The Difference Between M2M Modem and 4G Industrial Router

Industrial Cellular Router is widely used and supports 5G/4G/3G/WIFI/VPN networking modes, serial M2M Modem, and wired/wireless dual backup functions. At present, Industrial Cellular Router is widely used in the M2m industry in the Internet of Things industry chain, such as smart grid, smart transportation, smart home, smart finance, industrial automation, public safety, environmental protection, digital medical, and other fields.

M2m Modem is a kind of wireless terminal equipment that is specially used to convert serial port data into IP data or convert IP data into serial port data and transmit them through a wireless communication network. It is widely used in meteorology, hydrology, water conservancy, geology, and other industries. Although they both transmit data, there are obvious differences between them:

Different application environments:

Industrial Cellular Router: It usually has VPN/APN function and private network encryption. In addition, Industrial Cellular Router with a WIFI function is suitable for outdoor WIFI wireless signal coverage projects.

M2m modem: The transmission distance of field terminals is relatively scattered, and the data communication rate is relatively high, so the real-time performance of an M2m modem can meet the needs of most industrial fields, and it is usually used as a data acquisition and monitoring system. For example, remote monitoring systems of charging piles, environmental monitoring systems, real-time monitoring of energy consumption, monitoring application of dam water conservancy projects, etc.

Different methods of use:

Industrial Cellular Router: It can convert Ethernet and field bus communication protocols. It only needs to set the IP address designated by the 4G Industrial Router as the gateway in the terminal equipment. If the specified IP address (or the specified IP address segment) is not set, the communication function cannot be realized.

M2m modem: It is mainly used for dial-up, not a gateway in the true sense. For example, after the M2m modem accesses the terminal device and completes the dial-up link, the M2m modem can be used as a new network device, and the terminal device address can use this M2m modem binding address.

The anti-interference of the server network is different:

Industrial Cellular Router: The data transmission must comply with the pre-set requirements, otherwise it will not be able to communicate correctly, reducing the possibility of unnecessary network traffic; At the same time, it can ensure that the server data will not be replayed or retransmitted according to the sent sequence number and other key processing.

M2m modem: There is no relevant filtering during data transmission, so other machines can directly send some illegal information to the device terminal through the network, and the M2m modem increases unnecessary network traffic; At the same time, if the data is not processed accordingly, it may lead to the rebroadcast or retransmission of wireless data, which will lead to the abnormality of the system, thus there are security risks.

Appearance interface:

Industrial Cellular Router: The appearance interface usually has a network port, which provides the network port device with a wireless networking function, and the data transmission can only be completed by the network port device actively accessing the center. Generally, the Industrial Cellular Router will provide multiple network interface modes of WAN port, LAN, or WAN/LAN port that can be switched freely. You can customize the mode to complete the matching interface according to the connection mode in the project.

M2m modem: The appearance interface generally only provides the serial interface networking mode. M2m modem is mainly used for bidirectional transmission between serial port data and IP data. And some projects need to use both network ports and serial ports. What should we do? With the rapid development of science and technology, Industrial Cellular Routers and M2m modem functions have been integrated into one.

Data access interface:

Industrial Cellular Router: One network interface is provided for data access, and the terminal device only needs to use the IP address of the Industrial Cellular Router network interface as the gateway. The end device must use the specified IP address or an address in the specified IP address segment, The Industrial Cellular Router can exchange data with the server host of the specified IP address or the server host in the IP address segment. The Industrial Cellular Router cannot communicate with other addresses that are not set.

M2m Modem: The data access is generally provided with a serial port or a network interface, but they are used for dialing instead of being used as a real gateway. For example, after the M2m Modem with a serial interface completes dialing in the access terminal device, the M2m Modem is used as a new network device of the terminal device. The address of the terminal device uses the address bound by the new network device; The M2m Modem of the network interface is similar to the telecom ADSL Internet access, which generally requires the device to complete a dialing action.

IP address used

Industrial Cellular Router: The IP address used by the terminal device using the Industrial Cellular Router is any IP address that can be set by itself or the address in the IP address segment, which is also different from the IP address allocated by the UIM card.

M2M Modem: The IP address used by the terminal device using M2M Modem is generally the IP address allocated by the UIM card (the IP address is specified by 3A).

Transmission security

Industrial Cellular Router: The terminal device using the Industrial Cellular Router must use the specified IP address and any other address cannot be used for communication; After the data of the terminal device passes through the Industrial Cellular Router, the encrypted content is transmitted through the wireless network. The intercepted data transmitted in the wireless network generally cannot be decrypted, and the encrypted data can only be correctly decrypted by a designated communication server; At the same time, all data has a unique corresponding serial number and other key processing, and the Industrial Cellular Router ensures that the data of the terminal equipment will not be replayed or retransmitted.

M2m Modem: There is no such restriction on the IP address used by the terminal device using the M2m Modem, so it can communicate with the server system as long as the IP address can be allocated. After the data of the terminal device passes through the M2m Modem, the content transmitted by using the wireless network is generally processed by the IP header. Intercepting the data transmitted in the wireless network, the transmitted data can be displayed by simply removing the header information; At the same time, if the data is not processed accordingly, the M2m Modem may cause the replay or retransmission of wireless data, which will lead to the abnormality of the system, thus there is a security risk.

Security of wireless access

Industrial Cellular Router: Data exchange using the Industrial Cellular Router uses the secure tunnel established between the wireless router and the communication server, and all data exchange can only be end-to-end (terminal device). Any other intermediate end-to-end data cannot be effectively communicated, That is to say, the wireless network provider cannot enter any system at both ends of the communication.

M2M Modem: Data exchange using M2M Modem uses the data exchange process within the wireless network provider, allowing the wireless network provider to easily access any system at both ends of the communication.

Use of data compression transmission:

Industrial Cellular Routers can compress large data packets before transmission, thus reducing network traffic, increasing network bandwidth, and improving the efficiency of data transmission (except for pictures and images with high compression ratio). M2m Modem is generally not used to compress data during data transmission.

Processing of data exchange 

The communication server is the core of the Industrial Cellular Router, so the central server must be equipped with a host for the Industrial Cellular Router to communicate. 

The data exchanged by all devices must be encrypted, decrypted, verified, and routed by it. The M2m Modem is directly connected to the central server without other intermediate servers.

Both Industrial Cellular Routers and M2m Modems are devices used for wireless network data transmission of industrial equipment in the Internet of Things industry. In terms of data transmission, each has its own advantages. For example, Industrial Cellular Router has great advantages in the transmission of surveillance video, while M2m Modem with a higher data communication rate has its own advantages in areas where the transmission distance is relatively scattered.