For the first time, a truly integrated universal meter and radio platform in the world has been introduced by Elster Solutions. Commercial availability of Elster’s REXUniversal meter in North America is expected in the second quarter of 2012.
Elster's REXUniversal meter platform has been designed with advanced capabilities. Native running of EnergyAxis and other Smart Grid vendors' 900MHz radio frequency or RF mesh communications is allowed on the identical REXUniversal meter hardware with integrated communications. Meter and network flexibility are therefore delivered economically to utilities.
Various 900 MHz RF mesh Smart Grid systems are compatible for operating the fully integrated meter platform. The meter platform operates without any cost penalty. There is also no additional hardware risk associated with specialized radio communication option boards. Previously, a separate proprietary communications card needed to be physically installed in the meter in the case of a utility wanting to operate one vendor's communications on another vendor's meter.
Updates to local area network communication functionality are simplified by Elster’s REXUniversal meter. This is possible as a single card containing both metrology and communications has been integrated for interoperability. For a system-wide network change, the need to remove meters and physically change-out the communications board has been eliminated. Significant operational efficiencies are therefore enabled.
In a release, Mark Munday president and CEO of Elster said, “As a Smart Grid solutions innovation leader, Elster is committed to providing choice through the development of truly open products. This pioneering platform builds on Elster's track record of providing industry firsts that are both reliable and economical for our customers.”
Endpoints can be quickly and cost-effectively migrated to different communication systems. Utilities are therefore not locked to a single network for their Smart Grid technology and system needs. A highly advanced radio and communications processor is featured by the Elster REXUniversal meter. Multiple vendor protocols are supported by this sophisticated technology design.
Munday said, “This advanced integrated communication hardware sets a new industry benchmark for utility flexibility, system interoperability and risk mitigation in technology choice.”
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Carolyn John is a Contributor to TMCnet. To read more of her articles, please columnist page.Edited by
Jennifer Russell
