current network standards and options for system optimization. (Photo: © mavoimage/123RF.com)
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1 October 2020
Industry 4.0: Many tradespeople's offices are now wirelessly networked: Most devices simply connect to the internet via Wi-Fi. But how can businesses make optimal use of their Wi-Fi network? And how can they achieve greater range?
Today, no company needs to lay cables to network PCs, laptops, smartphones, tablets, printers, external hard drives, and smart home devices . Any device can be easily and quickly integrated into the network via WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network). Thanks to the advantages of WLAN, businesses often save time and money : A clear strength of wireless technology is its uncomplicated networking – with fast transmission rates and long ranges . Furthermore, there's no need to drill through walls, no cable tripping hazards , and WLAN is available throughout the entire company premises, allowing new devices to be added to the network regardless of their location.
All you need is a Wi-Fi-enabled router. Costs vary widely: Depending on the manufacturer, performance, and features, costs range from 30 to several thousand euros. Once the router is connected to the broadband network, all PCs, laptops, and other devices can access the internet. A Wi-Fi USB stick (starting at around 15 euros) makes even older PCs and laptops network-capable in seconds or brings them up to the latest Wi-Fi standards.
More and more products now come equipped with Wi-Fi technology, including video cameras, surveillance cameras, digital cameras, doorbells, speakers, televisions, and even light bulbs. This saves networking effort in many areas : Wi-Fi-enabled digital cameras, for example, transmit images wirelessly to laptops, PCs, or storage devices on the company network. External Wi-Fi hard drives are ideal for fast data backups. And surveillance cameras with Wi-Fi offer significantly greater security: Live or archived images can be accessed directly via the internet on PCs, laptops, smartphones, or tablets.
The technical standard for Wi-Fi networks is "IEEE 802.11" (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers). Details such as maximum transmission speed and radio frequencies can be found in the small letters appended to the name. The latest standard, which is currently supported by only a few devices, is called "IEEE 802.11ax" (Wi-Fi 6). Theoretically, this standard transmits up to 1.200 megabits per second (Mbps) per data stream , of which approximately 700 Mbps are achieved in practice. For comparison, most DSL connections currently offer between 16 and 100 Mbps. Wi-Fi transmissions only reach their maximum range of up to 100 meters outdoors – under truly optimal conditions. Inside buildings, walls significantly reduce the range, often limiting it to 25 to 50 meters. Reinforced concrete walls and bulletproof glass, which are virtually impenetrable to radio waves, completely block the signal.
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If the Wi-Fi range in your business is insufficient, repeaters (approximately €20 to €400) can significantly boost the signal. Better devices create a so-called mesh network , seamlessly forwarding the signal to connected devices and directing them to the optimal Wi-Fi access point . Additionally, there are external or replaceable router antennas (approximately €30 to €700, depending on performance) that can extend the range. Another option is access points (approximately €20 to €6.000), which are particularly recommended for larger company locations. These create a Wi-Fi network around your premises – for example, across different floors of a building. They simply need to be connected to the router via a network port.
Is the Wi-Fi signal too weak due to structural limitations? Or is it impossible to install cables at your business location? Then wireless DLAN technology ("Direct Local Area Network," also known as "Powerline" or "PowerLAN") is a possible alternative – or a useful addition to Wi-Fi. Data transmission occurs via the electrical wiring . A DLAN adapter is plugged into a power outlet and connected to the router via a network cable. The DLAN receivers are also plugged into power outlets. Now, individual devices can be easily connected to one of the DLAN adapters via network cable – and the wireless network is ready. Some DLAN adapters also function as Wi-Fi access points , simultaneously providing the company's Wi-Fi network around their location. The theoretically achievable data transfer rate of DLAN is 2.400 megabits per second , of which between 350 and 680 Mbps are typically achieved in practice. The maximum range is 300 meters within a single electrical circuit. However, data speed decreases significantly over long transmission distances or when using electrical devices on the same circuit simultaneously.
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