Re: [foxboro] AW: Wireless Operator Terminals
- From: WMagda@xxxxxxx
- To: foxboro@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 21 May 2002 07:06:55 -0600
Here is what we are doing regarding wireless with pretty good results so
far.
Our process is a municipal water treatment facility. Our remote
workstations are used by the operators when they have to monitor a process
like a filter wash, and by the maintenance techs so they can see the
readings and change settings as necessary. This saves the maintenance
techs a lot of confusion and time by not having to call the operator over a
trunk radio or land line to relay readings or commands.
We just completed upgrading our one wireless desktop workstation to two
Panasonic toughbook laptops PIIIs, Windows 2000 Professional, Exceed v7.1.
We're using Aironet remote access points and PCMCIA cards via our corporate
intranet. I was told Aironet is owned by Cisco.
Hosts are E boxes because they are already set up for corporate intranet
access. I plan to use our D boxes so the operators can see DM/FV usage on
their workstation without having to go over to the "process engineer" E
box. I want to be sure the plant operator can see how many remote
workstations are on line and could potentially control the process.
The new wireless equipment works through fairly thick walls, increasing our
coverage area dramatically, with greater reliablity of signal strength and
connectivity. We are testing to be sure our sensitive analyzers and motor
controllers aren't affected by RF generated in wireless equipment. We've
seen low power hand held radios cause equipment upsets, so we tread
carefully.
This is a four service utility (water, wastewater, gas & electric) serving
a population of about 440,000. Our corporate intranet uses Cisco
equipment, so this Aironet equipment ties in well when addressing security
and connectivity issues using wireless across our corporate operating
environment. There is a concern that someone could park close to a plant
complex and "hack" or maybe even jam our system over wireless networks.
There are ways to mitigate that risk.
Wally Magda
Instrumentation & Control Specialist
Colorado Springs Utilities
McCullough Treatment Plant
660 W. Monument Creek Rd
USAF Academy, CO 80840
719-668-9502
wmagda@xxxxxxx
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