FC200 / FC200SR
The Field Collector 200 and 200SR (FC200 and FC200SR) offer electricity, gas and water providers a powerful, multi-function handheld computer for manual and automated meter reading. With an FC200SR, utility personnel can program, service and read up to 80 endpoint messages simultaneously, with one handheld computer.
With their superior ergonomic design, expansive memory, generous battery capacities, and flexible Microsoft Windows® CE. NET platform, the FC200 and FC200SR are the next generation in handheld meter reading. The handhelds’ rugged design ensures operation in the demanding environments that your work force might face. The FC200 is designed for manual key-in meter data entry as well as time-of-use (TOU) probing and water or touch pad probing.
The FC200SR features SRead radio technology, a 900 MHz radio that offers unparalleled performance for automated meter reading of endpoint-equipped electricity, gas and water meters. The SRead radio listens across 16MHz frequency and uses 80 channels to capture more endpoint transmissions in a shorter amount of time for greater read efficiency.
Each can be used with Itron MV-RS® or Itron Field Collection System data collection software and supports a full range of communications technologies. They also interface with Itron’s mobile workforce management applications, Service-Link™, Endpoint-Link® and Endpoint-Link® Pro, for added field service productivity.
When you deploy the FC200 for manual meter reading, you can:
- Provide meter readers with preprogrammed route and customer account information for better route management.
- Download meter readings directly into your data collection software.
When you deploy the FC200SR for radio-based meter reading, you can:
- Improve meter data accuracy by eliminating manual data entry errors.
- Increase the number of meters that can be read in a single day.
- Reduce operational costs associated with reading hard-to-access meters.
- Improve customer satisfaction by eliminating intrusive meter reading visits.
- Improve employee and customer safety.
- Receive up to 80 ERT messages simultaneously.
- Employ use of a higher power transmission.
- Expand your options for use with future technologies.
Mobile Collectors
The Itron Mobile Collection System (MCS) is a drive-by automatic meter reading (AMR) system that uses a vehicle equipped with portable radio transceiver and computer to gather tamper and consumption data from electric, gas and water radio-based endpoints.
MCS uses vehicles equipped with radio transceivers to read endpoint-equipped electric, gas or water meters via radio without the need to access the meter. Mobile AMR dramatically improves meter reading efficiency.
A radio transceiver, called a Mobile Collector, is installed in a utility vehicle. Route information is downloaded from the utility billing system and loaded into the radio transceiver. Capable of operating in either wake-up or bubble-up mode, the transceiver reads all endpoints within range. Meter data is uploaded to the billing system for bill generation.
Mobile AMR is ideally suited for high-density areas, as well as areas with difficult-to-access, or hazardous-to-read meters and can dramatically improve meter reading. A single Itron Mobile Collection System, reading one route at a time, is capable of reading up to 24,000 meters in a day. When reading multiple routes simultaneously, the Mobile Collection System can support up to 100,000 meters. The potential savings are substantial when compared to the few hundred meters read per day on a typical walking route.
When you deploy the Itron Mobile Collection System, you can:
- Increase operational efficiencies by reading more meters in a shorter amount of time.
- Eliminate the high operational costs associated with hard-to-read meters.
- Improve customer satisfaction by eliminating intrusive meter reading visits and providing more accurate and up-to-date billing data.
- Improve the quality of your billing data by eliminating manual data entry errors, performing off-cycle reads and eliminating estimated readings.
- Identify energy theft and revenue loss due to meter tamper.
- Meet Performance-based Rate (PBR) criteria.
Water Endpoints
When you deploy Itron endpoints for water meters as part of an Itron AMR system, you can:
- Increase operational efficiencies by reading more meters in a shorter amount of time.
- Reduce operational costs by eliminating time spent on hard-to-access meters.
- Improve customer satisfaction by eliminating intrusive meter readings and maintaining more accurate and reliable meter data for billing and dispute resolution.
- Improve employee and customer safety.
- Improve the quality of your billing data by eliminating manual data entry errors, performing off-cycle reads and eliminating estimated readings.
- Identify energy theft and revenue loss due to meter tamper.
The 60W ERT Water Endpoint
The 60W is Itron’s newest endpoint for the water market. Designed with simplicity and reliability in mind, this compact endpoint provides superior performance even in harsh pit environments, and requires no field programming for easy, low-cost installation. Advanced leak, reverse-flow and tamper detection, as well as a 20-year battery life help utilities reduce O&M expenses and improve customer satisfaction. This water endpoint works with Itron radio-based handheld and mobile collection systems, as well as Itron network collection systems, including the Itron Fixed Network for electricity, gas and water.
Download Itron's 60W Spec Sheet
The 50W ERT Water Endpoint
The 50W ERT module series for indoor and pit water meters is the data collection endpoint device for Itron’s radio-based handheld, mobile AMR and network AMR systems. By supporting protocols from all major water meter manufacturers, Itron’s 50W module provides water utilities and municipalities with an open-architecture solution. The 50W encodes accurate consumption and tamper information from the water meter and can be programmed to communicate with Itron meter reading technologies in either "wake-up" mode or "bubble-up" mode.
When used in wake-up mode, it waits for a wake-up signal over a radio frequency and then automatically transmits metering data to the appropriate collection system. In bubble-up mode, the 50W series transmits a continuous stream of information. When used in bubble-up mode, the 50W module does not require an FCC license to operate.
The 50W is powered by two long-life, replaceable "A" cell lithium batteries. Estimated battery life when used in wake-up mode exceeds the 20-year life expectancy of the ERT module, meaning battery change out programs will not be necessary. Estimated battery life for the 50W when used in bubble-up mode is a minimum of 10 years.
Download Itron's 50W Spec Sheet
The 200W ERT Water Endpoint
The 200W endpoint provides water utilities with Data logging and Leak Detection capabilities. Data logging allows for storage and retrieval of 35 days of hourly consumption information. This information can be used to optimize capital investments and enable more effective conservation programs. The patent pending leak detection algorithm allows the utility to accurately assess the magnitude of potential behind the meter leaks.
To minimize the possibility of theft, the 200W features tilt and cut-cable tamper reporting, as well as security seals to alert utilities to physical tampering. Powered by a long-life single D-cell lithium battery, the 200W endpoint delivers an expected battery life of 20 years. The 200W endpoint offers the optional convenience by enabling two registers to be connected to the same endpoint—thus reducing overall system costs.
Download Itron's 200W Spec Sheet
Gas Endpoints
Gas radio-based endpoints are attached to new or existing natural gas meters to equip them for an automatic meter reading (AMR) system. Itron natural gas endpoints are available for meters from all leading meter manufacturers.
Itron endpoints for natural gas meters serve as the data sending device for Itron’s fully integrated portfolio of AMR solutions. Natural gas endpoints attach to the meter and encode consumption and tamper information from the meter to a radio-equipped data sending device. Gas endpoints operate in one of two programmable modes: wake-up or bubble-up. Endpoints that operate in wake-up mode transmit data in response to a signal from a radio-equipped handheld computer, vehicle-based mobile computer, fixed network or the Gas C&I Network data collection system. Gas endpoints that operate in bubble-up mode transmit data at regular 15-minute intervals and are ideally suited for use with the Itron Fixed Network. All natural gas endpoints work equally well indoors or outdoors and are powered by replaceable “A” cell lithium batteries that provide an average battery life of 20 years.
When you deploy Itron endpoints for natural gas meters as part of an Itron AMR system, you can:
- Increase operational efficiencies by reading more meters in a shorter amount of time.
- Reduce operational costs by eliminating time spent on hard-to-access meters.
- Improve customer satisfaction by eliminating intrusive meter readings and maintaining more accurate and reliable meter data for billing and dispute resolution.
- Improve employee and customer safety.
- Improve the quality of your billing data by eliminating manual data entry errors, performing off-cycle reads and eliminating estimated readings.
- Identify energy theft and revenue loss due to meter tamper. Gas endpoints employ a mechanical, mercury-fee tilt tamper switch.
- Improve distribution system planning by utilizing real usage data.
MV-RS
Depending on the size of your service area, Itron’s MV-RS data collection software can be installed economically on a stand-alone PC or on multiple networked PCs for distributed processing and superior meter reading performance. MV-RS supports keyed reads from handheld computers; touch reads, most commonly used for water meters; optical probe readings, radio-equipped handheld route management and meter data, the Itron Mobile Collection System; and the Itron MicroNetwork.
MV-RS can be configured to run unattended, so that all system functions, including handheld communications, file downloads and report generation, occur automatically. Or, operators can choose to automate on a function by function basis, scheduling tasks or performing them manually. Most MV-RS users automate some tasks – most commonly reports.
MV-RS offers a clear migration path to automatic meter reading (AMR) systems, allowing your system to scale along with your changing operations and strategic objectives, whether that’s supporting new optical probing devices or implementing a mobile collection system.
When you deploy MV-RS, you can:
- Implement a powerful meter data collection that can meet your meter technology needs today and in the future.
- Reduce costs associated with maintaining multiple data collection technologies.
- Increase operational efficiencies with unattended processing.
- Improve customer satisfaction by providing more information to handheld and mobile meter readers in the field.
- Identify energy theft and revenue loss due to meter tamper.