Optimizing a Wireless Ethernet Radio Network

When selecting a wireless Ethernet radio, it’s tempting to focus on a few key specifications – such as operating distance or data-throughput rate –provided on the product datasheets. However, several factors contribute to overall network performance for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) – and some of those factors work against one another. The following discussion helps separate perception from reality, detailing the difference between specified over-the-air speeds and actual data throughput in a SCADA application.