Free 3D Printer Plans! Oscium WiPry790x and Clarity/Lucid DIY bracket posted on Thingiverse. Bring your own hair ties. I have been informed that Printables is better so I will post it there soon. https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6991943 Upcoming Events! Wi-Co  End of year, none currently scheduled WLPC – Phoenix AZ USA 2026 Main Conference: 17-19 FEB 2026 Boot Camps: 14-16 FEB 2026 Jeremy – I got a 20 minute talk at WLPC, Common Industrial WLAN Deployments Don’t forget to check out our new document library with free valuable downloadable content! Miliwatt to dBm  conversion table Wireless IoT reference charts for types and security Best practice white papers to help you stay on your game IWS Episode 22 – Industrial Strength, Wireless Freedom Cybersecurity differs between IT systems, OT (operational technology), and ICS (industrial control systems) in factory automation because their priorities aren’t the same. CIA Triad (IT Focus) Confidentiality Ensures sensitive data remains accessible only to authorized users through measures like encryption and access controls. This prevents unauthorized disclosure, such as in data breaches or eavesdropping.​ Integrity Maintains data accuracy, completeness, and trustworthiness over its lifecycle using checksums, hashing, and version control. It protects against unauthorized modifications, ensuring information cannot be altered without detection.​ Availability Guarantees timely and reliable access to data and systems for authorized users via redundancies and protection from disruptions like DDoS attacks. This supports business continuity by minimizing downtime from failures or threats.​ AIC Triad (OT Focus) Availability Prioritizes uninterrupted system operation to avoid production halts in operational environments. It ranks highest because downtime in factories can cause significant financial losses or safety risks.​ Integrity Ensures processes and data remain accurate and unaltered for precise control of physical operations. This prevents errors that could lead to equipment damage or faulty outputs.​ Confidentiality Protects trade secrets and process knowledge, though it takes lower priority than uptime and accuracy. Measures focus on preventing leaks without compromising operational access.​ SRP Triad (ICS Focus) Safety Protects human lives, health, and the physical environment from harm due to system failures or cyberattacks. It demands fail-safes that halt operations if risks emerge, overriding other concerns.​ Reliability Ensures predictable, continuous operation with minimal unplanned downtime in industrial processes. This maintains stable performance under varying conditions without surprises.​ Productivity Maximizes efficiency and output while implementing security that does not hinder operations. It balances protections to sustain high throughput in automation systems. Form factors Industrial OT network equipment, like switches, routers, and firewalls comes in tough, compact “brick-like” designs that fit right into factory cabinets or on machines. These smaller, modular boxes snap onto DIN rails, stick to walls, or even mount on poles, with rugged metal cases that seal out dust, shakes, vibrations, extreme heat or cold, and chemicals—think gear built to survive a noisy plant floor 24/7 without failing.​ In contrast, standard enterprise IT network gear is shaped like slim, rack-sized trays for offices or data centers, sliding neatly into 19-inch shelves with fans for cooling in air-conditioned rooms. These flat boxes pack tons of ports on the front for easy cabling in clean spaces, using standard plugs and relying on steady power and no harsh conditions, so they’re lighter on armor but great for quick setups in controlled environments. PoE structure Power over Ethernet (PoE) in industrial switches works by sending low-voltage DC power alongside data signals through standard Ethernet cables, eliminating the need for separate power lines to devices like cameras, sensors, or lights on a factory floor. The switch acts as the power source (PSE), detecting compatible powered devices (PDs) via a handshake process before delivering power over spare wire pairs (Mode B) or data pairs (Mode A), ensuring safe delivery up to set limits without harming non-PoE gear. This simplifies wiring in harsh environments where outlets are scarce, and industrial models add ruggedness for vibration, dust, and temperature extremes.​ PoE standards have evolved from basic IEEE 802.3af (Type 1, up to 15.4W PSE/12.95W PD at 44-57V) for simple devices, to 802.3at (Type 2/PoE+, 30W PSE/25.5W PD at 50-57V) using two pairs for more demanding ones, then 802.3bt Type 3 (PoE++/60W PSE/51W PD) and Type 4 (90W PSE/71.3W PD), which tap all four pairs for high-power needs like pan-tilt-zoom cameras or wireless access points. Higher versions support more current (up to 960mA per pair in Type 4) and precise power negotiation via LLDP for efficiency.​ Stronger PoE versions demand more robust DC input power to the switch itself—often 48-54V or higher (up to 60V+ in some industrial setups), compared to basic 24V systems in low-power OT environments—because they must convert and budget higher wattage across multiple ports without overheating. For instance, a Type 4 switch powering several 70W devices needs beefier internal supplies and cooling, pulling from redundant DC sources to maintain uptime, while lower PoE sticks to lighter 24-48V rails common in factories. This scales power handling but requires matching the switch’s input rating to avoid failures in high-density setups. Rockwell PoE issues – https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rockwell-versus-power-over-ethernet-matthew-parris-xfmte/ Fortinet PoE issues – https://www.linkedin.com/posts/varghesejm_fortinet-recently-pointed-me-to-the-quick-activity-7373461970416693249-sms5?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAPsxa4B_yPRdD-zav6c1LUwE6mnfUUJBwU Handy tools NetAlly LinkRunner 4000 – https://www.netally.com/products/linkrunner-4000/  NetAlly Test Accessory – https://www.netally.com/products/testaccessory/  Air Console – https://www.get-console.com/shop/en/27-airconsole  IP Explorer – https://plctools.com/products/sim-ipe  High-level overview of Traceroute Con – https://www.traceroutellc.com/training  If you would like to connect with Josh or learn more about his business, TraceRoute, then check the following: Josh Varghese – https://www.linkedin.com/in/varghesejm/  TraceRoute – https://www.traceroutellc.com/  If you would like to connect with Scott or learn more about his employer, Global Process Automation (GPA), then check the following: Scott McNeil – https://www.linkedin.com/in/americanmcneil/  GPA – https://www.global-business.net/  If you would like to connect with Jeremy or learn more about his employer, Prism Systems Inc, then check the following: Jeremy Baker – https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyabaker/  Prism Systems Inc – https://www.prismsystems.com/