802.11b/g Industrial Wireless Solutions

For industrial grade 802.11b/g wireless serial to ethernet converters, access points and Ethernet bridges and adapters, Quatech's Airborne product family is the industry leader.

Airborne is a family of fully integrated 802.11b/g wireless LAN bridge, serial device server, and access point products designed specifically to provide wireless LAN and Internet connectivity to industrial, scientific, medical and automotive applications. The highly integrated hardware and software enables plug-and-play capability, significantly reducing the complexity of wireless system deployment and network connectivity.

The ruggedized external Airborne™ Access Point Model APXG-Q5420 includes a 10/100 Ethernet port and up to two serial ports. The Airborne™ adapters have the most flexible port configuration options of any device in the market. The Ethernet port supports both bridged and router modes. The serial interfaces provide compatibility with RS232/422/485 devices and allow simultaneous use of all the ports in any serial data configuration. The external AirborneAP™Access Point also includes a wide range power supply input (5-36 VDC) with terminal block and barrel jack connections packaged in a rugged metal enclosure.

All Quatech Airborne™ 802.11 b/g Access Point products offer an integrated remote web browser based configuration and administration interface software (Airborne Management Center software) to provide a straightforward user friendly installation and setup of the devices.

Quatech’s AirborneAP™ Access Point technology enables M2M equipment to become the center of a self sufficient WiFi network, allowing easy access to equipment data or resources from WiFi-enabled devices, including laptops, tablets and handhelds powered by Android, iOS, or Windows. AirborneAP™ Access Point technology includes secure authentication using WPA2 (AES-CCMP) and a fully functional DHCP server to provide unique addresses for each authenticated client, with support for up to 8 clients. The embedded AirborneAP™ modules and external ruggedized Access Points are designed to meet an extended operating temperature range (-20°C to +85°C).

PortFlex is a unique capability, included with all Airborne Wireless Serial Device Servers and Access Points, that allows users to configure communication ports easily so that data can be accessed to and from any of the available ports without having to change the device configuration. Airborne PortFlex supports UART, Ethernet and 802.11 interfaces.

Also included is the latest Airborne SpeedLink roaming feature. This enables mobile devices on a wireless network to roam quickly and freely without losing important data, ensuring high level connection reliability. Whether you are walking around a hospital or driving through a warehouse, SpeedLink ensures you stay connected.

Airborne Management Center

Managing your Airborne products is now simpler, whether you have one or one thousand.

The Quatech Airborne Management Center (AMC) brings Enterprise class device discovery, management and control to the world of M2M wireless devices. This advanced device management application enables single-click maintenance of your entire population of deployed products. From either the directory or table based views, you can: Update firmware and configurations Deliver certificates and private keys Access and monitor groups of devices AMC Command Set With just a single click, AMC provides access to a range of commands and functions: Locate modules Launch web browser Blink POST LED Refresh, display and edit configurations Install VCOM driver Set preconfigured passwords Add and manage templates Update module firmware and Uboot Restart module Manage or unmanage modules Remove modules Set modules to rogue VCom port drivers can be installed with one click, enabling the use of legacy software to communicate with networked devices seemlessly through Comm Port Addresses (i.e., com1, com2) in the system's device manager. Quatech's VCom driver takes care of routing virtual comm ports to the network devices.

Key Features

• APXG-Q5420 2 ports, wireless Access Point with RS-232/422/485 to 802.11b/g
• Infrastructure Access Point/Wireless Router/Client
• Supports up to 8 clients
• Heavy duty, ruggedized metal enclosure with mounting flanges
• Extended operating temperature range (-20°C to +85°C)
• Plug-n-play serial to 802.11 connectivity and ethernet to 802.11 connectivity
• Enterprise class wirelss security (WPA2-Enterprise, WPA, WEP, EAP [client mode only])

• Airborne Management Center included for Quatech device discover, control and management
• Variable DC power supply (5-36 VDC) with screw terminal connectors
• 2 kV serial ESD surge suppression
• Airborne SpeedLink roaming for enhanced connection reliability
• Onboard certificate delivery and storage
• Airborne PortFlex capability enables any combination of comm ports (Serial, Ethernet and 802.11 interfaces)
• CE and FCC Part 15 Class B Sub C approval
• 5 year warranty

The Airborne line of 802.11b/g industrial wireless device servers, access points, and Ethernet bridges and adapters are built for wirelessly networking equipment in an array of machine-to-machine (M2M) applications. The ruggedized external Airborne™ Access Point includes a 10/100 Ethernet port and up to two serial ports. The Airborne™ adapters have the most flexible port configuration options of any device in the market. The Ethernet port supports both bridged and router modes. The serial interfaces provide compatibility with RS232/422/485 devices and allow simultaneous use of all the ports in any serial data configuration. The external AirborneAP™Access Point also includes a wide range power supply input (5-36 VDC) with terminal block and barrel jack connections packaged in a rugged metal enclosure, and are designed to meet an extended operating temperature range (-20°C to +85°C).

AirborneAP™ Access Point

Quatech’s AirborneAP™ Access Point technology enables M2M equipment to become the center of a self sufficient WiFi network, allowing easy access to equipment data or resources from WiFi-enabled devices, including laptops, tablets and handhelds powered by Android, iOS, or Windows. AirborneAP™ Access Point technology includes secure authentication using WPA2 (AES-CCMP) and a fully functional DHCP server to provide unique addresses for each authenticated client. The Airborne™ Access Point supports up to 8 clients on a local network.

Utilizing Quatech’s expertise in highly secure and reliable device networking firmware, AirborneAP™ Access Points have been designed specifically to address the functional and packaging demands of M2M solutions providers. As an example, an integrated AirborneAP™ Access Point can turn an isolated piece of equipment in a service truck into a wireless gateway; this creates a WiFi network around the vehicle that enables multiple handhelds and tablets to talk to each other. This local WiFI network can also enable access to other equipment with embedded WiFi capability in the truck, and even provide access to the internet using a cellular modem.

AirborneAP™ Access Point supports Ethernet and serial interfaces. The Ethernet interface can be placed in bridge mode to support connection to an existing network of devices, effectively extending access to the network for wireless devices. Alternatively, the Ethernet interface can be set to wireless router mode, enabling advanced networking to wide area network (WAN) and internet connections. Utilizing the serial interfaces wireless clients can access the serial devices using the wireless network.

AirborneAP™ Access Point can be switched from access point to client mode through the web or command line interfaces. In client mode, the device provides WPA2-Enterprise Class Extensible Authentication Protocols (EAP) with support for authentication Certificates. Advanced security including WEP, WPA (TKIP), WPA2 (AES – FIPS 197), WPA2 Enterprise, 802.11i and 802.1x (EAP) are standard over the entire product family. The units include support for EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS, PEAP, EAP-FAST and LEAP with AES-CCMP supported in the hardware.

Compatible Clients

Five Layer Security

Protecting enterprise networks is one of the most important challenges undertaken by today's network administrators. Airborne security keeps your data private by using the latest wirelss security protocols (WPA2-Enterprise) and SSH tunneling. It protects the network by encrypting configurations and providing an embedded firewall. Today there is no more secure solution for enterprise class wireless device networking.

Quatech supports the broadest range of EAP processes (including EAP-TLS, EAP-TTLS, PEAP and LEAP). In addition, the Airborne line supports the most flexible certificate delivery and management available in the wireless device market. EAP security protocols on the AirborneAP™ Access Point are supported in client mode only.

Maximum Protection and Performance

Quatech’s ruggedized, industrial device servers, access points, and Ethernet bridges and adapters are built tough—tough enough to come with a standard 5 year warranty.

The Airborne product line is rated to meet full industrial operating temperature range of -20°C to +85°C. The industrial series also incorporates a variable power supply (5-36 VDC) with screw terminal connectors for easy installation.

Quatech’s highly-optimized 32 bit platform delivers superior transmit power and receive sensitivity, leading to greater range and the highest available throughput rates over both the serial and 10/100 Ethernet interfaces.

Airbone wireless device servers, access points, and Ethernet bridges and adapters come standard with integrated 3 dBi omni antennas. Users may also extend the range of the Airborne line by selecting a higher-gain antenna and magnetic mount options (contact Quatech for an approved list).

All Airborne wireless networking devices are built to meet worldwide regulatory requirements. Certifications include FCC, IOC, CE, ETSI, RoHS and WEEE.

Flexible for a Broad Range of Applications

Airborne's unique PortFlex capability enables users to configure communication ports in any combination through a simple setup wizard. Airborne PortFlex supports UART, Ethernet and 802.11 interfaces, and provides the ability to independently configure each port.

Data and control can be accessed to and from any of the available ports on the device. For example, the serial data can be accessed from the wireless or Ethernet port while the device is managed from the same port without changing the device configuration.

SpeedLink Roaming

The latest Airborne SpeedLink roaming feature further enhances the high level of connection reliability. SpeedLink enables mobile devices to roam quickly and freely throughout a wireless network without loosing important data. If you're walking around a hospital or driving through a warehouse, SpeedLink ensures you stay connected.

Markets

Quatech has delivered high-performance device networking and connectivity solutions around the world since 1983.

Today, Airborne wireless device servers and Ethernet adapters operate in a wide-range of M2M applications, including:

• Industrial Automation
• Medical Devices
• Retail/Point-of-Sale
• Vehicle Telematics
• Military Communications
• Material Handling & Logistics
• Energy Management
• Test & Measure
• Security & Access Control

DIRECT FROM QUATECH

In the manufacturing and industrial fields, communicating with mobile machines is critical to maintaining workflow efficiency. The Airborne AP™ Access Point enables reliable data transfer, monitoring and machine configuration, and communciation over a plant’s wireless 802.11 network.

AirborneAP;™ Access Point can be integrated and deployed into a wide range of applications across various industries including:

• Vehicle telematics & diagnostics
• Material handling & logistics
• Industrial Automation Test & measurement
• Security & access control