FIX-AP Wireless IoT Hardware — First Installation for 4-20mA Level Transmitter Monitoring at an Aluminum Can Factory (Icheon)

Hello, this is our technical sales team.

With the official launch of our wireless IoT hardware, FIX-AP, we're excited to share its very first field installation. Since it may still be unfamiliar to some readers, here is some background from our work with this customer.

Just as torn muscle grows back stronger through recovery, we grow by solving problems. Here's the problem we ran into.

Back in April 2023, we installed a system at an aluminum can factory in Icheon that wirelessly monitors chemical liquid-level sensors from the office using RF communication.

Here's the diagram we made at the time — though even then, the installation had a few shortcomings.

• One RF unit receives 2 channels of 4-20mA.
• Each line required 3 level meters, so 2 wireless transceiver units were needed per line.
• A total of 4 receiver sets were required.
• 6 indicator sets were required to display the received data.

The construction difficulty itself increased, and needing more equipment than the sensors themselves meant the tail was wagging the dog. Of course, if it all runs smoothly there's no problem at all — but if there were no problem, there'd be no reason to start writing this post.

Signal wouldn't come in here, wouldn't come in there — a real headache. And when every channel seemed to be coming in fine, the readings wouldn't match. We had tested with a demo transceiver on-site beforehand and confirmed it worked, and even after the actual installation the readings looked fine — yet the distance was only around 50m with no wall shielding at all.

Then came a suggestion: "There's a new product called FIX-AP — want to give it a try? Given this site's communication conditions, it should allow for much simpler, cleaner monitoring."

"FIX-AP or whatever it's called — just try something, I'm at my wit's end here."

Taking that as a yes, we worked out the product and installation cost and scheduled the work. Since the change wasn't due to any fault of the customer's, it was carried out at a significantly reduced cost.

Day broke, and early in the morning we arrived in Icheon, the "city of rice."

We laid out the equipment and checked the WiFi signal — one site showed 3 bars, the other 2. Even at that level, though, there was no issue: FIX-AP had already been tested under poor communication conditions and reconnects reliably after any brief drops.

FIX-AP only works on 2.4GHz WiFi networks.

We climbed up to the tank to check the current signal from the sensor, then confirmed in the setup program that the communication status and incoming current signal matched correctly.

FIX-AP's settings and signal can be checked simply through its dedicated program, or via an Android app. In the rightmost photo — since this was the very first install — we're sharing with the development team that the signal is coming in well.

The 3 lamps on top of the unit confirm that a 4-20mA signal is being received — connecting 3 level meters lights up all 3 lamps. Obvious, perhaps, but worth noting anyway.

After finishing testing and signal checks, we complete the wiring. Cable glands or waterproof corrugated conduit can be connected through the holes at the bottom. Picking up a screwdriver again after a while looked a bit rusty. Once wiring was complete, we logged into the free cloud service to register the device. We should do a separate post on the registration process sometime — anyone can register easily.

Ta-da.

Once you've installed it once, the second time is just repetition — and this way, right at launch, we were able to complete two installation cases.

The site setup became much simpler. Since one FIX-AP unit can receive 6 channels of 4-20mA, we were able to build a convenient monitoring system with just two units.

Measured values can be monitored through the free cloud system, no separate app or program required. Any point with an issue is marked in red as shown in the photo, triggering a screen and sound alarm. Since this was already a running site, we couldn't create a real alarm situation, so we added a meaningless test channel to show how the system behaves in such a case.

Watching the actual chemical handling and charging through to commissioning took quite a bit of time, but it was work well worth it. We believe FIX-AP will be a great help to the wireless-monitoring market going forward. Let's wrap up with a summary.

• FIX-AP supports LAN, WiFi, and RF simultaneously, enabling wireless communication at almost any site.
• FIX-AP transmits and receives 6 channels of 4-20mA signal simultaneously.
• FIX-AP can be configured via a laptop or an Android phone using its dedicated program.
• FIX-AP requires a DC 24V power connection.
• FIX-AP has a 24V power output terminal, so it can wire not only 2-wire loop connections but also 3-wire and 4-wire transmitters. (For measuring devices with high power consumption, a separate power supply is recommended.)

If you need to add wireless capability to a gas detector or environmental measuring instrument you're currently using, please feel free to contact us anytime. We support site surveys, including feasibility checks and demo testing.

What is FIX-AP?

FIX-AP is WANDI's wireless IoT hardware that transmits 4-20mA signals — from devices such as level transmitters, gas detectors, or other environmental sensors — to a receiver for remote monitoring, without running signal cables back to the control room.

How many signals can one FIX-AP unit handle?

A single FIX-AP unit can transmit and receive up to 6 channels of 4-20mA signal at the same time.

What communication methods does FIX-AP support?

FIX-AP supports LAN, WiFi, and RF communication simultaneously, and can reconnect automatically after brief signal drops. Note that its WiFi connection works on 2.4GHz networks only.

How is FIX-AP powered and configured?

FIX-AP requires a DC 24V power connection and includes a 24V power output terminal, supporting 2-wire loop as well as 3-wire and 4-wire transmitter wiring. It can be configured through a dedicated PC program or an Android app, and monitored via a free cloud service with screen and sound alarms.

Can FIX-AP add wireless monitoring to an existing WANDI gas detector?

Yes. If you need to add wireless capability to a gas detector or other environmental measuring instrument you already use, WANDI supports site surveys, feasibility checks, and demo testing on request.

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