5 industrial LTE routers! Explanation of points to choose for IoT utilization!

The easiest combination of communication standards to connect IoT end devices to the network is “LTE, the main radio wave of the carrier + WiFi that can be used around the world.”

This connects the device to the router via Wi-Fi and connects the backhaul of the router via LTE.

In this article, we will compare and introduce the performance of 5 recommended products that can be purchased on Amazon among the industrial LTE routers that operate with this LTE + Wi-Fi combination.

After reading this article, you will understand the basic features of an easy-to-use industrial LTE router and the key points for using it in IoT.

Advantages and disadvantages of industrial LTE routers

Here, we will explain the advantages and disadvantages of introducing industrial LTE routers for IoT applications.

This is the first information that I would like you to refer to when considering whether to introduce an industrial router.

Advantage 1. LTE base stations installed all over Japan

Backhaul LTE radio waves can be connected all over Japan, excluding mountainous areas.

We are currently in the transition from LTE (4G) to 5G, and LTE will continue to serve as the main infrastructure for major mobile carriers for the time being.

In addition to being used as an outdoor public telephone line, it is also being introduced in transportation, commercial facilities, and public facilities.

In other words, it means “radio waves that can be used anywhere in Japan”.

This means that there are overwhelmingly more usage scenarios where industrial LTE routers can be introduced compared to other standards.

Advantage 2. There are countless Wi-Fi-compatible terminals on the market

Wi-Fi is now an essential feature of end devices.

Because high-speed communication is possible, it has the performance to meet various needs of individuals.

As with LTE, Wi-Fi base stations (access points, hereafter referred to as APs) are installed in various facilities.

In addition, the theoretical communication speed has reached 6.9 Gbps for Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), which is the popular standard, and 9.6 Gbps for Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax).

Because it can connect the majority of end devices, it is also deployed in densely populated areas such as large stadiums.

For this reason, it is natural for users to be able to use Wi-Fi, and on the contrary, it is a social environment where they feel inconvenienced by not being able to use it.

It makes a lot of sense that Wi-Fi is the standard for communication between industrial LTE routers and end devices.

Advantage 3. High environmental resistance

Industrial electronics generally have better environmental performance than personal products.

The reason for this is that they must be able to withstand high temperatures and humidity at manufacturing sites, and must not interfere with extremely important facilities such as medical, economic, and transportation facilities.

To operate stably for a long period in such a severe environment, high-performance, long-lasting materials are used for the materials themselves, and they are released after passing in-house tests that are even more stringent than the actual operating environment.

Advantage 4. Most of the power supplies are DC 48V, so they are highly reliable!

Many industrial electronic devices are powered by DC -48V.

This is to eliminate the instability of the commercial power supply and ensure stable operation at all times.

Outdoor power lines installed by electric power companies (hereinafter referred to as commercial power sources) are damaged by typhoons, earthquakes, construction accidents, large fluctuations in peak power in the summer,

There is a weak point that power outages are likely to occur due to ground faults caused by lightning surges in summer and winter.

As a countermeasure, companies with relatively strong economic bases have installed in-house generators to back up when commercial power fails.

Furthermore, the mainstream configuration is to rectify both currents to DC 48V and supply power to the load while charging via a large-scale UPS (aggregate of DC storage batteries).

By doing this, even if the utility power fails, the industrial electronics can continue to operate (for a while) without concern.

Disadvantage 1. Because it is a popular standard, there is a lot of interference

Both LTE and Wi-Fi are widely used standards, so it is necessary to consider interference at the installation location.

If there are multiple LTE/Wi-Fi devices in the vicinity of an industrial LTE router, there may be too many sources of interference that cannot be avoided by changing channels, making communication difficult.

Care must be taken not to disturb the existing communication environment.

Disadvantage 2. If only AC power is available, an AC/DC converter is required

If you have no choice but to supply power from an AC power supply and want to use an industrial LTE router that can only input DC power, install an AC/DC converter in the front stage.

This is a device that can convert electricity from AC to DC, with AC input and DC output feeding the router.

To obtain a high-quality DC with little noise, an expensive converter is required, which increases costs.

It also requires extra installation space.

Disadvantage 3. The environmental resistance performance of the AC adapter may be insufficient

If the AC adapter is not designed for industrial use and only the direct power supply of the DC cable is assumed for industrial use, the environmental resistance performance may not meet the performance of the main unit.

If you use the AC adapter carelessly without checking this, you will not be able to meet the environmental conditions that you are supposed to provide to your customers, and this could lead to liability issues.

Defect 4. There are few dustproof and waterproof products

Industrial LTE routers typically have a LAN port (RJ45) on the secondary side.

As a result, dustproof and waterproof performance cannot be ensured.

Some have this capability, but very few.

Therefore, if you want this performance, it is easy to purchase a separate chassis that supports dustproof and waterproof standards (IPX standards) and install it in it.

Please note that the higher the number of installations, the higher the cost.

Points for choosing an industrial LTE router

Here, we will explain the points that should not be overlooked when selecting the actual equipment after deciding to introduce an industrial LTE router.

Whether the contents of the environmental test match the purpose (JIS-C-60068)

When using it for industrial purposes, it is necessary to check whether it has the performance to withstand the severe environment mentioned above before introducing it.

Therefore, it is necessary to check which standards are met in the environmental tests stipulated in JIS-C-60068 in the product specifications.

By the way, this JIS standard incorporates international standards, so it is also effective when considering overseas expansion of IoT services.

Is there a locking function for the power cable, etc.?

When assuming use in a vibrating environment, such as installation in a moving object such as a car, it is necessary to have a specification that prevents the cable from falling off due to the vibration.

In particular, dropping the power cable can be fatal, so make sure that it has a locking function.

Does it have a built-in UPS?

If you are a small business and cannot afford to install a large UPS, it is worth considering using a product with a built-in UPS.

Although it is not possible to expect such a large charging capacity, it is effective enough if it is a product with high energy-saving performance during communication.

Do you have remote monitoring capabilities?

The remote monitoring function is essential when installing a large number of routers or when installing routers in remote locations.

This minimizes travel time and increases maintenance efficiency.

Is there an automatic recovery function?

Having an auto-recovery feature is beneficial in all situations.

This is especially useful when installing equipment in hard-to-maintain locations, such as outdoors or in tight concealed areas.

With this function, it is possible to recover without going to the location, so maintenance efficiency is improved and the working environment is improved.

The point to note is that the effect is weak if online monitoring is not possible.

Low-temperature performance required outdoors

The lowest temperature record in Japan is “-41 degrees” in Asahikawa, Hokkaido on January 25, 1902.

Of course, this is an extreme example, but let’s check the minimum and maximum temperatures in the operating environment.

Especially for outdoor applications, it is important to be vigilant.

DC 12V when installed in a car

When installed in automobiles, most general vehicles for the masses are 12V, so only models that can supply this power are the choices.

Some cutting-edge manufacturers have launched models with voltages such as 48V, but they have not yet become widespread.

[Recommended for 2021] 5 industrial LTE routers!

Among industrial LTE routers, we will post a performance comparison list of 5 products that are easy to obtain on Amazon and have typical performance.

I could only find 4 types of industrial LTE routers on Amazon, and only 2 of them were technically compliant.

This leaves too little design freedom, so it is preferable to purchase directly from the manufacturer or distributor rather than purchasing from Amazon.

TC710 (Mio Corporation)

The TC710 supports Wi-Fi5 (802.11ac) and can communicate with end devices at high speed.

In addition, there is a lock function for the power connector, so you can rest assured that it will not fall off due to unexpected vibrations such as earthquakes.

The LTE antenna has multiple antennas, both built-in and external, so it maintains a better communication condition than a single antenna.

UBR-LTE-ET-PRM (Peplink)

This is an older model for Asia of Peplink’s multi-SIM product “UBR” series.

Equipped with a high-speed LAN port, LTE features high redundancy performance with 2 main lines and 2 sub-lines out of 4 lines.

Wi-Fi4 is a legacy standard that is one generation old, but it can be used without problems if the connected end device is a small amount of data communication.

Compliant with EN61000 environmental resistance test, it can be used safely in industrial applications.

This is a high-quality product that can also be used in an automotive environment.

BPL-021X-LTE-US-T-PRM (Peplink)

This is a made-to-order model for the United States of Peplink’s router product “Balance” series with a load balancing function.

It has weak temperature resistance, especially high temperatures, and should be installed in a well-cooled indoor environment, such as a communication equipment room.

High-performance load balancing keeps your premises traffic running smoothly.

The LAN supports 1Gbps and supports the high-speed version “Wave2” of Wi-Fi5 (802.11ac), so it is recommended for those who want to use a high-spec terminal on the secondary side.

MAX-BR1 Mini (Peplink)

Peplink’s small and lightweight router “MAX-BR1” series.

Communication performance is minimal, but communication connectivity is high due to redundant SIM slots.

Compliant with EN61000 standards, PoE power feeding eliminates the need for a power cable, minimizing wiring space.

Based on these features, it can be said that this product is more specialized than the UBR series for installation on high-speed moving objects.

USRIOT’s small router “USR-G800V2” series.

Since it has the minimum required performance, it is suitable for general small-scale IoT services with only a few end devices.

The environmental resistance performance is not known from the data sheet, so let’s assume that it is not suitable for high-speed mobile communication.

It has the advantage of being resistant to high temperatures and humidity.

Recommended sources

Is is recommended for gathering information on industrial products.

Catalogs and specifications of various manufacturers can be downloaded all at once.

Very useful for gathering information!

Summary

Industrial LTE routers require the use of DC power supplies, which are not commonly seen in personal applications.

Therefore, a little knowledge of the upstream side of the power supply is also required, so I have narrowed down that part to the very basic minimum points and included it.

If it can be used well, it will contribute to factory automation and realize IoT services with high response speed.

In this article, we have introduced representative products that will be the first step.

I would be very happy if this article could lead to the realization of an IoT service that pleases our customers.