OptoBlog

Li-Fi – The best wireless for IoT?

Posted by Matt Newton on Dec 8, 2015 2:36:42 PM

Wi-Fi is an amazing piece of technology. I remember when it was first coming to fruition and laptops needed an accessory card the size of my Samsung Galaxy S6 smartphone to communicate on a wireless network. That’s right. I rock an Android phone. Because it’s awesome.

Then there was the battle amongst PC and laptop manufacturers about which type of wireless interface card you needed, and how to future-proof your latest technology investment. This was essentially impossible at the time because the technology was advancing faster than PC manufacturers and consumer budgets could keep up. Wireless throughput of only a few megabits turned into 10, and then more. Dual-band wireless routers jumped from 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz bands.

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Topics: Internet of Things, Remote monitoring, IoT, Networking

OptoNews: Accuracy/Resolution hands-on demo

Posted by Jean Femia on Dec 2, 2015 4:26:24 PM

In an earlier OptoNews we defined the terms accuracy and resolution as they apply to analog I/O modules. 

These specs help you choose the right module for the job, so you get the results you need.

Some applications require highly accurate values or very fine resolution, while others do not. Choosing the right module for your application will save you time and money.

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Topics: Process control, optonews, I/O, OptoNews 2015-12-02

OptoNews: Holiday Schedule 2015

Posted by Jean Femia on Dec 2, 2015 4:25:24 PM

It's that holiday time again. How about a bright red groov Box as a present for yourself this year? 

Here's our holiday schedule for Opto 22's Headquarters and Manufacturing office, as well as information on shipping dates.

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Topics: optonews, OptoNews 2015-12-02

OptoNews: New blog series helps you troubleshoot

Posted by Jean Femia on Dec 2, 2015 4:24:14 PM

How is going to your favorite website like getting data from your PAC to your groov Box, or from your PLC to your HMI? 

Opto 22 engineer Matt Newton's recent blog post answers that question and introduces you to the underpinnings of both the Internet and a whole lot of industrial automation communications.

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Topics: optonews, Networking, OptoNews 2015-12-02

OptoNews Tip: Analog totalizing—without the calculus

Posted by Jean Femia on Dec 2, 2015 4:23:54 PM

Suppose you have an analog inputmaybe it's a flow meter, for example—and you want to know not only the current flow rate, but also the cumulative flow over time.

How many gallons went through that pipe over the last 24 hours, or over the last month? 

If you're using an Opto 22 analog input module and PAC Control, you're in luck. 

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Topics: Energy management, Process control, Tips, optonews, I/O, PAC Project, OptoNews 2015-12-02

The TCP/IP model: What it is and why you should care

Posted by Matt Newton on Dec 2, 2015 2:33:00 PM

Have you ever wished you could troubleshoot a networking problem faster, more accurately, and with greater efficiency? Stay tuned for the next few series of blog posts where we’ll discuss exactly how you can do that.

Have you ever wondered how data gets from one side of the Internet to the other? How an email you send from California ends up in Paris in just a couple of seconds? How your programmable automation controllers send data to your groov appliance to be displayed on your smartphone or tablet, wherever you are in the world? The magic behind all of this is called the TCP/IP model.

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Topics: IoT, Networking

OptoNews: New SNAP mechanical relay output has integrated transient suppression

Posted by Jean Femia on Nov 18, 2015 5:27:11 PM

The new SNAP-OMR6T-C mechanical power relay output module offers four points to switch loads up to 6 amps at 250 VAC or 30 VDC.

AND it includes integrated transient suppression, while maintaining minimal leakage current. 

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Topics: Discrete control, optonews, New products, I/O, OptoNews 2015-11-18

OptoNews: Case study: M-Bus building systems data

Posted by Jean Femia on Nov 18, 2015 5:26:07 PM

How do you get a variety of building systems and machinery to communicate with a central system controller, when they use different protocols? 

Swedish system integrator Processcomponent AB had to solve this problem when they installed an energy monitoring system in a large apartment building in Gothenburg. 

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Topics: Energy management, Case studies, Remote monitoring, optonews, Integrators, Building management, Modbus, OptoNews 2015-11-18, M-Bus

OptoNews: Add context to your HMI with free SVG image library

Posted by Jean Femia on Nov 18, 2015 5:25:09 PM


Have you discovered our secret cache of SVG images?

You can use these free images in your groov mobile operator interface or in other places where SVG (scalable vector graphics) files are supported.

Bring them into your interface and make them the size you need. Because they're SVG, they automatically scale, so they look good whether they're on a monitor or a smartphone.

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Topics: groov, optonews, OptoNews 2015-11-18

OptoNews tip: PAC Control Communication Handles

Posted by Jean Femia on Nov 18, 2015 5:24:29 PM

Do you use communication handles in your PAC Control strategy?

Or are you thinking, "What's a communication handle?"

In either case, this tip is for you.

A communication handle is a powerful type of variable in PAC Control. You'll use it for three main reasons:

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Topics: Tips, optonews, PACs, PAC Project, OptoNews 2015-11-18

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