5G wireless high-speed interface board for various rail applications

29-11-2022 | Duagon | Boards

Designed for communication in embedded and harsh environments such as rail, the new Duagon G239 is a rugged CompactPCI Serial carrier board that delivers 5G mobile communication features to 19” systems. With a powerful CPU, the board provides varied application possibilities, such as Internet-on-board, general back-office communication, live CCTV to control centres or predictive maintenance. It is designed for -40C to +85C operating temperature.

To employ the wireless functionality, the interface board has three slots: two M.2 slots for 5G and one PCI Express Mini Card slot for WLAN. For 5G mobile communication, the board is provided with eight QLS antenna connectors (four connectors for each M.2 card) and up to three QLS antenna connectors for WLAN functionality. For example, a high-precision GNSS receiver is also supplied for tracking accurate locating.

In the train communication system architecture, the board is generally located at the front end, where it communicates directly with a cellular network. It provides eight microSIM card slots to, e.g., save roaming costs when operating trains across borders, have as much data volume available as possible (by switching to the next SIM card when the volume is used up) or optimise the connection by selecting the provider with the best network coverage in the region the train is travelling through.

As well as the hardware, a user-friendly software tool is incorporated for interacting with the interface board. The user can remotely control which microSIM cards are connected to the modems and can remote power reset each modem.

Based on the CompactPCI Serial standard, the board is future-proof with high-speed serial interfaces.

The board is designed for -40C to +85C operating temperature and is supplied with conformal coating for reliable operation in harsh and mobile environments. Excellent long-term availability of the devices ensures an extended product life and is future-proof.

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By Seb Springall