New Telecommunications Media Alternatives for Utility Automation

Power System Engineering, Inc. 1

New Telecommunications Media Alternatives for Utility Automation Applications

Rick A. SchmidtPower System Engineering, Inc.

Web Site: www.powersystem.orgE-Mail: [email protected]

May 7, 2003, Chicago, IL

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Rick A. SchmidtCommunications ConsultantDirect Line: (608) 268-3502

Fax: (608) 222-9378Email: [email protected]

Power System Engineering, Inc.2000 Engel Street

Madison, WI 53713 Visit our Web Site at: www.powersystem.org

Contact Information

2009 Copyright, Power System Engineering, Inc.


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Discussion Agenda

• Approaches for communication projects• Common utility applications requiring

communications infrastructure• Media alternatives

– Low speed– Medium speed– High speed

• Matching communication media with applications

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Approach for Communication Projects• Approach 1: Develop a communication solution for a

single application– Define the business requirements for the application i. e.

• Average quantity of bytes per transmission• Frequency of occurrence of transmission – every 2 seconds,

once/day, etc• Direction of communication – One-way or two-way

– Evaluate media choices and select most optimal technology and vendor

• Owned technology versus third-party commercial technology • Wireless technology versus wired technology• Determine the technology that best fits the business requirements



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Approach for Communication Projects• Approach 2: Develop a communication solution

for multiple applications– Define the business requirements for multiple

applications/programs• SCADA, AMR, Line Device Monitoring, Mobile Data,

Radio System Backhaul, Others• For each application define the following:

– Average quantity of bytes per transmission per location and for any junction points or hubs

– Frequency of occurrence of transmission – every 2 seconds, once/day, etc

– Direction of communication – One-way or two-way– Quantity of users or simultaneous sessions– Identify security needs

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• Group the needed applications together – High, Medium and Low Bandwidth

• Evaluate media choices and select most optimal technology and vendor

DistrictOffice

DistrictOffice Central

Data Center

Sub.Stat

Sub.Stat

Sub.Stat

Sub.Stat

High-Speed

Medium-Speed

Low-Speed

Approach for Communication Projects



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Communications Landscape

10 bps

100 bps

1 kbps

10 kbps

100 kbps

1 Mbps

10 Mbps

Paging ReFlexSatellite

Telco-FR

CDPD, Motient

Cellular circuit

Microwave,Spread spectrum

Telco-Frac. T-1

Free space optical

Medium Rate Systems

Low Rate Systems

High Rate Systems

bps: bits per secondCDPD: Cellular Digital Packet DataMAS: Multiple Address SystemVSAT: Very Small Aperture Terminal


Technologies Ranked by Throughput

Microwave

TelephoneLeased Line

MAS

VSAT-Broadband

Telco-Frame Relay

802.11

Cost

Spread Spectrum

Licensed Radio

Cellular:SMS

Cellular:AnalogControlChannel Power Line Carrier

(PLC)

Cellular:GPRS, cdma2000

Broadband - PLC

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Communications Technologies Discussed in this Presentation

10 bps

100 bps

1 kbps

10 kbps

100 kbps

1 Mbps

10 Mbps

Cellular: AnalogControlChannel

Cellular:SMS Satellite

Cellular:GPRS, cdma2000

Medium Rate Systems

Low Rate Systems

High Rate Systems



Technologies Ranked by Throughput

VSAT-Broadband

802.11

Power Line Carrier (PLC)

Cost

UnlicensedSpread Spectrum

Licensed Radio

Broadband - PLC

Broadband - PLC= Trial Phase

Application Specific:Mobile AMR



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Low Rate Systems

• Third-Party Commercial– Generally message-based systems. Near

nationwide coverage

• Including:– Cellular: AMPS Control Channel– Cellular: (SMS)– LEO and VSAT Satellite– Application Specific:

• Power Line Carrier for AMR/Load Management• Mobile AMR (“Itron like”)

AMPS: Advanced Mobile Phone System

LEO: Low Earth Orbit

VSAT: Very Small Aperture Terminal

SMS: Short Message Service

AMPS: Advanced Mobile Phone System

LEO: Low Earth Orbit


SMS: Short Message Service

Low-throughput technologies < 10 kbps

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AMPS Control Channel and SMS

• "Advanced" Mobile Phone System - Analog Cellular (AMPS)– First generation (1G) analog– Widest coverage of all cellular systems– Limit message length – 100 bits per message– No dialup set up times

• Cellular Messaging Short Message Service (SMS)– All 2nd Generation (2G) digital cellular systems support

SMS– Limited to 150 characters– No dialup set up time

Leveraging high coverage of cellular



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Satellite Alternatives• Message-based or circuit based• Some vendors financially troubled• ORBCOMM – Message based, high latency

(LEO)• Iridium – US Dept. of Defense and Corp.

customers– 2.4 kbps dial-up, 10 kbps Internet

• Gilat Spacenet– VSAT product offering

• 9.6 kbps to 150 kbps• Price points from $40 to $200/month

– Marketed through Value Added Resellers (VARs)• Others on the drawing board

For those hard-to-reach areas

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• Power Line Carrier (PLC)– Specifically designed for AMR and Load

Management. Data rates of 180 bits to 48 bits per second

– Mature technology– A leading vendor – Hunt Technologies added two-

way PLC technology in mid 2002

Common Metering Communication Technologies

Application Specific Communication Technology



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Application Specific Communication Technology - Continued

• Mobile AMR– Radio transmitter installed in utility vehicle. “Wakes

up” and receives message from meters while driving the route. Best used in urban areas

• Fixed Network AMR– Last mile is owned/private wireless technology

transported between the homes and neighborhood level “hubs”.

– The data is consolidated at neighborhood concentrator. From the neighborhood contractor, the data is transported to the host via multiple alternatives i.e. cellular, satellite, telephone leased lines, spread spectrum.

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Low Rate Recap• Low throughput, <10 kbps• Third-party service operators• Near nationwide coverage (some rural areas lack coverage)• Normally suitable for low rate, latency tolerant, message oriented systems• Satellite available where cellular/paging networks can't reach

Utility owns infrastructure (High)

Very poorExcellentPower Line Carrier

Recurring fees (High)ExcellentExcellentSatellite VSAT

Upfront infrastructure costs (High)

Fair/goodGoodMobile AMR/Fixed AMR

Fair/Poor

Fair

Fair

Latency

Recurring fees (medium)ExcellentSatellite LEO

Recurring fees (low)GoodSMS

Recurring fees (low)GoodAMPS Control Channel

CostCoverage/ Availability

Technology Type



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Medium Rate Systems

• 10 kbps to ~100 kbps• Circuit and packet-based systems• Including

– Licensed Wireless Systems: (Licensed MAS and VHF/UHF)– Unlicensed Wireless (Spread Spectrum)– Cellular: GPRS, iDEN and CDMA2000

MAS: Multiple Address System

2.5 G: New commercial cellular data; G = Generation of technology

MAS: Multiple Address System

2.5 G: New commercial cellular data; G = Generation of technology

Medium-throughput technologies

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Licensed Radio Systems

• VHF Radio– 30 to 300 MHZ. Most often used for voice communications– Data rates for older analog voice-designed VHF systems

normally limited to 1,200 bps.

• UHF Radio– 300 MHz to 3 GHZ. Most often used for voice– More “dead spots” than VHF– Normal data rates from older analog voice-designed systems

around 2,400 bps.

Radio System Shared for Voice and Data



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• VHF or UHF license bands for exclusive data use:– Separate infrastructure and license avoids congestion with

voice channels– Can be used for both fixed and mobile applications– Reduces the need to require the voice radio system to be used

or designed for data– Lower cost modems versus shared voice and data modems– IP addressing– Data rates approaching 19.2 kbps– No recurring fees

• Outsource model exists– Manufacture can maintain the

Licensed Radio SystemsSeparate License and Infrastructure for Data

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Unlicensed Fixed Systems

• Proprietary Spread Spectrum– Not compatible with certified IEEE 802.11b or Wi-FI – Most common at 2.4 GHz but also available at 900 MHz –

unlicensed – Common use: Point-to-point or point-to-multi-point– Typical outdoor range: 10 to 25 miles– Requires path and line of site– 900 MHz propagates better than 2.4 Ghz– Product functionality differences: i.e. repeater capability,

propagation, environment, interface, capability to add mobile, etc,– Data rates of ~9.6 kbps to 100 kbps– Some risk for spectrum “overuse” interference (i.e many users

sharing spectrum)

Appropriate for many utility automation programs



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2.5G Cellular Packet

• May eventually displace older cellular technologies• Shared channels with other users• ~40 – 80 kbps• Internet-protocol based• Turned on in US in 2002• GSM offers General Packet Radio Service (GPRS)

– Cingular and AT&T• CDMA offers 1xRTT

– Verizon and Sprint• Available in major US markets. No current plans for rural

introduction• Early in the product maturity cycle. Not aware of any utilities

using for telemetry purposes. Very appropriate for mobile data

1x: single channel

GSM: Global System for Mobile Communications

CDMA: Code Division Multiple Access

RTT: Radio Transmission Technology

1x: single channel

GSM: Global System for Mobile Communications

CDMA: Code Division Multiple Access

RTT: Radio Transmission Technology

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iDEN

• Integrated Dispatch Enhanced Network • Special case of SMR• Nextel offers public digital cellular service in SMR bands

– Similar to TDMA cellular. Proprietary Motorola technology• Business oriented• Unique voice feature: includes both private “walkie-talkie”

mode and PSTN interconnect• Private systems also available

– Large investment suitable only for large systems• ~20 kbps data

PSTN: Public Switched Telephone Network

SMR: Specialized Mobile Radio

TDMA: Time Division Multiple Access

PSTN: Public Switched Telephone Network

SMR: Specialized Mobile Radio




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Medium Rate Recap• 10 kbps to ~100 kbps• Circuit and packet-based systems• Third party carriers and private systems• Trend toward 2.5G cellular• Private systems provide control, and coverage

No recurring fees, upfront infrastructure costs

GoodExcellentLicensed VHF/UHF -Data Only


ExcellentFairUnlicensed Spread Spectrum


Poor-GoodExcellentLicensed VHF/UHF (shared voice/data)

Recurring fees (med)ExcellentFair → Good2.5G Packet Services

LatencyThroughput

CostCoverage/ AvailabilityTechnology Type

Good choices for many situations

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High Rate Systems

• Over 100 kbps• Including

– GEO VSAT Broadband Satellite – 802.11 b– Broadband Power Line Carrier

GEO: Geosynchronous Earth Orbit

Kbps: kilobits per second

802.11 b: IEEE standard protocol

GEO: Geosynchronous Earth Orbit

Kbps: kilobits per second

802.11 b: IEEE standard protocol

When you need to move serious data …

Created by John T. Moring



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Geosynchronous Satellites

• Introduced in late 2002• VSAT: Generic term for general-purpose commercial satellite

systems– ~500,000 deployed– Becoming technology of choice for difficult to reach substations– Data rates of 30 kbps to 100 kbps– Latency of 2 to 6 seconds for SCADA type data– Price points of ~$200/month

• Alternative to T-1 or fractional T-1– Dedicated channels 9.6, 19.2 ~2 Mbps point to point, point to multipoint

T-1: 1536 kbps



T-1: 1536 kbps



Prices dropping

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Unlicensed Fixed Systems

• 802.11b– Some based on IEEE 802.11 standards– 802.11b can be used with <$100 Wi-Fi modem– Common use: Wireless LAN access– Typical indoor range 150 feet, outdoor range

1,500 feet– Operates in unlicensed 2.4 GHz spectrum– ~1 to 10 Mbps– Easy to set up and use for private links– Subject to interference in shared bands

GHz: gigahertz

IEEE: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

GHz: gigahertz

IEEE: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Large growth trend for Campus Environment



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Broadband - Power Line Carrier

• Broadband Power Line Carrier technology pumps high-speed voice and data through the electric lines. Competes with cooper, cable and wireless technologies– Competitor of DSL, cable modem and high-speed wireless Internet

technology– Provides capability for electric utility to sell (1) wholesale access to ISPs (2)

retail broadband Internet product offering– Considered a “last-mile” technology: substation to homes. Having fiber or

high-speed network to substations is a must– About 12 utility pilot introductions in place– Second Tier Vendors

• Main.net• Amperion• Ambient• Current technologies

Early Development Phase - Trials

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Broadband - Power Line Carrier –Continued

• ~1 to 10 Mbps. Shared bandwidth (like cable modem technology)• Some vendors offer interface to 802.11 b Wi-Fi (wireless Ethernet) home

networks• Grid Independence – can be seamlessly deployed in low and medium

voltage distribution networks• Challenges

– Lack of prior success– No major technology players – Tough competition – Telcos and Cable Companies

• Opportunities– Lower infrastructure costs than DSL and cable modem technology– Electric utilities can sell as wholesale access to ISPs– Potential market in rural or secondary markets



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High Rate Recap

• Over 100 kbps• Private or unlicensed• Owned or third-party• Proprietary or open• Radio or Terrestrial

ExcellentPoor802.11b (Wi-Fi)ExcellentExcellentBroadband – Power

Line Carrier

ExcellentExcellentGEO Satellite (VSAT)

LatencyCoverage/ Availability

Technology

Often overkill for monitoring telemetry applications

Created by John T. Moring


New Telecommunications Media Alternatives for Utility Automation

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