A PC for the Smart Grid
By Michael Kanellos in Greentech Media, December 2 2009
It's sort of like an everything box for the grid.
SmartSynch today unveiled the GridRouter, a modular, standards-based networking device that can handle virtually any communications protocol a utility wants to throw at it. And, because it can be upgraded, it lets utilities avoid the risk of standards wars.
Four networking card slots allow a single box to handle, for example, ZigBee, WiFi, WiMax and other proprietary communications standards at once. The cards can be removed so utilities can swap out and/or upgrade their networks without replacing the basic piece of installed equipment. Ports also allow utilities to connect it to wired and optical networks.
