The advantages of radiating cables are particularly evident in factories where machines move along predefined paths or ...

© iStock

With a radiating cable, on the other hand, new machines can be integrated into the factory without causing interference between the different radio sources. This is because radiating cables only send the radio waves in one direction and only require as much power as is needed to connect to another antenna over a certain distance. So while the factory's general Wi-Fi network 'shouts' through the entire factory floor, the machine equipped with a radiating cable works in 'whisper mode'.

... when certain locations in a production facility are difficult to reach with broadband radio solutions. The selectable cable length makes the antenna cable suitable for use in a wide range of applications.

© iStock

The technology described is particularly advantageous for systems with moving parts, where transmission is usually carried out via slip ring contacts, for example. This is because the installation of slip rings is usually associated with high costs and the maintenance effort is also high. In addition, the data transmission rates are lower due to interference at the rings and scanners. Although conventional wireless communication technologies can be an alternative solution to slip rings under certain circumstances, very powerful antennas are usually required to ensure interference-free communication, which further increases the radio wave exposure. In such cases, radiating cables can provide clear, consistent signals to rotating antennas without interfering with nearby wireless systems.

Last but not least, radiating cables - like all cables - are extremely flexible. This opens up a wide range of communication paths, as wireless signals can now be emitted in places that cannot be reached by antennas. One of the first applications for radio cables was an emergency communication system for the emergency services in highway and railroad tunnels. But even in industrial environments, there are many hard-to-reach places or dead spots due to obstacles that prevent a reliable radio connection at all times. One example of this is a logistics center, where the metal shelves or the goods stored there hinder the propagation of radio waves or reflect the signals of traditional antennas. Radiating cables, on the other hand, can be laid along the aisles between the shelves to generate a strong signal in exactly the right places.

In short, the use of a radiating antenna cable can offer great advantages in industrial communication systems. The cable antennas are particularly interesting in communication solutions in which the signals run along a route, as a replacement for sliding contacts in systems with moving parts or for radiating a clear RF signal when obstacles or the factory layout prevent a clear line of sight and therefore rule out the use of a traditional antenna.

Author:
Keith Blodom is a specialist in wireless communication solutions at Prosoft.