SNYPER-LTE Graphyte Testimonial

There are several features of the SNYPER-LTE Graphyte that have made it so successful in the Spanish market. The strongest market sector is utilities, where supply and distribution plant monitoring are key for operation purposes. Until the SNYPER-LTE Graphyte appeared, the typical signal and signal provider monitoring was made with mobile phone-based solutions. With the SNYPER-LTE Graphyte, there is no requirement to use a SIM, as the SNYPER will pick up signals from all “visible” base-stations in the local area. The surveying kit comes with omni and directional antennas. The Omnis help to find hotspots whilst the directional antenna can assist with antenna alignment, using the LiveSCAN function. Additionally, the SNYPER-LTE Graphyte is a reliable industrial specification product which comes in its own robust carrycase, ideal for installers and service engineers.

Our customers’ locations are spread over the whole Spanish territory, where different providers have different deployments. It is crucial to be able to survey all the different providers to be able to compare and choose the best one in both signal strength terms and general availability. You can also lock-on to a single provider and even to a specific cell. In certain locations, the provider’s service may vary throughout the day due to the number of subscribers or even climatic conditions.

With the SNYPER-LTE Graphyte, you can pre-select the number of sequential surveys you would like to perform and the interval between them, leaving the unit in place to log and store surveys over hours or days, whilst you get on with other priorities. All surveys can be easily downloaded (.CSV & html) to a laptop. The best feature with the SNYPER-LTE Graphyte, is the rapid assistance the results provide so you can quickly identify the best mobile network operator to subscribe to.

You can carry out field evaluations to find the best position and orientation, to position your chosen antenna when you come round to installing your 2G, 3G, 4G smart industrial modem or router. Under any given conditions, you can always choose the optimum installation for your NB IoT/4G devices. Additionally, there are other interesting features we must not forget like the continuous LiveSCAN logging feature and the mapping portal: CloudSURVEY, that will help in your device’s installation.

Written by Benito Pillado, A2G part of the Fiberco Group

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The work carried out is varied and ranges from regulating major industry and waste, managing the risk of flooding, monitoring water quality and resources and protecting the conservation and ecology of the natural environment. The organisation states its mission as: We work to create better places for people and wildlife and support sustainable development.

Gateway Electronic Components Ltd (www.gatewaycando.com) have been working with the Environment Agency supplying a range of products that help their team to conduct the research, monitoring and data collection tasks that allow them to fulfil the objectives of the organisation.

Products supplied to the Environment Agency by Gateway have included antennas from the Siretta range; Mike, Tango and Oscar antennas have all found a place in the Environment Agencies upgrade of their infrastructure. In addition, the Environment Agency have equipped many of the team involved in monitoring and data collection with a SNYPER-LTE Graphyte Signal analyser.

The Environment Agency work in many remote locations where there are no hard-wired lines available so cellular connectivity is the only solution. The organisation is always looking for ways to improve the cellular signal strength in those areas and ensure they have a reliable signal whatever time of day or week.

The SNYPER-LTE Graphyte allows the user to identify the strongest cellular signal in any geographical location, the user can choose to run one survey or conduct a number of sequential surveys over a period of days, weeks or even months to establish the most reliable signal at different times of day or night, week or weekend.

The SNYPER-LTE Graphyte can be left in the field unmanned and can be pre-programmed to run a series of sequential surveys at chosen intervals. Once the surveys have been completed the operator can collect the unit from the field and download the survey information to their laptop in a variety of formats including html and csv formats, which enable them to clearly identify the most reliable signal over a period.

From there the Environment Agency can make an informed decision about the mobile operator to use for that location. The analyser reports on multiple cellular signals across 2G, 3G and 4G giving the user a complete map of the cellular options in any given area.

By ensuring the team have access to a SNYPER-LTE Graphyte the Environment Agency have been able to deploy monitoring equipment into remote locations without the need to trial multiple cellular providers, saving time and money and ensuring they can react quickly in emergency situations.

But why did the Environment Agency make the decision to use the Siretta SNYPER-LTE Graphyte model?

Lee Jones, Telemetry Officer at the Environment Agency, commented “There were a couple of key factors, first the Environment Agency are currently running a project to migrate all existing monitoring sites, approx. 5500 in all, from circuit switched PSTN fixed landline and GSM communications to M2M IP non-steered roaming cellular communication. Once migrated, our telemetry outstations at these monitoring sites will operate over either 2G or 4G depending on the outstation type.

The SNYPER-LTE Graphyte was an ideal solution for us as it can assess signal over 2G, 3G and 4G as and for each of the 4 networks that our roaming SIM can make use of. The SNYPER-LTE Graphyte allows us to assess if the signal is suitable to carry the migration and to assess how many sites have no signal for which we will need a different solution. The second factor was the added functionality around sequential surveying; having had experience of using the Siretta SNYPER-LTE Graphyte model we knew it was a reliable piece of kit that reduced the time we spent analysing signal strengths. The added functionality of sequential, unmanned surveys, that the SNYPER-LTE Graphyte brought, was the key factor in deciding to role out the model to the team.

Gateway and Siretta worked together to ensure stocks were made available on the shelf to meet our demands and ensure orders could be delivered on a “next day basis.”

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When installing antennas for data transmission, it is always of great importance to determine the correct antenna location. But how can the theory be put into practice? The implementation should still be efficient and cost-saving.

Of course, almost all of us now have a smartphone in our pocket that supposedly shows the signal quality reliably on the screen. But does everyone only know how to interpret the information using small bars? This will be relatively difficult, especially since the manufacturers of the individual transmission devices have different requirements.

The plumber, planner, end customer is often confronted with a topic that is not part of his everyday work. But the use of communication devices is becoming more and more important in today’s world of IoT (Internet of Things) and Industry 4.0.

To offer the customer, the best possible service and to score with high quality work, it is advisable to use such high-quality equipment. Because which points should be considered at all.

With communication via the cellular network, we as a user or customer are bound to a cellular provider in our country or to a roaming partner of our cellular provider abroad. Here we face the first challenge with our smartphone. The majority of smartphone users only use one wireless service provider. So, if my dialing device etc. is working with another cell phone provider, the signal strength of the cell phone provider cannot be determined with the smartphone.

The manufacturer now gives me in his manual or the installation instructions exactly what signal strength must be achieved so that the device can transfer the necessary data without problems. Often the requirements are not shown in bars like on the smartphone, but in dBm values. I won’t find dbm values on my smartphone either.

For the protocol to the customer, I cannot simply take a screenshot of my smartphone monitor and then give it to the customer. That is anything but professional.

So here we come to the topic of high-quality work equipment which is simply indispensable for high quality service.

Here, as an example, we refer to the Siretta family of handheld measuring devices.
SNYPER-LTE+ / SNYPER-LTE+ Spectrum / SNYPER-LTE Graphyte

Why do we see these devices as exactly the right ones for these requirements?

• All mobile network providers to be received can be measured with one device

• The installer / installer / user has a single hand-held measuring device for measuring the location.

• Up to 50 measurements can be recorded and evaluated at a later point in time

• HTML and CSV files are available for easy and clearly understandable logging of the measurement results

• A localization of the determined base station is possible without problems with the help of the cloud surveys

Only here should be clear to you as a reader and as a user of transmission devices for the cellular network, of whatever kind, in order to be able to offer my customers the best service and impeccable services, the hardware used is important.

You can look at the article by clicking on this link:

Wie finde ich den richtigen Standort | LinkedIn

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As a result around 9000 intelligent measuring systems will run on the best network. 

Stadtwerke Borken/Westf. / Stadtwerke Coesfeld, Germany chose in depth cellular network analysis for smooth installation of intelligent measuring systems. 

Once a year, an employee of the energy supplier reads the current status of the electricity meter in every household. With the installation of an intelligent measuring system (Smart Meter), this visit is no longer necessary, as the collected data is automatically transmitted digitally. Due to legal changes in Germany, the installation of a smart meter is mandatory for annual electricity consumption of more than 6,000 kWh. In order to make the rollout of the devices by the energy supplier as effective as possible and to avoid additional costs in the long term, an optimal installation of the technology on site is necessary. For this reason, the Borken and Coesfeld municipal utilities decided to use a cellular network analyser to support the employment.

Author: Samira Liebscher, freelance journalist

Stadtwerke Borken and Coesfeld are active in the supply of energy and drinking water and also provide the citizens of their town with baths, parking space and fibre optic cables.  They are part of the EMERGY group of companies, which supplements the Stadtwerke’s service portfolio with innovative services and the operation of infrastructures.

Intelligent metering systems regularly determine the consumption data and send them automatically via the network to the electricity supplier and network operator. On-site reading of the consumption values is therefore no longer necessary. In the long term, the installation of smart meters will also eliminate the time-consuming and cost-intensive manual reading process for the Borken and Coesfeld public utilities.

But what saves resources in the long term is initially a challenge: all electricity meters in households with an electricity consumption of over 6,000 kWh must be replaced successively. However, the meter cannot simply be replaced one-to-one.

Change from conventional to intelligent metering systems
In accordance with the requirements of the so called „Messstellenbetriebsgesetz“ (Metering Point Operation Act), the metering point operator must ensure reliable and safe technical operation of the

smart meter at all times. Continuous data transmission through reliable network communication plays an important role in this respect. An unstable communication link and interruptions in data transmission would therefore inevitably lead to multiple trips to the point of consumption despite generally automated transmission.

“After the increased expenditure due to the legal changes for the installation of smart meters, we saw the introduction of an extended tool support for the plannable and effective installation of the intelligent metering systems as absolutely necessary”, says Michael Selting, Head of the Metering/Installation Department of Stadtwerke Borken/Stadtwerke Coesfeld. The aim was therefore to find a solution that would enable an effective rollout of smart meters and an analysis of communication breakdowns.

Network analyser as a suitable solution
During an extensive online research, the responsible persons of the municipal utilities came across different devices for mobile phone analysis and shortlisted four tools. All solutions were examined more closely and compared to the specific requirements. For example, the network analyser had to be able to connect an antenna to a Fakra connection. Other requirements of the Borken and Coesfeld public utilities included functions for long-term and live measurements, coverage of as many available providers and frequency bands as possible, simple, intuitive operation and a compact design.

Due to the corona situation, the functions of the SNYPER-LTE Graphyte from Siretta Ltd. were presented in detail to Mr. Selting and his team via online conference by the distributor DACOM West. In addition to the device itself, a suitable solution had to be found to connect it to the smart meter gateway antennas with Fakra connection. An SMA/Fakra adapter was tested for this purpose, which was suitable for the combination due to its very low contact resistance. In order to be able to get a comprehensive picture of the product in advance, the municipal utilities were supplied with a test device by the distributor. It became clear once again that the tool does not require any additional technical requirements, but can be operated completely stand-alone.

Due to the live scan function, the possibility of a long-term measurement as well as the results of a detailed cost-benefit analysis, the SNYPER-LTE Graphyte was finally chosen. The installation and configuration of the device was carried out on site by DACOM West in cooperation with Mr. Selting and the head of the department Networks Construction/Operation Electricity of Stadtwerke Borken/Stadtwerke Coesfeld.

“With this signal analyser, we have the chance to optimally align the network antennas of the smart meter gateways or – especially as in our rural areas – to find a cellular network signal of sufficient strength at all in order to operate the measuring systems safely and stably with a minimum of operative effort”, says Michael Selting. In addition, there is the installation of “conventional” technology in the field of recording power measurement (RLM) for new installations or for error analysis of critical communication links. “The use of the SNYPER-LTE Graphyte eliminates duplicate customer visits due to connection problems. As a rough estimate, the device has already redeemed itself in 15 to 20 saved visits.

Long-term measurement against network problems
Up to now, those responsible at municipal utilities have occasionally encountered problems with the connectivity of RLM meters. During these measurements, the meter records average performance values at 15-minute intervals and transmits these once a day (usually at night) to the municipal utilities. Although the communication modules were booked into the supposedly “strongest” network, they occasionally showed communication difficulties. By means of the long-term measurement of the SNYPER-LTE Graphyte signal analyser, those responsible at the Borken and Coesfeld municipal utilities have the possibility of activating an overnight measurement on site to evaluate the behaviour of the various communication bands of the available providers. “By carrying out this analysis, we can shift the communication units to another frequency band or to another provider, which may not be the strongest, but is the most consistent frequency band or the most constant provider at the corresponding point of consumption,” says Michael Selting.

The further evaluation procedures of the SNYPER-LTE Graphyte also simplify the analysis and management of smart meters in everyday life. For example, the measurement results can be analysed on the computer as a clearly prepared web page and raw data file (CSV).

There is also the option of uploading the results to a cloud application, in which additional evaluation options (e.g. localisation of base stations) are available.

Conclusion
Due to legal requirements for conversion to intelligent measuring systems, the Borken and Coesfeld public utilities decided to use a cellular network analyser to simplify the installation of the devices and to plan maintenance more efficiently. “The combined solution consisting of the SNYPER-LTE Graphyte from Siretta Ltd. and a Fakra connection exactly meets our requirements and we were able to integrate it easily into our workflow,” says Michael Selting. “We now use the SNYPER-LTE Graphyte on a regular basis, and so it is used in the installation of around 9,000 intelligent measuring systems. We can handle the rollout more smoothly, analyse communication gaps, react accordingly to the results and optimise the personnel effort for a functioning measurement system”.

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