Module allows wireless to be added to field devices

Integrates Dust Networks’ Industry-Leading IA-510(H) WirelessHART Technology

RF Monolithics (RFM) has expanded its M2M portfolio of wireless communications products today by adding a new WirelessHART-compliant RF module – the XDM2510H – to the company’s industrial-grade RF module products. Built on the Dust Networks'® IA-510(H)™ WirelessHART® system, the XDM2510H is compliant with the international IEC 62591 (WirelessHART) standard and enables industrial automation vendors to meet the rapidly growing demand for standards-based wireless sensor networking (WSN) solutions. WirelessHART has emerged as the dominant standard for process automation allowing battery-powered sensors to be deployed in previously hard-to-reach locations while providing wire-like reliability.

“RFM is pleased to be offering Dust Networks’ leading WirelessHART technology in module form allowing field device manufacturers of all sizes to add WirelessHART capability to their products, quickly, simply, and economically,” said Tim Cutler, Director of M2M products. “RFM believes the WirelessHART standard can truly offer high reliability, battery operated, wireless connectivity in the difficult industrial environments where it will be deployed.”

"RFM has an excellent track record of integrating Dust Networks’ technology into pre-certified modules,” said Brenda Glaze, Vice President Sales and Marketing for Dust Networks. "Their module technology platform makes it easy for design engineers to integrate WirelessHART into end-products, and further expands the worldwide availability of WirelessHART solutions.”

The Dust Networks’ IA 510(H) WirelessHART technology is widely recognized as a foundational building block of the WirelessHART standard. The RFM XDM2510H incorporates Dust Networks’ technology and offers original equipment manufactures (OEMs) a quick path to market for field devices that are enabled with WirelessHART protocol.

The XDM2510H module provides a UART serial port for connection to sensors and an RF connector for antenna connection thereby removing the need for any RF engineering by OEMs, and with the XDM2510H module certifications in the USA, Canada and Europe (pending), no type acceptance testing is required of the OEMs’ end products. RFM’s XG2510HE gateway product completes the network solution allowing connection either locally or anywhere across the Internet.

As with all the company’s RF module products, offers a developer kit (XDM2510HDK) to help design engineers fast-track their designs. The XDM2510HDK includes 4 XDM2510H modules, 4 XDM2510H development boards, 1 XG2510HE gateway, 1 Ethernet cable, 5 Serial cables, 9V Batteries and Wall-mount Power Supplies for each development board, Antennas and RF Cables, Software and Manuals CD, and Quick Start Guide.

The XDM2510HDK developer kit will be available by the end of June 2010 from distributors Acal, Avnet, Digi-Key, Mouser Electronics, Nu Horizons, and Welotec (in Germany).