Why would anyone want a cable that acts as an antenna? While cable shields have traditionally been improved to avoid this issue, it turns out that radiating cables can provide an excellent solution in various industrial communication systems.
What are Radiating Cables?
Radiating cables are flexible, long antennas equipped with slots that emit radio waves. They offer an alternative for transmitting wireless data in challenging or impossible scenarios for traditional antennas. By mounting the radiating cable antenna inches away from the desired wireless signal reception point, interference from other machines on the factory floor can be minimized. These cables are available in different lengths, making them suitable for a wide range of applications.
Precise Placement of RF Signals in Crowded Plants
With the increasing use of wireless communication equipment in factories, the factory floor can quickly become inundated with radio waves of various frequencies. This presents a challenge for machine builders who require wireless connectivity. Radiating cable solutions allow new machines to coexist in the factory’s RF space without contributing to the overall noise. Radiating cables emit RF signals in a specific direction and require minimal power to connect with another antenna at a fixed distance. While the plant’s Wi-Fi system may be loud and disruptive, the equipment operating on machines utilizing radiating cables operates quietly.
Flexibility in Signal Transmission
One of the key advantages of radiating cables is their flexibility. They can be used to transmit wireless signals in directions where traditional antennas would be ineffective. For example, radiating cables have been employed to provide two-way radio communication for emergency workers in highway and railway tunnels. This flexibility allows for greater adaptability in challenging environments, expanding the reach of wireless communication.
This post was written by Justin Tidd, Director at Becker Mining Communications! For over 15 years, Becker Communications has been the industry’s leader in increasingly more sophisticated electrical mining communication systems. As they expanded into surface mining, railroads, and tunneling they added wireless communication systems, handheld radios, tagging and tracking systems, as well as gas monitoring.
