ETTC'2003 - SEE

ETCC'2003 European Test and Telemetry Conference
figure 7 Insert from test installation
In summary, in table 1 we can see some practically obtained results about communication
range, originated during test installation. Used communication parameters: f = 433,82 MHz,
Pout=10 mW
Type of housing Meter location Meter reader
location
Average range
Individual house First floor Outside 30 to 100m
Basement Outside 5 to 50 m
Metal box Wall cabinet – with window On the street 50 to 300 m
Metal box (pit) Wall cabinet – without Near the pit 1 to 10 m
Building In the flat
In the flat
Outside
Away in the
corridor
5 to 20m
10 to 50m
In the flat In a different floor 1 to 4 floor
5. Conclusion
Table 1
In the paper a system for remote meter reading, based on RF communication in 433MHz band,
is described. A system as such can be used not just for remote meter reading of electricity
meters, but also for water and heat meters, mainly because of used Radian protocol, which is
optimized for battery-supplied devices. Results so far showed us that used communication is
very reliable, but from time to time some interferences occur by the co-use of non-license band
by other applications. In some cases, communication range was also problematic, either
because of distances or from signal attenuation because of different reasons. In such cases we
could see protocol’s power that each device can act as a repeater.
6. References
[1] ISO/IEC 7498-1 (1994): "Information technology - Open Systems Interconnection – Basic
Reference Model: The Basic Model".
[2] ISO/IEC 10731 (1994): "Information technology - Open Systems Interconnection – Basic
Reference Model - Conventions for the definition of OSI services".
[3] EN 300-220-1 v.1.2.1: “Electromagnetic compatibility and Radio spectrum Matters (ERM);
Short range Devices; Technical characteristics and test methods for Radio equipment to be
used in the 25MHz to 1000MHz frequency range with power levels ranging up to 500mW; Part