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What is a wireless network on-site? A field wireless network refers to a network in a factory that is composed of on-site devices and system devices with wireless communication capabilities. Characteristics of field wireless networks: ● Flexible installation – By using a field wireless network, devices can be installed permanently or temporarily in locations where it was difficult or uneconomical to use wired instruments in the past (due to issues such as cable maintenance and wiring costs). ● The wireless communication of field wireless systems is a type of two-way interactive fully digital network communication. In addition to supporting process values, this digital communication also provides various information and communication functions, including device status monitoring, condition diagnosis, and adjustment of device parameters. Yokogawa Electric’s field wireless system □ Wireless communication protocol: Yokogawa Electric’s field wireless communication system uses the ISA100.11a standard for industrial automation wireless communication, which was issued by the International Society of Automation (ISA). This standard is certified by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and complies with international standard specifications (IEC 62734). □System configuration: The field wireless system consists of field wireless system devices (such as access points and routers), lower-level field wireless devices connected to them via wireless communication, and upper-level PCs that are also connected to them. The upper-level field wireless management PC is used to configure and manage the field wireless network. The on-site wireless system supports various system configurations, such as those that do not incorporate a DCS, recorder, or other host systems. On-site wireless management station: The on-site wireless management station is a backbone device used to build large-scale and highly reliable on-site wireless network systems in factories. It can establish communication across multiple on-site wireless subnets, thus enabling the flexible creation of large-scale on-site wireless systems. Furthermore, highly reliable field wireless systems can be built through redundant configuration. The on-site wireless management station has networking functions (connecting on-site wireless devices to the host system via on-site wireless access points), system configuration functions, and management functions for the on-site wireless network. System configuration and management of the on-site wireless network can be carried out using the “On-Site Wireless Management Console” software built into the on-site wireless management station. The field wireless management PC equipped with this software program is connected to the off-site wireless management station via Ethernet. On-site wireless management console: This software is the built-in software of the on-site wireless management station. This software has configuration and monitoring functions. Configuration functions refer to the setup and maintenance of on-site wireless system devices and on-site wireless networks. The monitoring function refers to the verification of the management and operational status of the on-site wireless network. On-site wireless access point: The on-site wireless access point has the function of connecting on-site wireless devices to the on-site wireless management station. The on-site wireless access points are connected to on-site wireless devices via wireless communication, and they are connected to the off-site wireless management station through Ethernet or fiber optic networks. The on-site wireless access point is configured using the “On-Site Wireless Access Point Configuration Software” that comes with it. The field wireless setup PC equipped with this software connects to the off-site wireless access point via infrared communication.