MDS NETio

Overview

The MDS NETio is an integrated, scalable family of wireless solutions that provide long distance unlicensed communications and interface both analog and digital I/O, including sensors for pressure and flow and controls for pumps or alarms. NETio can wirelessly regenerate I/O signals or use standard IP/Ethernet and serial protocols to communicate with controllers such as PLCs, RTUs and SCADA systems. Manufacturing for this product has been discontinued. Each NETio has built-in connections for one analog input, one analog output, two digital inputs and two digital outputs, and Expansion Modules expand the number of I/O points to deliver connectivity for up to 128 I/O signals at any one location. Expansion Modules can be connected directly to the NETio via a fully integrated power/communication backplane connector or be located up to 3,000 feet away and wirelessly connect to NETio over WeXP. Supported analog I/O ranges are 4-20 mA, 0-5 V or 0-10 V, and supported digital I/O is 5-36 VDC. NETio supports multiple industry-standard protocols including Modbus RTU, Modbus TCP (Modbus-TCP) and DNP3, and is backwards compatible with entraNET and TransNET networks while allowing IP/Ethernet, serial and I/O functions to operate simultaneously on the same network. Wireless features include license-free spread spectrum technology in the 900 MHz or 2.4 GHz bands with long range communication up to 30 miles (900 MHz) and 15 miles (2.4 GHz), wireless I/O expansion up to 3,000 feet using the 802.15.4 option, Point-to-Multipoint 2-way communication and high receive sensitivity for noisy environments. Environmental and security features include operation in extreme temperatures from -40°C to 70°C, Class I, Div 2 hazardous location approval, fully-isolated I/O, built-in 128-bit encryption, authorized access point and remote lists, and password protected access and lockdown. NETio provides direct connectivity to analog and digital devices without the need for a controller and can interface sensors for pressure and flow as well as controls for pumps or alarms. It allows a SCADA system or host controller to communicate directly using IP/Ethernet or serial protocols when PLCs and RTUs are not necessary. NETio can wirelessly regenerate analog and digital signals between multiple field devices to reduce wiring and termination costs, support cost-effective remote-to-remote communication for small point-to-point or point-to-multipoint requirements without an access point, and extend I/O coverage up to 3,000 feet using the 802.15.4 option while expansion modules increase on-site I/O capacity up to 128 signals.