April 11, 2011 - Belden released HiLCOS 8.50, an updated version of its WLAN firmware. New to this firmware version is the ability to integrate Hirschmann Access Points and Clients into Siemens’ Step 7 (Profinet) and Rockwell’s RSLogix 5000 (Ethernet/IP) automation software without requiring additional management software, thus allowing flexible administration. All devices from the Hirschmann BAT54 and BAT300 WLAN Series delivered in the future will have HiLCOS 8.50 firmware installed as standard.
To enable customers to update older access points and clients, the firmware is also available for download free-of-charge.
The use of protocol stacks for Profinet I/O and the Common Industrial Protocol (CIP) from Ethernet/IP makes it possible to visualize access points via the network controllers. In that way, WLAN devices can be both easily configured and securely monitored. Over and above this, the firmware provides a number of WLAN-specific functions which are also available via the controllers. These include the signal strength and data rate of the wireless connection. It is also possible to define threshold values and link these to alarms.
Belden's introduction of HiLCOS 8.50 will give further impetus to the successful use of WLAN in industrial environments.
