Smart grids and smart utility monitoring are the future of energy management and conservation. A smart grid network combines technologies like smart meters, sensors, and automated controls to help utilities manage the flow of resources.
Utility companies are increasingly adopting smart metering to improve efficiency and savings. Most companies are gradually replacing the traditional meters that require manual reading with smart models that utilities can read remotely.
Smart water metering is enabling utility companies to improve service, billing efficiencies, and revenues while reducing wastage and costs. The digital solutions provide water utilities and consumers with almost real-time usage data hence enabling the companies to predict consumption patterns.
The Need for 2-Way Communication
Smart metering requires reliable 2-way communication since the meter needs to send and receive data to and from the processing server or control point. However, one challenge in the water industry is the lack of underlying infrastructure to support two-way communication.
Cellular networks are today offering reliable and resilient communication suitable for almost any form of smart metering. As such, as the adoption of cellular-based AMI continues to grow, most utilities will find cellular-based smart meters more cost-effective and reliable.
In the movement towards greener and more eco-friendly methods of resource consumption, more intelligent techniques for supplying these necessities are being developed. To assist in the broadcast of such precise, constant data, arises the need for reliable equipment.
Benefits of Smart Grids
With the integration of antennas, smart grid systems will have the ability to monitor all facets of the distribution such as flow, pressure, outages, and even water quality. All these varying factors can in turn be reported in real time to consumers or operators.
The smart grid could even be designed with preventative measures such as leak detection and better response times for weather events or natural disasters to prevent further damage to structures. Properly designed and developed smart grids have the potential to operate at lower costs due to the ability to pinpoint repairs and lower the number of manhours needed for management.
In turn, this could lead to lower utility costs for consumers. Rewarding consumers with pricing options incentivizes conservative consumption.
Skywave’s Smart Antenna
Our rugged GroundHog has proven quite durable with the ability to withstand being run over 600,000 and still deliver. With the industry’s strongest exterior shell, the GroundHog is ideal for pit mounting use. The GroundHog’s unmatched “Dynamic Tuning” also guarantees ease of use with the capacity to support ultra-wideband from 600 MHz-6 GHz all from the same antenna. At these frequencies, unlike anything else in the field; the GroundHog is suitable for all LTE applications including 5G/4G, cellular, ISM, IoT, Wi-Fi, LoRa, and Bluetooth.
Looking for a More Efficient Grid?
Skywave Antennas can meet any antenna need possible with the knowledge and experience to customize and tailor for any job.
If your objective is a smarter, more efficient grid, Skywave is leading the industry in smart grid RF technology. Our world-class engineering department designed the GroundHog for AMR with the ability to adapt to smart grid functionality.
GroundHog Features
- Ultra-wideband
- Supports 600MHz-6GHz
- High Radiated Efficiency
- Dynamic Tuning
- Heavy-Load Road Tested
- Suitable for LTE, 5G, IoT, WiFi, Bluetooth, LoRa, Cat-M
- UV Protected and Waterproof
