Taipei, Taiwan, 22 July, 2001-- Moxa Networking Co., Ltd., one of leading providers in designing and manufacturing industrial Ethernet solutions, announced an industrial IEEE 802.11g/b wireless product that can be used as an AP, bridge, or AP client. AWK-1100 is designed to be used with Ethernet switches and other Ethernet-ready devices to provide ready access to a wireless LAN. Attractive features include WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) security capability, operating temperature range from 0 to 60°C, and redundant power inputs.

Connecting industrial Ethernet devices to a wireless LAN is not just another fad. Wireless networking is a good choice for many networking requirements due to the flexibility that comes from being able to set up a network anywhere and anytime. Another major benefit is easy deployment—wireless networks can be set up quickly in areas that are not yet wired, or are too hard to wire. In addition, the high performance that wireless networks provide, and the cost savings that comes from using fewer cables are also a plus. One of the biggest concerns raised by potential users is safety. Since data is transmitted through the air by radio waves, how can users guarantee the confidentiality of their information? Moxa overcomes this problem by providing Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) security specifications to overcome weaknesses in Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP).

AWK-1100 is designed for industrial applications that require connecting an Ethernet-ready device to a wireless LAN. AWK-1100 can authenticate and authorize wireless users by IEEE 802.1X and RADIUS (Remote Authentication User Dial-In Service), and communicate with a back-end RADIUS server to see if a wireless user is allowed to access the wireless network. The DIN-Rail mounting feature, wide operating temperature range, and IP30 case with LED indicators make AWK-1100 a convenient plug-and-play and reliable solution for industrial wireless applications. If current plans go as expected, AWK-1100 will be available from Moxa Networking’s distributors at the end of May. Complete contact information for is available on the Moxa Group website at www.moxa.com.