Industrial Networking & Communications

Here is a hotly debated subject.  It seems that every manufacturer has developed their own communications network, thinks it is "the best solution", an open protocol, and what should be the only international standard.  

Some manufacturers have a history of developing proprietary systems but tell you they are open systems.  Some protocols, such as Modbus, pioneered the field so long ago that they almost reached extinction, but then reemerge as a viable alternative on Ethernet.  Most of our information regarding industrial networking can be found in our Industrial Networking Tutorial.  

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Will everything inside a manufacturing plant be put on one Ethernet cable? Although some "experts" are touting everything on one cable currently this is not a good idea.  Please see our tutorial for more information.  When a manufacturer can  provide wireless, multiple channels over two redundant links and it is reliable in industrial applications then we will consider using only one network.

See Also

• Industrial Networking Tutorial
• Books on industrial networking and communications
• Understanding Device Level Buses a great tutorial by Bob Svacina
• Computer - PLC communications
• For a tutorial and example programs to develop your own serial or ethernet communications programs using Visual Basic click here.  

Industrial Networking & Communications Links

• 3e Technologies -- Industrial wireless gateway / access point

• Acces I/O Products -- serial communications boards, remote I/O

• Applicom -- industrial communications hardware & software

• ATOP Technologies -- ethernet to Rs232 / RS485 converter

• Automated Solutions -- OPC servers and ActiveX controls for communicating with PLCs

• Automation Control Products -- thin clients
• Arc Electronics -- Communications solutions for Business, Utility and Industrial applications including Digital, dial up - leased line - cellular/cell modem & data phones - wireless RF

• Barnett Engineering -- voice automatic dialers, site monitors, modems

• Beckhoff -- interfaces and I/O for Profibus, SERCOS, Devicenet, Lightbus, Interbus, CANopen, USB, Ethernet, Modbus, RS232, and RS485. 

• Bentek Systems -- integrated RTU/ Radiomodems , Wireless Ethernet Radios , Wireless I/O Telemetry , Solar Powered RTU Systems , Alarm Callout Systems , and Protocol Converters

• Black Box  -- these guys are not cheap but they have great quality.  They can connect you to almost anything.  

• Byte Runner Technologies -- high speed serial port cards, USB to serial ports, parallel port cards, USB hubs and cards, Firewire cards, distinctive ring routers

• B&B Electronics  -- industrial ethernet switch, inexpensive communications interfaces

• Cermetek -- internet appliance modem

• Cirronet -- industrial wireless modems, ethernet bridges, access points

• Citel -- surge protectors

• Comtrol -- multi-port serial communication cards

• ConsoliTech -- PLC communications using ActiveX controls

• Contemporary Controls -- industrial ethernet hubs, switches, media converters

• Controlnet -- an independent organization for users and vendors 

• Controlinx -- wireless communications using pager technology

• Computer Networking at about.com 
• Connecticut MicroComputer -- RS232/485/422 adapters, fiber optic communications,  RS232/422 networking, distributed smart switch
• DART -- ActiveX and .NET tools for SSL, FTP, Telnet, emulation, Server, Webserver, Winsock, and SNMP
• DataLink Technologies Group -- communication products interfacing to A-B, Modicon, Industrial Ethernet, Profibus, ControlNet, 
• Data-Linc -- Industrial modems, wireless communications, multiplexers

• DeviceNet -- low-cost industrial network to connect industrial devices

• Digi International -- multiport serial cards, device / terminal servers, USB, multi-modem adapters, wireless solutions -- special section on industrial automation and tutorials

• Electronic Systems Technology -- wireless modems

• Foundation Fieldbus -- resource for information about Fieldbus technology and products

• Grayhill -- Industrial wireless radio modems and ethernet routers

• GRE America -- spread spectrum radio modems, broadband voice/data multiplexers with radio modem, wireless LAN, OEM RF modules

• Hirschmann -- industrial networking

• Ingear -- OPC servers and PLC ActiveX controls

• Interbus-S -- an international association of companies

• Industrial Control Links -- spread-spectrum radios, wireless RTUs, distributed I/O, embedded web servers, PLCs, RTUs, alarm autodialers, data loggers

• Industrial Modem  -- industrial telephone modems, ethernet switches, communication surge protectors and ethernet Modbus interfaces

• Integrity Instruments  -- RS-485 converters and repeaters, RS-422 converters, RS-232 optical isolation and TTL/CMOS converters, addressable RS485 / RS232 converters

• Interlink -- offers hardware and software for different buses

• IOTech -- data acquisition, RS232, RS485 interface boards

• Kepware -- OPC servers

• Lantronix -- serial to ethernet gateways and servers, terminal servers

• LonWorks -- networking for building automation, houses, vehicles

• MarshallSoft Computing  -- serial communications software

• MIcrowave Data -- wireless communications

• Moxa Technologies -- designs and manufactures comprehensive RS-232/422/485 multiport serial cards and Serial-to-Ethernet device server for Industrial automation
• Multi-Tech Products -- telephony, remote access, internet access

• N-Tron -- industrial ethernet switch

• OLE for Process Control (OPC) -- The OPC Specification is a non-proprietary technical specification that defines a set of standard interfaces based upon Microsoft’s OLE/COM technology. The application of the OPC standard interface makes possible interoperability between automation/control applications, field systems/devices and business/office applications.

• Omnex -- industrial wireless solutions

• Parijat Controlware -- PLC communication drivers, OPC servers, communications analyzers

• Patton Electronics -- remote access servers, xDSL, CSU/DSU, baseband modems, interface converters, multiplexers, short range & fiber optic modems, surge protectors

• Phoenix Contact -- wireless communications

• Profibus -- vendor-independent, open-communication standard for automation in manufacturing and process control

• ProSoft Technology -- all kinds of industrial communications solutions

• RE Smith -- RS485 Communications 

• Read-Out Instrumentation Signpost -- Fieldbus resources

• RJ-Lnxx -- industrial ethernet switch, connectors

• Robust Data Control -- RS232 & RS485 isolation, grounding, and surge management

• Sena -- terminal servers, serial to ethernet gateways and servers

• SERCOS -- mainly for drives, but it is so good it is starting to be used for I/O also

• Serial Port Central  -- website with great information that supports the book "Serial Port Complete" 

• Sixnet I/O -- industrial ethernet switch

• SST -- industrial communications hardware & software

• Sea Level Systems -- communications and I/O adapters

• TAL Technologies -- RS232 data acquisition software, serial and TCP/IP communications software

• Telebyte -- short haul modems, interface converters, protocol analyzers, fiber optics, isolation, port sharing, multiplexers, lightning & surge protection

• vHMI Automation -- PLC communications library, ActiveX DLLs only $100

• Wilcoxon Research -- industrial strength Bluetooth wireless communications

• WorldFip -- a single consistent technology for all levels of the Fieldbus system

We try to offer a fair and balanced opinion on every page of our website.  We would appreciate more information from other industrial networking and communications users to express their opinions which we will then incorporate.  If you have questions or comments please post them on our message board (see button in left hand column) so that others can read and benefit.