Cirronet Inc. Brings Wireless Ethernet to the Energy and Process Industries; SEM2410X Solves Data Connection Dilemma.

Business Editors, High Tech & Energy Writers

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 10, 2001

Cirronet(TM) Inc., an established leader in wireless networking equipment, today introduced at ISA 2001 (booth No. 4720) the SEM2410X, a significant addition to its industrial product line. The SEM2410X, exceptionally well suited for automation and production control in energy and process industries, is the first networking system to enable cost-effective, long-range wireless Ethernet connections in harsh environments - both indoor and outdoor.

"At Cirronet, we are focused on delivering the networking solutions that today's energy and process industry facilities need," said Bob Gemmell, CEO, Cirronet Inc. "The wireless SEM2410X allows companies to take advantage of the benefits that Ethernet brings to process control applications because it overcomes cost and deployment constraints."

Cirronet's industrial products are solving tough market challenges for customers like Steve Resweber, vice president of development, Synetcom. Using Cirronet's SEM systems to transmit monitoring and control data between Ethernet devices, Synetcom is able to overcome `outdoor' challenges.

"Ethernet is everywhere now, not just in the plant," said Resweber. "Cirronet's SEM 2410X will enable us to deliver reliable performance under extreme environmental conditions."

The Market Challenge

As with nearly every industry today, increasing data traffic necessitates sophisticated networking solutions. As the demand for data transmission increases, coupled with the need to integrate legacy process control networks with Ethernet based corporate networks, energy and process facilities are challenged by existing deployed technologies. To attain interoperability, they are migrating towards Ethernet solutions.

As a multi-drop technology, Ethernet has many advantages over other network architectures, but it still requires a cable run. This is difficult for many energy and process plants given their size, the limited cable lengths supported by Ethernet, harsh indoor and outdoor environments, and difficult climates that challenge connectivity from remote equipment.

The Cirronet Solution

As the foremost developer of OEM modules, Cirronet leveraged its industry-leading WIT 2410 module to design the SEM2410X - a complete solution.

The SEM2410X utilizes 2.4 GHz frequency hopping spread spectrum technology to provide immunity to both jamming and multipath fading. The heart of the SEM2410X is the reliable, flexible and easy to install WIT2410 module that has been designed into factory and industrial data applications by a number of OEMs over the past two years.

The SEM2410X is ideal for the emerging process control standard, Ethernet, because it allows the RF unit to be mounted away from the Ethernet connection. Housed in a NEMA 4X rated enclosure, the RF unit can be mounted without further protection in harsh factory and outdoor environments - up to 100 ft. from the Ethernet connection. This eliminates the cost and complexity of an RF cable run - previously needed to achieve the appropriate antenna placement for the required range - while enabling reliable, robust communications and the ability to seamlessly tie production data into corporate MIS. Designed for the outdoor environment, the system can endure the harshest RF environment while delivering a long range Ethernet connection of up to seven miles.

The SEM2410 link, at just under $3K, is comprised of two SEM units, which can be assembled within fifteen minutes. Supporting point-to-point and point-to-multipoint installations, the SEM2410X features an indoor/outdoor radio that can be mounted near the antenna, eliminating the need for amplifiers and extensive cabling. As with all of Cirronet's products, the SEM2410X was designed to operate globally because it is ESTI and FCC compliant.

"With the increasing amount of data communications in energy and process facilities everywhere, enabling Ethernet connections is critical to interoperability," Gemmell concluded. "Once again we have saved managers the time and money of building a solution by leveraging our proprietary technology and expertise to deliver a cost-effective and easily deployed wireless Ethernet alternative."

About Cirronet Inc.

Cirronet develops, markets and globally supports commercially proven wireless networking solutions that are uniquely designed to minimize price and deployment barriers. Cirronet enables telecom and industrial markets to emerge by delivering wireless networking equipment that integrates proprietary spread spectrum technology to create the most robust products on the market today. Cirronet(TM) has created a global footprint with over 400 customers and commercial deployments in over 30 countries. For more information, please visit the company's Web site at http://www.cirronet.com or call 678.684.2000.

About Synetcom

Synetcom, located in Torrance, CA, has set the pace for the next generation of wireless telemetry systems. As the developers of the WISE Sensor Link product, Synetcom introduced the first unlicensed wireless 4-20mA link system that allows industrial style interfaces to be extended beyond a remote site. Synetcom offers multi-channel analog/digital/serial links operating in three different frequency bands, spanning basic short range connections up through 2.4 GHz frequency hopping spread spectrum long range solutions.