Aerohive launches new 802.11ac Wave 2 access points
Aerohive Networks recently launched new 802.11ac Wave 2 access points, a new line of switches, and a new release of its HiveManager NG software, that together deliver the most adaptable wireless infrastructure solution for the connected enterprise, claims the company. In terms of new hardware, the company has added the AP250 and AP245X 802.11ac Wave 2 access points; the SR2208P, SR2224P, SR2324P, and SR2348P models encompass the new switch line. To address today’s escalating connectivity demands, the two new cloud-managed 802.11ac Wave 2 access points deliver enterprise-class capabilities and uncompromised wireless functionality while operating on existing standard wired infrastructure of 802.af Power over Ethernet (PoE), the company claimed. The access points also feature integrated Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) properties. Both the AP250 and the AP245X are built on Aerohive’s RF-IQ technology, which incorporates distributed control radio intelligence, such as automated channel and power selection, load balancing, band steering, and other capabilities that enable complex radio functionality.
According to Aerohive, “The AP250 access point’s software-selectable radios maximize customers’ return on investment by allowing administrators to select transmission at 2.4GHz and 5GHz or to select dual 5GHz. When integrated into overall network design, the selection of the dual 5GHz mode can effectively double network capacity. Aerohive’s patent-pending RF-IQ antenna and the first-of-its-kind network technology provide polarization and spatial diversity, which ensures performance even in dual 5GHz mode, delivering uncompromised performance under 802.11af power budget. The AP245X delivers Wave 2 with external antennas and a rugged design for challenging environments, such as warehouses, manufacturing floors, and extreme temperature environments. Both the AP250 and the AP245X access points feature integrated BLE and a USB port to enhance location-driven services and provide additional wireless connectivity options for IoT and other devices. HiveManager NG, Aerohive’s network management platform, is designed for enterprise-grade scalability and is available for private or public cloud deployment. The new release of the platform is now architected for on-premises deployments of up to 20,000 access points. The platform offers the centralized management and powerful functionality enterprises need as well as streamlined user experience and simplified troubleshooting.”
Aerohive also introduced four new cloud-managed enterprise switches, the SR2208P, SR2224P, SR2324P, and SR2348P. Available in a range of port densities, from desktop to stacking-capable rack mount, the new switches are managed through the HiveManager NG application. Together with Aerohive’s access points, the company says these new switches “enable complete unified wired and wireless cloud network management from a single pane of glass with improved visibility, centralized control, and reduced cost and complexity.”
Airista acquires Ekahau Real Time Location System RFID over WiFi business
Airista Flow, which is an Airista affiliate company and provider of WiFi-enabled location services, acquired the Ekahau Real Time Location System (RTLS) business. Ekahau RTLS has operations in Reston, VA and Helsinki, Finland. Ekahau’s RTLS technologies are used widely in healthcare environments and are also deployed in education and other environments, including manufacturing and warehousing. The company also operates a separate business, Ekahau ESS, which offers WiFi design tools. When the acquisition was announced, Ekahau chief executive officer Michel Wendell explained, “Ekahau ESS will continue to operate as an independent company focusing on its own market.”
Further commenting on the acquisition, Wendell said, “During the past 15 years, Ekahau has built a very strong presence in the RTLS space as well as the WiFi network design and optimization market. We are thrilled to have met Airista who, with their current business offerings and outlook, is a great match for Ekahau RTLS and its customer base, and to take the RTLS solutions to the next level.”
Airista Flow will continue to offer the current RTLS products and fully support the Ekahau RTLS customer base, the company said, adding that it intends to expand these offerings through the integration of the existing Airista and Ekahau platforms.
“Airista Flow will assume responsibility for the ongoing servicing of the Ekahau RTLS customer base, worldwide,” Ekahau said in an announcement of the acquisition. “Ryan Madigan, Airista Flow president, will assume operational control of Ekahau RTLS and lead the business both in the U.S. and Finland.”
Madigan commented, “The RTLS market is at a point where some consolidation is needed to drive standardization and further innovation. Combining the WiFi locating and software capabilities of Ekahau RTLS and Airista will lead to the continued creation of highly refined, innovative products intended to address business issues our customers face.”
Airista’s chief executive officer, Sy Sajjad, added, “We are very pleased to welcome the Ekahau RTLS team and customer base into the Airista family. Ekahau RTLS has earned a well-deserved, excellent reputation in the market for providing innovative solutions to their customers. We see the combination of talent and technology between Ekahau RTLS and Airista as an exciting platform for continued growth and look forward to working with the Ekahau RTLS team and customer base.”
Heavy-duty nut drivers feature fully hollow handle design
Klein Tools has introduced its Heavy-Duty Nut Drivers, designed with a completely hollow handle for use on unlimited bolt lengths.
The nut drivers have magnetic tips to help retain the nut while driving, and a wrench assist feature for additional torque. The tool’s heavy-duty shaft features Klein’s Cushion-Grip handle, and each nut driver end is color coded for easy identification.
“These nut drivers are designed for flexibility, with the hollow-through shaft,” said Klein Tools senior product manager Raul Rosales. “Each nut driver is formed from a single piece of cold-formed steel resulting in a solid piece of metal that can withstand a great amount of torque.”
The Heavy-Duty Nut Drivers are available in six individual sizes (1/4”, 5/16”, 3/8”, 7/16” ½” and 9/16”), and 4-piece and 6-piece nut driver sets.
Survey forecasts 30 million U.S. households to add smart home technology by next year
August Home, a provider of high-end smart home technology, and Comcast Cable’s Xfinity Home service recently released the results of a survey that indicate growing enthusiasm for and interest in smart security and smart home technology.
The survey of nearly 1,300 U.S. consumers, sheds new light on what motivates adoption, what features are most compelling, as well as how consumers plan to use smart home technology. The findings are detailed in a study entitled “The Safe and Smart Home: Security in the Smart Home Era.” The results of the survey anticipate the smart home market to double by this time next year.
Nearly 18 percent of survey respondents said they’d likely buy a new smart home product over the next 12 months, including 56 percent of those who already have installed at least one smart home product in their home. In addition, 12 percent of those without smart home technology said they were planning on buying a smart home product in the next 12 months, which would effectively double smart home ownership over the next year to 30 million households.
When it comes to adopting smart home technology, the survey indicated that family safety is the biggest motivator for most consumers (63 percent). However, adding convenient features, such as the ability to turn on lights after dark (54 percent) and the ability to provide remote access to service providers (22 percent) are also high on consumers’ wish lists. “Smart home technology is creating a new paradigm for home security,” said Jason Johnson, chief executive officer of August Home Inc.
“The new era of smart security and smart home products offer consumers visibility and control over their homes that previously had not been available with traditional security systems.”
“Comcast has a history of disrupting business models and bringing the newest technology to millions of homes,” added Dennis Mathew, vice president of Xfinity Home. “We did it with video, broadband, and voice. Now we’re doing it with home security and the smart home.
"These survey results highlight consumers’ evolving interest in the Internet of Things, and we’re excited to partner with innovative companies like August Home to accelerate broad consumer adoption of smart home and smart security technology.”
As for triggering events that would cause a consumer to get home security installed, neighborhood break-ins (46 percent) top the list, followed by moving into a new house (26 percent), home remodeling (14 percent), managing a rental property (6 percent), and having a baby (5 percent). Security-adopting consumers and non-security consumers alike are interested in the potential of smart home security. Connected cameras (40 percent), video doorbells (26 percent), connected light bulbs (19 percent) and smart locks (13 percent), all ranked high on security-adopting consumers’ wish lists.
However, the survey notes that home security adopters continue to value traditional features such as 24/7 call center monitoring that have served as the bedrock of the home security market for decades.
The data referenced in the new report come from a study commissioned by August Home and Xfinity Home, produced by research firm NextMarket Insights and conducted as an online survey among a total of 1,293 U.S. consumers. The data set is demographically balanced to represent age, gender and income. Data was collected in March 2016.
“The smart home industry is still a young market,” said Michael Wolf, chief analyst for NextMarket Insights. “But consumer awareness is growing rapidly as new offerings with clear value come to market.
"This research reinforces our belief that product categories which provide tangible help in meeting consumer needs such as family safety or work-life balance will experience significant growth in end-user adoption over the next five years.”
microQSFP MSA compact transceiver spec eyes 100G port density, data speed, system thermal requirements
The members of the microQSFP MSA Group [micro Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable Multi-Source Agreement] announced the release of the microQSFP Specification Version 2.0, allowing system designers, optical module manufacturers and copper cable assembly providers across the industry to develop next-generation hardware based on the microQSFP definition. The microQSFP document includes final electrical, mechanical, thermal and management specifications of the microQSFP module and cage.
The microQSFP transceiver module uses a compact connector system sufficient for four input/output (I/O) electrical channels that supports direct attach copper cable assemblies, optical modules and active optical cable assemblies. Having the same width as the existing single-channel small form-factor pluggable (SFP), microQSFP ports offer the industry a familiar module, but with up to four times the data capacity. This new form factor may be used with 1, 2 or 4 channels and its enhanced thermal features offer a way to support more thermally challenging applications. For example, microQSFP products could be used for 1- or 2-channel applications where higher thermal loads are required, such as 1x50 or 2x50 Gigabit per second applications. In these applications, the users benefit from the familiar SFP density, but with significantly higher thermal management.
The microQSFP specification defines an electrical interconnect that provides 33 percent higher density than the existing QSFP (Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable) connector system, along with integrated thermal management features that significantly improve the thermal performance when compared with QSFP style connectors and cages. The microQSFP connector signal integrity performance will support existing industry specifications up to 28 Gbits/sec per channel and it is intended to support 50-Gbit/sec PAm4 requirements as well.