Wireless RS-485

Digital communications networks using the RS-485 standard are used widely over distances of up to 1.2km and often in electrically noisy environments. It is used as the physical layer underlying many standard and proprietary protocols for many applications as diverse as access control, industrial control and renewable energy monitoring.

Zimiti has developed the Z-485 Radio Bridge to transparently transfer RS-485 data when laying cables is difficult or expensive. Z-485 is flexible and can be easily configured to meet the requirements of a particular application. Many off-the-shelf wireless solutions are unsuitable because they are unable to meet the diverse technical requirements of RS-485 applications such as baud rate, latency and packet size. The Z-485's flexibility means that it can meet the technical requirements of most RS-485 applications.

Z-485 can be used to replace some or all of the cabling in a network since it is capable of point-to-multipoint operation. 

Z-485 supports 2-wire and 4-wire networks and half-duplex or full duplex operation. It is simple to use requiring a 2 or 4 wire connection to the host equipment. Usually, power can be provided by the host equipment.

A Secure Authentication Module (SAM) card provides the authentication information required for the radio modems in the network to establish communications with each other. There are two Z-485 product variants:

OEM module

The module is supplied for integration into customers' products. Antenna solutions depend upon the enclosure material. External antennas are available for mounting on metal enclosures. Internal antennas are suitable for use within plastic enclosures.

 Product

Z-485 is also available in an IP65 enclosure with an internal antenna. This product is available to access control installers through our distributor Securefast plc  All other customers should contact Zimiti directly.

Application examples:

Access control systems: Z-485 can be used to connect door controllers between buildings or to add remote doors controllers to access control networks.

Renewable energy systems: RS-485 is commonly used for connecting inverters in solar photovoltaic systems to monitoring centres. Often the inverters are in different buildings and can be more easily connected using a radio bridge such as Z-485. RS-485 is commonly used for monitoring and control of other renewable energy systems such as wind turbines and solar thermal controllers.

Public information displays: RS-485 is commonly used for information displays. Often the installation activities needed to run the cable can be a nuisance in busy public spaces or require expensive out of hours working. Z-485 can provide a simple solution avoiding the cost and inconvenience of cable installation.