Thriving in the Chill: How EtherWAN Switches Fare Washington State Winters

What if one or more of your key network switches were sitting in snow and water for half a year?

EtherWAN Defies Extreme Conditions

Would your municipality's network withstand compromise? Could essential services endure? At the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT), this is a reality, where EtherWAN’s hardened switches navigate these extreme conditions, and 15 years later these very switches continue to operate —even in the aftermath of massive snowstorms.

The State of Washington, renowned for its diverse extreme weather, ranging from scorching summers to freezing winters, as well as salty coastal climates and snowy mountains, faces it all. WSDOT's experience led them to EtherWAN hardened grade switches , known for their resilience in the harshest environment.

WSDOT’s Network Resilience with EtherWAN

WSDOT has a total of 12 variable speed limit signs covering roughly 25 miles of highway, interconnected with fiber and microwave radios. Due to budget and staffing limitations, equipment deployed along the route must be dependable enough to withstand an entire winter season, including network devices. During an unusually cold winter with heavy snow, a massive snowplow blasted snow and debris with such violent force that the traffic cabinet was blown open, causing the EtherWAN switch to fall out.

Switches without hardened specifications would likely stop working along with everything else in the cabinet. However, the EtherWAN switch was functioning perfectly in a bed of snow for weeks.

EtherWAN’s Legacy in Extreme Conditions

Since 2004, WSDOT has been sending photos of the extreme conditions in which they find EtherWAN switches after the winter season to be working smoothly. These switches have been found in snowbanks, puddles, and even hanging from a traffic cabinet. Contact us to learn how EtherWAN switches can benefit your network.

WSDOT-Supplied Photo Gallery:

EtherWAN – " When Connectivity is Crucial "
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