FlexNet 101 Flashcards
(59 cards)
What is FlexNet?
A private radio network that lets a utility “talk” to its meters and sensors and listen back, so data flows both ways.
Name the three big building blocks of a FlexNet system.
1) Smart meters/sensors in the field, 2) Tall radio base stations that pick up their signals, 3) A head‑end server (RNI) that stores data and runs apps.
What job do the meters and sensors do?
They measure things like water, gas, or electric use and send that info over the air.
What job does a FlexNet base station do?
It’s the giant antenna that hears all nearby meters and forwards their data to the utility’s data center.
What does the RNI (Regional Network Interface) do?
It’s the cloud or server that collects every message, removes duplicates, keeps it secure, and passes data to billing or analytics.
Why does FlexNet use licensed (private) airwaves instead of Wi‑Fi‑like unlicensed bands?
Because nobody else is allowed on that channel, so there’s far less interference and longer range.
Roughly how far can one base station reach in a city? In open country?
About 3‑5 miles in a city and 10‑15+ miles in rural areas (varies with terrain).
Name two everyday utility tasks FlexNet supports.
Automatic meter reads and outage or leak alerts (plus many others like remote disconnect or street‑light control).
What is the main security feature that keeps FlexNet messages private?
AES‑256 encryption—industry‑standard strong scrambling of every message.
Besides encryption, give one more security layer FlexNet adds.
User log‑ins with strict roles and an always‑on firewall in the head‑end.
What does ‘two‑way’ mean in AMI networks like FlexNet?
Meters can send data AND receive commands, so the utility can change settings or ping a meter on demand.
What’s the everyday benefit of using private spectrum for customers?
Fewer missed reads and higher reliability—up near 99 % success.
Name one FlexNet transmit mode and what it’s for.
‘Supervisory’—the normal heartbeat that sends routine usage data on a schedule.
Which mode is designed to punch through tough spots like underground pits?
‘Boost’ mode—stronger signal so the message still reaches a base station.
Which mode fires when the head‑end asks a meter a question right now?
‘Poll/Response’ mode.
Which mode screams, “Something’s wrong—power loss or tamper!”?
‘Alarm’ mode.
What clever trick is ‘buddy routing’?
A far‑away meter can hop its data through a closer neighbor if the direct path is weak.
What does the nickname ‘All Paths Always’ tell you about FlexNet design?
Any base station in earshot can grab a message, so there’s no single point of failure.
Explain FlexNet managed services in one sentence.
If a utility doesn’t want to own servers or radios, Sensus can run the network as a service for a fee.
Give one quick reason utilities pick a managed service model.
Lower IT burden—Sensus handles patches, monitoring, and hardware replacements.
What’s the difference between AMS and SaaS from Sensus?
AMS: utility owns hardware, Sensus runs software. SaaS: Sensus owns and hosts everything, utility just uses it.
Why does using tall towers matter for FlexNet?
Height gives clear line‑of‑sight, so one tower can hear thousands of meters even over hills or trees.
What does ‘payload agnostic’ mean?
The network doesn’t care what the data is—water reads, gas pressure, or grid status—all bits are treated the same.
How does the head‑end avoid filling the database with copies of the same message?
It de‑duplicates—keeps the first good packet and throws away extras from other towers.
