Businesses everywhere are discovering that wireless remote controls are the wise alternative to having employees performing risky and redundant tasks. They understand that from both a cost and control standpoint, wireless networks are an integral part of making their businesses safer and more productive.

For many businesses though, the most promising advancements in these technologies are occurring in devices that are designed to utilize the license-free 433MHz frequency band. Wireless headphones, TV remotes, and even baby monitors all commonly use 433MHz, but with secure programming, industrial users are able to apply it to an almost unlimited range of automatable manufacturing, agricultural, and material handling activities.

Given the sheer range of the 433MHz band’s wireless potential, it’s no surprise that Australia would have its own innovative wireless leader. They not only understand how this technology can best be put to use, but also how it can be expected to perform in Oz’s unique climate.

Simplified Wireless Security with GIGALINK Solutions

For more than 50 years, Elsema has been Australia’s homegrown expert for the design and development of 433MHz solutions. Their premium lineup of low power wireless transmitters and microcontrollers is redefining the expectations of wireless controls in Australian businesses.

Low power devices (LPDs) are the ideal choice for wireless broadcast systems that require low energy demands, wide area propagation, and high security. Their wireless controls satisfy all those conditions; and with operating distances of up to 1000 metres, and full suitability for a wide range of operating environments, they’re ready for the toughest working conditions that Australia can dish out.

Enhanced wireless security is the basis of every Elsema remote controlled solution, and their multi-channel GIGALINK® GLT transmitters and GLR wireless receivers are at the heart of it all. GIGALINK’s programmable technology does away with the reliance on dipswitch coding for security, making it the perfect choice for remote controllable functions such as:

• Wireless indicator, and signal activation systems;
• Warning and alarm control systems; and,
• Automatic controlled security gates and barrier systems.

With up to four billion possible code combinations, every GIGALINK wireless transmitter and receiver pair is designed to resist code grabbers, rolling code bypassing, and a host of other exploitation techniques that are typically used to access private and corporate networks. They’re the perfect solution for secure wireless controls that are simple to deployment and easy to scale up.

GLR Receivers Make Wireless Automation Safe and Efficient

The GLR receivers are the heart of every GIGALINK 433MHz wireless solution. With their ability to store an unlimited number of programmable transmitters, each with 32-bit digital encryption, they boast a core of technical features that includes:

• 1, 2, 4, and 8 relay channel outputs;
• Crystal controlled carrier frequency tolerance for higher reliability; and,
• Better than 1µV sensitivity to activate relay switch.

Sensitivity is an essential aspect of the GLR’s engineering; and with a standard effective range of up to 500 metres, they’re ideal for accurately controlling even the most critical automated industrial functions, including:

• Activation of remote pumping, telemetry, and agricultural systems;
• Stop-start operations on automated convey belts and winches; and,
• Remote controlled hoists, cranes, and cement mixers.

The GLR receivers are also just as efficient as they are effective. They’re powered directly from 240VAC main supplies, but with a current consumption of only 8 amps on relay output and 2.2mA at standby, a GLR wireless transmitter receiver is a power miser that gives a lot but takes very little.

Reliable GLT Transmitters Won’t Leave You in Bind

Rugged, handheld GLT transmitters are the 433MHz workhorses of every GIGALINK wireless solution, and are compatible with any GLR receiver. They also feature full ON/OFF functionality that’s designed for multiple function operations, and can attain a usable operating range of up to 1000 metres depending on the location of the receiver.

The GLT transmitters are powered by a single 9V battery, and their current consumption is a low 35mA during transmission. This is a crucial factor, as GLTs are designed to transmit continuously for as long as a transmission channel is activated. Depending on the operation, the risk of a battery not having enough current to transmit can prove critical, which is why GLTs also feature essential LED battery monitors that will automatically flash when battery voltage drops to 6.5V.

Among the GLT’s other features, you’ll also find:

• 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 channel operation;
• A built-in loop antenna; and,
• The ability to be programmed to multiple GLR receivers.

And although GLT transmitters are housed in their own handheld cases, individual modules can also be purchased for simplified integrated with user’s own hardware applications. This adds to the GLT’s flexibility, making it ideal for installations that include:

• Panic buttons and sirens;
• Industrial alarms; and,
• Emergency lights.

Flexible GIGALINK Frequencies for Special Requirements

Secure, reliable wireless control at 433.92MHz is the foundation that all GIGALINK GLR and GLT wireless transmitters and receiver systems are based on. But while this is the standard operating frequency for all GIGALINK solutions, Elsema can also custom program their GLR and GLT hardware for a range of special frequencies:

• 433.664MHz (SF2);
• 433.408MHz (SF3);
• 433.152MHz (SF4);
• 434.688MHz (SF5); and,
• 434.432MHz (SF6).

Special frequency assignments are only available with minimum transmitter and receiver kit order quantities. But, it illustrates how when it comes to industrial, commercial, or even private users who have the need for even greater flexibility in the wireless system, Elsema’s GIGALINK solutions can satisfy their demands.

The Final Word

At the end of the day, as increasing numbers of occupational risks and redundancies continue to be assessed, the advantages that wireless control systems have to offer are continuing to gain in popularity. They’re capable of performing a wide range of ON/OFF tasks that need flawless activation every time, as well as the scalability and flexibility to be modified quickly if the activation requirements change.

Elsema’s low power wireless microcontrollers and transmitters are just what corporate users need to securely automate functions that they may be losing efficiency on. They’re simple to deploy, easy to implement, and effortless to maintain; and the difference that they can make to a company’s bottom line is significant.