Highlights

• RipEX 300 MHz & M!DGE
• Hybrid network
• Power distribution
• Tropical environment
• Up to four repeating hops
• Multi-master
• IEC101, IEC104 and DNP3

PLN is a nationally owned company in Indonesia that has been managing electricity distribution throughout the country for over 50 years.

PLN chooses RipEX radio modems on a regular basis for networks throughout Indonesia. PT Surya Total Pertiwi, RACOM’s partner in Indonesia works extensively with PLN. They materialised a SCADA telemetry network to manage electricity distribution in Makassar district with a population over 2 million on Sulawesi Island in the East of the country.

Having considered the main products currently on the market that could potentially provide a solution to the problem, RipEX and M!DGE were chosen ahead of competition.

RipEX was the only product that was able to provide coverage to the remote geographical locations within the network and the complexities attached to servicing these endpoints; up to four repeating hops are required to reach some end points. Indeed, only RipEX offers an unlimited number of repeaters on the way; any endpoint can also work as a repeater simultaneously.

M!DGE is used in parts of the network for reclosers and RipEX for reclosers and RTU’s with one SCADA system used to control the entire network, regardless of the communication type.

The customer appreciates other of RipEX’s unique features such as multi-master applications. Thanks to the RipEX anti-collision Flexible protocol on the Radio channel, more applications can run simultaneously while using different SCADA protocols such as IEC101, IEC104 and DNP3. A Terminal server at the centre also allows the combination of Ethernet and serial RTU’s from five different manufacturers; ABB, Nulec, Cooper, Survalent and Kwang Myung.

As an additional control measure, RipEX had been successfully field tested to the top end of its operating temperature of 70 ⁰ C to ensure it operates seamlessly in the extreme climate.

The first 66 RipEX units and 3 RipEX-HS base stations have been installed at key points in the first phase during 2016, with the total number of sites estimated to be over 500.

The Partner view is given by Mr. Irwinho Harlim, CEO of PT Surya Total Pertiwi: “This tender was one of a number of a similar scope we are participiating for with high levels of success due to RipEX features. PLN is a long term customer who have very good experiences with this product over a long time. Both PLN and PT Surya Total Pertiwi really appreciate RACOM’s pre-sales and after sales support.“

Highlights

• RipEX, 160 MHz
• Power distribution
• Extreme Middle East climatic conditions
• DNP3 protocol
• Backup routes, Multi repeaters
• Press release
• 5000 sites planned

The Jordanian Electric Power Company Limited (JEPCO) was established in Amman in the year 1938. JEPCO is responsible for distributing mains electricity to about (66%) of the total consumers in the country. Forward planning and forecasting to meet the growing demands of the consumers has been embedded in JEPCO’s philosophy.

In tests lasting many months, RipEX had to prove its qualities not only in pure technical parameters, but also while operating in extreme climatic conditions, ranging from dusty desert heat to overnight frost. The customer also required an advanced topology design, including backup routes, multi repeaters and the ability to operate in locations with challenging infrastructure.

The customer appreciates RipEX’s outstanding performance over its competitors, embedded support of DNP3 protocol, friendly, yet advanced diagnostics and overall professional approach of RACOM as a producer.

The whole network is designed for more than 5000 sites. The climatic conditions of the Middle East thoroughly test any technology deployed in the field.

Highlights

• M!DGE
• Power distribution
• Desert environment, +50 °C
• IPsec
• IEC 104
• More than 150 sites and growing
• Press release

A M!DGE 3G Router system from RACOM is installed as a part of Muscat Electricity Distribution Company (MEDC) Distribution SCADA System to monitor and control HV/MV Electric power distribution sub-stations spread across vast areas within Muscat, capital city of Oman on the Arabian peninsula.

M!DGE 3G cellular routers connect Remote Terminal Units (RTU) installed on more than 150 power sub-stations, to exchange data with MEDC Distribution Control Centre (DCC) over long distances. A 3G network serves as backup for Fiber Optic communications between the main computer system at DCC and remote terminal units (RTU) located at MEDC’s Primary Substations 33/11kV, over IEC 60870-5-104 protocol.

M!DGE excels not only in a unique set of features (dual Eth ports, IOs, IPsec VPN tunneling etc.), but also in its ability to maintain high link integrity with end-to-end IP functionality, even in the harsh environmental conditions and difficult / hilly terrain of Oman.

Muscat Electricity Distribution Company SAOC is a closed joint stock Omani company established as a result of the new market structure proposed for electricity and related water sector. MEDC commenced operations on 1 May 2005 and is licensed by Authority for Electricity Regulation (AER) for the distribution and supply of electricity in the Muscat Governorate (covering an authorized area of 3,900 sq.kms) of Sultanate of Oman.

Eidsiva is one of the largest energy companies in Norway with significant business within the production, distribution, and sale of electricity. It operates over 22,000 kms of power grid and has a customer base of approx. 155,000.

With a mission to be “A driving force for us in Inland Norway” and holding core values based on innovation, dynamism and engagement, it was important for Eidsiva to find a like-minded partner to provide the optimal solution for a SCADA system to meet the needs of its entire grid and customer base. Resulting from exhaustive tests, RACOM’s RipEX radio modem proved it was more than up to the job; like Eidsiva’s core values it has proved to be future-proofed, very reliable with high data throughput and very easy to manage.

The RipEX radios connect more than 100 remote Siemens and ABB RTU’s using RP-570, IEC101 andIEC104 protocols in 2015 with the network still expanding.

Easy installation and an intuitive WEB browser interface, wide configuration options and integrated help files reduced the installation cost and reduces commissioning time down to an absolute minimum. Combined serial and Ethernet interfaces also reduced the number of external communication units needed in the field.

RipEX’s support of SNMP and advanced routing simplifies the integration of the radio network into the management and monitoring systems. With a focus on reliability and security, Eidsiva realized that support of AES encryption, Backup routes and Hot Standby mode does indeed make RipEx the optimal solution for this important public service.

Highlights

• RipEX, RipEX-HS, 400 MHz
• Power distribution
• Mass interference on pole mountings
• Underground installations
• 2 COM’s with DNP3 concurrently on remotes
• Over 10.000 remote sites
• Press release, Case study

Mexico’s Federal Electricity Commission, Comisión Federal de Electricidad (CFE), the state owned electric utility company of Mexico, issued a tender in July 2012 for the radio communication backbone of its SCADA system, which controls the power distribution in the Mexico City area. The company slogan ‘A World Class Company’ ensured the tender document was written to a very precise level, only considering the top manufacturers globally for inclusion in the tender.

Based on the global reputation of the product and service levels offered by RACOM, RipEX was included on the tender list and proved to be the only product to meet customer requirements in full, successfully passing the strictest selection criteria, from among all the mainstream competitors in the industry.

The RipEX radio modem proved to be the optimal solution for CFE for both commercial and technical reasons. The communication system has been designed to utilize two serial interfaces at remote sites, one for data acquisition and the second for RTU management, while all the acquired data are concentrated via Ethernet in the control center. All features of RipEX met or surpassed the functional requirements within the tender, especially the anti-collision protocol.

Such has been the unqualified success of RipEX within CFE SCADA networks, its use has now been expanded to networks beyond the Mexico City area; it is now (2019) used in 11 of their 16 divisions. More recently, CFE engineers have also chosen to use RipEX within their Smartgrid applications, such are the capabilities and versatility of this radio modem.

As part of strategic renewal and upgrading of infrastructure, CFE has already planned for continued expansion and a commitment to use RipEX radios within its networks. This in itself proves that RipEX is indeed a best-in-class radio modem renowned for overall data throughput.

RipEX is continuously delivered to CFE and till now 10.000 units have been ordered. This is the best confirmation that RACOM is really an expert in future-proof design and RipEX is is indeed a best-in-class radio modem renowned for its ‘best performance in any environment’.