The water, electric and gas industries control some of the most important
parts of daily life and are essential resources that we need to survive. Due to
the incredibly high importance of these services, the distributors are required
to maintain accurate and efficient tracking of their supply and their
customers’ usage. While metering has been sufficient for many years it does
require suppliers or customers to regularly read their meters to ensure correct
usage and billing.
Modern technology however now allows for Smart metering to take place, no
longer requiring customers to send in their meter reading which can sometimes
be inaccurate and not represent their correct usage. Smart Metering allows
utility suppliers and customers to have a live feed of their usage, which is
sent directly from the smart meter itself to the supplier via a specific IoT
(Internet of Things) system.
Smart Meter are leading the charge for lower bills
Smart meters use a variety of frequencies to send their data to its
destination including Wi-Fi, GSM ZIGBEE, and various wireless ad hoc networks,
among others. The benefits of smart metering include more accurate bills for
customers allowing them a live feed of their usage with the ability to limit
their usage if required. Modernising the country’s energy system creates a
smart grid which is aiding efforts to provide low-carbon efficient and reliable
energy to the country.
CTI offers a range of different antenna solutions suitable for a smart meter
purposes, offering multiple different options including size, frequency and
mounting type allowing for various requirements.
The
GSM/4G/CH/SMA is an LTE/GSM Straight Stubby Antenna and one
of our more popular options in the smart metering industry. This screw-mounted
antenna is also available as a right-angled option (
GSM/4G/CH/SMA_90) and can be mounted directly to the smart
meter. The antenna uses GSM frequencies LTE700, GSM850, ISM868, GSM900, ISM915,
GSM1800, GSM1900, 2.1 GHZ (3G) and LTE2700. It manages all of this whilst only
measuring 51mm x 9mm.
The
A0100/4PL on the other hand is an LTE/GSM Colinear Antenna
suitable for outdoor usage. This wall-mounted antenna uses GSM and LTE along
with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. The A0100/4PL is much larger than the GSM/4G/CH/SMA
measuring 381.50MM X 155.5MM0 X 36MM and comes with a mounting bracket to
ensure it remains securely in its mounted location. The benefits of using this
antenna include an improved signal strength when it is not sufficient inside.
One of our waterproof antenna solutions is the
AEB690-WP, which is especially useful for water metering
applications. This body-mounted antenna uses GSM across several frequencies to
provide a clear signal. The small compact size of this antenna makes it the
ideal solution for connecting in tight spaces such as to a manhole cover, with
the high-quality threaded fixing bolt and high-tack adhesive tape eliminating
rotation during fitment ensuring correct
Finally, we have the
AG360WB, which is also a waterproof GSM/LTE Strip Antenna
with a wall bracket, suitable for use both internally, or externally for
improved signal strength. This wall-mounted antenna features LTE, GSM, Wi-Fi,
ZIGBEE, and Bluetooth and measures 130MM X 12MM X 6.6MM. The AG360WB is
especially useful for mounting away from the smart meter due to its wall
mounting capability along with its strip antenna design.
For more information on any of our antennas and how we can help you with
your smart metering operation feel free to
contact our team or
visit our
Bespoke Solutions page to find a solution fit for you.
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