The automatic meter reading technology or AMR has been with us for quite a long time, but its utilisation has not been as large scale as it should have been over the years. Having said that; in the recent years, the technology has slowly come to the fore. The slow implementation of AMR by utilities in different parts of the world has largely been due: high costs, technology is always changing, and there is unstable deregulation.
But, this was the case a few years ago. Utilities are now realizing the benefits of remote monitoring of meters and thus the implementation of AMR technology has become a lot more widespread. The technology has proved its worth many times and it is no wonder that utilities are making use of it more extensively depending on their situation. And unlike in the past, the technology has developed into a more cost-effective solution. AMR is more beneficial in situations where utilities have to read meters a couple of time or more in a month. If a utility conducts monthly reading of meters, then manual reading wouldn’t be a bad option; however, if reads are needed at more frequent intervals, then AMR becomes a necessity.
AMR project can run on various technologies, including GSM, which is considered to be the most reliable and cost-effective. It has many advantages over other forms and thus is now seen as a comprehensive solution by utilities for their meter reading needs. On the basis of its implementation in the recent years, we can safely say that GSM is likely to become the standard for automatic meter reading.
However, there are problems that need to be addressed for this technology. A major problem is using AMR in areas with poor signal quality. What measures have been taken to mitigate this challenge? The development of GSM antennas and signal analyzers have provided a great solution to not only monitor the signal quality at a particular location, but also allowed utilities to effectively boost signals, so that AMR can be used in these areas.
And finding these antennas and analysers is not difficult anymore. You can easily find a company offering these solutions online. You just have to know the problem; the solution is available right at your convenience. To view our range of antennas here. https://www.decmetrics.co.uk/product-category/antennas/
