When you are wiring a plant floor, the fieldbus gateway is the translator between two network languages. The tricky part is that not every gateway translates the same pair of languages. One can connect an old serial port to PROFIBUS DP; another can pass PROFIBUS data onto Ethernet. Pick the wrong one and the box will not attach to the equipment you already own. These two open-box industrial networking fieldbus gateways give you a clear choice: the Softing FG-100-PB and the Wenglor ZAG73AN02.
Quick verdict: If you want the lower-listed-price gateway and your network points toward Ethernet, start with the Softing FG-100-PB at $233.89. If you need the other direction for data from older serial equipment, the Wenglor ZAG73AN02 at $361.20 is the more relevant match.
Comparison at a glance
| Feature | Softing FG-100-PB | Wenglor ZAG73AN02 |
|---|---|---|
| Listed price | USD 233.89 | USD 361.20 |
| Protocol focus | PROFIBUS/Ethernet, 1 Channel | RS-232 to PROFIBUS DP |
| Condition | New - Open box | New - Open box |
| MPN | FG-100-PB | ZAG73AN02 |
| Price bar |
Where each product wins
#### Where the Softing FG-100-PB wins The Softing unit wins when your control room or monitoring stack is Ethernet-based. It is the gateway that sits between a fieldbus network and an Ethernet network, and the title is explicit about that relationship. If your goal is to get fieldbus data into an Ethernet control system, this is the product designed for that route.
#### Where the Wenglor ZAG73AN02 wins The Wenglor wins when an existing machine gives you a serial port and your controller expects a fieldbus signal. It speaks the legacy serial language on one side and fieldbus on the other, which is exactly the bridge older equipment often needs. If that is your wiring situation, the Wenglor is the gateway that matches it.
Product notes
Softing FG-100-PB Fieldbus Gateway PROFIBUS/Ethernet, 1 Channel
The FG-100-PB is a focused tool for connecting a single PROFIBUS segment to an Ethernet network. The title spells out the protocol pair clearly, and the 1 Channel designation tells you what the gateway is sized for. For a shop that is standardizing on Ethernet but still has PROFIBUS field devices, this product offers a direct bridge. The limitation to weigh is the single-channel configuration. If your installation requires more than one PROFIBUS connection at the same time, you will likely need multiple gateways rather than expecting one box to handle several channels. For the right network, that single-channel focus keeps the scope simple: one gateway, one clear protocol path.
WENGLOR ZAG73AN02 FIELDBUS GATEWAY BH0229
The ZAG73AN02 solves the opposite side of the networking problem. It translates RS-232 serial data to PROFIBUS DP, which makes it useful for bringing older serial instruments or machines into a PROFIBUS DP environment. If your existing device has a serial port and your control network is PROFIBUS DP, this is the gateway that sits between them. The trade-off is that its protocol relationship is narrow: RS-232 on one side, PROFIBUS DP on the other. That makes it a purpose-built box for that conversion. If your network is centered on Ethernet, the Softing FG-100-PB in this comparison is the option that names Ethernet in its own product title. Where PROFIBUS DP is the destination, though, the Wenglor plays a specific and useful role.
Final choice by use case
Choose the Softing FG-100-PB when the network you are attaching to speaks Ethernet and one connection channel is enough. Choose the Wenglor ZAG73AN02 when you are connecting a serial device that needs to send data into a fieldbus network. Match the gateway to the network language you already have, and the decision becomes straightforward.
