Choosing an AMR Communication Technology
A framework for comparing cellular and RF-mesh communication for automatic meter reading.
There is no single right answer
The best communication technology for automatic meter reading depends on the deployment. Cellular and RF mesh both work; they simply suit different situations, and many utilities use a mix.
What to weigh up
Useful questions include: how densely are the meters placed; how good is mobile coverage at those locations; how much data does each meter need to send; and how do the per-device and ongoing costs compare across the estate.
A practical approach
Rather than choosing one technology everywhere, it is common to match the technology to the area — cellular where meters are spread out, RF mesh where they are dense — and to confirm the choice with a survey before rolling out. AmbiPower’s Retrofit Module uses a cellular link at the meter; the choice of technology per area is part of planning a deployment.
Related products
Related reading
Questions about metering communications?
Talk to the AmbiPower team.