At this point, you may ask what's the difference between a home router and an industrial router? In fact, both of them are used for network transmission, but industrial routers are more powerful. With their good resistance to high and low temperatures, industrial routers are mainly applied in smart transport, environmental monitoring, wireless motion detection, industrial big data transmission, finance, power and water conservancy, as well as many other fields. However, home routers are not very adaptable to the environment, so they are mostly used indoors. Meanwhile, industrial routers can provide complex systems with reliable networking and stable communication. Their signal sensitivity is stronger under the same circumstance. In addition, security is vital to the collection of large amounts of data. Industrial routers have numerous security rules and settings and better firewalls. For example, they support APN/VPDN and are equipped with IPSEC, PPTP, L2TP, GRE, OPENVPN, VPN client, VPN server and other functions. By contrast, some home routers even don't have firewalls, resulting in a low data security.
 

After reading all the content above, you probably still don’t understand what industrial routers are for. Let’s take the ubiquitous electronic eyes as a specific example. The image capture system consists of three parts: a networked HD camera, an industrial router and a monitoring center. The networked HD camera can clearly record the color, license plate, model and driving direction of a vehicle. Local storage allows the camera to keep the data of captured images, which can be sent to the monitoring center by an industrial router. Everything is clearly recorded, making it easier to catch traffic violations. Now let’s have a look at the QR code payment, which has successfully replaced cash payment. It is also supported by routers which connect to the back-end platform and withdraw money after a QR code is scanned. Such multifunctional applications call for better router performance and security. In addition to high speed and stability, multiple fixed or mobile interfaces are also required. How can we achieve this? It depends on modules such as SIMCom SIM7100E module. It is a mobile interface solution designed for customers, providing multiple interface options including fixed and mobile connections. Specifically, this 4G module based on Qualcomm MDM9215 is a combination of TDD-LTE / FDD-LTE / WCDMA / GSM / GNSS and SMT with a powerful built-in processor. Also, it’s highly scalable with its UART, USB2.0, SPI, I2C, PCM and many other different interfaces. Such perfect performance makes SIM7100E very handy in smart transport, environmental monitoring, smart grids, and other areas.

Now, with the official issuance of the 5G license, China is also stepping up the construction of 5G networks. In 2019, SIMCom launched its first 5G module of the SIM8200 series, giving birth to the upgraded 5G industrial router. It can use public 3G/4G/5G networks to provide users with long-range wireless big data transmission. The 5G industrial router adopts high-performance industrial 32-bit communication processors and industrial wireless modules and an embedded real-time OS is operating as its software support platform. With a RS232 (or RS485/RS422), 4 Ethernet LANs, an Ethernet WAN and a WIFI interface, it can connect to serial port devices, Ethernet devices and WIFI devices simultaneously, realizing transparent data transmission and routing functions.

The 5G industrial router is powered by the latest SIMCom module of the SIM8200 series, which is developed on the basis of the 5G NR modem Snapdragon X55. Two packaging options are available, i.e. M.2 and LGA. SIM8200EA-M2 is a 7nm single chip, which supports 3G/4G/5G and 5G NR sub-6GHz. The peak rate is UE Cat20. It also supports independent SA and NSA (non-independent) network deployment. In 5G mode, its maximum download speed reaches up to 4Gbps. The main applications include fixed wireless access terminals, multimedia video terminals, equipment, mobile offices and so on. It’s also the world's first 5G module to pass the online tests. SIMCom has developed a number of different terminal applications with its partners, to achieve 5G communication in multiple scenarios and industries such as smart homes, smart cities, smart transport and smart manufacturing.