Connection to a conventional WAN

For the connection to a conventional WAN the TIM 4R or 4RD provides two floating RS232/RS485 interfaces, to which various data communication devices can be connected, depending on the application, such as:

• Dedicated line modem MD2 for point-to-point, point-to-multipoint or line connections
• Wireless devices from various manufacturers, also for private mobile radio using the time slot method
• Analog dial-up modem MD3 for the analog telephone network or point-to-point dedicated lines
• GSM modem MD720-3 for access to the mobile radio network

Configuration examples with TIM 4R and TIM 4RD

Use in a node station

In a node station with a SIMATIC S7-400 the TIM 4R is connected to the S7-400 via its MPI and communicates, for example, by radio with the subordinate stations via one of the two RS232/RS485 interfaces. It is then connected to the control center via the second RS232/RS485 interface, e.g. via a dedicated line that is connected via an MD2 modem.

In a second node station. the TIM 4R is equipped in an S7-300 controller and also communicates via a radio network with the subordinate stations and with the control center by means of the dedicated line.

If one or both radio networks use the time slot procedure, a TIM 4RD with DCF77 radio clock receiver would have to be used instead of the TIM 4R, so that the time slot allocated in each case can be adhered to exactly.

In this configuration, data can be exchanged between all of the SINAUT stations regardless of which network they are situated in.

Redundant transmission paths

The TIM 4R can be used in the same way as the TIM 4R-IE for redundant transmission paths. The possible options are, however, restricted to the use of the serial interfaces of the TIM 4R and thus to the combination of conventional WAN connections.

Use in a control center

The TIM 4R is also suitable for use in a control center, either alone or in combination with other TIMs. In this way, for example, one TIM 4RD and one TIM 4R, which are both connected via their multipoint interface (MPI) with the control center PC (e.g. ST7cc), can be used. S7 controllers, which likewise exchange data with the SINAUT stations, can also be connected to the MPI bus - e.g. for controlling a dummy circuit diagram.

All conventional WANs such as dedicated-line, wireless or dial-up networks can be connected via the two RS232/RS485 interfaces of the TIM 4R or the TIM 4RD.

As the TIM 4RD has a built-in DCF77 radio clock receiver, it can provide the control system and all substations with the date and time. Wireless networks connected directly to this TIM can also be operated with the time slot procedure.