Timeout multiplier
The factor that, multiplied by a connection's packet interval, sets how long the connection may go without a valid packet before it times out.
The network analogy
A dead interval expressed as a count of missed hellos rather than as a time.
Why it matters for wireless
The multiplier turns the packet interval into a roam budget. You need both numbers, not just the interval, to know how long a wireless gap the connection survives.
For standard EtherNet/IP I/O, one vendor’s manual states that an implicit connection times out in controller multiplier x RPI, with the multiplier picked so the timeout is at least 100 ms1. For CIP Safety connections the same vendor describes the multiplier as the number of retries before a timeout occurs, with a default of 2 and a warning not to go below 22.
Safety connections pair it with a network delay multiplier that accounts for known delays on the network. Both feed the connection reaction time limit.
About this page
Built from 2 sources: 2 vendor documents. Researched and drafted with AI assistance, then reviewed and approved by Ben Rutter on . How pages are made
- First published
- Last updated
Cite this page
Plain
Ben Rutter. "Timeout multiplier." OT Wireless, published October 5, 2026. https://otwireless.com/glossary/timeout-multiplier/
APA 7
Rutter, B. (2026, October 5). Timeout multiplier. OT Wireless. https://otwireless.com/glossary/timeout-multiplier/
BibTeX
@misc{rutter2026timeoutmultiplier,
author = {Rutter, Ben},
title = {{Timeout multiplier}},
year = {2026},
howpublished = {\url{https://otwireless.com/glossary/timeout-multiplier/}},
organization = {OT Wireless},
}