Telit, a global vendor of machine-to-machine modules and services, announced the market introduction of the ME70-169 wireless M-Bus module for the European utility meter industry.
The new module operates on the European license-free frequency of 169MHz, allowing manufacturers to integrate utility metering products which meet regulatory compliance for short-range radio links without diverting development focus from the core metering functionality. The ME70-169 features Telit’s support and customisation services rooted on knowledge of short range RF design and the AMR vertical segment.
Telit’s ME70-169 outperforms similar products in all dimensions that are critical for meter manufacturers.
Unregulated 3.3Volt supply requirement makes integration with standard meter electronics simple, eliminating the need for a multi-voltage power supply and lowering BOM costs. Industry-unique 1Watt radio output power combined with –120dBm sensitivity, significantly improve the meter’s reading range and reliability.
An ultra-low-current standby mode allows successful integration of the module into battery powered electronic meter designs for utilities such as gas and water which require battery replacement cycles in multiples of years.
“The ME70-169 was conceived to completely table the discussion of make-versus-buy with our AMR customers,” said Emmanuel Maçon-Dauxerre, energy segment sales director at Telit Wireless Solutions. “In that small package we included some truly unmatched radio performance with additional characteristics that can significantly lower BOM cost and complexity for the utility meter design integrating it.”
Because the ME70-169 is equipped with an ATX-Mega processor, customer applications can be made to run right inside the module, potentially eliminating the high cost of a second application processor core in the design.
As a member of the Telit Short Range module family, the ME70-169 is fully compatible with its ZigBee and Low-Power Mesh counterparts, as well as the ME50 series M-Bus lower-radio-power products.
