November 12, 2007 -- Digi International has introduced its Multipoint XPress Ethernet Bridge (XEB), which the company says its designed for wirelessly connecting multiple Ethernet devices in a single network when Wi-Fi range is insufficient, when an Ethernet cable is impractical or too costly to install, or when industrial grade, highly resilient wireless connectivity is needed.
According to the company, the Multipoint XEB makes it easy to wirelessly connect equipment like industrial programmable logic controllers (PLCs), electronic LED signs, security cameras, Internet kiosks and other Ethernet-enabled devices. The devices is a part of Digi's Drop-in Networking family of solutions that provides end-to-end wireless connectivity to commercial grade electronic devices in locations where wired infrastructure does not exist or satisfy customer needs.
"In many ways the Multipoint XEB functions like a Wi-Fi network, but uses the 900 MHz frequency to communicate over a greater distance and often more reliably than Wi-Fi, especially in industrial settings," says Larry Kraft, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Digi International. "It also provides another wireless connectivity option in our industry leading line of Drop-in Networking solutions."
By using the 900 MHz band, the Multipoint XEB does not interfere with Wi-Fi networks and can communicate reliably in industrial situations where Wi-Fi and other wireless connectivity solutions fail. The bridge has an external DIP switch, allowing it to be switched effortlessly from access point to subscriber unit mode. Up to 16 subscriber Multipoint XEBs can be associated with a single XEB access point. The XEB has line-of-sight range of up to 15 miles, and indoor range up to 2,000 feet with the ability to transmit through up to 10 walls with a 1.5 Mbps RF data rate. It also provides 128-bit encryption for secure connections.
Approved for use in the U.S. and Canada, the Multipoint XEB is now available with prices beginning at $479 per unit.