RG3 Meter Company. AMR Software Solutions. Operation and Procedure Manual. for. Field Meter Reading.

Transcription

1 RG3 Meter Company AMR Software Solutions Operation and Procedure Manual for Field Meter Reading

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS I Import Data from Billing System to AMRSS Server Software Pg 3 II Mobile Device Hardware Installation Pg 7 III IV Mobile Device Route Mode Read Setup Pg 8 Downloading a Route to Mobile Device Pg 10 V Route Mode Meter Reading Pg 12 VI Searching for Individual Accounts Pg 14 VII Map Mode Pg 15 VIII Data Logging Pg 19 IX Reports, Grouping Meters, Delete, Restore, & Saving Routes Pg 26 X Options Advanced Tab Pg 32 XI Uploading Route Data Back to Route Server Software Pg 35 XII Tesla II Communicator Pg 37 2

3 I. Import Data from Billing System to AMRSS Server Software Step 1 - Power on billing work station computer (in office) Step 2 - Perform functions as outlined by your billing software provider to create the billing output file for AMR reading. If you are unfamiliar with this process contact your billing software provider. Step 3 - Open RG3 AMRSS Server Icon on Desktop When the RG3 AMRSS Server Software is opened a User ID window will appear requiring a Password. 3

4 Click Import to import the customer information from the billing system. The system automatically finds and analyzes the billing output file and displays how many routes and meters will be imported. Click the Import button to import data. 4

5 A notification window will appear once all the data has been imported. Click OK. After the data has been imported click the Close button to close the route import window. 5

6 You can now view the customer data in the route software. The routes are now ready to be transferred into the mobile device (laptop) for meter reading. Once the routes are ready to be transferred into the mobile device (laptop) for meter reading, you can close the software, it does not need to be open for the laptop to retrieve the data. 6

7 II. Mobile Device Hardware Installation Necessary Materials: Tesla Receiver w/ Cord, Laptop with current edition of RG3 Software Step 1 - Attach antenna to coax on Tesla Receiver Step 2 - Take the cord for your receiver and connect the USB end into the USB port on the laptop. It is helpful to remember which port you have chosen and only use that port in the future. Step 3 - Connect the alternate end of your receiver cord into the port located beside the antenna coax. 7

8 III. Mobile Device Route Mode Read Setup Step 1 - Power on reading mobile device (laptop) Step 2 - Open RG3 AMRSS Software Icon on Desktop Step 3 - When the RG3 Software is opened a User ID window will appear requiring a pass code. All technicians will need to enter ADMIN in this field in order to make the software functions accessible and will allow them to make any changes in data. 8

9 Now you are in your route mode. This is where all customer information can be uploaded, downloaded, categorized, and edited. The main screen is divided into two sections. The left section shows the cycles and routes currently loaded onto the software. The right section shows the information for each customer. 9

10 IV. Download a Route to Mobile Device Downloading a route imports data from the billing system on your server computer to the route software on the mobile device (laptop). Select the Snd/Rcv (Send/Receive) button located on the far left of the toolbar. Once selected the Send / Receive window will appear which is split into two sections. In the left section are the routes currently on your PC and in the right are the routes currently on the server. In order to read a route(s) you will need to move them from the server to your mobile device. To move them you will need to single click the box to the left of the desired route then select Continue. (Note: All route transfers require an internet connection.) 10

11 After selecting Continue all route information will be retrieved and immediately formatted onto both the left and right sections of your main screen. Once all desired routes are loaded onto the left section of your main screen they are now ready to be read. The format starts with cycles that break down into routes. A single click on each route name will allow you to view all customer information that exists within said route. 11

12 V. Route Mode Meter Reading You are now ready to start reading. Select the route you want to read and simply select the Green Start button on your toolbar with a SINGLE click. Once the Start button has been selected it will start the reading sequence between the Tesla receiver and every Tesla register in range. The Green Start button will turn into a Red Stop button. This portion of the operation is hands-free. As each meter is read all of the usage information will appear beside the correlating customer on the route screen. On the far left will appear a symbol that will categorize each meter based upon a comparison between that customer s average use against their current usage. There is a legend of these symbols and their significance located on the Help drop down menu. 12

13 Icon Legend A Failed Audit symbol is simply an indication of usage that is higher or lower than the average use parameters supplied by the billing provider. A Trouble Code however indicates one of three results. There is either a leak, the meter has been tampered with, or it has experienced backflow. At any point you need to stop the reading process simply select the Red Stop button on the toolbar with a SINGLE click. 13

14 VI. Searching for Individual Accounts In order to search for any particular meter number, account number, name, or address you need to first locate the Find Button on the toolbar and select it. Once selected the Find box will appear. From the Where to Look drop down menu, select the type of information you want to find. Now select the Find button located in the top right. 14

15 VII. Map Mode In the AMRSS Mobile software there is a Maps option that will allow you to access the Map Mode. This is a feature that allows users to read meters while viewing an aerial map of their water system. Also, they will have the capability of monitoring their vehicle s movement throughout their system as they read via GPS. To initiate this feature find and select the Maps option on the toolbar. When your maps have loaded you will be able to see all of your meters that have a recorded GPS location. 15

16 Adding GPS Coordinates to a Meter - If you have not entered latitude and longitude coordinates during installation, you can use Map Mode to capture a meter s GPS coordinates by clicking on Info Mode. Once in Info Mode simply right-click on the location of the meter on your map and a window will appear asking you if you would like to Place Meter Here or Place Image Here, just select the first option for now. A window titled Add Meter to Map will open. Find the correlating customer data for the location you had previously selected and double click. 16

17 This will associate the account information with the location and plot it on your map as a dot. Roaming GPS - To view where you are in relation to the map, click on the GPS button. The yellow truck will turn to red showing that GPS has been enabled and you will see yourself on the map. 17

18 Measure Mode This function allows the user to calculate distances between two points. To use this feature, click on the Measure Mode button. Once Measure Mode has been selected, left click on the place you want to start and then left click on the place you want to calculate distance to. Find Mode This feature allows you to search for any value. 18

19 VIII. Data Logging Data Logging allows you to view the exact figures that reflect the amount of water flow through a meter on a monthly, daily, and even an hourly basis. To start this application you must first select the customer s account you are looking to examine. This is done with a single click on their account, which will highlight the data. Once the account has been selected simply find the Data Chart symbol on the tool bar and select it. (Note: This operation is functional only when Tesla Receiver is within reading range of selected register.) Once selected the Consumption Audit window will appear. This window reveals your meter data, but more importantly it offers a field titled Days to Ask For. In this field enter the amount of days you wish to acquire usage data. For example, if an amount of 30 is entered you will be given data for the 30 days prior to the date in which the data log is taking place. Usage information for a single location can be retrieved for any length of time up to but not exceeding 120 days. After selecting your targeted period of time select the Start option. 19

20 Following the Start sequence the program will start retrieving data from the register in the form of Packets. Each register will have a maximum of 407 Datalog Packets of 8 meter readings it will require in order to comprise the spreadsheets and charts you are requesting. Upon completion of Data Logging a window will appear simply asking if you would like to view the charted data. Select Yes to continue. 20

21 Monthly Consumption Chart: The first graph breaks down the customer s water usage by month. To view the over-all consumption for a certain month simply move your cursor over the blue-shaded area directly above that month and a window will appear that will provide the exact value. 21

22 Daily Consumption Chart: In order to break down a month s consumption into daily usage values, a single click on the blue-shaded area above the month you are looking to investigate will open the Daily Chart. In order to look at exact usage values for any day simply move your curser over the blue-shaded area for that correlating date. 22

23 Hourly Consumption Chart: Breaking down the Daily Chart into the Hourly Chart is done with a single click on the blue-shaded area directly above the day you are looking to examine. In order to look at exact usage values for any hour simply move your curser over the blue-shaded area for that correlating time. 23

24 Consumption Report: Another format used to view the hourly consumption values can be found when looking at the Daily Consumption Chart. First select the File tab and locate Create Consumption Report Option. By selecting this option the data will be reformatted into a customized report and will be presented immediately. 24

25 Datalog Archive Procedure Cheat Sheet 1. Click on Start button on the bottom left of screen 2. Click on My Computer or Computer 3. Double click on C drive 4. Double click on AMRSS 5. Double click on Client 6. Double click on Charts 7. On the key board hold the Control button (don t let go of the button) while you click on each chart that you wish to archive 8. On the key board, press Control and X at the same time 9. Click on the back arrow located at the top left of the screen 10. Double click on the Back Up folder 11. On the key board, press Control and V at the same time 25

26 IX. Reports, Grouping Meters, Delete, Restore, & Saving Routes Reports: At times it can be a bit tedious when trying to find a certain group of customers by just scrolling up and down the route screen. Instead there is an easier way to group customers. First find the route with the information you are trying to group and right-click on it. This will bring up a menu and by simply moving your curser over the title Reports it will open up a secondary menu containing all of the types of reports you can use to categorize your customer data. 26

27 (Ex.) Let s say you were finishing a meter read and you wanted a list of all of your unread meters. All you would have to do is simply select that option on the menu located on the previous page. A Select Report Format window will appear and you will have the choice between printing or just previewing the report. Select Continue after choosing your format and a report will be configured and presented to you automatically. Three different options are available to use for printing reports. 1. HTML 2. EXCEL 3. TEXT HTML is normally the way you would print a report, but the EXCEL format is useful when you wish to modify the report to make additional notes before printing. The TEXT format has also been supplied if you do not have Excel installed. This would allow you to modify and print the report as well. 27

28 The Following Reports are Available - Unread Meters: This report show all meters that have not been read. - Read Meters: This report shows all meters that have been read. - Trouble Meters: This report shows all meters that have a trouble code. Possible trouble codes are Meter not responding, Battery Low, Date/Time out of tolerance, Tamper Detection. - Low Consumption Meters: This report shows all meters that have a consumption lower than expected. You are prompted to enter the cutoff value for this report before it runs. - High Consumption Meters: This report shows all meters that have a consumption higher than expected. You are prompted to enter the cutoff value for this report before it runs. - Failed Audit: This report shows all meters that have failed audit. - GPS Report: This report displays Longitude / Latitude information. - Battery Report: This report shows the current battery usage for all Tesla Registers that have been read. - List All Meters (Short Version): This report is a condensed version of all meters in the route. - List All Meters (Long Version): This report shows all meters and all information for the selected route. 28

29 By selecting a route and right-clicking, a menu will appear that contains more options regarding routes. You can group your meters by street names, delete routes, and adjust route properties. Group By Streets: This feature allows you to break down all customers within a route and group them according to their street name. This is useful when checking if all of the meters on a certain street have been read, especially when the route order crosses from one street to the next. Delete Route: This feature is used simply for eliminating a route and its content from the main screen. Be careful that all information has been saved before deleting a route because once deleted the data cannot then be retrieved. 29

30 Saving a Route: To save a route you must send it to the server and then back to the mobile device using the same type of procedure we used to acquire the route. (Section III, Uploading a Route ). The difference is the route s location will be in the left sector of the Send / Receive window. Simply select the box adjacent to the route you desire to save and click Continue. This will send all route data to the server. In order to retrieve the route back to the mobile device select the box adjacent to the route as before and select Continue again. After the route data has been transferred back and forth from the mobile device to the server and back again to the mobile device, all of its information has been dated and saved. It can now be accessed at any time for uses including the continuance of a read or for reference of previous data. (Note: All route transfers require an internet connection.) Restoring a Route: In order to restore an old route first you must select the Actions tab. A menu will appear and the fifth option down will be labeled Restore Route, select it. 30

31 Once selected the Restore Route window will appear. This window allows you to see all routes that are currently stored. The routes are sub-divided into 4 fields of description including cycle number, route number, date/time, and the total number of meters that exist in that route. Choose the route you wish to restore and then simply select the box adjacent to it. Lastly, select the restore button located at the top right of the window and the route along with its content will appear onto the main screen. 31

32 X. Options Advanced Tab This category is subdivided into three sections. To get started select the Options button from the toolbar. Once selected the Options menu will appear and defaults onto the Server Setup tab. Server Setup: These settings configured at the time of initial installation and should not be changed except by AMRSS Certified Technician 32

33 GPS Options: This tab serves two purposes. - You can refer here to check which Com Port your GPS unit is currently transferring data through. This is a trouble shooting measure used when the operator can not remember which Com Port was used the last time the system was read. It is highly recommended to designate one Com Port to use for the Tesla receiver and use that same Com Port it every time. - You can set your default city and state so that each time you enter Map Mode your screen will be positioned over the selected area. 33

34 Advanced: This tab serves multiple purposes. Most of the functions available on this screen should only be used by AMRSS Certified Technicians or RG3 support staff. However, the Allow New Meters function can be useful in the field. - Allow New Meters will tell the Tesla receiver to read EVERY meter within range, not just meters in the route(s) downloaded to the mobile device. There is a box you can check beside a title Allow New Meters. This is a trouble shooting measure only. 34

35 Allow New Meters will read every Tesla register anywhere in range without regard to route or association. The function is helpful to determine if meter data has been entered in the billing software incorrectly, or if the register has been married with incorrect parameters such as an incorrect meter ID, and is not recognized on a route you are trying to read. If you receive readings for more meters than are in your route, it might indicate that a meter in your system is not associated correctly. To know for sure, re-marry the register in question using the correct meter ID and other parameters. The meter will then be associated with the route and read normally. XI. Uploading Route Data Back to Route Server Software Uploading a route imports data from the mobile device (laptop) back to the Server software on the billing work station computer and into your billing system. To send the meter reading data back to the Route Server Software click the Snd/Rcv button. 35

36 The routes will be listed on the left hand side of the window. Click the boxes next to each route you wish to send to the Route Server and then click Continue. The route will automatically clear from the Mobile Reading software once all the data has been sent to the Route Server. 36

37 You may now close the software. XII. Tesla II Communicator The Tesla II Communicator (T2C) is a separate program from the AMRSS route software. It can be used completely independently of the AMRSS route software and vise versa. The T2C is the program used to marry a Tesla register to a meter body so that it will operate in your system. This process must be followed whenever a register is replaced on a meter body because it configures settings specific to a meter manufacturer, model, and size. 37

38 Once the Tesla register is married to a specific meter body, the meter serial number becomes a part of the Tesla register, and the register ID is not required to be stored in the customer s system. The meter body serial number is now the unique identifier in the system. Accessing Tesla II Communicator: Before opening the Tesla II Communicator (T2C) program, make sure the Tesla Receiver is connected as discussed in section I. Hardware Installation. Open the Tesla II Communicator Program. Find the icon on your desktop and double-click. The program will open with a window that is titled Select Communicator. In this window there are going to be four fields, although they are all accessible the option entitled Configure Registers via RF will be the ONLY option you will use. 38

39 Once Configure Registers via RF opens you will need to set your Com Port. Find the field labeled Com Port and select the drop down menu. Choose the last Com Port on the list. When your Com Port is selected the next step is to connect with the receiver. Click the Connect button located directly to the left of the Com Port field. When the connection between the T2C program and the Tesla receiver is successful, you will see Com (port # you are using) Connected at the bottom left of the screen and IW:3 will appear in the text box. 39

40 Next, click on Customer File A window will open with all of the customer configuration files for all of the manufacturers, models, and sizes of meters in your system. Select the customer file that matches the meter you are installing the register on. Example: Double click on the file you want and the window will automatically close. 40

41 A verification window will pop up to make you confirm your choice. The name of the file you chose will be listed at the bottom of the screen beside Configuration Information. Next click the Marry Register button. A window will pop up prompting you to enter the register ID serial number and the meter ID serial number. The register ID serial number is located on side of register as seen below. 41

42 The meter ID serial number is located on the meter body as seen below. The meter ID number must be entered identically to what is entered into the billing system software. If these numbers do not match perfectly, the receiver will be looking for a ghost meter that only exists in the billing software and no read will be reported for the register. If you wish to pre-program a meter reading other than 0, click the Options menu at the top left of the screen and select Manually Set Meter Reading. 42

43 If the Manually Set Meter Reading option has been selected, you will be prompted to enter the meter reading, the meter ID, and register ID when you click Marry Register. This Meter Reading entry must be ten digits. It is key to remember that the final two digits represent the tenths and hundredths of a gallon so they will normally just be zeros. For example, if you were going to enter a reading of one gallon you would enter When the register has been configured successfully, all the parameters will be filled in and the green Register Configuration will appear. 43

44 If a red Verify Failed appears, click OK and marry the register again. 44

45 Retrofit / Register Replacement Operation Cheat Sheet 1. Plug in receiver (USB plug) making sure antenna is on receiver 2. Double click on the Tesla II Communicators 3. Click on Configure Registers via RF 4. Choose Com Port (typically last choice on the list) 5. Click Connect 6. Click Customer File 7. Choose and click on proper file for meter you are marrying register to. 8. Click OK to confirm choice of customer file 9. If you want to enter a specific meter read click Options and then click Manually Set Meter Read otherwise meter will be set to zero; if zero is desired skip this step 10. Click Marry Register 11. Enter register ID (register serial number) 12. Enter Meter ID (meter serial number) 13. If you chose to enter a specific meter read, enter it now 14. Click OK 15. If you see Register Configuration (green box) you are done 16. If you see Verify Failed (red box) then start over at step 9 45

46 Copyright Notice and Disclaimer Users Manual All rights reserved. No parts of this manual may be reproduced in any form without the express written permission of RG3 meter Company. All information contained herein is subject to change, but whenever such changes are made each customer will be provided notification accordingly. Every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this manual. Nevertheless, RG3 Meter Company assumes no responsibility for errors or any damages resulting from the use of the information contained in this publication. All other trademarks belong to their respective owners. For Technical Support, please call (903) RG3 Meter Company 2912 S Access Rd Longview, TX