Getting accurate reads from water pits can present a costly challenge for water system managers and engineers. Heavy rains, snow coverage, and thick foliage are just some of the perpetrators that interfere with signal transmission from meters in pits or other harsh locations.
The costs of such inefficiency and unreliability to a municipality are many. Beyond the obvious financial implications of inconsistent or unreliable meter reads are significant time and efficiency loss. Water managers have long expressed concerns about reliability with current AMI systems so Master Meter accepted that challenge and has developed new antenna technology designed to significantly reduce endpoint connectivity issues when meter pits flood.
Smart Antenna Makes the Connection
Master Meter has unveiled a new patent-pending dual-band antenna design for advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). The antenna is intended to mitigate adverse performance effects that flooded pits present to a consistent and reliable connection between AMI endpoint and AMI Data Collector. This smart antenna technology was designed to detect and adapt to changes in the pit environment and to monitor the incoming signal strength. The smart antenna is designed to switch between the dual-band antenna inputs, choosing the highest and most reliable connection to the data collector.
To date, Master Meter has installed over 25,000 of these next generation Allegro Under-the-Glass (UTG) AMI Integrated Endpoint Registers. This smart antenna offers a unique solution to an industry long vexed with inconsistent reads due to a harsh pit condition, and water system managers and engineers can see the potential economic and efficiency benefits:
- Extended battery life: Battery drain can be expensive for AMI systems. Not only is shortened battery life costly from a financial perspective, it also has a negative environmental impact through higher energy consumption. The stable connection offered by smart antenna technology assures the most efficient and consistent battery usage, limiting surges and battery drain that lead to increased maintenance and monitoring.
- Higher network reliability: In traditional systems, connection is lost when the frequency shifts by 5 or 6 MHz due to a flooded pit environment. With Master Meter’s new antenna technology, the endpoint automatically detects this frequency shift and compensates for the effect. Multiplied over many endpoints within a water system, this significantly improves overall network reliability in the harshest of environments, assuring that users benefit from the most accurate and efficient readings possible.
- Increased range and endpoint performance: The dual-band antenna technology enhances endpoint connectivity performance by constantly adapting to changing RF transmissions and detecting frequency variations. This ensures better continuity of service and maximum transmission range.
- Reduced AMI total network costs: In many ways, Master Meter’s new technology serves as the catalyst for better performance of the larger AMI network. By enhancing the range, consistency, and accuracy of readings and data transmission - and also prolonging battery life - the smart antenna leads to fewer service calls, increases receiver signal strength, and reduces network connectivity issues. That means fewer trucks on the road for maintenance and service calls, and improved data accuracy and cost efficiency for the water system as well as its customers.
Efficient and Effective Solution
The harsh conditions that exist in pits and other unfriendly meter environments will always be a challenge to any water system. Yet improved technology like Master Meter’s dual-band antenna promises to significantly enhance reliability by making the most efficient use of network components and maximizing the radio frequency footprint. By synchronizing and improving the communication between the endpoint and collector, the result is the most cost-effective AMI system available today.
To find out more about Master Meter’s dual-band antenna technology, visit http://www.mastermeter.com/en/Allegro-Water-AMI.html or contact your Master Meter representative.
