NB-IoT Smart Meter
A cellular-connected smart water meter retrofit module for automated meter reading over NB-IoT.
The client wanted to retrofit existing mechanical water meters with automated remote-reading capability, but needed connectivity that worked reliably from underground and enclosed meter pits without requiring gateway infrastructure or WiFi range — on a battery budget supporting years of unattended operation.
We designed a compact retrofit module combining a magnetic pulse-counting sensor for mechanical meter reading with an NB-IoT cellular module, chosen specifically for its superior underground and deep in-building penetration compared to LoRaWAN or WiFi alternatives. Firmware batched readings and used NB-IoT's power-save mode to minimize radio-on time between scheduled reports.
Field pilots confirmed reliable connectivity from underground meter pits where the client's earlier WiFi-based prototype had failed entirely, with projected multi-year battery life meeting the client's unattended-operation requirement.
“Our first WiFi-based prototype couldn't get a signal out of an underground meter pit. The NB-IoT module they specified worked from every single pilot site on the first try.”
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