AKRON, Ohio -- Summit Data Communications, Inc. today announced the first family of 802.11g Wi-Fi modules designed specifically for integration into application-specific devices (ASDs) like portable data terminals, bar code scanners, portable printers, medical devices, and industrial equipment. The Summit modules provide the performance, security, and software features required for reliable operation in business-critical ASDs and their environments.

The Summit 10G family of compact flash (CF) and PCMCIA (PC card) adapters provide the range

and throughput required in radio-challenging environments such as retail stores, distribution centers, hospitals, factories, and ports. The Summit adapters come with a complete software suite that includes device drivers, integrated security software, and a full-featured application for monitoring and management of all radio and security parameters. Summit provides comprehensive technical and compliance services to ASD vendors to ensure successful integration and ongoing end-customer satisfaction.

Performance and Reliability

Based on Broadcom® 54g®technology, the Summit modules include key hardware innovations that set them apart from mainstream 802.11g products. One hardware innovation is the use of high-performance transmitters and receivers that provide the greatest possible operating range. The modules provide up to 80 milliwatts (mW) of transmit power, which is 40% greater than mainstream radios. This additional power, coupled with industry-leading receiver sensitivity, results in a far more reliable connection than that provided by radios designed for home and office use.

“As Wi-Fi becomes an invaluable tool for retail, healthcare and industrial applications, Broadcom and Summit are developing solutions that meet or exceed customers’ performance, range and security requirements – even in the most challenging environments,” said Jeff Baer, senior marketing manager for embedded Wi-Fi from Broadcom’s Wireless LAN Business Unit. “Delivering solutions for the exploding ASD market will continue to extend Broadcom’s Wi-Fi presence beyond PCs, retail networking gear and other wireless LAN applications.”

To allow for operation under the extreme temperatures found in factories, warehouses, freezers, and the outdoors, the Summit modules provide an operating temperature range of -30° to 75° Celsius (-22° to 167° Fahrenheit). With an advanced power circuit, both the SDC-CF10G and PC10G consume just 175 milliamps (mA) of power in receive mode and 10 mA when in idle mode, which is approximately one third less than most 802.11g radios. Summit’s modest power consumption provides for increased ASD battery life and full shift operation.

Summit Data Communications Inc.