Developing a Smart Antenna Strategy for T&D Assets
I recently stumbled onto an interesting article published by Power Grid International that touts the virtues of a so-called “smart antenna strategy” for electric utilities. I’ve never heard this phrase before, and as a technology geek, let’s just say it piqued my interest!
What is a Smart Antenna Strategy for T&D Assets?
According to the article’s author, the foundation for a smart antenna strategy is Internet of Things (IoT) technology. Already, billions of wireless devices are playing a critical role for utilities in all sectors, forming a new digital infrastructure that has helped improve maintenance, safety, and predictive capabilities in just a short period of time.
But these devices need connectivity. Whether at home or within the context of utility operations, these IoT devices rely on antennas to connect to the internet, and therefore optimizing this antenna-driven connectivity is critical. And this is where a smart antenna strategy comes into play.
Simply put, a smart antenna strategy means optimizing the ability of utility IoT devices to connect, gather data and execute directives. However, there are some challenges to doing this when it comes to T&D. Below is an abbreviated list (check out the article for more information).
- T&D infrastructure contains a lot of metal, and metal can disrupt an antenna’s ability to work properly by altering Radio Frequency (RF) dynamics. To solve this, use antennas that are designed to overcome RF issues, and test them in the real-world post-install to validate that they are working properly.
- T&D infrastructure is exposed to the elements, something that can work against the functionality of an antenna. Luckily, some antennas are made more “rugged” than others in order to withstand these challenges.
- The data sheets accompanying antennas must be validated because they are often created in idealized environments or might even emphasize cherry-picked data. For this reason, only work with an antenna provider that learns and understands where the antennas will be placed, their RF ratings, etc.
- Be aware that multiple wireless technologies exist (Wi-Fi, GPS, cellular, LoRaWAN, etc.), so a best practice is to utilize multiple versions of antennas to support each type of wireless technology.
- Although there are thousands of out-of-the-box antennas in the market, sometimes a solution specifically customized for your company is the best bet.
There you have it – a quick primer on how to develop an effective smart antenna strategy. Good luck!
