Issue
Understanding the impact of exporting point values over a wireless bus in Continuum systems.
Product Line
Andover Continuum
Environment
Continuum wireless solution
Cause
Exporting point values—especially in large numbers—can affect wireless bus stability due to the nature of wireless communication protocols.
Resolution
If numerous points are configured for export on a wireless bus, it may lead to network instability. This is because:
- Wireless exports are point-to-point communications, unlike wired Infinet which uses broadcast messaging.
- Every value change, even those triggered by alarms, can result in an export, potentially overwhelming the network.
To mitigate this:
- Apply thresholds to exported points:
- A threshold ensures that a point's value is only exported when the change exceeds a defined limit.
- This is especially critical for analog points with alarms, as they can generate frequent exports due to continuous value changes.
- Review and optimize export configurations:
- Avoid exporting non-critical points.
- Use alarm filters and deadbands where applicable.
- Monitor wireless bus performance:
- Regularly assess traffic load and adjust configurations to maintain stability.
Best Practices
- Use thresholds to reduce unnecessary traffic.
- Prioritize critical points for export.
- Avoid exporting points that change frequently unless absolutely necessary.
