RF Communication for Smart Metering
How radio-frequency (RF) mesh networks are used to collect meter data, and where they fit.
What RF communication means for metering
In an RF (radio-frequency) approach, meters and nearby devices communicate over short-range radio links rather than each having its own wide-area connection. Devices relay data for one another, forming a mesh that carries readings toward a collection point.
Data concentrators
A collection point — often called a data concentrator — gathers the readings from the surrounding meters and passes them on to the utility’s systems. This lets many meters share a smaller number of upstream connections.
Where RF fits
RF mesh tends to suit dense areas where meters are close together, because devices can relay for each other. Coverage and performance depend on the local environment, so the right choice is usually made per deployment.
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Questions about metering communications?
Talk to the AmbiPower team.