Key Design Criteria - For Underground Mining Applications
A typical mine layout showing ImPact WAP's
The ImPact 802.11 Wireless Access Point (WAP) is a purpose built wireless communications device, designed specifically for industrial applications in an underground mining environment. The design addresses the specific requirements and deployment considerations associated with the challenging environments that exist in underground mines.
Among the principal design criteria incorporated into the ImPact 802.11 Wireless Access Point are the following:
- Standards based and compliant with: IEEE 802.3, 802.11; Spectralink SVP Protocol; Cisco Call Manager Protocol; Nortel G.729 speech coding protocol; IREDES Wireless Data Standard; XML Wireless standard; Wi-Fi compliant
- Ruggedized platform, i.e. the WAP's are designed specifically for the ardous underground environment in terms of physical packaging, electronic design and connecting to fibre and power. ImPact WAP's achieve in one mine rugged housing, what 3 to 4 "off-the-shelf" plastic housed components would be required to achieve electronically. Physically, practicality of installation and maintenance, the ImPact WAP's are vastly superior (see picture below).
- Integrates fast switch to facilitate hub/branch configuration or to switch between access cards based on data priority (e.g. VoIP packets assigned priority for QoS performance) The switch is capable of switching two wireless segments and four fiber segments at full wire line speed.
- Full wireless access functionality is implemented via Wireless Access Card (WAC) - consists of a wireless network processor and integrated Cardbus (PCMCIA) 802.11 adaptor.
- Operates on touch voltage (30 VDC) - no certifications or approvals required - do not need to use armored of HV cable
- F/O interface to maximize WAP spacing - targeting 600m separation [802.11] based on minimum signal propagation of 300 m in typical 4m x 5m openings.
- Hybrid fiber/copper connector as well as secondary copper connector for power only if deployed on mine's existing f/o network (see picture below).
- Ruggedized WAP's (both in electronic design and packaging/connectorization)
- Pre-manufactured connectorized cable in 50m, 100m, 200m lengths c/w coupling joint - network can be easily expanded by operations personnel (see pictures below).
- ImPact WAC operational parameters such as the network description, radio channel etc. are all set through a web browser based interface.
- ImPact WAP software can be upgraded in the future to support other 802.11 standards or to implement proprietary OEM protocols in future applications. Each ImPact Access Point can support 2 WAC's, thus:
- Provide increased local throughput on network segments to support VLAN's, hence accommodating usage peaks in high volume areas (hot spots).
- Consolidate high volume data transport (wired and wireless).
- Facilitate wired LAN extensions in remote areas without impacting wireless Quality of Service (QoS). WAC configuration is standards variable (802.11a / .11b / .11e/ .11g / .) and field upgradeable at minimal cost.
- Configurable to dual band concurrent operation (.11b/g - 2.4GHz and .11a - 5 GHz).
- Dual antennas support spatial diversity for improved QoS in mobile applications and roaming.
- Flexibility in network topology; star, cascade-star, etc. - Scalable.
- Network deployment integrates high speed hub with gigabit backplane and upstream link to support future Gigabit Ethernet deployment.
Access Point Specifications
| High Speed Data Transmission | 11 Mbps data transfer rate |
|---|---|
| Long Operating Range, upto 3 times standard products | 23 dBm transmit power |
| Standard Protocol Compliant | IEEE802.11b/g |
| Optimised throughput, range & connectivity | Automatic data rate scaling at 11, 5.5, 2 & 1 Mbps |
| High Throughput | 64/128-bit WEP Engine |
| Connectivity for all wireless devices | Wide Area Coverage, up to 1,200 meters in open space |
| Reduced Power Budget | Advanced Power Management |
| Easy Installation & Upgrades | Plug & Play PC Card Interface |
| High Link Qulaity in enclosed environment | Improved multipath distortion |