User's Manual

EA Mobile User Guide
1. Introduction
10
EA_Gas module and EA_Water module endpoints that are normally in a sleep
mode to conserve battery power wake up and periodically listen for an
interrogation signal. These endpoints will transmit data back to the interrogation
device only if it hears its unique ID and specified command and then it goes back
to sleep. REX2 and A3 ALPHA electricity meters have AC power sources and do
not require wake-up; they respond to the interrogation request without a wake-
up.
How the system works
Utility personnel no longer have to walk up to each meter, look at its index and
record its reading. Once endpoints are installed on meters and programmed,
meter readers simply drive a route allowing the interrogator to request and
record meter data automatically.
Figure 1-2.
Acquisition of meter information begins with the endpoint where data is stored
continuously for later retrieval and is received by the interrogator when
requested. The acquired data from a given route can be transferred to a host
computer via the supplied HP 4 GB USB flash drive for processing.
The information acquisition, storage and handling process includes several basic
elements:
Meter interface The gas and water endpoint, using a mechanical-to-
digital interface, senses the output from the index of a
utility meter and translates this into electronic form and
stores it in the endpoint’s memory. Electricity meters
measure the kilowatts used and store this usage data in
the endpoint’s memory.