Experimental systems for tele-reading over the low voltage network

The authors describe a number of mains-borne metering systems and experiments, which have been key projects in an international research effort. This has involved collaboration with a number of academic establishments and distribution companies. The authors determine the characteristics required of software and hardware systems. The result of extensive research is a number of large networks throughout Europe. There is also a network of intelligent meters that can be configured as a portable vehicle for measurement studies of, line time domain noise intensity, communications efficiency and many other statistical parameters. Early studies of spread spectrum experiments and differential phase shift keying (DPSK) are reported, as these assisted in defining the development of a later system