More functions for low power radio modem

Circuit Design has updated its MU-1 low power radio modem with new relay and communication margin measurement functions.

Circuit Design, the leading supplier of narrowband radio modules, has updated the MU-1 low power radio modem launched last year with new relay and communication margin measurement functions.

With the new relay function users can now achieve long distance communication (each leg about 600m) using a maximum of 10 relay stations, with the 10mW output authorised for the European harmonised ISM 434MHz licence exempt band.

This enables a broader range of industrial applications such as data acquisition over wide areas and control of equipment placed in remote locations.

The MU-1 is a serial data communications modem designed to offer the reliability, shock resistance, vibration resistance and high quality required for use in industrial applications.

The MU-1 uses the UART serial interface to interface with the host system, and data input/output is performed with simple commands.

The new relay function is achieved by issuing these same dedicated commands from the source station.

Not only can users transmit and receive system data over a relay, they can also remotely set system channels from the source station.

In addition, Circuit Design has added a new command for measuring the communication margin.

For example, users can remotely check the field strength (signal level and floor noise) of target stations in remote locations with commands from the source station.

In addition, the company has provided a convenient command for measuring packet success rate.

As users can easily check the status of each station, it is possible to devise a design that achieves optimum performance at the equipment design stage.

And because they can locate the equipment optimally for the radio wave environment, users can ensure more stable, reliable communication at the equipment installation stage too.

The MU-1 comes with flexible link IDs that allow designers to build 1:1, 1:N and N:N systems so that combined with the relay function, it is possible to build anything from simple systems to complex systems optimised for a wide range of applications.

Operating at low voltage with a low consumption current, the MU-1 is ideal for battery operated applications.

In addition, it has an operating temperature range from -20 to +60C thanks to Circuit Design's unique temperature compensation circuit.

The wireless datarate is 9600bit/s, and the modem conforms to EN300 220.

Single unit price is Eur 225.

An RS232C interface kit, USB interface kit and LAN interface kit are also available to support a variety of interfaces.

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