Description

ProSoft RLX2-IFH24E | Radiolinx Secure Industrial Frequency Hopping Wireless Spare

Product Core Brief

Model: RLX2-IFH24E
Brand: ProSoft Technology (RadioLinx Series)
Series: RLX2 Industrial Frequency Hopping Radio Family
Core Function: Long-range frequency hopping wireless radio for industrial Ethernet & serial communication
Type: Industrial Wireless Transceiver / Frequency Hopping Radio
Key Specs: 2.4 GHz license-free band | 1.1 Mbps RF rate | 128-bit AES encryption | RS232/485 serial tunnel
Condition Note: Available as new surplus; refurbished units will be marked separately

⚠️ Official product lifecycle ended, original manufacturing discontinued, limited inventory available

Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Specification
Full Part Number	RLX2-IFH24E (ETSI version)
Radio Technology	Frequency Hopping Spread Spectrum (FHSS), proprietary non-Wi-Fi hopping algorithm
Operating Band	License-free 2.4 GHz ISM band
RF Data Rate	1.1 Mbps
Transmit Power	Programmable 10 mW ~ 100 mW (ETSI E variant restriction)
Typical LOS Range	Up to 15 miles / 24 km with directional antennas
Network Mode	Configurable as Master, Repeater, Remote Station
Security	128-bit AES data encryption
Wired Interfaces	1× 10/100 Base-T Ethernet; Isolated RS232 / RS485 serial port
Serial Function	Serial tunneling, TCP/UDP encapsulation for Modbus RTU and other field protocols
Configuration Tool	ControlScape FH Configuration Software; included OPC diagnostic server
Power Supply	10–30 VDC, DIN rail mounted
Operating Temperature	-40 °C ~ +75 °C
Storage Temperature	-40 °C ~ +85 °C
Humidity	5% – 95% RH, non-condensing
Certifications	CE, FCC, UL, ATEX suitable for industrial field deployment
Mechanical Mount	Standard DIN rail metal enclosure

ProSoft RLX2-IFH24E

Product Introduction

ProSoft RLX2-IFH24E is an industrial FHSS frequency hopping radio within the RadioLinx RLX2 platform, designed to deliver stable long-distance wireless communications for industrial automation and SCADA systems. It works on the 2.4 GHz ISM band using proprietary hopping technology, which provides superior interference resistance compared to standard Wi-Fi.

This unit supports simultaneous Ethernet transmission and serial protocol tunneling, making it suitable for connecting remote PLCs, RTUs, flow computers and field instrumentation without laying signal cables. It supports flexible network topology including repeaters to bypass terrain obstacles. Built-in encryption protects control data, and embedded diagnostics allow continuous monitoring of signal strength, internal temperature and link status. It is widely deployed for legacy remote wireless control projects.

Application Scenarios & Pain Points

Wireless radio failure breaks all remote field device communications. For pipeline, wellhead and tank farm sites, cable laying is expensive or physically impossible. OEM lead times for this discontinued radio often extend several months, forcing operators to run degraded monitoring.

Typical application scenarios:

Oil & Gas Onshore Wellhead & Pipeline SCADA

Connect remote RTUs, pressure transmitters and flow computers back to central control rooms when trenching cables is impractical.
Water & Wastewater Treatment – Remote Pump Stations

Wireless communication for distributed pump stations, level sensors and chemical dosing control systems across wide geographic areas.
Mining & Quarry Automation

Long-distance wireless links between crushing equipment, conveyor systems and site control offices under high electromagnetic interference.
Petrochemical Tank Farms

Interconnect tank level monitoring systems without extensive cable installation across large facility yards.
Utilities – Remote Power Substation Monitoring

Wireless data collection for distributed power distribution monitoring and auxiliary equipment status reporting.

Real Site Case

A regional natural gas pipeline operator experienced RLX2-IFH24E radio failure at a remote valve station last year. Communication loss blocked remote valve control and real-time flow data collection. Official ProSoft lead time for end-of-life hardware reached 10 weeks. Unmonitored pipeline sections created operational compliance risks. The procurement team sourced stocked spare hardware from us. We completed radio firmware matching, communication link simulation and full bench testing before shipment. Field technicians replaced the unit during routine patrol, and wireless communication was restored without extended outage. The client later purchased two spare radios to avoid future supply delays.

Compatibility & Replacement Matrix

RLX2-IFH24E → RLX-IFH24E: Backward compatible; confirm firmware version before network integration.

RLX2-IFH24E → RLX2-IFH24A: Same hardware platform, different regional power limits (FCC / ETSI). Not direct plug-and-play for regulated EU sites.

RLX2-IFH24E → RLX2-IFH9E: Incompatible; operates on 900 MHz band, cannot form wireless links.

RLX2-IFH24E → RLX2-IHNF / RLX2-IHW Wi-Fi hotspots: Not interoperable; different wireless modulation technology.

Replacement reminder: Save existing network hopping pattern, encryption keys and radio ID before replacement. Match firmware revision to avoid network joining failures. Verify antenna type, cable loss and mounting height after installation.

ProSoft RLX2-IFH24E

Quality Control Process

Inbound Inspection

Verify complete part marking RLX2-IFH24E. Visual inspection of enclosure, Ethernet, serial and antenna ports. Check for water intrusion, corrosion or disassembly traces. Record serial number traceability.
Live Bench Testing

Mount radio on DIN rail test bench. Establish wireless link with matching reference radio. Run continuous 24-hour communication aging test. Validate Ethernet data transfer, Modbus serial tunneling and signal diagnostics. Capture ControlScape configuration screenshots.
Electrical Characteristic Test

Carry out DC power input range testing and continuity checks with Fluke 115 multimeter. Simulate power cycling to verify stable boot and reconnection.
Firmware Record & Backup

Read and record active firmware version. Export radio configuration file upon customer request.
Final Packing

Place unit inside anti-static bag, protected by bubble wrap and rigid export carton. Attach QC Passed label with inspection date. Test screenshots and log files can be provided on request.

Field Pitfall Guide

Mismatched firmware and hopping network parameters

I encountered a site case where technicians installed a spare RLX2-IFH24E with default factory settings. The radio could not join the existing wireless network for hours until hopping sequence and encryption keys were manually matched.

Tip: Always export working radio configuration before removing hardware for replacement.
Confusing FHSS radio with standard Wi-Fi equipment

RLX2-IFH24E uses proprietary frequency hopping; it cannot communicate with ordinary 802.11 access points. Many integrators mistakenly plan mixed networks, resulting in wasted installation work.
Ignoring antenna cable attenuation

Long low-quality coaxial cables reduce effective transmit range significantly. Calculate cable loss and select low-loss antenna feeders for outdoor long-range links.
Improper lightning surge protection

Outdoor mounted radios and antennas require matching surge arrestors. Direct lightning transient damage commonly destroys RF front-end circuits.
Skipping post-replacement bandwidth and latency verification

Simply seeing a link up does not guarantee stable Modbus/Ethernet polling. Run continuous control signal testing for several hours to identify intermittent dropout issues caused by weak signal coverage.