Transcript
WESTBASE TECHNOLOGY
In-Vehicle Network Solutions AN IT BUYERS’ GUIDE
YOUR IT BUYERS’ GUIDE TO IN-VEHICLE NETWORK SOLUTIONS Technology for transport has rapidly developed over the past decade, and mobile connectivity has played a large role in this. Fleets now require reliable and super-fast mobile Internet connectivity to keep up with these innovations, and to enable improved productivity, fleet management, and extended services for passengers.
The right mobile connectivity solution can enable: A high-speed LTE network with WiFi hotspot both inside and outside the vehicle Location tracking to provide real-time passenger information, increased fleet security, and traffic management Digital signage and infotainment for passengers Passenger WiFi for leading-edge customer services CCTV footage on the go for instant and remote access to footage when you need it Connectivity to depot WiFi for daily, automated CCTV footage retrieval on the vehicle’s return to base Electronic / mobile ticketing and Point of Sale solutions
The benefits delivered by an in-vehicle network are diverse and numerous. The above applications can lead to benefits such as value-added passenger services, streamlined work processes, increased fleet security, and access to essential information on the road.
There are a multitude of mobile connectivity options available for in-vehicle networking solutions. This buyers’ guide will help you to understand these options so that you can make an informed buying decision for your organisation.
2
YOUR OPTIONS USB Modems Also known as “dongles” these devices provide the user with plug and play access to 3G / 4G mobile connectivity. Sold as part of a mobile data contract, they are widely available for both consumers and businesses on a range of Pay As You Go and monthly tariffs from all mobile network operators.
Pros: Plug and play – instant connectivity, just plug the USB modem into your device and you’re good to go. Low cost – simply choose a pre-packaged tariff to suit your needs. Short lead time – order online and get your connectivity in a box by next day, or pop to the shop to get it instantly. Portable – transfer your dongle between devices easily.
Cons: Built for consumers – as consumer-grade products, USB modems aren’t built to deliver 24/7 connectivity. Temperature restricted – as they aren’t ruggedised these devices tend to fail in extreme temperatures. Vibration damage – not built for the vehicular environment, dongles break consistently due to vibrations. Environment damage – not dust or splash resistant, these devices are prone to constant environment damage. Single host connectivity – dongles only connect one device at a time and have limited configuration options. Requires host computing device – these devices cannot provide standalone connectivity and have to be connected to another computing device to work. Internal antenna – USB modems have limited options for external antenna connections and often don’t have any. Their small size limits the internal antenna as well, meaning they often deliver poor and unreliable signal. Insecure – these devices only have basic security features and don’t offer the enterprise-grade security required by many applications, such as payment and CCTV, making them unsuitable for handling sensitive data which needs to be IT policy compliant. They are also vulnerable to breaches. No cloud management – each dongle must be individually managed, configured and updated which is both time and labour intensive.
Conclusion: While a USB modem is a fast and affordable option for providing in-vehicle connectivity, it doesn’t provide a reliable cellular connection and isn’t designed to work inside harsh vehicular environments where a more rugged solution is necessary. Also, for the best LTE experience, MIMO antennas should be used and require isolation from each other. The lack of external antennas therefore means that performance from a USB dongle will never be optimal, resulting in a poor signal. Security issues are the largest concern as typically organisations require secure connectivity to manage their data transactions on the road. The lack of cloud management also means that deploying firmware patches, and configuring changes to the estate, becomes a manual process and cannot be achieved remotely – making USB modems impractical to maintain.
3
YOUR OPTIONS Personal Wi-Fi Hotspots Also called a “MiFi” by some manufacturers and mobile operators, personal WiFi hotspots are primarily consumer products which enable the user to create their own personal, mobile WiFi hotspot that typically allows them to connect up to 5 devices to the Internet at the same time over a 3G / 4G connection.
Pros: Plug and play – connects your device to the Internet at the press of a button. Low cost – simply choose a pre-packaged tariff to suit your needs. No host computing device required – MiFis can provide standalone connectivity. Short lead time – order online and get your connectivity-in-a-box by next day, or pop to the shop to get it instantly. Small and portable – fits easily in your pocket, making it easy to use on the go. WiFi connection – connect multiple devices to one hotspot at the same time.
Cons: Built for consumers – as a consumer grade product these devices aren’t suitable for 24/7 connectivity. Temperature restricted – MiFis cannot perform under vehicle temperatures, often melting in heat or dying in the cold. Vibration damage – not built for the vehicular environment, personal hotspots break consistently due to vibrations. Environment damage – not dust or splash resistant these devices are prone to constant environment damage. Limited antenna options – these devices have limited connection options for antennas meaning they often deliver poor and unreliable signal. Limited connectivity – personal hotspots only allow you to connect up to 5 devices, making them unsuitable where more connections are required. Limited WiFi features – MiFis only provide basic WiFi and don’t support advanced features such as WiFi portal integration, or WiFi as WAN. Insecure – these devices only have basic security features and don’t offer the enterprise-grade security required by many applications, such as payment and CCTV, making them unsuitable for handling sensitive data which needs to be IT policy compliant. They are also vulnerable to breaches. No cloud management – each device must be individually managed, configured and updated which is both time and labour intensive.
Conclusion: While a personal hotspot can provide a fast and affordable option for creating your in-vehicle network, and allows you to connect multiple devices, client device support is limited. They also don’t provide reliable connectivity, and are not designed for a vehicular environment meaning that they often break. The inability to deliver security compliance to the vehicle network also makes it highly unsuitable for organisations where this is typically required as standard. The lack of cloud management means that MiFis are difficult and impractical to maintain as well.
4
YOUR OPTIONS Mobile routers Mobile routers provide secure, reliable and superfast connectivity over a choice of 3G / 4G networks, enabling extended features and capabilities. They offer a “one stop shop” of mobile connectivity.
Pros: Plug and play – fast speed to deployment with “zero touch” configuration. Multi WAN support – these devices frequently support Ethernet, WiFi as WAN, Satellite, etc. Remote access – remotely access, manage, send and retrieve data. Ruggedised options – ruggedised routers are protected from vibration, dust, splash, and extreme temperatures. WiFi connection – mobile routers allow multiple devices to connect, some allowing up to 128 connections at one time. Simple integration – their compact size and capabilities allows easy integration with other in-vehicle technologies. Antenna connection – mobile routers connect to an external antenna which can be positioned to optimise coverage. Commercial warranties – as commercial products, these devices typically come with business-grade warranties. Extended power options – most allow direct installation into a vehicle’s electrical system. Standalone connectivity – mobile routers do not need to be connected to a host computing device to provide connectivity. Designed to be deployed by IT professionals – IT professionals can use router products to seamlessly extend their existing corporate networks and support functions. Secure connectivity – mobile routers offer enterprise-grade security, with best in class offering advanced security, VPN, and stateful firewall to protect sensitive data. They are also designed for PCI compliant network architectures. Multi-carrier support – select the best network coverage for your organisation, with many routers also offering multiple SIM options for failover so that you can maintain a reliable network even if your primary connection fails. Cloud management – cloud management means you can easily monitor your entire estate, configure multiple routers at one time, and deploy updates within seconds. Cloud management also provides access to reporting, analytics, diagnostics, and alerting. Use this to monitor data usage and avoid bill shock amongst other things. Lower cost of ownership – ability to remotely manage and configure mobile routers through cloud management reduces total cost of ownership by decreasing engineer time required in the field. Extended capabilities – a mobile router’s connectivity solution can be used for GPS location tracking, CCTV data retrieval, digital signage, electronic and mobile ticketing, and Point of Sale transactions.
Cons: Cost – Mobile routers are a more expensive hardware investment than USB modems and personal hotspots. Requires IT professionals to setup and maintain – for some smaller businesses without internal IT teams, a routerbased network may be a difficult option to implement.
Conclusion: Mobile routers provide by far the most reliable and secure 3G / 4G connectivity. Remote access and cloud management also makes them highly practical and simple to implement and maintain – offering enhanced capabilities that go far beyond that of the USB modem and personal hotspot devices. Although they are the most expensive hardware investment, they deliver the greatest return as a long-term solution. The mobile router allows increased functionality that both delivers on your existing needs, while providing a ready-made connectivity solution for future business requirements. Also, while other market options are a smaller cost in the shortterm, they can become more expensive in the long-term owing to the need for consistent hardware replacement due to breakages, and engineer visits required to make estate changes and to troubleshoot problem devices. Overall, mobile routers offer a complete, secure, reliable, and super-fast mobile connectivity solution where the pros clearly outweigh the cons.
5
SELECTING THE RIGHT ROUTER Within the mobile router market there are various options designed for multiple industry applications, meaning that it’s important you understand the features you are looking for. For example, a non-ruggedised router intended for application within a retail environment may perform excellently within this, but it would not be suitable for a vehicular environment.
When selecting a mobile router device for your in-vehicle network you should look for the following: Certified 3G/4G/LTE enterprise-grade internal modem Dual-band, dual concurrent WiFi, ideally offering the latest 802.11ac version Ruggedised for vibration, shock, dust, splash and humidity – look for the certifications which prove this Built-in transient and reverse polarity voltage protection 9-36 DC voltage input range Integrated temperature sensor Temperature withstanding -30C° to 85°C Active GPS support Cloud-managed Mounting integrated into the hardware for optimal placement and shock resistance is preferable Dual SIM for failover if your primary network fails is preferable Ignition sensing is preferable The above set of features will ensure that you select a device that is perfectly built for in-vehicle networking.
Introducing the CradlePoint COR IBR1100 The CradlePoint COR IBR1100 has been built for in-vehicle networks, delivering the latest and best mobile technology features that an organisation may need. Offering all of the desired features noted above, the COR IBR1100 brings with it a new age of rugged 4G mobile routing: SUPER-TOUGH AND FULLY RUGGEDISED Boasting an extensive list of safety and hardening certifications, the CradlePoint COR IBR1100 is engineered to protect against extreme temperatures, humidity, shocks, vibrations, dust, water splash, reverse polarity and transient voltage.
ENHANCED WIFI Offering the latest 802.11ac WiFi and allowing up to 128 devices to connect at one time, the COR IBR1100 offers the best possible WiFi connectivity both inside and outside the vehicle. You can also easily cloud-configure your network to make it as secure or as open as you need.
CLOUD MANAGED Monitor, configure, and upgrade geographically dispersed systems without requiring on-site technical resources. Improve productivity, reduce costs, and enhance the intelligence of your network – CradlePoint allows you to maximise the benefits of the cloud without losing your connection when you need it the most.
6
CHALLENGES AND BEST PRACTICE In addition to selecting the best possible device (for example the COR IBR1100) for your in-vehicle network, it is important to understand some of the challenges associated with implementation. Challenge #1 Optimal operation of wireless routers requires monitoring, regular firmware updates, configuration, maintenance, and troubleshooting, yet most organisations cannot dock their fleets just for this.
Solution Cloud-based remote management software can enable these tasks from a central location while ensuring sensitive data stays safe.
Challenge #2 Mobile routers use the vehicle’s battery as a power source but as a result can drain battery voltage causing brownout or blackout when the vehicle starts, eventually flattening your battery and damaging the router.
Solution Identify the best power conditioner or voltage regulator to control vehicle and device power, which protects the router from the varying voltage signals – keeping it and the battery safe.
Challenge #3 Reliable connectivity depends on optimised positioning of the mobile router and antenna, and positioning needs will vary by vehicle and terrain. Level of usage will also impact on the reliability of the router.
Solution Be sure to understand the physical and virtual barriers which may negatively affect or sever connectivity so that each router can be placed correctly, and installed for maximum connectivity. Antenna placement should ideally be outside the vehicle, ensuring the best connectivity available at each location. Always calculate the number of devices needed to support the anticipated usage as well. For example, large public transport vehicles with high demand on passenger WiFi will most likely require multiple networked devices.
Challenge #4 Weather conditions and temperature fluctuations, as well as day-to-day vehicular temperature conditions, can impact sensitive router hardware and damage it irreparably.
Solution Ensure you select a router which can withstand extreme temperatures, both in operation and when it is being stored. Typically your device should be able to withstand temperatures between -30° and 85° Celsius.
Challenge #5 From vehicles speeding down, to travelling over bumpy rural roads, high levels of vibration are commonplace in a vehicular environment so your router must be able to withstand rough terrain without coming lose or breaking.
Solution Select installation brackets designed to handle the roughest terrains and ensure that your router has been tested and certified to MIL STD 810G and SAE J1455 standards. Alternatively the COR IBR1100, our recommended solution, has mounting integrated into the hardware – optimising it for placement and shock resistance.
Challenge #6 Choosing a network provider can be confusing as there are many available, offering different levels of coverage in different locations which your fleet may travel through.
Solution Unique reception should be studied and evaluated prior to selecting your network provider, including a service analysis, route maps and test drive. A pre-sales site survey should be used to gather reception data and help you to pick the best network operator for reliable coverage.
In addition to these general challenges your business may also face unique challenges that you need to be aware of, for example specific security requirements. Mobile routers can be easily selected and configured to overcome these challenges, but it is advisable that you partner with a knowledgeable and experienced hardware provider who can help to design the solution for you in full, and navigate any potential challenges.
7
WESTBASE TECHNOLOGY: YOUR MOBILE TECHNOLOGY PARTNER Westbase Technology has over 25 years’ experience in the wireless communications industry. Specialising in wireless networks we have an in-depth understanding not only of our own market space, but also of how it impacts on vertical markets. We have worked across a wide range of industries, meaning we can help our customers to engage and deliver the solutions which they are looking for to empower their organisation. We handpick our product range to ensure that we offer only the best and latest wireless networking technologies available. This means that we have long standing and close relationships with our vendors which put us at the cutting edge of the industry. We can help you to: Specify the requirements of your in-vehicle network to ensure you select the right device. Select the best mobile network operator/s for your solution, including site visits and tests to understand the route requirements of your fleet. Overcome the general challenges faced by in-vehicle routers, advising you of the best equipment, positioning and other best practices to ensure your mobile connectivity is optimised. Identify the unique challenges which may affect your organisation’s mobile connectivity, then design a solution to overcome them. Provide pre- and post-sale technical support and enterprise services to streamline your implementation process and optimise your in-life support. Westbase is a leading EMEA distributor of cloud-managed mobile networking solutions. We are also the exclusive distributor of CradlePoint products in the EMEA region. We help our resellers, distributors and systems integrators to support their customer requirements, ensuring the best experience from our customer to the end user.
Speak to Westbase today to discuss your in-vehicle networking requirements, and see what we can do to help: +44 (0) 1291 437 567
[email protected] @WestbaseTech
8
