Itron NIC45 User Manual

Understanding Silver Spring
Networks Access Points

Silver Spring Networks
555 Broadway Street
Redwood City, CA 94063

www.silverspringnet.com

Understanding Silver Spring Networks Access Points

Please consider the environment before printing this document.

Copyright © 2013 Silver Spring Networks, Inc. All rights reserved.

®

The Silver Spring Networks logo, UtilityIQ

, and UtilOS® are registered trademarks of Silver S pri ng Networks, Inc.

GridScape™, CustomerIQ™, and Direct-to-Grid™ are trademarks of Silver Spring Networks, Inc.
All other company and product names are used for identification purposes only an d may be registered tr ademarks,

trademarks, or service marks of their respective owners.

Revisions

Number Date Revision

3 January 2013 Updated NIC 40 references to NIC 45, data rate for 900-MHz

communications in Table 1, information in the sample FCC ID label, and
changed references to DRM to HCM.

2 December

2012

Added FCC and Government Guidelines section, revised EU regulatory
information. Added 2.4 GHz to Specifications. Updated standards
compliance specifications and corrected voltage range information.

1 10 Aug 2012 Updated supported frequencies for Luxembourg, United Kingdom, Portugal,

and New Zealand; added EU regulatory information.

Customer Support

Country Email Telephone Hours

Australia [e-mail] 1300 706 769 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM

Australia Eastern Time

Canada [e-mail] Toll free:

1-888-SSN-9876

(1-888-776-9876)
Worldwide [phone]
Contact us on the Web http://www.silverspringnet.com/services/customer-support.html

5:00 AM - 6:00 PM
US Pacific TimeUnited States

Understanding Silver Spring Networks Access Points Rev 3 22 January 2013 Silver Spring Networks 2

Understanding Silver Spring Networks Access Points Contents

Content s

1. About Access Points. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Overview. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

AP Product Description . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Battery Backups . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Read Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Power Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Rebooting or Recycling APs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Standards Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Cellular Modem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Addressing Schemes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

European Union Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Maintenance Procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Surge Protection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Redundant WAN Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Mounting Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

WAN Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Throughput Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Responding to a WAN Failure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Multicast / Unicast Communications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Networking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Address Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Administration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

2. FCC and Government Guidelines. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

FCC Guidelines for Devices Containing a Transmitter Module . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

External Antenna Integration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

General Electrical Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Fall Protection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Shock Accident First Aid. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Understanding Silver Spring Networks Access Points Rev 3 22 January 2013 Silver Spring Networks 3

Understanding Silver Spring Networks Access Points 1 About Access Points

1 About Access Points

Overview

The Silver Spring Access Point (AP) provides the central link between endpoint devices and
network control and monitoring. It is the connectivity between intelligent endpoints and the
utility’s back office. Its flexible communication features extend the reach and coverage of the
network to thousands of customer premises, through scalability that lowers ownership costs.
Since it has a backup battery, the AP can reliably route scheduled read and management
tasks, even during an outage. Figure 1 illustrates how APs connect endpoints to the utility
back office (UtilityIQ data centers).

Figure 1. The AP in the network

The Access Point can be mounted on power poles or street lamps. All outbound
communications (requests for data) pass through the AP. All inbound data packets (data,
alarms) pass through the AP.

The AP can serve as the take-out point for network management traffic in a stand-alone
communication network (or also for Advanced Metering Infrastructure—AMI, Distribution
Automation—DA, or HAN Communications Manager (HCM)—HCM traffic in a joint
AMI/DA/HCM installation). In certain cases, the AP can be the take-out point for traffic.

It is worth noting that the Silver Spring architecture differs from most others in that the AP is
not what utility companies typically call a collector or concentrator—it is a router. This
means that memory limits and data vulnerability issues typical of “collector” architecture are
eliminated resulting in a more robust, scalable, simpler and higher performance network.

The Access Point comes with a 902-928 MHz-based radio Neighborhood Area Network (or
NAN) interface which can be configured with any cellular technology (for example, Code

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Understanding Silver Spring Networks Access Points 1 About Access Points

Division Multiple Access, Long Term Evolution, High Speed Packet Access, single carrier

Radio Transmission Technology) Wide Area Network (WAN) interface, or with a 10/100

Ethernet interface. The Access Point provides a method for implementing the last mile utility
information and control network.

Features

The features of the Silver Spring Access Point are:

• Full two-way, 870-876 and 902-928 MHz FHSS

• One-watt transmitter

• Dynamic network discovery and self healing

• Robust security from the endpoint through to the wide area network

• “Over-the-air” network firmware upgrades

• Sophisticated routing functions ensure multiple paths to each endpoint

• Automated scheduling and network management tasks

• Long-reach, multi-hop networks, providing high endpoint-to-Access Point deployment

ratios

• Weather-resistant outdoor enclosure, for longer life and greater durability

• Battery backup option (highly recommended) for fault-tolerant operation

AP Product Description

The types of APs available are:

Cellular APs, Satellite APs, Pad-mount APs, and Ethernet APs. The Ethernet APs can be
configured with 10/100BaseT, and Fiber interfaces.

Cellular and Ethernet Access Points are shipped pre-configured. For cellular Access Points,
Silver Spring will work with the chosen cellular provider to facilitate Access Point turn-up.
For Ethernet Access Points, Silver Spring will work with the client on IP addressing to allow
Silver Spring to pre-configure field devices for quick field implementation.

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Understanding Silver Spring Networks Access Points 1 About Access Points

Cellular antenna

Power
connector

NAN antenna

Figure 2 shows an Ethernet AP.

Figure 2. Silver Spring Networks Access Point (AP)

Battery Backups

APs can be configured with battery backups. In the event of a power failure, the battery
backup can provide continuous operation for at least eight hours.

Silver Spring Networks suggests as a best practice, a battery backup within the Access Point.
When operating on battery backup, Access Points maintain full operational features. The
Infrastructure Battery Pack (IBP) uses sealed lead-acid battery technology, which will deliver
energy over a -40 to +85C temperature range. Silver Spring operates the Infrastructure
Battery Pack on a float (that is, the usage model is defined as long periods of topped-off
charge states followed by sporadic deep discharge events (outage events).

UtilityIQ
severity from informational (for example, export job succeeded) to warning (for example, the
gap filler has started running because an interval gap was detected), to error (for example,
the DC Detection flag on the meter was set), to emergency. These include an alarm when the
backup battery on an Access Point is critically low.

For more information on battery backup devices, refer to www.enersys.com. The key
documents are:

• Cyclon Application Manual

• Cyclon Selection Guide

®

, GridScape, or HCM applications can actively monitor status. Events range in

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Understanding Silver Spring Networks Access Points 1 About Access Points

The design float life of Silver Spring-IBP products is up to eight (8) to ten (10) years at room
temperature (25°C/77°F) and under proper charging conditions. This design life has been
confirmed by the use of accelerated testing methods that are widely accepted by both
manufacturers and users of sealed-lead batteries. High temperatures are used to accelerate
the aging process of the battery under test.

Read Storage

The Access Point has 8MB of RAM and 8MB of Flash. No reads are stored within the Access
Point.

Power Requirements

The Access Point and Relay require 96 to 250 VAC (50 to 60 Hz).

Power can be tapped directly from the power line or from a street light receptacle.

Rebooting or Recycling APs

Silver Spring Networks APs will run steady state for an indefinite period of time. Reboots are
not contingent upon any inherent tendency for the AP to reboot itself. The only conditions
that would manifest a reboot are:

• Power failure in the absence of battery backup

• WAN dialer reaches a “high water count” that induces a firmware reboot – this happens

when cellular coverage is intermittent

• Upgrade of firmware

• Deliberate reboot instruction issued from field technician or from back-office

Standards Compliance

APs comply with:

• Operating Vibration standard ANSI C12.20, IEC 60068-2-8

• Operating Shock standard ANSI C12.20, IEC 60068-2-27

• Humidity standard ANSI C12.20, IEC 60068-2-6

• Operating Temperature standard ANSI C12.20, IEC 60068-2-1, IEC 60068-2-2

• Electromagnetic Susceptibility standard ANSI C12.20, IEC 61000-4-3

• Surge Withstand Capability standard ANSI C12.20, IEC 61000-4-5

• Electrostatic Discharge standard ANSI C12.20, IEC 61000-4-2

• Electrical Fast Transients per ANSI C12.20, IEC 61000-4-4

• Conducted Immunity per IEC 61000-4-6

• Magnetic Immunity IEC 61000-4-8

• Voltage Dips & Interrupts IEC 61000-4-11

• Safety Standard for Information Technology Equipment, IEC 60950-1, IEC 60950-22

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Understanding Silver Spring Networks Access Points 1 About Access Points

Cellular Modem

Currently, the modem is a Sierra Wireless AirLink, RavenX, RavenXT, or RavenXE
depending on AP model and country location.

Addressing Schemes

Silver Spring’s addressing scheme is based on the Internet Protocol (IP) suite. Each network
device has one or more IPv6 addresses within the LAN. The Access Point will typically have
an IPv4 address assigned to the WAN side. A 6in4 tunnel carries the data over a cellular
carrier or Ethernet-based backhaul to the head end, where the tunnel is terminated, and IPv6
traffic is carried through to UtilityIQ, GridScape, or HCM. A high-level conceptualization of
the NAN-to-WAN networks that AP traffic traverses is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3. APs in the Silver Spring Network

The Access Point is the central link between the utility’s enterprise management systems and
the endpoint devices such as Silver Spring-enabled electricity, water, gas meters, bridges,
External Communications Modules, and Fault Circuit Indicators.

The Access Point is a vital part of the smart grid network, which extends secure, real-time
measurement and control interfaces (with full, two-way communications) throughout the
network and to the customer premises.

The Access Point provides a highly reliable connection to RF devices over a NAN. It
communicates with intelligent endpoints, including meters and Bridges. The Access Point
can also pass information through multiple Silver Spring Relays or through Silver Spring ­enabled electricity meters or Master Bridges. And it offers multiple paths to each endpoint,
through sophisticated mesh network routing that ensures greater reliability and redundancy.
The Access Point also provides WAN connectivity to your utility’s mission-critical
applications through digital cellular or Ethernet connections.

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