Specifications

Rockwell Automation Publication AG-SG001G-EN-P - April 2015 59
Choosing Data Communication Equipment Chapter 3
Advantages and Disadvantages over other Modem
Technologies
Listed are the advantages and disadvantages of choosing a cellular transmission
system over other modem technologies.
Advantages
• Ability to use existing secure cellular infrastructure thereby significantly
reducing cost of cabling and antenna towers.
• Increases mobility of users.
• The network coverage area can be made significantly larger when using
cellular networks as networks can be setup in areas where wiring may not
be possible.
Disadvantages
• Dependency on a third party supplier for service and support of
communication infrastructure.
• Since you pay based on the amount of data transmitted, it becomes
important to minimize (or at least monitor) the amount and frequency of
data transmission to avoid large overage charges.
• There could be situations in which cellular network coverage is not
available in international geographic locations as it is in the North
American regions. In those cases, a user needs to rely completely on the
coverage provided by the local cellular service provider.
What To Do Next
Choose your data communication equipment. You may need more specific
information about the control devices to which you are connecting. Therefore,
after choosing your master and remote stations, refer to this section as needed to
finalize your transmission system.
Go to the next chapter to choose master stations.