Webinar_Question wrote: ↑20 Jul 2026, 09:26 Which industries would see the most breakthrough for SPE and APL?

Food and Beverage, Water processing and other critical infrastructure applications, buildings, transportation, factory automation

Can you use multiple connectors on one SPE line? Or will those connectors disrupt the signal?


APL and SPE in general are still switched ethernet networks and point-to-point connections - one connector at each end of the wire only.

The 10BASET1S standard, that we did not cover here, allows ...

Is there a plan to downsize the PROFINET stack to use low power CPUs in SPE devices?


It is a proven technology, PROFINET can be implemented on a low power MCU. There are certain system features that do not apply to a single port device that make the implementation lighter - no IRT, no MRP ...

So the line topology (2-port devices) is not possible for SPE(with Power), right?


It is possible, but with power you need a power forwarding mechanism and that makes the design a bit more complex. If you go data only, you can do line topology for sure. Specifically with the upcoming 100BASE-T1L ...

Shall SPE-Port (and APL) be tested as a "wired network port" during the emission test or as a "DC power-port"?


I asked an expert on the issue and here is what we wrote: "I believe the question is about whether the APL port should be considered a DC supply port or a data port for the purposes of ...

Is it planned to upgrade the speed to 100 Mbit ?


Yes. The 100BASE-T1L standard is in the process to be published. Profinet will support this standard as soon as physical implementations are available and the certification supports 100BASE-T1L.
Right now the support for 100BASE-T1L is worked ...

Webinar_Question wrote: ↑20 Jul 2026, 09:29 I have heard the acronym PoDL together with SPE. What is the difference betwen SPoE and PoDL?

SPoE is the use case, PoDL is the technology that makes it work. In PN we refer to the use case and that is SPoE.

Webinar_Question wrote: ↑20 Jul 2026, 09:29 Are really available on the market profinet devices based on SPE or SPoE?

Currently non, because certification will not start before end 2026

Webinar_Question wrote: ↑20 Jul 2026, 09:30 Which connector manufacturer is providing this new IEC 63171-7 standard connector portfolio?

Connectors are available from all major connector manufacturers - at least as samples

Webinar_Question wrote: ↑20 Jul 2026, 09:31 Will PROFINET APL and PROFIsafe work together in SIS?

PROFIsafe implementations on APL devices are in the works from different vendors.

Webinar_Question wrote: ↑20 Jul 2026, 09:32 Doesn't the APL switch need some type of power in the Intrinsic Safe side?

APL switch can be powered locally or remotely using the trunk/spur topology.

Other than the change in physical interface are there any other differences between a 4 wire Ethernet Profinet device and an APL Profinet device? I've not seen anything written down outlining a migration path.


Well, there are some restrictions on the device that influence the device design. The ...

Hello PROFIprocess and APL experts.

One of my field device makers customers has a lot of experience in process field devices, but so far has not developed PROFIBUS DP, PROFIBUS PA, PROFINET and let alone APL. I can't say more about this company because of obvious confidentiality considerations ...

How are the conformance test for certification on data and power applicable to other systems than the UNH test system mentioned in the official specifications?


The Physical layer test for APL needs to be tested per hardware platform. The standardization organizations (PI, ODVA, FieldComms ...

How is it possible to build switches with high port counts. So far I see 1- or 2-ports PHYs. Switch-IC with 10Mbit/s support are very rar. Do you have any advice on how to realise APl switches with high port numbers?


For a high port count switch a switch IC with RMII or RGMII ports is required ...

Webinar_Question wrote: ↑29 Jul 2024, 11:46 Which evolution kit / HW you will prefer to do the PoC?

Well, of course I would prefer one from Analog Devices, the company I work for. But all players in this market have some very good evaluation kits available.

Pls contact your local sales representative.

With APL being ethernet based, do you think customers will be more concerned about cybersecurity? What is the status of PROFINET and cybersecurity?


Yes, customers will be more concerned. However, security will be a big issue with every connectivity going forward and to get it right is far ...

Webinar_Question wrote: ↑22 Jul 2024, 08:19 Are there many companies that develop APL devices?

Yes. Just two weeks ago, at ACHEMA trade show, there were a lot of talks about APL and a lot of devices were shown and even more announced. And not only in Europe, but APL is also attractive world-wide.

I see APL needs 2 wire, provide the signal and power, but I see M8 or M12 is 4 poles, why?


M8 and M12 are robust, proven and available connector technologies for robust environments. The field engineers know how to assemble them, they are common and rock solid. The popular alternative is to use ...

Webinar_Question wrote: ↑22 Jul 2024, 08:20 Which netload class is mandatory for APL devices i.e. category netload class 1 or 2?

A new netload class was introduced, class2@10Mbit. This class applies to APL and 10MBit/s SPE (non-intrinsic safe applications).

Webinar_Question wrote: ↑15 Jul 2024, 11:08 Are there any dedicated tools to trouble shoot APL cables?

There are tools under development by different players. Also, the APL bridges can help big way with cable diagnostics. A good cable diagnostic in a switch can also be used as cable test tool to some extent.

Is the 8ms minimum cycle time just an example or is it a "must-be" for any device?


8ms is the fastest cycle time Profinet allows in a 10Mbit/s segment. That is where the 8ms come from. You do not need to support 8ms if your device does not need it. However, as a CLASS B device it has to support ...

Is there a communication between the field device and the APL switch about the delivered power class? Similiar to normal PoE Chips?


Not in APL. In contrast to general SPE, APL uses engineered power. Therefore, the switch is configured to provide power statically. This approach was chosen to ...

Does APL need a galvanic Isolation on the Data lines and within the power circuitry? E.g. with Isolation Transformers like in standard (PoE) Ethernet Solutions?

APL uses inductors– common mode chocks and to couple the DC supply off the APL cable. The data is coupled of the cable using capacitors ...

Will PA be involved in APL-Profinet stack ? The APL device can be used as PN or PA?

The way I read the question is “Is Profibus PA involved in the APL stack and can a single device support both, Profibus PA and Profinet APL.
No, you either design a Profibus PA device or you design a Profinet APL ...

Is the coloring of the APL conductors mandatory?

Coloring of the connectors is not required. The only requirement is to leave light blue exclusive to cables in intrinsic safe connections.
It is a good habit to mark terminals with “+”, “-“, “ground”, even so APL is polarity agnostic. Look at it ...

Which areas are covered by PI certification testing for APL?

Prerequisite is the APL Physical Layer test to make sure the requirements for intrinsic safety are matched. This test is available at different organizations. The cool part is that if you passed this test with either Profinet, ODVA or ...

Is the Ethernet APL test a prerequisite for PROFINET certification of APL devices?


To clarify - with "APL-Certification" you refer to the APL PHYSICAL LAYER Certification?!
Yes, this test is a prerequisite. The APL Physical Layer tests are designed to make sure your implementation is aligned ...