Honeywell launches ISA100-ready wireless network

Phoenix, Arizona – Honeywell has unveiled an updated version of its OneWireless industrial wireless network equipment that is designed to be compatible with the end-user driven ISA100.11a industrial wireless communication standard. The product, it claims, is the process industries’ first mesh network with ISA100-ready hardware, and can be easily upgraded to the ISA100.11a standard, when it is completed, through an over-the-air software update.

"Manufacturers have been asking for a secure and reliable multi-functional wireless network that can handle the thousands of devices they use within their plants,” said Harsh Chitale, vice president of strategy and global marketing for Honeywell Process Solutions. “Until now, the only way to do so was with proprietary systems. The ISA100.11a standard will allow OneWireless users to achieve this vision using a standards-based network.”

According to Honeywell, the product also extends its product line of transmitters with a new XYR 6000 Digital Input wireless transmitter. OneWireless is designed to support a wide range of both wired and wireless transmitters, including corrosion, gauge pressure, differential pressure, high-level analog input and temperature transmitters, As a single network supporting both sensors and IEEE 802.11-based applications, OneWireless also supports mobile worker devices.

The release also expands the interface capabilities of the system, supporting the HART protocol. HART is commonly used by asset management applications, said Honeywell. OneWireless system management software makes any XYR 6000 transmitter communicate to existing HART-enabled applications in the same manner as to a wired HART device, the company stated.