Wi-Fi 6E compliant robust wireless LAN access point

In production sites, the introduction of Wi-Fi wireless LAN, which is widely adopted in IT systems as an alternative to laying communication cables in factory systems, has begun. However, Wi-Fi wireless LAN experiences jitter (variations in communication delay) due to congestion and interference in the radio frequency band, making its implementation in control layers with strict constraints on jitter difficult. Contec has utilized its unique tuning technology to achieve low-latency, low-jitter communication with its commercial wireless LAN products "FLEXLAN(R) FX5000 / FX3000 series." It has obtained Class A wireless certification as the first wireless device in the "Category CTRL," which is intended for control communication of CC-Link IE TSN, an industrial network expected to seamlessly connect the entire factory system. This certification is the first to pass the CC-Link IE TSN recommended wireless device test for wireless devices in the Class A Category CTRL.

Contec has developed eight types of globally compatible wireless LAN units (resin case type FXA5020, FXS5000, embedded board type FXE5000) that have obtained radio certification in various countries around the world, and will begin shipping them sequentially as the FLEXLAN(R) FX5000 series starting in April 2025. The FLEXLAN(R) FX5000 series is a wireless LAN access point compliant with the new Wi-Fi 6E (IEEE 802.11ax) standard. New technologies such as OFDMA, MU-MIMO, and Spatial Reuse have been implemented, resulting in a communication speed that is 1.2 times faster than conventional products compliant with Wi-Fi 5 (IEEE 802.11ac). Additionally, significant improvements have been made in throughput reduction and latency that occurred when using many child stations simultaneously. With the addition of the new 6GHz band (Note 1) alongside the conventional 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, radio interference is reduced, allowing for the establishment of a faster and more stable communication environment. (Note 1: The overseas version of the FXA5020 series cannot use the 6GHz band.)

Contec Co., Ltd. has developed the wireless LAN access points "FLEXLAN(R) FXA5000 and FXA5020," equipped with new features for mesh Wi-Fi and smart roaming, based on the concept of "pursuing uninterrupted wireless LAN." Orders will begin on April 9, 2024. The new products are wireless LAN access points compliant with the new standard Wi-Fi 6E (IEEE 802.11ax). New technologies such as OFDMA, MU-MIMO, and Spatial Reuse have been implemented, resulting in a communication speed that is 2.8 times faster than conventional products compliant with Wi-Fi 5 (IEEE 802.11ac). Additionally, significant improvements have been made in throughput reduction and latency that occurred when using multiple child stations simultaneously. With the addition of the new 6GHz band, alongside the traditional 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, radio interference is reduced, allowing for a faster and more stable communication environment.