1. Telemetry and Remote SCADA Solutions
Smart Water for Smart Cities Workshop
10:00am Tuesday May 20, 2014
Presented by Alan Hudson

2. Questions:
What is Telemetry?
What is SCADA?
What is Remote SCADA?
What is a Telemetry and Remote SCADA Solution?
Communication with Remote Devices over a medium like radio, telephone, satellite, etc.
Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition. Often an incorrect synonym for host software.
SCADA for Remote Devices
All of the above as a solution.
Schneider Electric – Session Title – Smart Cities for Smart Water: A Workshop

3. By End of This Session, You Will Know…
The many components of TRSS*
The current trends for TRSS
The meaning of communication protocols
The latest in TRSS technologies
New applications for TRSS
*TRSS = Telemetry and Remote SCADA Solutions

4. Understanding the basics

5. Telemetry & Remote SCADA Solutions
Products
&
Systems
Operation / Business Systems
Integrated SCADA Software,
Ready-to-Use Telemetry and Configuration
Wide area SCADA for critical Infrastructures
Wide range of open protocols / interfaces:
Modbus, DNP3, Ethernet, OPC, SQL, …
Host SCADA
Radios (Licensed / non-licensed), phone, cell
Serial / Ethernet connection
Support of Modbus / DNP3 protocols
Communication Medium
Cost effective, scalable, environmentally rugged
Modbus / DNP3 communications
Programmable or configurable
RTU / PLC
Rapid-deploy, self contained:
Instruments, transmitters, meters,
VFDs, intelligent power systems, etc.
Field Devices

6. RTU = Remote Telemetry Unit
Definite purpose
PAC
Rack-based PLC
with Networking
SMART RTUs
Variable Speed Drive or Intelligent Power Systems with Networking
Due to technology, Dumb RTUs are not typical anymore
“Brick” PLC
Dedicated Communication Host
RTU/Web Gateway
Intelligent Overload / Motor Management System
“DUMB" RTUs
Remote I/O with Networking

7. Trends in PAC Technologies
Process Automation Controllers
Optimized for WWW – integrated PLC/RTU, respond to multiple hosts, routing between communication ports
Remote communication #1 – Ethernet or serial over phone, leased line, radio and GPRS/3G mobile networks
Industrial hardened #1 – Designed for remote locations, extended temperatures, high reliability
Remote communication #2 –Ethernet connectivity to field devices, Modbus, DNP3 and others.
Industrially hardened #2 – “Battery-less” Processor protects data from loss.
Integrated Security Suite – DNP3 protocol may be fitted with data encryption and/or authentication
Expandable I/O - Traditional Rack mount (like a PLC) or expansion I/O modules
IEC 1131 Programming – Same as plant-based PLCs.

8. Market trends and challenges

9. Remote System Challenges
Typical WWW System
Geographically dispersed pump/booster stations
Regulatory compliance & reporting
Critical Infrastructure – heightened security
Relatively low bandwidth communication
Solution Requirements
Real-time database, multi-layer vector graphics
Extensive event logging, audit trail & alarm redirection
Triple redundancy, integrated video surveillance
Ability to handle communication failure/congestions

10. Municipality Interests
Operator Efficiency
Centralization of operations to monitor and control remotely
Analyzing increasing amount and different types of data
Allowing new generation of operators to make the right decisions
Integration with business systems
Engineering Efficiency
Reduce the time to build and maintain automation systems
Simplify configuration and deployment
Standardization across facilities
Continuing support for open standards promoting interconnectivity
Then we have the customers view on what is important in SCADA and how we need to factor this into roadmap. Lets start with
Operator Efficiency, More IO and higher networks speed which in turn translates into more data, fewer operators to do the tasks and aging population all translates into making sure that SCADA turns data into information. We need to be smart with alarm management and aggregated view of the data
Engineering efficiency is all about the time to build and deploy the SCADA configuration. Most automation projects include hardware ie PLC, SCADA software licenses and engineering and its the engineering that is the greatest expense so if tools and design supports rapid development this can have a big impact to reduce TCO.
Optimization is all about reduced downtime, less energy and waste and SCADA needs to enable this data into other solutions like Historian and MES
Process Optimization
Operator responsibility for process optimization (e.g. Downtime)
Reduce energy usage through improved energy management
Real time metrics to facilitate faster decisions

11. Key Market Trends Demand for Ethernet connectivity and awareness
Increased bandwidth and greater efficiency
Improved security
Open standards and protocols
Easy of configuration, implementation & execution
Speed of deployment
Convergence of WWW, SCADA, Communications and IT departments
Alternative technologies: DSL, Cell 11

12. Communication Drivers #1
Optimized design & implementation
Reduction of project implementation risks through proven technology and rapid deployment
Protocol agnostic communication layer
Solutions obstacles & distances
Reduced infrastructure expense
Optimized operational costs
Minimal ongoing operational costs
Minimal maintenance costs
Remote diagnostics & configuration 12

13. Communication Drivers #2
Reliable and secure data communication
Minimized vulnerability and preventative diagnostics
Scalable redundancy of radios, network paths
Network and Data security and protection
Ownership and control of the network
Simple and rapid system re-configuration
Consistent & dependable network performance
Long term reliability & availability 13

14. Radio Trends Licensed band – 380 to 520 MHz (UHF)
standard & redundant base / repeater stations
Unlicensed MHz / 2.4GHz Spread Spectrum
open frame & board only versions
Ethernet & serial connectivity
Point to Point and Multi-Point networks
Simultaneous multiple applications/protocols on one radio system
Support polling and unsolicited reporting
Network wide diagnostics from anywhere in the system including any remote radio
Remote diagnostics

15. Communication protocols: Conversations among the electronics

16. Modbus DNP3 DNP3 vs Modbus Transmits changed data
Stores data on communication loss
Packet optimization
Security And encryption
Supported by a growing number of RTUs
Modbus
DNP3
Most common protocol used
Transmits range Of registers
No storage on comm loss
Limited security or encryption
Supported by most RTUs

17. Latest trss technologies

18. Securing Your SCADA System
Who’s in charge of securing our infrastructure
NIST - US National Institute of Standards and Technology. 
FIPS standards (Federal Information Processing Standards).
FIPS defines, among other things, security standards for IT. FIPS-120 defines encryption and other security things.
FIPS is specified in just about every IT security related field, including SCADA security nowadays. As you would know, Critical Infrastructure Protection (CIP) includes a focus on IT and now SCADA security. The National Electric Reliability Commission (NERC) and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) are both requiring CIP programs to be instituted in every North American electricity authority (by legislation).
 Homeland Security will require CIP implementation.
So in summary FIPS from NIST is required by NERC and FERC for CIP
Copyright SUBNET Solutions Inc.,

19. Critical Infrastructure Protection Act
The standards are:
CIP-002-1: Critical Cyber Asset Identification
CIP-003-1: Security Management Controls
CIP-004-1: Personnel and Training
CIP-005-1: Electronic Security Perimeter
CIP-006-1: Physical Security of Critical Cyber Assets
CIP-007-1: Systems Security Management
CIP-008-1: Incident Reporting and Response Planning
CIP-009-1: Recovery Plans for Critical Cyber Assets

20. SCADA Security
Here are two common security mechanisms for SCADA systems:
Encryption – Hide the data content
Authentication – challenge the sender of data to prove identity
Both can be used concurrently
SCADA Message to be sent
ENCRYPTED (randomised) DATA

21. DNP3 Secure: Authentication & Challenge
Unique to DNP3
IEC Standard
Master
RTU
Non-critical messages operate as usual
Critical messages are “Challenged”
Operation is only carried out if challenge “Passes”
Non-critical message
Standard protocol response
Perform operation
Critical Message
Authentication challenge
Authenticate & perform operation
Authentication response
Standard protocol response

22. AGA12 suite - also known as IEEE 1711 standard
How Encryption Works Sending a message after the session is open
AGA12 suite - also known as IEEE 1711 standard
CLEARTEXT DATA
DNP3 Message to be sent
CIPHERTEXT (randomised) DATA
qmwnebrthgjalpso1m46kd
Ciphertext & Signature packaged in AGA12 protocol wrapper
SESSION KEY is dynamic & changes periodically. Generated from Update Key
SIGNATURE
SECURED MESSAGE time-limited, then sent to authenticated receiver
UPDATE KEY (Secret)

23. SESSION KEY is dynamic & generated from Update Key
How Encryption Works Receiving a message after the session is open
Ciphertext & Signature packaged in AGA12 protocol wrapper
SECURED MESSAGE time-limited, received by authenticated receiver
CIPHERTEXT (randomised) DATA
qmwnebrthgjalpso1m46kd
CLEARTEXT DATA
DNP3 Message to be sent
DE-CRYPT
SIGNATURE extracted
SIGNATURE calculated =
Session periodically CLOSED and REOPENED to re-authenticate the partner devices and to change the “on-air” keys
SESSION KEY is dynamic & generated from Update Key
UPDATE KEY (Secret)

24. Solar Power = Low Power Features
Sleep Mode
Slower CPU Clock Speed
Reduced Power Consumption
Shut Down Certain Comm Ports
Communications Scheduling
Disconnect Of Diagnostic LED’s

25. Battery Powered Wireless Sensors
Simplicity:
Battery Powered Wireless Sensors
Long-life, self-powered wireless field devices
Integrated instrumentation / communications
Stranded measurement points
Hazardous locations

26. The Schneider Electric Accutech Portfolio

27. Wireless Basics

28. Typical Architectures – Point to Point
REMOTE
ACCESS POINT
RTU or PLC
This is the simplest sort of radio system. It may exist in either the licensed or unlicensed world. In Unlicensed, the radios will each be configured for either Master (Access Point) or Remote.
A repeater (or more than one) may exist in this sort of system but the repeater typically does not have an RTU or other device connected locally.
The Low latency comment really only applies if no repeaters exist, but this is definitely the more common type of installation.
HOST
Direct cable replacements
Applications requiring continuous communication in both directions

29. Typical Architectures – Point to Multipoint
REMOTE
RTU or PLC
REMOTE
RTU or PLC
ACCESS POINT (Entry Point)
HOST
This is the simplest sort of radio system. It may exist in either the licensed or unlicensed world. In Unlicensed, the radios will each be configured for either Master (Access Point) or Remote.
A repeater (or more than one) may exist in this sort of system but the repeater typically does not have an RTU or other device connected locally.
The Low latency comment really only applies if no repeaters exist, but this is definitely the more common type of installation.
Wide area SCADA networks
Access point (Base)
REMOTE
RTU or PLC

30. Typical Architectures – Point to Multipoint via Repeater
REMOTE
REMOTE
(Entry Point)
ACCESS POINT (Repeater)
RTU or PLC
REMOTE
HOST
This is the simplest sort of radio system. It may exist in either the licensed or unlicensed world. In Unlicensed, the radios will each be configured for either Master (Access Point) or Remote.
A repeater (or more than one) may exist in this sort of system but the repeater typically does not have an RTU or other device connected locally.
The Low latency comment really only applies if no repeaters exist, but this is definitely the more common type of installation.
RTU or PLC
Repeater located at high site (i.e. water tank) for maximum coverage

31. Unique trio features that make the difference

32. MultiStreamTM
Licensed Trio
License-free Trio
DNP
Host
Remote Radio Sites
Most competitor radios can NOT do this! In this example using K Series radios up to three applications may be running at the same time… Two user applications and the Tview+ programming/diagnostics software on the System port.
It can be seen that some radios are configured to listen to the blue data stream and send that data out one of their serial ports. Other radios can listen for the green data stream, and others yet may be listening to both streams. (K Series has two user serial ports) With an added MSR the number of streams could increase.
This can be very powerful, as it allows the use of one radio network (rather than having to install a parellel network) when installing new hardware on a system. The SCADA Host may be polling RTU’s on serial Port A of all remote radios, while another application is perhaps communicating with gas flow computers or other hardware.
MODBUS
Host
Creates virtual serial channels on same radio network by routing packets to ensure protocols are not mixed on same system.
Remote Radio with
Secondary Application
Secondary Application
Site

33. ChannelShareTM
Licensed Trio
License-free Trio
Collision
Remote Radio Sites
SCADA
Host
Most competitor radios can NOT do this! In this example using K Series radios up to three applications may be running at the same time… Two user applications and the Tview+ programming/diagnostics software on the System port.
It can be seen that some radios are configured to listen to the blue data stream and send that data out one of their serial ports. Other radios can listen for the green data stream, and others yet may be listening to both streams. (K Series has two user serial ports) With an added MSR the number of streams could increase.
This can be very powerful, as it allows the use of one radio network (rather than having to install a parellel network) when installing new hardware on a system. The SCADA Host may be polling RTU’s on serial Port A of all remote radios, while another application is perhaps communicating with gas flow computers or other hardware.
A common problem with SCADA networks occurs when multiple remote sites need access to RF channel at the same time

34. ChannelShareTM
Licensed Trio
License-free Trio
Collision
Avoided
Remote Radio Sites
SCADA
Host
Most competitor radios can NOT do this! In this example using K Series radios up to three applications may be running at the same time… Two user applications and the Tview+ programming/diagnostics software on the System port.
It can be seen that some radios are configured to listen to the blue data stream and send that data out one of their serial ports. Other radios can listen for the green data stream, and others yet may be listening to both streams. (K Series has two user serial ports) With an added MSR the number of streams could increase.
This can be very powerful, as it allows the use of one radio network (rather than having to install a parellel network) when installing new hardware on a system. The SCADA Host may be polling RTU’s on serial Port A of all remote radios, while another application is perhaps communicating with gas flow computers or other hardware.
ChannelShareTM collision avoidance manages remote channel access to avoid collisions between remote sites

35. SmartPathTM
License-free Trio
Preferred
Alternative
Master or Access Point
In this case a repeater is required in the system. With the E, M or K Series radios one radio can be configured to act as a repeater. In J Series (Ethernet) the Access Point (Master) radio will automatically decided whether or not to repeat any given packet, based on its destination IP address.
In the J / K series radios, if only one repeater is required, it is most efficient for this radio to be the system Master. (Access Point) That’s because in such a system everyone exists on the same network. Thus the Master can have great control over when it repeats a message. This can be very efficient. In a system with a Bridge repeater, there are two (or more) networks and the Bridge must spend half its time on each. This slows the repeating down significantly. This is how most competitor frequency hopping repeater radios work.
HOST APPLICATION
Enhances radio link reliability by providing mesh type connectivity between sites.
Offers higher bandwidth and lower latency than traditional mesh network implementations as network only reconfigures when path problem occurs

36. KwikStreamTM Useful when only a single repeater is required
License-free Trio
Remote
ACCESS POINT
Peer to Peer Repeater
KwikStream™ Repeater
Remote
Remote
HOST APPLICATION
In this case a repeater is required in the system. With the E, M or K Series radios one radio can be configured to act as a repeater. In J Series (Ethernet) the Access Point (Master) radio will automatically decided whether or not to repeat any given packet, based on its destination IP address.
In the J / K series radios, if only one repeater is required, it is most efficient for this radio to be the system Master. (Access Point) That’s because in such a system everyone exists on the same network. Thus the Master can have great control over when it repeats a message. This can be very efficient. In a system with a Bridge repeater, there are two (or more) networks and the Bridge must spend half its time on each. This slows the repeating down significantly. This is how most competitor frequency hopping repeater radios work.
Useful when only a single repeater is required
Access point repeats data with low latency during the same hop (does not have to wait for next hop)
Supports Host to Remote and Peer to Peer (Remote to Remote) connectivity

37. LinkXTendTM License-free Trio REMOTE BRIDGE BRIDGE
ACCESS POINT
This graphic shows the use of the Bridge type of repeater. This type must be used if more than one repeater is needed in the system. (you can only have one master in a frequency hopping system, thus only one peer to peer aka KwikStream repeater) This graphic shows the forwarding of a data packet from the Master to a Remote and a Bridge. The Bridge acts as a Remote on one hop and a Master on the next. It thus needs two network names and two different hopping patterns. It can talk to its Master while it’s a Remote on one hop, then it can talk to the Remotes (and maybe other Bridges) downstream when it becomes Master on the next hop. The Bridge further downstream will then forward the data packet further downstream on the hop after that.
This graphic might lead you to believe that the whole system has to sit idle until any packet gets forwarded all the way downstream to its destination. In fact the operation is more like the old bucket brigade. To put out fires if you have a bunch of people and a bunch of buckets, and water some distance away, you can form a chain of people passing buckets. You don’t just have one bucket getting passed from one end to the other and back. In fact every second person (eg Bridge) can have a bucket (data packet) and be passing it up or down stream. That’s why the inclusion of even multiple Bridges only cuts a network’s available bandwidth by 50%. Latency (delay) is however increased with each Bridge that is added.
LinkXTendTM provides wide area coverage by connecting multiple radio networks with bridges
Some radio links may require additional antenna gain – LinkXTendTM allows system designer to use directional AND omni directional antennas on one bridge to maximise signal reliability
Bridge networks are segmented so that network traffic on “green” network can occur simultaneously as network traffic on “grey” network
Bridges use time division multiplexing to swap between networks – 50% of the time they behave as a remote, the other 50% like an access point
HOST APPLICATION

38. Telemetry & Remote SCADA Solutions
Products
&
Systems
Business Systems
Object oriented, wide area SCADA for critical
Infrastructures in WWW, O&G and Electrical Energy
integrated SCADA and ready to use Telemetry features
Wide range of open protocols and interfaces:
DNP3, IEC , WITS, Modbus, OPC, SQL, …
ClearSCADA
Licensed/license-free radios for serial
and Ethernet communication, support of Modbus,
DNP3 and IEC /104 protocols
Trio
Cost effective, scalable, Smart RTU
Modbus-centric and DNP3/IEC60870-centric
SCADAPack
Rapid-deploy, self contained,
battery-powered
Wireless Instruments
Accutech

39. Typical applications

40. Applications Wastewater Application: Lift/Booster Station for 4 pumps
Realized Value:
Reduced cost of ownership through remote configuration & diagnostics
Improved operation & compliance through time stamped data & priority reporting 40

41. Applications Water Application: Demand billing Realized Value:
Accurate billing information improving revenues
High availability through multiple communications links
Improved security through over-the-air data encryption 41

42. Applications: Wireless Sensors
Reservoir level monitoring
Municipal storm water monitoring
Dissolved oxygen, pH level, data monitoring
Pressure monitoring
Tank level and pressure
Others?

43. Scenario:
Stormwater Monitoring
Municipalities all over the world face the constant challenge of managing storm water drainage systems that are built through communities and outlining areas. These systems are used to prevent erosion and are necessary to control wastewater pathways through the water system during extreme weather events. Monitoring points for these systems are often in disparate locations and are difficult to install.

44. Stormwater Monitoring
The City of Houston Stormwater Maintenance branch has a big challenge when managing the large amounts of water that fill their ditches and bayous during frequent weather events. Environmental concerns and influx rates at treatment facilities must be monitored continuously throughout the system including points where no networking provisions are in place.
Solution
Numerous points in Houston’s stormwater management system had level meters that were no longer connected through to the host.
Analog input devices were mated to the level meters
The base radio was located at the branch headquarters and connected to their host
The system was up and running in two days with the installation of an Accutech network.

45. Conclusion

46. Conclusion Telemetry and Remote SCADA Solutions entail many components
The current trends and technologies will continue to change and improve
Protocol development (like DNP3) will continue to help address current needs
Schneider Electric continues to lead the industry in TRSS applications

47. Questions? Alan Hudson Solutions Architect
Water Wastewater Competency Center
8001 Knightdale Blvd.
Knightdale, NC
Office: | Mobile:

48. Appendix

49. Leak Management - Calculation
The system performs leakage calculations based on real-time and historical data analysis in both distribution and transmission networks.

50. Leak Management - Calculation
The WMS: Leak Management (LM) runs several distribution monitoring methods that can detect possible leaks:
Flow Balance, comparing pipeline inlet and outlet flows.
Mass Balance, comparing pipeline inlet and outlet volumes.
Minimum Night Flow, tracking DMA nightly consumption.
Hydraulic Supervision, comparing measured hydraulic parameters with simulated values.
Alarm Limits based on fixed thresholds, adaptive limits or logic rules.

51. WMS:LM - Pressure Management
Monitoring of Pressure Management Areas (PMA) behavior.
Optimization of Pressure Regulating Valves (PRV) and Variable Speed Pumps (VSP) settings.

52. WMS:LM - Active Leakage Control
The system has the capability of managing Active Leakage Control activities and interfacing with third-party Computerised Maintenance Management Systems (CMMS).

53. WMS:LM - Repair Management
The system has the capability to integrate with CMMS and Outage Management Systems (OMS) to streamline pipe repair management and monitoring.

54. WMS:LM - Asset Management
The system identifies the most critical infrastructure from a leakage/burst point of view. It supports managers to solve the “replace or repair” dilemma and prioritize capital expenditure in the distribution network.

55. WMS:LM - Business Intelligence
The WMS:LM includes a Business Intelligence platform providing specific reports, performance indicators, statistics, etc.
It includes water balance and reports for regulators.

56. Stormwater Management - Overview
Weather Forecast
Simulation Models
Accurate and reliable
High spatial and temporal resolution
Forecasts tuned to reality
Meteorology consultation
Dynamic flow calculations through the urban drainage system
Prediction of flooding & overflows, locations, extent & severity
Prediction of loads to treatment plants
Stormwater
Integrated
Solution
Telemetry Networks
Visualization Portal
Real-time sewer system condition information
Facilities monitoring
Control of CSOs
Google Maps/GIS platform
Customized warnings and alerting services
Web Service delivery
Mobile Apps

57. Stormwater Mgmt - Forecasting
Accurate Forecast
Expert analysis and forecasting
Independent analyses show that SE DTN forecasts are the most accurate – 5 consecutive years
Timely Forecasts
Forecasts are updated every hour – always current to reflect rapidly changing conditions
Advanced technology
10 years+ of R&D partnership with NCAR to develop state-of-the-art forecasting tools
Complete Services
Historical data, Weather visualization, Consulting
Professional consultation: 24x7, +50 meteorologists, online consulting, blog
SE-DTN Weather Operations Center - Minneapolis

58. Stormwater Mgmt – Drainage Simulation
Hydrological Module
Land phase of hydrological cycle in urban catchments
Critical Input: accurate Weather Forecast
Output: runoff hydrographs
Hydraulic Module
Pipeflow simulation
Input: runoff hydrographs
(+ dry-weather loads for combined systems)
Output: water levels and flows
Prediction of flooding and overflow locations, extent and severity
Water level

59. Stormwater/Flood Visualization
Current and Future high-resolution (0.6 square miles) radar
Easy-to-use interface with click on- off weather layers
Weather forecast with flooding/CSOs alerting
Patented user-customized weather monitoring and alerting
Slide Show for convenient and continuous updated to control- center big screens
Information to a Smart City platform, for coordination with Traffic, Security, etc.

60. Watershed Hydrology & Water Quality

61. Hosted scada

62. Why Host SCADA? Customer Benefit Performance Contracts Benefits for us
Overcomes resource shortage to maintain systems
Desire NOT to have IT infrastructure around a SCADA system
Monthly cost vs. large system costs
Accessibility
Performance Contracts
Monitor our performance
Optimize improvement through data gathering and analytics
Find patterns which hurt performance
Benefits for us
Customer intimacy
Ability to add options/services over time
Contracting local System Integrators for installations and service

63. Wireless Basics

64. Wireless Basics What defines the range of wireless communication?
Path Loss -
Path loss (or path attenuation) is the reduction in power of a radio wave as it propagates from one point to another.
Path loss is sum of radio wave attenuation due to the following:
Space Attenuation –
RF signals are attenuated at a rate proportional to the square of the distance traveled and proportional to the frequency of the transmission (2.4GHz has less range than 915MHz)
Obstructions : RF signals are attenuated due to trees, buildings and mounting that absorb and scatter the RF signal.
Other factors that affect range include -
Signal reflection leading to multi-path fading
Interference resulting from other users of the spectrum
Earth curvature over long distances
Obstructions
Transmitter
Receiver

65. Wireless Basics How to overcome obstructions?
Repeater -
Adding a Repeater helps to overcome obstructions and path loss.
A Repeater is normally located on a mountain top or other location with good line of sight to all remotes in the system.
Repeater
Transmitter
Receiver

66. Wireless Basics Fresnel Zone Clearance and Reflections Fresnel Zone -
When wireless signals are transmitted from one location to another, the energy is spread parabolic “cone” that is referred to the Fresnel Zone.
The size of the Fresnel zone is proportional to frequency and distance between the two sites
If there is an obstruction that is inside the Fresnel zone, the receiving site may observed two signals :
One directly from the transmitting site and
One reflected from the obstruction
The reflection may cause destructive interference causing signal loss or fading.
ie: Signals may fade over time as reflections off a water body change with tide height

67. Wireless Basics Terminology Amplitude is the power of a radio signal
Often represented in decibels (dB).
3dB = 2 x Power, 10dB = 10 x Power, 20dB = 100 x Power
dB is a logarithmic ratio that simplifies calculations.
Transmitter Power
Measured in Watts or dBm (dBm is relative to 1mW )
dBm=10 Log P2/P1 where P1=1mW
1 Watt = 30 dBm, 100 mW = 20 dBm
A 1 Watt (30dBm) radio transmits a stronger signal than a 100 mW (20dBm) radio…
Transmitted Power dissipates in space losing 6 dB every time the distance is doubled.
Receiver Sensitivity
Measured in uV or dBm and represents how weak a signal the receiver can hear
Sensitivity of –96 dBm is 3.51 uV
Antenna Gain
Measured in dBi (dB relative to an isotropic antenna) or dBd (dB relative to a dipole)
Conclusions
Transmitter and Receiver parameters are always relative to a level (dBm)
Signal Loss and Attenuation are absolute values (dB)
Radio performance is a combination of transmit power AND receive sensitivity.
A radio with –104 dBm receive sensitivity will “hear” signals that a –96 dBm radio will not…no matter how strong the signal was when it was transmitted.
Note that a radio with –104 dB sensitivity will operate at approximately twice the range of –96 dB radio. 6 dB = double the range.

68. Wireless Basics Free Space Loss L = Free Space Loss (dB)
Represents the ttheoretical RF loss (attenuation) (in dB) over a distance in a vacuum.
Real World path loss will always be higher
Calculated with this formulae:
L = Free Space Loss (dB)
r = distance in meters
λ = wavelength in meters

69. Red = Subtract from Budget
Wireless Basics
Fade Margin - What is fade margin?
RF signal into receiver over and above 1E-6 BER level.
Maintains link quality if signal fades due to: Reflections, Rain Loss, Maintenance Problems.
Path Loss
Loss = 130dB
Omni Antenna
Gain = 6 dBi
Yagi Antenna
Gain = 9 dBi
+28
+30
+34
-96
-88
-87
Coaxial Cable
Loss = 2dB
Total System Gain =
Coaxial Cable
Loss = 1dB
BER = ^6
+ 20dB
Fade Margin =
Fade Margin
Factors that affect Fade Margin are:
Tx power of Transmitting Radio
Coaxial Cable losses
Antenna Gains
Path Loss
Rx sensitivity of receiving radio
Receiving Radio
BER = ^6
Transmitting Radio
Transmitter 1W
Gain = 30 dB
Green = Add to Budget
Red = Subtract from Budget

70. Wireless Basics
RF coverage, planning and the level of infrastructure required differ depending on the spectrum utilized.

71. Radio Path Study
A radio path study is a valuable analysis tool used to determine radio signal loss over a terrain profile. It can help in determining critical system components like radios, antennas, towers, repeater stations and system layouts. A typical study is generated from customer- supplied GPS coordinates utilizing specialized software tools.
As part of our ongoing program of dedicated customer support, we offer Radio Path Study services free of charge:
Complete the excel-based Path Study request at Path Study Request Form
Submit form to (allow 2 weeks for study)

72. Accessories - Antennas
Antennas come in various shapes and sizes. In general, there are two main types
Omni Directional Dipole Antenna
Omni Directional Co-linear Antenna
Omni-directional
Directional Yagi Antenna
Directional
Parabolic Antenna
Directional

73. Accessories - Other
Other critical components in a wireless system includes RF cable, lightning arrestor, Omni-directional and directional antennas.
DIN Rail Kits
Coaxial Cable & Connectors
Duplexers
Surge Protector/ Lightning Arrestor

74. Typical applications

75. Accutech Products in WWW
Level
These wireless tank level field units use a submersible pressure sensor to provide hydrostatic level of a vented tank or well. Specific-gravity correction and all common level units are offered.
SL10 Submersible Level Meter
GL10 Gauge Level Meter
Flow
Open channel flow may be measured from liquid level using the DP20 wireless differential pressure sensor. When the DP20 operates in Open Channel Mode it may be configured with a K factor to report directly in units of flow. Channels with irregular dimensions can be accommodated using an additional 22-point custom curve.
TM10 Turbine Meter Totalizer
DP20 Differential Pressure Meter

76. Accutech in Irrigation
The irrigation market is perhaps the best suited to Accutech, with monitoring points almost always located at a distance with no possibility for power.
Current opportunities on the US West Coast include well/reservoir/aquifer/canal level monitoring. Accutech SL10 submersible level field units are the product of choice for these applications.
The SL10 wireless field units use a submersible pressure sensor to provide hydrostatic level up to 100’ (30m) depth.
Accutech SL10 Submersible Level

77. Accutech in Treatment Plants
Treatment plants often require monitoring points which are either at a distance or in areas where wiring is problematic, examples include:
Digester gas applications (i.e. volume measurement, flow, DP)
Headworks monitoring (i.e. rpm measurement of rotating screens)
Pressure and level.
While in-plant applications are not a prime target for Accutech there do exist processes which remain difficult to wire / service that are outside the plant.