DAT Components

DAT technology is made up of several logical and physical components:

End Point

The DAT end-points are devices that support multi-port connections (i.e. multiple sensors or measurement devices can be connected to a single end-point). The end-points also support multi-channel input, and, as such, are able to acquire multiple streams of data or retrieve data from multiple registers within the sensor or measurement device.

Miltel Communications' transmitters are low-power, long-life radio transmitters. They can be both multi-meter as well as multi-utility. The transmitters include a sophisticated software module that collects information from the meters to which they are connected, analyzes data according to customer-defined parameters, and transmits the collected data to the Gateway.

The transmitter functionality is highly flexible and depending on the application, they can transmit accumulated data as frequently as every fifteen minutes. Miltel's transmitters are adaptable to a wide range of environmental conditions, including indoor and underground installations. Optional waterproofing is available (IP-68 compliant), as well as an optional battery that extends useful life from ten to twenty years.

External or Embedded

The merits of having external or embedded transmitters are relative, no one answer will provide a solution for every case. On the one hand, having the transmitter embedded within the meter makes for quicker installation and cuts down on vandalism; on the other hand, external transmitters are easier to maintain, have better reception, and can be attached to a much wider range of transmitters.

There is no single right answer.

That is why Miltel does not force a choice. Our external transmitters have been integrated with a very large number of meters. We can also offer embedded transmitters with a growing number of meters.

One-way and two-way

Two-way communications are now a requirement in more and more projects around the world. Increasingly, we find that the needs are more than simple meter reading and have expanded into management. Miltel responded to this challenge by developing two-way transmitters that can enable utilities to more effectively manage their assets: from taking a "snapshot" of consumption at a given time, to giving the command to close valves, it is advanced management made possible by Miltel.

Of course, Miltel continues to offer and develop standard-setting one-way transmitters.

Adapted globally

Miltel has installed systems in a large number of different operating environments. The systems have received approval for udse in the United States (FCC), throughout Europe (CE), as well as the Far East, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, and others.

Miltel's experience includes implementations of its technology in projects with complex buildings, widespread townships, underground installations and many other difficult-to-read installations. Miltel has implemented its system to operate at a number of different unlicensed and licensed radio frequencies in the rage from 150-470 Mhz.

At a glance

• Easy interface to any pulsed output or encoded meter (water, gas, and electric)
• Cumulative information stored and transmitted
• User defined data transmission rate
• FCC and CE approved
• One-way and two-way
• Optional features
  • Tamper protection
  • Immersion protection (IP-68)
  • Low battery indication
  • Long-life battery

Technical specifications

Gateway

The gateway is a DAT system node that receives data from and transmits data to end-points via Miltel's proprietary radio transmission protocol. Each gateway supports up to 2,000 end-points (depending upon data packet size, end-point installation locations and their distance from the gateway). The gateway also receives data from and transmits data to end-points through repeaters that can be utilized to extend the radio coverage area for outlying end-points.

The gateway acts as an interface point to public and private networks. The gateway network module can be configured with a WiFi modem, a GPRS modem, a LAN/WAN connection or RS-232 interface. Thus, a number of public or private networks can be utilized for communication between the gateway and the DAT software interface module. Gateways utilizing different network modules may be implemented within the same DAT application network (i.e. a hybrid network).

Repeater

The repeater is a DAT system node that receives data from and transmits data to end-points via Miltel's proprietary radio transmission protocol. Each repeater supports up to 2,000 end-points (depending upon end-point installation locations and their distance from the repeater). The repeater, in turn, communicates with a DAT gateway (both to and from the gateway), also via Miltel's proprietary radio transmission protocol.

All transmissions received by the repeater are immediately re-transmitted. No data are retained in the repeater other than parameters and tables utilized by the DAT system for radio system management.

Software Interface Module

The DAT software interface module is software that manages the transport and processing of data within the system, and acts as an application tool for the interface of the DAT system to third-party middleware. All functionality within the DAT system is accessible to the third-party middleware via the software interface module. Furthermore, the software interface module extracts encoded information regarding statuses, radio system management and control, and the actual application data.

Management Center

Miltel's AMR system accumulates and consolidates information received from the fixed-network gateways including meter status, consumption data, malfunctions, and reconciliation of total building vis-à-vis total individual consumption.

The management software facilitates full control of consumption and provides customer support functionality. The capabilities enabled by the management software are the key to transforming simple consumption readings into proper management systems. The key element is the system's open architecture which allows for easy integration and interface with existing billing, support, and management information systems.

• Consumption Information-On-line, real-time access to all system and consumption data relating to a customer or group of customers, including a complete history of the customer's consumption.
• Reporting-Comprehensive management reports refecting system-wide consumption with detail to the individual meter level, meter malfunction reports, exception reports, and including extraordinary consumption, unaccounted for consumption, and much more.
• Data import/export-Sophisticated data import and export functions-data are easily collected from other MIS systems and caputured into the SpeedNet database; consumption and billing information can be user-defined specifically for external billing or other existing systems.
• Performance analysis-SpeedNet provides advanced tools for measuring system radio performance and system troubleshooting.