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A field area router (FAR) belongs to Cisco’s 1000 Series Connected Grid Routers (CGR 1000 Series). FARs are multi-service communication platforms especially built to use in Field Area Networks (FAN). Cisco’s 1000 Series FARs are designed to provide consistent communications platforms for distribution and remote workforce automation, and smart metering.
Cisco 1000 series FARs come in two models, each built to function reliably in different kinds of harsh conditions and environments. This ranges from indoor substations to exterior pole-top deployments. Both of these models are able to support a wide range of communication interfaces, including WiMAX, 900 MHz RF Mesh, 2G and 3G wireless setups, Wi-Fi and Ethernet.
Techopedia Explains Field Area Router
With the introduction of FARs, energy providers and utilities were able to set up rugged multi-service routers on pole tops, at secondary substations and in other harsh conditions and environments.
The Cisco CGR 1000 series FARs are operated by a Connected Grid Operating System (CG-OS). This OS is built using top-notch networking technologies from Cisco and is tailored to meet the requirements of energy utilities. This OS provides the grid operators with open-standard-based multi-service networking, powerful network security, highly effective manageability and significant consistency. The functionality of CG-OS lets users run applications like Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) protocol translation directly on the routers, which eliminates the need for additional equipment.
The CGR 1000 Series FARs make use of core IP networking technologies with purpose-built software and hardware to build an open platform for utilities. This helps to create multi-service, reliable, and consistent Field Area Networks, thus lowering their total cost of ownership.
