Smart metering: all products to create an IoT infrastructure with a 169 MHz network and LoRa

The Urmet TLC product range allows the creation of IoT (Internet of Things) networks, using 169 MHz transmission technology and wireless LoRa.

Urmet TLC’s activity in the field of smart metering has shifted from solutions dedicated to gas meters to articulated multi-service networks. Through dedicated machines it is possible to collect and transmit data to the processing centers also from other types of meters such as water, heat and electricity. Urmet TLC networks are also able to integrate more advanced sensors into the architecture: parking devices, urban waste collection equipment (waste), electric lighting.

Urmet TLC research in the field of smart metering has developed efficient hardware and has defined competences to solve the critical points of IoT networks:

  • network planning
  • use of devices that adopt WMBus 169 MHz and 868 MHz transmission standards
  • integration of radio frequencies and protocols of existing metering devices
  • directional and omnidirectional antennas at 169 MHz and GSM for effective coverage of the city.

Gateway 169 Mhz

The gateway is an apparatus able to receive radiofrequency data coming from several peripheral devices at 169 MHz and LoRa / LoRaWAN (smart meters, sensors and other IoT devices) and to forward them to appropriate management platforms (eg CAS) through different WAN interfaces (LTE / GPRS / ETHERNET). From this point of view we can define the gateway as the real conductor of the entire network, a focal point of the correct functioning of smart metering.

It is equipped with a modular HW architecture that allows a considerable installation flexibility both for types of electric power supply and for radio connectivity.

The gateway can manage multiple services simultaneously. It lends itself in fact to the detection coming from gas, water, waste (urban waste) meters and can also integrate other sectors that are typical of smart city projects: parking, lightning, heating. In fact, based on the system requirements, it can be integrated with additional remote or local communication modules, in different combinations, even in different frequency bands / protocols specific to the given service.

Possible gateway configurations:

  • exclusive mode at 169 MHz or LoRa / LoRaWAN
  • simultaneously active modes: 169 Mhz and LoRa / LoRaWAN.

For the 169 MHz mode, up to 4 radio modules are possible configured on different channels or in isochanal mode.

Universal Gateway>    Compact Gateway >

Repeater 868 MHz / 169 MHz: integration of all the 868 MHz devices with the WMBus protocol at 169 Mhz

In a smart metering multi-service system, frequency bands and communication protocols are often not homogeneous. Urmet TLC therefore thought of an IoT device that could integrate and standardize the 868 MHz and 169 MHz frequencies, which are currently the most used frequency bands (mainly based on WMBus protocols).

The 868 MHz / 169 MHz repeater is a device capable of receiving radiofrequency data from devices using the WMBus 868 MHz protocol and retransmitting them using the WMBus 169 MHz protocol.
This actually allows the extension of the coverage range of the low network range WMBus 868 MHz which is usually used for walk-by / drive-by solutions. In this way, it integrates it into the 169 MHz long range fixed network underlying the same concentrator already used for other 169 MHz applications and services.

It can manage up to 200 devices in a range of about 200 meters. It is possible to fix the repeater to a pole or wall using special brackets provided.

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169 MHz radio frequency antennas and GSM for data transmission between IoT network devices

In the project of an IoT network for smart metering dedicated to preparing an intelligent service system, Urmet TLC defines coverage and critical areas that are solved through different antenna devices.

Depending on the needs and the configuration of the territory and of the urban context, omnidirectional antennas or directives can be used. For maximum attention to the EIRP (Equivalent Isotropic Radiated Power) it is possible to choose antennas with appropriate electrical characteristics.

Antennas, connection cables and SMC remote power supply

Urmet TLC offers a series of different types of antennas:

1

169 Mhz Antennas

2

GSM Antennas

RG58 coaxial cable

Used to connect the antenna to the concentrator:

– Cable 5 or 15 meters long headed with N type male – N male connectors

Attenuation (per meter) of the cable (at 100MHz)
0,14 dB
Attenuation (per meter) of the cable (at 200MHz)
0,20 dB
Attenuation by connector
0,20 dB

Antenna remotization via SMC

The SMC remote radio module has two connection cables:

– Antenna cable, provided with N type connector necessary for antenna connection. Length 0.5 m.

– Remote supply and data cable, one-meter bipolar, to be connected to the IFL interface terminals (connector on the front)