06 NEWS IN BRIEF
Power over Ethernet
up to 610 metres
Panduit, electrical and network infrastructure solutions
company has announced its Power over Ethernet (PoE)
extenders on UTP copper cable, which enables network
connections to reach up to 610 metres (2000ft). This
new series of devices support full duplex (bi-directional
simultaneous) data transmission up to 100Mbps for
100BASE-TX or Fast Ethernet applications. Supplying
power and data to up to 4-IP devices through a single
copper cable, PoE extenders represent an easy to install,
cost effective solution for multiple applications.
Using a single copper cable (four twisted copper
pairs), the new PoE devices extend the data signal and
power supply by up to six times beyond the current
limit of 100m without the requirement for additional
components and allow support for all IP devices
connected to the network. Additional range does not
inhibit the provision of uninterrupted data from switch
to multiple IP devices supporting Multicast, Unicast and
Broadcast traffic.
This new series of PoE devices is ideal for extending
the signal of IP devices in such applications as security
cameras, VoIP phones, access card readers, biometric
scanners, lights and other sensors, found in commercial
buildings, offices, hospitals, schools and parking
structures.
Compatible with currently available PoE and non-PoE
switches, these devices can be easily implemented
in existing infrastructure to extend PoE beyond the
standard 100m distance, eliminating the requirement
for intermediate distribution frames, fibre backbone and
media convertors, providing a cost effective solution to
adding additional IP devices throughout the site, inside
and out. n
Ampleon releases
“breakthrough” Si
LDMOS devices
Ampleon has announced two additions to its 9th generation
line-up of high-performance 50V Si LDMOS high-efficiency
RF power transistors. Designed for use in ultra-high-power
RF power amplifiers, capable of delivering hundreds of
kilowatts, the BLF978P and the BLF974P are highly efficient
and have high gain characteristics.
Both power transistors offer an operating efficiency of
up to 80 % at 225 MHz under Class AB operation. Energy
efficiency is an extremely important aspect of kilowattoutput
RF systems since the need for effective thermal
management is a key design consideration.
The transistors’ high power and gain ease the scaling of
the amplifier to the high-power levels required by industrial
and scientific applications. The 1,200 Watt BLF978P and the
500W BLP974P, typically offer a power gain of 25 dB at a
frequency range of between 225 MHz to 700 MHz.
The BLF978P and the BLF974P are available directly from
Ampleon or authorised distributors, RFMW and Digi-Key. n
Cradlepoint partners with Rigado to
deliver a safe workplace solution
Cradlepoint has announced that Rigado, a leader in low-power edge networks for IoT, joined
its Technology Alliance Partner programme. Rigado is introducing a new Safe Workplace
IoT solution, hosted on Microsoft Azure IoT Central, for companies getting back to the
workplace under COVID-19 restrictions. Safe Workplace is “Connected by Cradlepoint” and
will be the first to use the new NetCloud Edge Container Orchestrator for deploying and
managing application containers on its wireless routers.
As many businesses across the UK take measures to start welcoming employees back
to the workplace, they will need to adhere to strict health and safety guidelines. These
guidelines can include checks for shared spaces and desk occupancy and social distancing,
and cleaning status. Additional capabilities include wayfinding, tracking and reporting
on employee and contractor movement via badging and tagging. However, monitoring
and enforcement can be challenging, especially for larger sites with thousands of people.
IoT solutions with integrated camera and sensor technologies can reduce this burden by
minimising human interactions, automating processes, tracking occupancy and movement,
and notifying administration of compliance issues.
“Microsoft partners are applying their creativity and ingenuity to help organisations
manage the COVID-19 pandemic and support return to the workplace scenarios. Rigado
and Cradlepoint have built an innovative solution on Azure IoT Central’s secure and scalable
foundation to provide the spatial insights and connectivity needed to ensure buildings
remain safe, clean, and healthy for its occupants,” said Bert Van Hoof, Partner & Group
Programme Manager – Microsoft Azure IoT.
Rigado’s new Safe Workplace solution is based on its Edge Connect platform and uses
an open IoT architecture with plug-and-play cameras, applications, sensors and devices
to provide critical workplace safety functions required under COVID-19 protocols and best
practices. The integrated IoT solution provides occupancy monitoring, cleaning management
and safety signage for common areas, restrooms and desks. Safe Workplace leverages
Cradlepoint wireless routers for secure and reliable connections between Rigado IoT gateways
and applications hosted in Microsoft Azure IoT Central. By contrast, closed IoT architectures
require third-party sensors and devices to integrate with proprietary Application Programme
Interfaces (APIs). This proprietary approach restricts the diversity of IoT devices available and
increases the time it takes to bring new innovative solutions to market.
“Rigado’s Open Edge Framework enables us to combine best-in-class sensors, cameras
and devices with Cradlepoint wireless routers to quickly deliver flexible and extensible
solutions to the market,” said Kevin Tate, Chief Marketing Officer at Rigado. “Because of the
breadth of plug-n-play IoT devices available, customers can start using our Safe Workplace
solution immediately and expand it over time without worrying about interoperability
issues.”
Rigado is further streamlining its Safe Workplace IoT solution with Cradlepoint’s
new edge container service called NetCloud Container Orchestrator (NCCO). Part of the
Cradlepoint NetCloud platform, NCCO enables Information Technology (IT) and Operational
Technology (OT) personnel to build, deploy, run and manage Docker-compatible application
containers directly on select Cradlepoint wireless routers with full integration into NetCloud
management, connectivity and security functionality. NCCO is available today for
compatible NetCloud Advanced service plans.
“Our new alliance partnership with Rigado highlights the valuable real estate Cradlepoint
occupies at the customer edge for running distributed computing functionality,” said James
Bristow, SVP EMEA at Cradlepoint. “We developed the new Cradlepoint NetCloud Container
Orchestrator service to help customers and partners leverage this real estate for containerbased
applications at the edge. Benefits include improved performance and reduced WAN,
hardware and cloud storage costs.” n
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