ABB is showcasing its latest outdoor broadband mesh router, designed to meet the communication networking requirements of utilities in Europe, during the CIRED conference in Lyon, France from June 15-18,2015.
The new Tropos 6420 offers European utilities a reliable, cost-effective alternative to service provider networks to deliver wireless communications for smart grid applications such as smart metering backhaul and distribution automation.
The new router's state-of-the-art radio design, coupled with the advanced mesh routing and radio resource management capabilities of the embedded operating system (OS), enables the Tropos 6420 to be deployed at lower density than previous mesh routers, cutting equipment and installation costs, while offering higher availability than service provider networks.
"The Tropos 6420 brings to European utilities the benefits of a modern wireless communications system" said Claudio Facchin, president of ABB's Power Systems division. "It enables deployment of private wireless networks that are both highly available and cost-effective."
The most commonly used communication technologies for smart grid applications are power line carrier (PLC), a private, wired communication technology, and public wireless data services provided by cellular network operators. The Tropos 6420 provides European utilities with a new option.
With access to 653 MHz of radio frequency (RF) spectrum, the Tropos 6420's radio resource management embedded in the Tropos Mesh OS uses more available channels, automatically selecting the best frequency to avoid interference and maximize network availability. These capabilities, combined with its mesh routing capabilities and environmentally hardened packaging, enable Tropos 6420-based networks to be designed to highest level of system availability.
The Tropos 6420 can access 125 MHz of spectrum in the 5 GHz band where transmission at 36 dBm is permissible making it suitable for the European market. Transmitting at full power enables the mesh routers to be deployed at lower density, cutting equipment and installation costs.
The Tropos 6420 is available with an optional strand mounting kit, further reducing installation costs in areas where street lights are suspended from power lines rather than being mounted on poles. As with all Tropos mesh routers, the product can be managed using Tropos Control, a robust wireless network management system.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility, industry, and transport and infrastructure customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in roughly 100 countries and employs about 140,000 people.
