Case Studies Dairyland Power Optimizes Communications with FreeWave Wireless M2M Solutions

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	Dairyland Power Optimizes Communications with FreeWave Wireless M2M Solutions

Dairyland Power Optimizes Communications with FreeWave Wireless M2M Solutions

Technology Category	Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems Networks & Connectivity - Wireless Local Area Network
Applicable Industries	Utilities
Applicable Functions	Facility Management Maintenance
Use Cases	Energy Management System Predictive Maintenance Remote Asset Management
Services	System Integration Training
Challenge	In 2000, Dairyland identified the need for a M2M communications system to monitor critical field data and streamline power delivery. At the time, wireless M2M communications in the utilities industry was a relatively new concept, and Dairyland’s existing infrastructure was complicated, expensive, inefficient, and cobbled together offerings from about 30 different technology providers. Specifically, Dairyland needed an integrated M2M solution tailored to meet the needs of electric power distributors that enabled high-speed, reliable, and cost-efficient communications in remote locations under harsh weather conditions and line-of-sight challenges from hilly terrain. Read More
About Customer	Dairyland Power, an electric power cooperative based in La Crosse, WI, services more than 600,000 customers within a 45,000-square-mile area in four Midwestern states (Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois). The cooperative primarily serves rural homes and farms, providing wholesale electricity to 25 member distribution cooperatives and 17 municipal utilities. Dairyland is committed to delivering exceptionally reliable energy and services to its customers at competitive prices, aiming to exceed its members’ expectations. Read More
Solution	Dairyland Power learned about FreeWave Technologies and started with a small installation of FreeWave’s FGR series radios to test before purchasing the entire system. After conducting a distribution automation study that compared various types of communications technologies operating in similar environments, Dairyland made the decision to implement the FGR series radios exclusively across its distribution network. During the study, Dairyland found that while other equipment similar to FreeWave was reliable, it lacked the required internal system performance. After deployment, the FGR wireless network performed to Dairyland’s expectations and FreeWave radios eventually replaced the majority of its former technology (lead circuits, analog cell phones, etc.). This upgrade to FreeWave’s wireless industrial M2M solutions helped Dairyland achieve real-time data collection and full system integration across its network. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems

Networks & Connectivity - Wireless Local Area Network

Applicable Industries

Utilities

Applicable Functions

Facility Management

Maintenance

Use Cases

Energy Management System

Predictive Maintenance

Remote Asset Management

Services

System Integration

Training

Challenge

In 2000, Dairyland identified the need for a M2M communications system to monitor critical field data and streamline power delivery. At the time, wireless M2M communications in the utilities industry was a relatively new concept, and Dairyland’s existing infrastructure was complicated, expensive, inefficient, and cobbled together offerings from about 30 different technology providers. Specifically, Dairyland needed an integrated M2M solution tailored to meet the needs of electric power distributors that enabled high-speed, reliable, and cost-efficient communications in remote locations under harsh weather conditions and line-of-sight challenges from hilly terrain.

About Customer

Dairyland Power, an electric power cooperative based in La Crosse, WI, services more than 600,000 customers within a 45,000-square-mile area in four Midwestern states (Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, and Illinois). The cooperative primarily serves rural homes and farms, providing wholesale electricity to 25 member distribution cooperatives and 17 municipal utilities. Dairyland is committed to delivering exceptionally reliable energy and services to its customers at competitive prices, aiming to exceed its members’ expectations.

Solution

Dairyland Power learned about FreeWave Technologies and started with a small installation of FreeWave’s FGR series radios to test before purchasing the entire system. After conducting a distribution automation study that compared various types of communications technologies operating in similar environments, Dairyland made the decision to implement the FGR series radios exclusively across its distribution network. During the study, Dairyland found that while other equipment similar to FreeWave was reliable, it lacked the required internal system performance. After deployment, the FGR wireless network performed to Dairyland’s expectations and FreeWave radios eventually replaced the majority of its former technology (lead circuits, analog cell phones, etc.). This upgrade to FreeWave’s wireless industrial M2M solutions helped Dairyland achieve real-time data collection and full system integration across its network.

Impact #1	Consolidated disparate, inefficient, and expensive former system into an integrated, fast, reliable wireless FreeWave M2M communications network.
Impact #2	Improved network performance and overall data communications reliability using FreeWave’s FGR series radios.
Impact #3	Added FreeWave’s HTPlus Ethernet solutions for industrial grade, high-speed Ethernet communications tailored to harsh environments and noisy RF conditions.

Impact #1

Consolidated disparate, inefficient, and expensive former system into an integrated, fast, reliable wireless FreeWave M2M communications network.

Impact #2

Improved network performance and overall data communications reliability using FreeWave’s FGR series radios.

Impact #3

Added FreeWave’s HTPlus Ethernet solutions for industrial grade, high-speed Ethernet communications tailored to harsh environments and noisy RF conditions.

Benefit #1	Services more than 600,000 customers within a 45,000-square-mile area.
Benefit #2	Provides wholesale electricity to 25 member distribution cooperatives and 17 municipal utilities.

Benefit #1

Services more than 600,000 customers within a 45,000-square-mile area.

Benefit #2

Provides wholesale electricity to 25 member distribution cooperatives and 17 municipal utilities.

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Overview

Dairyland Power Optimizes Communications with FreeWave Wireless M2M Solutions

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit