Karan Beef goes Wireless

Karan Beef – Heidelberg, South Africa

Karan Beef, a premier supplier of the highest quality beef and beef products in South Africa, identified the need for a reliable network.  This requirement had become more and more imperative due to the huge growth and increasing developments within the  farming grounds of 2000 hectares.  Karan Beef are a large organization that incorporates feedlotting, a feedmill (capable of providing up to 1000 tons of mixed feed per day), hygienic slaughtering and cold store and freezer facilities.  Judging from the above, it is clear to see that Karan Beef has a huge task to perform!  further compounded by the many health and regulatory issues that need to be complied to.  Karan Beef achieves all this with such apparent ease!

Wireless LAN (PTY) Ltd. were instrumental in assisting Karan Beef to connect the various cattle hospitals to their server room which was situated at the feedmill. The hospitals, namely A, B, C ,D and E were scattered  around the farm with distances varying from 400m to around 1.1km away from the feedmill. This need for a suitable network was challenged by the logistics of the business as well as the high costs in running fiber optics or cabling to the various sites. The Hospitals required permanent connection with the central database as the vets and staff would need to continuously view and record information about the various cattle visiting the hospitals.

A Point-to-Multipoint wireless solution was installed, providing a reliable and stable connection.  This was attained by the deployment of Wi-LAN’s 45-24 Advanced Wireless Ethernets. These units provide 4.5 Mbps bandwith using the 2.4Ghz ISM band.  With the implementation of these wireless Ethernets, not only does it mean that realtime data is processed, but also allows for constant management  and control of the various facets that this business demands.