Wireless in the Energy Industry

Technological progress, convenient infrastructure, and added revenue opportunities have driven short-range wireless connectivity into many conventional utilities applications. While standard communication media such as telephone and wired LANs still serve basic commercial and residential metering needs, these options often fall short of today's usage requirements.

Suppliers need instant access to data, simplified installation/operation, reliability in RF-hostile areas, and durability in industrial settings where temperatures reach extremes. Additionally, increasing competition is forcing utility suppliers to reduce costs as much as possible, particularly in communication.

Cable-free connectivity helps utility companies remain profitable despite these challenges. Cost advantages can be gained through detailed, timely information on customer usage. RF communication links let utilities instantly gather this information, which can help them to enhance customer service, develop new pricing options, and improve operations.

Thanks to affordable equipment, companies can cost-effectively expand coverage to hundreds of thousands of customers. By integrating short-range RF transceivers into the local LAN and then widening the network via cellular-based WAN, utilities can wirelessly cover 100% of their metering population. Accurate daily and peak forecasts give companies the opportunity to offer time-differentiated prices and customized billing options.

The best wireless systems are designed to operate efficiently, to reduce the costs of deploying and using the network, and to allow users flexibility to increase the data received over time. In addition, they are designed with redundant, back-up features throughout the system to ensure accurate, reliable data delivery. AeroComm's transceivers facilitate all of the above.

Integration and Operation

Short-range RF networks use low-cost transceivers to send and retrieve data to/from water, gas or electricity meters. When used with numerous accounts, individual unit costs become negligible. Installation time and expenses are minimal because the RF hardware requires very little space and can be made to fit within the existing enclosure, whereas other communication systems often involve the high cost of replacing the entire meter.

RF-based meter reading systems are ideally suited to industrial applications, relatively dense urban and suburban areas, and even some rural areas. A typical short-range wireless metering system includes:

1) Client or peer transceiver module(s) attached to each utility meter to create a short-range LAN. Each meter collects usage data and stores it in preparation for interrogation. The transceivers can communicate to one another as well as to a server module. They use customized over-the-air protocol and proprietary technology for cost savings and reliability.

2) Server transceiver module(s) attached to a central data-collection system such as a computer or handheld reader. Server transceivers send and retrieve data from client or peer transceivers with an instant RF link, and the client transceiver responds with a signal containing usage details.

3) Head-end data processing system maintained at utility headquarters. The head-end system sends and retrieves data from the server unit(s) via land-line or cellular technology. The details quickly gathered from each site transceiver can contain info about usage patterns and allow for conveniences such as Internet-accessible data, quality monitoring and automated outage notices.

Fixed Wireless

Fixed RF networks maintain a continuous link between meters and the utility. This link lets the utility company access meter information at any time it chooses and use the information to offer enhanced customer service (e.g. client-specific rates or incentives). Because wireless gives utilities flexible access to information, it can be used to help prepare and position the utility for changes in regulation and the business climate.

Handheld/Mobile Wireless

Portable RF systems give highly reliable access to data by personnel in the field. Mobility solutions are designed to offer safe, reliable transmission of data to and from the field and can secure corporate data from intrusions or eavesdropping.

In a typical situation, the meter reader is able to drive through the meter route at posted vehicle speeds to collect meter readings, which are stored in the laptop. A simple graphical user interface provides easy-to-navigate status reports and graphs. Plus, advanced addressing protocol allows the system to automatically interrogate each meter, keeping operator intervention to a minimum. Once the data is retrieved, it is stored locally until is can be uploaded to interface with route management or billing.

The Benefits of Wireless

Short-range RF's robust nature and flexibility merit serious consideration for utility operations, residential and industrial alike. Wireless solutions like AeroComm's ConnexRF transceivers not only support what utilities need - cost savings and reliable performance - but also provide what they want-always-on connections to anything, anytime, anywhere.

• Less invasive than cable installation.
• Easy to install, supports expanding networks.
• Operates in harsh environments & estreme temps (-40° to +80°C).
• Fits into space-constrained enclosures, stationary and handheld.
• Resists interference & eavesdropping.
• Provides real-time access to data.
• Simplifies purchasing and distribution planning.
• Saves service costs by eliminating estimates & automating notifications.
• Allows for instant reprogramming to alter the data collection process.
• Supports regular, increased and unscheduled readings.
• Always-on communications for fast notifications of meter-tampering.
• Enables safe data collection in high crime areas & dog-guarded yards.
• Well-established networks can replace personnel in the field.
• Supports value-added services to the network for any establishment.
• Scalable networks allow for addition/subtraction of metering points.