How do you run a modern water-distribution network across rugged hills, scattered reservoirs and scarce freshwater resources – all while upgrading from a legacy UHF system? ADALSA found the answer in RipEX.

ADALSA (Aguas de Alcalá la Real) has managed potable water supply in Alcalá la Real, Andalusia, for more than 20 years. The region’s dry climate and dramatic terrain make water distribution extremely demanding:

• 15 catchments
• 29 regulation tanks
• 8 pumping stations
• More than 50 sites spread across challenging countryside

With a legacy UHF radio network reaching its limits, ADALSA needed a modern solution to improve:

• Robustness and long-term reliability
• Flexibility for future expansion
• Data throughput for increasingly complex SCADA applications
• Communication between SIEMENS S7-1200 RTUs across the entire network

After evaluating several technologies, ADALSA selected RipEX as the backbone of its upgraded SCADA communication network.

Key reasons for choosing RipEX:

• High reliability and industrial-grade robustness
• Strong performance across long distances and mountainous terrain
• High throughput suitable for modern water-management automation
• Flexibility to support both centralised and peer-to-peer communication

A major advantage for ADALSA is that RipEX supports direct remote-to-remote communication – for example between a pumping station and a reservoir level sensor – without involving the base station. This reduces latency and improves operational responsiveness.

The network upgrade connects the control centre with all remote SIEMENS S7-1200-based RTUs, forming a resilient communication infrastructure for water distribution.

Although the full migration is still in progress, ADALSA is already seeing major operational benefits:

• Increased robustness and reliability of SCADA communication
• Higher efficiency in water distribution and resource monitoring
• Improved flexibility for expansion and future automation needs
• More responsive control through direct remote-to-remote links

Encouraged by these early results, ADALSA is already planning further expansion of the RipEX network – helping secure the long-term water needs of Alcalá la Real and its 22,000 inhabitants.

How do you modernise a mission-critical water management network after 17 years of reliable operation – without disrupting service and while enabling future IP-based SCADA? For VaKHB in Czechia, the answer is RipEX2.

Vodovody a kanalizace Havlíčkův Brod, a.s. (VaKHB) provides drinking water to more than 71,000 residents, operates 3 water treatment plants and manages 888 km of water mains. It also handles wastewater services for 55,000 people, including 11 wastewater treatment plants and 325 km of sewage pipes.

Since 2003, VaKHB has operated two independent radio networks based on RACOM MR25 and MR400 radio modems. These systems:

• connected legacy RTUs over RS232
• used serial telemetry protocols
• remained highly reliable even after 17 years

However, the increasing demand for telemetry and SCADA data outpaced the old network’s capacity. VaKHB needed a system that:

• significantly increased throughput
• maintained high reliability and coverage
• enabled migration toward modern IP-based communication
• supported enhanced cybersecurity features
• allowed multi-year, phased migration without service interruption

VaKHB compared RipEX2 with competing solutions and quickly confirmed that RACOM’s platform offered superior performance and long-term sustainability.

The project was designed and implemented through close cooperation between:

• VaKHB’s SCADA engineering department
• RACOM’s technical team
• system integrator Tele Data Control (TDC), a long-time RACOM partner

Key technical features:

• new radio network operating on a third frequency with a 25 kHz channel
• 16DEQAM modulation providing double the capacity of the legacy network
• continued use of serial RTU communication during migration
• future-ready infrastructure for TCP/IP and report-by-exception
• Flexible protocol enabling communication through up to four repeaters
• preparation for a second control centre with full network access

As migration progresses, the number of parallel networks will be reduced from two to one – or potentially unified completely.

RipEX2 has already delivered major operational improvements:

• doubled data throughput
• full compatibility with existing legacy RTUs
• seamless, disruption-free migration
• significantly improved coverage over long repeater chains
• readiness for future upgrades to fully IP-based communication

As Vratislav Straka from VaKHB’s SCADA department states:

“RipEX2 helped us solve the problem with data capacity in our radio network. It is also the first step toward migration of the entire network to a modern IP solution meeting the latest demands on data communication in mission-critical SCADA networks.”

RipEX2 now forms the cornerstone of VaKHB’s long-term SCADA communication strategy – robust today and ready for tomorrow.

How do you run multiple independent applications – including SCADA and security – on a single 25 kHz radio channel across more than 100 sites? BVK does it with MORSE.

Brněnské vodárny a kanalizace (BVK) needed a communication solution for:

• Water distribution monitoring
• Remote telemetry
• Security system communication

Traditionally, such requirements demand separate networks, increasing cost and complexity. BVK wanted a solution capable of merging all applications into a single, reliable RF system.

Key technical requirements included:

• Support for Siemens Simatic S7 and Siemens 95U
• Compatibility with MARS-A and Siemens 3964R protocols
• Combined polling and report-by-exception operation
• Operation on one 400 MHz simplex channel, 25 kHz
• Coverage for 100+ remote sites

The MORSE system with MR400 radio modems enabled BVK to run several fully independent applications on a single RF channel – without interference or performance degradation.

Why MORSE was chosen:

• Proven stability in 400 MHz band
• Efficient anti-collision mechanisms allowing mixed traffic
• Flexible interface options for Siemens RTUs
• Ability to run telemetry and security data concurrently
• Remote supervision via the Internet

The network also supports both traditional polling and fast report-by-exception for alarm conditions.

The MORSE network now provides BVK with:

• Reliable communication for SCADA, telemetry and security
• Significant cost reductions by eliminating the need for a separate security network
• Centralised remote supervision directly from RACOM headquarters
• Stable operation across all 100+ sites

MORSE proves that even complex multi-application environments can operate seamlessly on a single shared frequency – delivering efficiency, reliability and long-term value.

How do you modernise multiple water and wastewater utility networks plagued by obsolete radios, repeated communication failures and unstable multi-repeater paths? In the Midwest, Opto Solutions and Perceptive Controls turned to RipEX – with remarkable results.

Opto Solutions and its sister company Perceptive Controls – now united under UpT Reliability Solutions – bring over 135 years of combined experience delivering turnkey automation and SCADA projects.

Their recent work involved upgrading three separate water utility networks, each suffering from:

• obsolete radios with no support
• chronic communication failures
• unstable links caused by multiple chained repeaters
• reduced SCADA visibility and delayed alarms
• difficulty integrating modern RTUs and protocols

The reliability of all three networks had deteriorated to the point where maintenance teams were spending more time fixing communication than improving operations.

To avoid downtime, each network was migrated using RACOM’s Migration Solution – running the legacy radios and RipEX in parallel over two frequencies while gradually replacing RTUs and links.

End users immediately appreciated the simplicity and robustness of RipEX:

• easy, intuitive configuration
• automatic handling of security and encryption
• seamless integration with any RTU or protocol

One operator summed it up perfectly:

“Whatever the RTU, it just seems to work. It feels like everything is hardwired straight into the SCADA computer.”

Three Utilities, Three Architectures – One Result: Reliability

Portage, Michigan

• 82 radios
• RTUs: Opto 22 EPIC
• communication: custom protocol developed by Opto Solutions

Union Township, Michigan

• 22 radios
• RTUs: Opto 22 EPIC
• communication: Modbus TCP

Plainwell, Michigan

• 12 radios
• RTUs: Allen Bradley ControlLogix
• communication: standard TCP/IP

Across all three networks, RipEX eliminated communication failures – including those linked through multiple repeaters.

With RipEX, the utilities now operate stable, maintenance-free communication networks that simply work.

As Todd Reynolds, Partner at Opto Solutions, concludes:

“Not one of our 25 engineers has found fault with RipEX. It does what it says on the box – and then just keeps on doing it.”

RipEX has now become a trusted standard for water utilities seeking reliability, easy migration and long-term communication stability.

How do you upgrade a decade-old SCADA system in a hazardous gas-field environment – without downtime, without data collisions and while reusing the same radio frequency during migration? For Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), the solution was RipEX and RipEX-HS.

Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL), a state-owned oil and gas company, operates the Adhi gas field south of Islamabad. To slow natural production decline, a new Field Compression facility was deployed. This increased the need for:

• permanent, real-time wellhead monitoring
• reliable communication from remote, hazardous locations
• support for modern automation and reporting
• low-power operation for solar sites
• redundant master stations for maximum availability

PPL’s original SCADA system, installed about ten years earlier, no longer met the requirements of the upgraded production process.

System integrator Avanceon was contracted to design and build a modern, future-proof radio communication network.

After detailed analysis and consultation with PPL, the following requirements were identified as mandatory:

• multiple serial and Ethernet ports
• Base Driven Protocol (BDP)
• high data speed in the 400 MHz band
• low energy consumption for solar power systems
• hazardous-area approval
• fully redundant hot-standby master station

Only RACOM’s RipEX family met all criteria.

Key solution elements:

• RipEX-HS redundant master station with automatic switchover eliminates downtime concerns
• sleep / save mode ensures continuous 24/7 operation on solar power
• built-in Modbus TCP server and Modbus TCP–RTU conversion simplify SCADA integration
• RACOM’s Migration mode allows coexistence with the old network on the same frequency, ensuring a seamless cutover without collisions
• gradual migration of RTUs and radios without any service disruption

Since commissioning, PPL and Avanceon have monitored the new network closely. They report:

• significantly higher reliability than the legacy system
• much faster communication performance
• easier configuration and maintenance
• improved operational awareness and reduced manpower needs

The success of the project led to approved planning and budgeting for expansion to additional sites.

Avanceon praised the level of support provided by RACOM and expressed eagerness to collaborate on future deployments across Pakistan’s critical oil and gas infrastructure.

How do you build a highly reliable communication network for a national-scale utility when fibre optics cannot reach most substations due to terrain? For EDCO in Jordan, the answer was a fully redundant UHF network built on RipEX and RipEX-HS.

The Electricity Distribution Company (EDCO), established in 1997, is responsible for electricity distribution planning, installation, operation and maintenance across more than half of Jordan.

In 2015, EDCO launched a tender for a major project: to connect selected substations to a new SCADA / DMS / AMR control centre in Amman. The system needed to:

• monitor and control both existing and future distribution networks
• ensure continuous visibility and management across all EDCO regions
• meet the highest reliability and redundancy standards
• comply with IEC 60870-5-104 requirements
• support long-term expansion and evolving operational needs

While EDCO initially hoped to use fibre optics, extensive field analysis revealed that physical constraints made fibre feasible only in a very limited part of the territory.

After extensive research and testing, EDCO concluded that a UHF data radio network could provide the required availability – but only when using best-in-class equipment.

RipEX and its 1+1 hot-standby version RipEX-HS were selected due to:

• full redundancy with automatic switchover
• extremely high reliability and availability
• dual AC/DC power supplies in every HS unit
• support for IEC 104 using Base Driven protocol
• advanced routing functionality
• RF output power up to 10 W where required
• proven long-term robustness in harsh environments

The initial deployment includes:

• 12 RipEX-HS redundant stations
• 25 RipEX radio modems
• Siemens Ruggedcom switches
• ABB RTUs

All equipment is delivered inside custom indoor wall-mount cabinets, designed, wired and tested by RACOM to EDCO’s exact specifications. This ensured:

• fast installation
• complete uniformity across sites
• minimal work required on-site
• simplified project logistics for the contractor

RACOM provided extensive support:

• remote technical assistance
• detailed design consultations
• on-site commissioning visits
• ongoing troubleshooting and optimization

This support was crucial to keeping the multi-stage project on schedule.

EDCO and its contractor reported high satisfaction with:

• product quality
• network reliability
• responsiveness and professionalism of RACOM support
• the turnkey nature of RACOM’s cabinet solution

The RipEX-based UHF network now provides:

• mission-critical SCADA connectivity
• reliable operation in challenging geographies
• redundancy across all primary sites
• a clear path for future network expansion

Based on the project’s success, EDCO is already discussing additional phases to further extend the RACOM-powered communication network across Jordan.

How do you deliver high-speed connectivity across some of the windiest, wettest and most remote islands in Europe – where salt, storms and corrosion destroy most microwave links within months? For CloudNet in Scotland, the answer is RAy3.

CloudNet IT-Solutions Ltd is a systems integrator and wireless ISP specialising in hard-to-reach rural areas. Their networks support:

• residential broadband as part of the UK Government’s National Broadband strategy
• corporate and private customers
• onshore windfarms requiring connectivity to Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE)
• advanced research, including the “5G Rural First” project

But the Northern and Western Isles of Scotland present severe challenges:

• relentless North Atlantic storms
• heavy salt exposure causing rapid corrosion
• difficult terrain with long water crossings
• high levels of interference
• legacy microwave links lasting less than three months before failure

CloudNet needed a solution that could survive harsh environmental conditions while delivering stable, long-distance connectivity.

When CloudNet trialled RACOM RAy3, the results were transformative.

Key advantages:

• industrial-hardened construction designed for extreme weather
• heavy-duty components resistant to salt and corrosion
• exceptional immunity to noise and interference
• long-distance stability across open water
• high-capacity links up to 1 Gbps

After minor initial parameter tuning, RAy3 links required no hardware maintenance.

The first installation – deployed in spring 2018 – is still in service today, running flawlessly despite years of Atlantic storms.

CloudNet now uses RAy3 extensively across the Northern and Western Isles for:

• backhaul
• last-mile access
• island-to-island interconnections
• renewable energy infrastructure
• advanced 5G trials

Operational benefits:

• zero corrosion-related failures
• stable performance in harsh marine environments
• reliable connectivity that upholds CloudNet’s reputation for availability
• reduced maintenance costs and fewer field interventions

RAy3 has become a permanent part of CloudNet’s infrastructure – a proven, maintenance-free microwave solution built for some of the toughest conditions in Europe.

How do you build a high-capacity fixed wireless network across rural and urban Ireland – one that serves thousands of customers and grows year after year? For Ripplecom, the answer was RAy.

Ripplecom, based in Limerick, operates Ireland’s largest fixed wireless network. By 2017, it was providing:

• connectivity to 2,000 business clients
• broadband to 4,000 private households
• voice, data backup and IT security services

To expand rapidly and reliably, Ripplecom needed a microwave platform that could:

• provide high-capacity backhaul for Fixed Wireless Access (FWA)
• deliver synchronous dedicated bandwidth to corporate customers
• support long-term scalability
• operate reliably in Ireland’s unpredictable weather
• deploy quickly and easily across the country

Ripplecom incorporated RAy microwave links into its network beginning in 2015.

By late 2017, approximately 100 RAy links were in service.

RAy was selected for:

• exceptional system gain
• high resistance to disturbances
• robust performance in windy, coastal and rainy environments
• top-tier link budget and modulation options
• extremely easy installation and configuration

Primary use cases:

• Backhaul of FWA sectors to support enterprise-grade services
• Last-mile links in locations requiring high-speed dedicated connectivity

Ripplecom’s engineers emphasised that RAy is not only technically excellent – it is also designed for real-world deployment:

“RAy was clearly designed with engineers in mind which makes it much easier and faster to roll out.”

With RAy, Ripplecom achieved:

• quick deployment of new microwave links
• stable, interference-resistant connectivity
• reliable high-speed backhaul
• improved quality of service for corporate and residential customers
• a scalable infrastructure supporting continuous business growth

RAy now plays a key role in Ripplecom’s nationwide wireless network, helping deliver dependable connectivity to thousands across Ireland.

How do you build reliable backhaul links in a tropical climate where heavy equatorial rains routinely disrupt radio communication? For several major organisations in Ghana, the answer is RAy microwave links.

Arrow Network Systems in Ghana provides wireless communication solutions to government institutions and blue-chip organisations. Their customers include:

• the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, a key player in West African trade and logistics
• Ghana Community Network Services (GCNet), a major public-private provider of e-Government services

Both organisations struggled with:

• unstable existing communication links
• severe signal degradation during heavy equatorial rainfall
• inadequate throughput to support growing digital services
• inconsistent reliability across extended distances

A new backhaul infrastructure was required – one capable of delivering consistent throughput and link stability despite tropical weather patterns.

After evaluating all available communication technologies, microwave backhaul was selected as the best option due to:

• lower deployment cost
• faster installation
• ability to deliver the required bandwidth
• strong performance over long distances

Detailed link design identified RACOM RAy as the optimal platform.

Key reasons for selecting RAy:

• stable data speeds of 100 Mbps and above
• availability exceeding 99%
• modern IP features including VLANs
• high resistance to rain fade and equatorial humidity
• flexible configurations using 10 GHz, 11 GHz and 17 GHz bands
• support for long links up to 24 km

Typical deployed antennas:

• 90 cm
• 68 cm
• 40 cm

Link designs were adapted based on distance and environmental conditions.

The longest link – 24 km using RAy-11 units – delivered stable throughput despite challenging rainfall patterns.

The RAy backhaul network now provides:

• stable high-capacity links that do not drop during heavy rain
• secure, reliable communications for government and port authorities
• improved performance of national e-Government systems
• long-term operational stability
• a scalable foundation for future expansion

Customer satisfaction has been extremely high, and additional RAy links are already planned as the network continues to grow across Ghana.

How do you guarantee mission-critical communication between an air traffic control centre and a remote communications tower across 18 km of hot desert terrain – where temperatures exceed 50 °C and no other technology can maintain stability? For the UAE’s Civil Aviation Authority, the answer was RAy.

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is responsible for:

• regulation and supervision of civil aviation across the UAE
• en-route navigation services
• flight safety
• coordination of communication infrastructure for airports and towers

At Fujairah Airport, communication between the air traffic control centre, and the critical communications tower was unstable and unreliable. The tower hosts:

• voice communication systems for aircraft
• navigation systems
• other essential ATC services

Reliable connectivity was essential, but two major problems made this difficult:

• a long 18 km distance
• hilly terrain between the sites
• extreme desert temperatures above 50 °C

Several solutions were tested, but none could provide the reliability required for ATC operations.

After a full transmission analysis performed by RACOM, the proposed solution was:

• RAy microwave units
• operating in the 11 GHz band
• using 90 cm antennas to maximise link margin

Why RAy was selected:

• outstanding receiver robustness and sensitivity
• high throughput even in challenging propagation conditions
• resistance to interference
• every unit is climate-chamber tested for desert temperatures
• reliable performance on long-distance links

GCAA approved the proposal and installed the RAy link. A RACOM engineer was prepared to assist onsite, but the installation went so smoothly that support was not required.

Since the link went operational in 2015, it has delivered:

• 0 minutes of downtime
• stable –65 dBm RSSI
• flawless voice and data communication
• reliable support for ATC and carrier operations
• significant improvement in operational confidence

GCAA reports high satisfaction with the quality, stability and resilience of the link, which has become a crucial component of the region’s air navigation infrastructure.

RAy continues to ensure safe, uninterrupted communication in one of the world’s hottest and most demanding operational environments.