Anybus Wireless Bolt and Anybus Wireless Bolt II compatibility?

30 Aug 2023

This article describes what to consider if you ever choose to connect the Bolt I and Bolt II together.

The compatibility of these is very limited or hardly recommended.

 

APPLICABLE PRODUCTS

  • Anybus Wireless Bolt
  • Anybus Wireless Bolt II

 

QUESTION

Bolt I and Bolt II are compatible and could be connected/paired with each other without any restrictions?

 

ANSWER

Note that they are not 1:1 replaceable. 
  • In a point-to-point cable replacement use case, it's assumed that products of the same generation are used in both ends.
  • Bolt I use a proprietary solution to achieve layer 2 transparency whereas the Bolt II relies on WDS bridging, allows for full Layer 2 transparency, which is not supported by Bolt I.
  • However, Bolt I can be used as a client device with MAC cloning and Bolt II as AP, but you will then be limited to one device behind the client device.
  • You could also use Bolt I as AP and Bolt II as client, but you would need the pre-release firmware (1.02.01) for Bolt II.
  • Bolt I is better suited for AP duties than Bolt II.
  • The both have different configuration interfaces and Bolt I support AT commands while Bolt II not.

 

ADDITIONAL INFO (Optional)

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--> Technical specifications comparison between Wireless Bridge II –/– Bolt –/– Bolt II.