As information technology continues to expand, more applications require immediate remote access to distributed data. In the November 2006 Tech Tip, we mentioned the use of the Digi Cellular Gateway as a means of backhauling data via a cellular network in instances where no PC or Ethernet connectivity is available.
With some of Digi’s lower range devices such as the XBee and the XBee-PRO, a more powerful license-free radio may be a viable means of backhauling local data to a nearby connectivity point that is beyond the range of radios with lower output power. The XBee XTender is a product that incorporates an XBee-PRO and a 900 MHz 1 Watt XTend radio in the same unit. The low power XBee-PRO can communicate to the local devices and the long-distance XTend can transmit the collected data back to another remote XTend connected to an available PC or network. Using the Digi API, the location of the source data can be identified, parsed and controlled.
