Free Essay about Smart Metering Solutions

VERICOM Radio Mesh-Network

Vericom radio operated mesh network operates singly without relying on other networks (Veraut Metering, 2018). The radio nodes are meter independent in that communication with other meter types, and meter nodes are much efficient and effective regarding constant output and cost-effectiveness. Every radio node can operate independently within the network without relying on other routers in that when any meter disconnects, then the network will reroute automatically. It is scheduled to provide metering solution relying completely on bi-directional subGHz radio infrastructure which is battery operated. This works in such a way that it collects information from all the available meters, again it operates uniquely to collect data from the measurement devices from all the configured media which include: gas, water, electricity, heat, and cooling. VERICOM mesh network solutions provide many hardware interfaces to link to external devices such as pulses, absolute encoders, serial communications, analogue signals, scan interface, and proprietary hardware (Veraut Metering, 2018).

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

LoRa

This is the technology choice for constructing worldwide IoT networks, which refer to a system of interrelated devices that includes: computing, digital, and mechanical machines which are capable of transferring data over networks (Augustin, Yi, Clausen, & Townsley, 2016). The name is the abbreviation of "long range" it operates on a wireless platform that consumes low power. This type of network is so flexible in that it can be integrated into cars, manufacturing equipment, street lights, home applicants, wearable devices, and any other thing that can relay data. They establish connections between endpoints and remote areas after which channels the data to the cloud which then transmits to systems and mobiles thus completing the flow of information from one end to another.

Wireless M-bus

Wireless M-Bus network is largely applied for metering applications within Europe making it within the European norms. It is also known as the wireless Meter Bus; its main purpose is to ensure communication between data loggers and the available utility meters and also the smart meter getaways. Its main purpose initially was to network and remotely reading the utility meters, but presently the main purpose is to serve as a foundation for new advanced metering infrastructure. It has been operational for long, but the advantages are that it keeps on improving to meet the changes that come as a result of technological advancement considering the coming up of the Internet of Things (Kabalci, 2016).

Comparison

VERICOM Mesh Network vs Wireless M-BUS

An advantage that the Wireless M-bus has over the VERICOM Mesh Network is that the authority gives the go-ahead for the products despite the growing popularity, which implies that an increase in the number of subscribers and users does not affect the laid down rules, regulations, or standards (Veraut Metering, 2018). This implies that the technological advancements and increase in the number of users doesn't affect the operation, it will continue providing quality services without any form of favoritism to anyone. The other advantages include: router functionality is effective; it is self-configuring and therefore reducing the costs, time consciousness during communication, and network functionality despite the variations in the weather and climatic conditions, remote firmware update, complete bi-directionality and finally multi-hop functionality. It nevertheless enables transmission of data to more specific, and interior ends compared to other networks making it reliable even the most remote environments with the least network coverage. VERICOM Mesh Network doesn't express such features (Veraut Metering, 2018).

On the contrary, it is advantageous on the end of the VERICOM Mesh Network that solutions are solely dependent on the meter, for that reason each radio node can obtain information from any meter (Veraut Metering, 2018). This means that even if one meter or a part malfunctions, then the other meters shall still work normally to transmit data without being affected by the breakdown. This is opposed to the Wireless M-bus where the whole system operates as one, and a breakdown in any part of the system implies that the entire system will have to come to a stop and operation restarts upon restoration of the malfunctioned unit. VERICOM mesh network solutions provide several hardware interfaces to link to external devices (Veraut Metering, 2018). These are to the disadvantage of the Wireless M-bus network.

LORA vs VERICOM Mesh Network

LORA's major advantage is the fact that it is so flexible in that it can be integrated into cars, manufacturing equipment, street lights, home applicants, wearable devices, and any other thing that can relay data (Augustin, Yi, Clausen, & Townsley, 2016). Another merit is that technology via LoRa has made life much simpler, and information flow takes many forms which imply that at any given point, chances of being misinformed is closer to nil. This is not the same case with VERICOM Mesh Network as it can't effective compared to LORA. The aspect of low power usage which arises from the application of unlicensed radio spectrum and the employment of scientific media bands again makes LORA affordable compared to VERICOM Mesh Network (Ramachandran et al., 2017).

The chief merit VERICOM Mesh Network has over LORA is that every radio node can operate independently within the network without relying on other routers in that when any meter disconnects, then the network will reroute automatically (Kulkarni, 2012; Fan et al., 2013). This is not the same case with LORA where the whole system works as a result of the single contribution of the different parts. VERICOM Mesh Network is much cheaper as it aids customers to save up to 20% per annum. This makes it advantageous over LORA. Apart from just the reading of the meter wireless smart grid solution, the customers can visualize the full image of their energy consumption, for instance, the static periods and peak hours (Cesena, & Redondo, 2017).

LORA vs Wireless M-BUS

The free licenses make Wireless M-bus affordable to companies by providing low solution cost for those companies in that there is little production cost hence translates to low cost as opposed to LORA where there are licenses making the cost of production high (Kulkarni, Gormus, Fan, & Metz, 2012). Another advantage is that it is effective to the extent that it reaches the remote areas where waves from other networks cannot easily reach. The other thing is that the free license enables competitive businesses to partner because there is an open entry, LORA does not replicate the same (Kulkarni, Gormus, Fan, & Metz, 2012).

The disadvantage is that Wireless M-bus doesn't need a certification which implies that it is difficult to take any legal measure in the case where matters such as patency and privacy are violated (Kulkarni, Gormus, Fan, & Metz, 2012). This is an advantage to LORA in that it is licensed and therefore whenever any of their rights are violated then they take the necessary legal action without hesitation. LORA network does several functions including the following: server filters duplicate packets, such that neither impurities nor non confirmed information get to reach the customers. Again, performs security checks in that the system cannot be hacked, neither will the wrong information will be sent to the users (Kulkarni, Gormus, Fan, & Metz, 2012).

Conclusion

Besides all other smart metering solutions, VERICOM Mesh Network offers the best solution. This is due to the high recommendation regarding its useful router functionality, self-configuration thereby reducing the costs, time consciousness during communication, and network functionality despite the variations in the weather and climatic conditions, remote firmware update, complete bi-directionality and finally multi-hop functionality. With these advantages over other smart metering solutions, VERICOM battery operated Mesh Network offers the best solution.

References

Augustin, A., Yi, J., Clausen, T., & Townsley, W. M. (2016). A Study of Lora: Long range & low power networks for the Internet of Things. Sensors, 16(9), 1466.

Cesena, M., & Redondo, A. E. (2017). Iot communication technologies for smart cities. In Designing, Developing, And Facilitating Smart Cities (Pp. 139-162). Springer, Cham.

Fan, Z., Kulkarni, P., Gormus, S., Efthymiou, C., Kalogridis, G., Sooriyabandara, M., ... & Chin, W. H. (2013). Smart grid communications: Overview of research challenges, solutions, and standardization activities. IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, 15(1), 21-38.

Kabalci, Y. (2016). Survey on smart-metering and smart-grid communication. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 57, 302-318.

Kulkarni, P., Gormus, S., Fan, Z., & Metz, B. (2012). A Mesh-radio-based solution for smart metering networks. IEEE Communications Magazine, 50(7).

Ramachandran, G. S., Yang, F., Lawrence, P., Michaels, S., Joseon, W., & Hughes, D. (2017, January). Mpnp-WAN: experiences with Lora and its deployment in DR Congo. In Communication Systems and Networks (COMSNETS), 2017 9th International Conference On (Pp. 63-70). IEEE.

Veraut Metering. (2018). Comparison Of Mesh-Network & Wireless M-Bus. Retrieved from http://veraut.at/gas-wireless-m-bus.php

Veraut Metering. (2018). VERICOM - Wireless M-BUS (EN13757). Retrieved from http://veraut.at/gas-wireless-m-bus.php