Technology today
As trends in VoIP, Wi-Fi (802.1) wireless networks, and security accelerate, the numerous benefits provided by Power Over Ethernet (PoE) can help turn dreams of the future into practical applications. Today, with PoE, the same wires that carry the data to and from Ethernet connected equipment can also carry the power. Consequently, one of the major benefits of PoE is its inherent ease of deployment. Access to hard-to-reach locations or places with a lack of space for power deployment, such as roadside, external walls and internal ceilings becomes much simpler and easier to maintain. Not only is deployment made easier, but the cost of bringing electrical power to each device is eliminated, driving down installation costs.
About Amplicon Liveline
Amplicon Liveline has been manufacturing and distributing products and systems for Industrial applications since the early 1970’s. Drawing on their vast experience and technical competence in Data Communications, Industrial PCs, and Measurement & Control, Amplicon Liveline have developed a total solution capability that makes them a key partner for all system integrators, OEMs and manufacturers.
The challenge
A UK national transportation infrastructure project has been setup to maintain over 4600 miles of core road network (motorways and A roads). The objective of the project is to develop travel information services that will improve utilisation of the trunk road network through the provision of better information to road users.
The project utilises ‘outstations’ to deliver measured traffic related data every 5 minutes around the clock from all 1600 sites to provide a massive quantity of information. The data provided is an essential part of a strategic analysis plan that is to be carried out on the UK roads which will also be made available to third parties. For example, real-time data could be used to provide real-time traffic condition updates to mobile phones, pda’s and in-car navigation systems.
The project required high data availability from the series of remote monitoring ‘outstations’ situated across a wide area. However, laying fibre cabling was not a viable solution for both environmental and economical reasons. Like a lot of companies seeking to install equipment in hard-to-reach locations, Amplicon Liveline did not have AC power outlets. After considering several options, the newly-emerging 5.8Ghz radio technology powered by PoE for the data collection infrastructure was adopted.
Amplicon Liveline knew that some vendors in the market were offering products known as “midspan solutions” – a patch-panel type device that could be added to a standard Ethernet switch to deliver power to the radio devices, but were looking for a less costly and more efficient solution.
|
