Southwest Microwave has just released the new Model 316 microwave link, a long-range intrusion detection sensor designed to operate in narrow corridors and meet European CE emission requirements for EN300 440.

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"We built the 316 sensor to comply with the European CE standards and operate in K-band (24 GHz) frequency to provide higher security performance," said Bob Kirkaldie, director of Sales and Marketing for Southwest Microwave. "This sensor offers a long-range detection pattern out to 244 meters (800 feet) and is ideal for confined areas. This makes the 316 particularly suited for European applications, where there are not a lot of wide open spaces for perimeter detection."

The precise detection this microwave sensor provides is partly due to its frequency band. "This sensor operates on the K-band rather than the X-band, so it's a lot more effective at picking out a target and not subject to interference caused by aircraft radar or other microwave sensors. It's actually immune to RF interference," said Kirkaldie.

K-band operates at 2.5 times higher frequency than the more crowded X-band, so the 316 sensor is better at detecting slow-moving intruders. In addition, six different channels of operation prevent interference, allowing several Model 316 sensors to be used together or stacked with the Model 310B X-band microwave links without mutual interference.

The Model 316 microwave sensors are primarily used for military facilities, utilities, industrial sites and prisons, where reliable intrusion detection is imperative. Like all other Southwest Microwave products, the Model 316 sensor is designed for extreme weather conditions, and can be used in temperatures ranging from -40º to 66º Centigrade.

"We designed this sensor around the proven technology of the 310B microwave sensor," said Kirkaldie. "In addition, we added some additional features that will provide users with a little more versatility."

One of those unique features is the enhanced reflector antenna option, which allows users to decrease the overlap distance between sensors to achieve a wider detection pattern in shorter zones. "In the past, you couldn't change this in the field," said Kirkaldie. "Now you can do this with ease and shorten the offset to make the detection pattern taller for reduced corridor spacing."