With the CyBox RT 3-W, Eltec is launching the first 5G and Wi-Fi 5 Wave 2 router for high-speed communications in the railroad sector. (Image: ELTEC Elektronik AG)

A company from Mainz, Germany, is demonstrating that digital network and communications solutions for mobile applications in harsh environments can also come from Europe by launching a router that combines 5G with Wi-Fi 5 Wave 2 interface for high-speed communications in the rail sector.

Eltec Elektronik, a company based in Mainz, Germany, has developed the CyBox RT 3-W, a new router for railroad applications that it claims is robust, maintenance-free and certified to EN 50155. This is specially designed for 5G communication and thus for high-speed Internet applications in the mobile communications standard of the future. The device provides 5G and LTE connections for both high-performance train-to-land communications and in-train network connectivity, enabling passengers to download, share and store information and entertainment content faster.

Short latency times and the associated high quality of service (QoS) ensure the router’s real-time capability while taking functional safety into account – both aspects play an important role in safety- and time-critical applications, including autonomous driving. The integrated GNSS module of the 5G router allows position determination via navigation satellites with an accuracy of up to 1.5 meters. The CyBox RT 3-W is designed for an operating temperature range of -40°C to +70°C and is suitable for worldwide use in any type of train, according to the manufacturer.

Combine two 5G or one 5G with Wave 2

The router has two sockets for communication modules that can be equipped with either 5G, IEEE 802.11ac or Wave 2. The parallel use of two 5G channels enables a maximum data throughput of 4.8 Gbps. Alternatively, a Wave 2 interface can be combined with a 5G interface to efficiently distribute the radio data on the train to the end devices via WLAN.

Thanks to the optional Wave 2 interface with 4×4 multi-user MIMO, the router can simultaneously transmit data to a large number of clients at up to 1733 Mbps. A high-performance dual-core processor optimized for network communication provides sufficient power reserves for this. The configurable stateful firewall and multi-VPN support with hardware-accelerated encryption according to current standards ensure the best possible security for communication. For multi-provider support with the best network coverage, the router offers the option of using up to four SIM cards per 5G interface.

Fail-safe connectivity in the daisy chain

For local communication, two Gigabit Ethernet ports are available for network cables with X-coded M12 connectors, with support for 2.5-Gbps Ethernet (via copper cable) as well as 10-Gbps Ethernet (with optical cable) via an optional upgrade.

The CyBox RT 3-W offers different options for power supply: either via the integrated railway-compliant wide-range power supply from 24 V to 110 V or the Power-over-Ethernet (PoE+) interface according to IEE 802.3at (class 4). Particularly advantageous are the optionally available bypass relays already integrated in the router, which ensure ongoing daisy-chain operation in the event of a router failure.

Daisy chaining is made possible by software using two Ethernet interfaces connected as a bridge, which eliminates the cost of external switches, especially for long backbone distances. Ethernet chaining of several CyBox routers with bypass relays provides a reliable high-speed connection even if one router is switched off. In addition, daisy-chaining is a significant cost-saving factor, especially for retrofits, as the cabling effort is extremely low.

Convenient web interface simplifies configuration

The CyBox RT 3-W can be managed web-based via a user interface. Access point and router configurations as well as the management of the firmware can thus be carried out easily and comfortably remotely via a login window; this applies to both the global setup parameters and the configuration of the radio interfaces including the provider information as well as the stateful firewall.

Hackers have bad cards

In addition to the firewall, the cross-device client isolation also provides reliable protection for all Wi-Fi participants on the train. Unlike usual, the CyBox RT 3-W not only prevents unauthorized access from mobile end devices that are dialed into the same access point (AP); access from end devices at different ELTEC access points is also prevented – the security concept now extends across the entire train. Another plus point is that the configuration of the access point cannot be influenced via WLAN. With AP isolation, each device operates as an independent unit. This prevents mobile devices from communicating with each other. This reliably prevents potentially harmful network traffic and increases security in the network. A hardware-accelerated encryption engine that supports SNMPv3, WPA3 and OWE standards ensures secure data transmission.

To increase data throughput and improve connectivity through redundancy, multiple transmission channels can be interconnected in the cellular and Wi-Fi networks thanks to multipath TCP (MPTCP) support. This results in high-performance, uninterrupted data transmission on the train. Mobile device users benefit from this when, for example, they start an online video on the Wi-Fi network, which continues seamlessly and without noticeable interruption on the cellular network when they leave the network’s range. Users can conveniently and transparently switch from network to network and save money in the process.

Complete evaluation kit with all essentials

The evaluation kit for the CyBox RT 3-W includes two 5G modules, 1 GB RAM, 128 MB flash, a PoE+ power supply, antennas, and all necessary adapters and cables. (As soon, as our editorial staff had chance to check product details, you’ll find this product in our overview 5G router for the industry.)

Parts of this text were translated with www.DeepL.com