Bellevue, WA–October 5, 2004—Data-Linc Group now offers PlantLincTM 5000 Industrial Wireless Serial Modem and PlantLinc 580 Wireless I/O Extender. Each product provides a cost effective solution for reliable wireless communications up to 4 miles (6.5 km) in the license-free 902 to 928 MHz spread spectrum band using frequency hopping technology.

PlantLincTM 5000 Industrial Wireless Serial Modem (model PLR5000) is an industrial serial RS232 radio modem designed for cost-effective, short-range PLC communications. It operates in the license free 902-928 MHz band and uses frequency hopping transmission techniques for excellent reliability in noisy plant environments. It is a cost effective alternative to cable installation, trenching and leasing expensive phone lines to remote locations. The PLR5000 is field configurable and supports a number of operating modes including Master, Remote, Store-and-Forward Repeater and Remote/Repeater mode for added flexibility. It can accommodate most plant wireless projects using easy to install omni directional antennas or Yagi antennas when a stronger signal is required. PlantLinc 5000 may be used for in-plant applications including PLC networking, data collection, mobile systems (cranes, conveyor systems, warehouse automation) and outdoor SCADA communications for remote pump stations and sub-stations. It supports all common serial protocols including DF1, Modbus ASCII, Modbus RTU, DNP 3.0 and Optimux with data rates up to 38.4 Kbps. PlantLinc 5000 is housed in a small, rugged, DIN rail mountable metal enclosure. It is rated for operation at -20 to +75°C (-4 to +167°F).

While PlantLinc 5000 provides wireless communications for serial devices, the PlantLinc 580 Wireless I/O Extender family provides wireless analog and discrete I/O solutions. It comes in two versions: the PLR580D Wireless Discrete I/O Extender with eight discrete inputs and eight discrete outputs, and the PLR580DA Wireless Discrete/Analog I/O Extender that includes discrete signals plus eight analog inputs and eight analog outputs.

The wireless extenders may be used in pairs for point-to-point signal transmission or in point-to-multipoint configurations, providing I/O signal transmission to multiple locations. The PlantLinc radio section of the extenders operates in the license-free 902-928 MHz spread spectrum band and incorporates frequency hopping transmission techniques with 32-bit CRC error detection. The result is extremely reliable I/O communications even in high noise plant environments and at a range of up to 4 miles (6.5 km) with line-of-sight, using omni directional antennas. The result is a cost effective, simple to implement wireless solution for I/O signal transmission for distances up to 4 miles (6.5 km).

Contact Data-Linc for information or data sheets for the PlantLinc 5000 Industrial Wireless Serial Modem and the PlantLinc 580 Wireless I/O Extender or visit us on the web at www.data-linc.com/plantlinc/.