User manual

for WM-I MBUS®

modem

______________________________________________

Rev: 1.20

2019-12-18

Document specifications

This documentation was made for presenting the installation and configuration steps of the

WM-I MBus® energy metering modem.

Document Version: REV 1.20

Hardware Type/Version: WM-I MBUS® impulse counter modem

Hardware Version: WM-M v0.20

Firmware Version: WM-M v1.00

WM-I Term® config.

software version: v1.09

Pages: 24

Status: Final

Created: 18-10-2019

Last Modified: 18-12-2019

Chapter 1. Introduction

The WM-I MBus® is an Mbus master capable communication device, an Mbus transmitting

modem, which is suitable for communicating with any external Mbus device (as meters,

measurement systems, industrial machines) which is supporting the standard Mbus

communication. It is capable for connecting to one external device in the same time.

The incoming MBus messages are transmitted through the NB-IoT network to a remote server.

Wireless communication & operation

The smart device has been designed to standalone and intermittent operation. It is continously

receiving the communication and collects the data of the connected external Mbus devices.

The transmitter wakes up at the configured intervals to transmit collected Mbus data through the

NB-IoT mobile network to a server IP address. Therefore the collected consumption data can be

transmitted to a data center or a server by different protocols (by selection).

It can be used with push data transmission method, thus the modem can initiate the

communication with the data centre periodically at a pre-programmed time intervals.

The device provides a SIM-card independent- and mobile operator independent solution.

Power source

The device is powered by a special internal battery, which provides 10 years of lifetime (or more)

(or approx.. 4 000 data sending cycles) within changing the battery.

The device can be fixed or mount to wall.

Configuration

The modem is configurable by remotely through the wireless network from a server by configuring

the APN, username and password (APN information is provided by your local mobile operator).

All data transmitting and counter settings can be configured with our administration tool (the

WM-I Term® software). The configuration is possible by one device or for a group of devices.

The configuration tool requires Windows® platform to be executed, and it supports several

languages.

Chapter 2. Connections

2.1 Internal connectors, interfaces

1 – Mains connector (3.6V DC - to the battery, 2-pins terminal block)

2 – Mbus connection (2-pins cable on terminal block)

3 – Special filled, long-life battery (Lithium-Thyonyl Chloride, CR14250 type)

4 – Mbus modem PCB board

5 – Internal antenna connector (U.FL to SMA-M connection)

6 – SIM card slot (for mini SIM, 2FF type)

7 – Configuration cable (terminal block)

– for serial configuration

– for connecting the input

8 – Hooks to fix the modem PCB into the case enclosure

1

6

5

7

8

8

3

4

2

2.2 Enclosu re (bottom view)

9

9

9 – Slideable ears for fixation of the device. It can be fastened by a metal belt close to the

external device or to the water pit / pipeline), order option: DIN-rail adapter

10 – Silicone part inside of the bottom cover part for

perfect close/lock

adapter

9

9

10

8 11

11

13

2.3 Important hints

a.) About the operation of the device operation behaviour

The Mbus modem is waiting in sleep/stand-by mode, by general. It is waking up in the pre-

programmed (scheduled) time intervals and reads out the connected MBus meter. Then the

device is transmitting the readout values through the NB-IoT cellular network to the „Grafana”

data collection server or the client side server. Only one MBus device can be connected to the

modem.

In case of using the Elster® Q4000 / Kamstrup® Ultraheat 50 MBus device the consumption value

is the „Total Volume”.

b.) About the configuration of the device

The device is supporting the „identifier – value” messages („plain text protocol”)

For more information: https://graphite.readthedocs.io/en/latest/feeding-carbon.html

The data transmitting delay can be max. 65535 seconds (which is equal to 18 hours, 12 minutes

and 15 seconds).

2.4 Installation steps

Step #1: Remove the enclosure’s plastic top cover of the device by releasing and removing the

four screws (11) of the part by a screwdriver.

Step #2: Remove the DC powered battery connection (1) from the device.

Step #3: Insert a replaceable and active

SIM card (with APN) into the SIM-holder

(6) - the chip looks down, cutted edge of

the SIM is oriented to inside. Push it until

it is fastened (you will hear a click sound).

Usage of the configuration cable converter

#Step 4: For serial port local configuration use the „USB UART converter” adapter (12) – order

option – with the 3-pins serial cable (wire colors: black-white-grey).

#Step 5: Set the switch signed by „C” ont he USB UART converter to „DTR” mode (according to

the figure from up to down), the other „D” signed switch („1”) must be set to „ON” position and

the position „2” must be set to „OFF” position.

C

D

E

12

#Step 6: The configuration wires must be connected according to the „E” signed part on the

figure – connect to the USB adapter regarding to the following wiring:

- Black wire to the „GND” pin

- White wire to the „RX” pin

- Grey wire to the „TX” pin

#Step 7: The configuration cable’s other side must be connected to the WM-I MBUS device’s PCB

board (4), to the J5 terminal block connector, where the wiring should be done by the following:

- Black – GND serial connection wire (pin nr. #2)

- White – RX (receiving data) serial connection wire (pin nr. #4)

- Grey – TX (transmitting data) serial connection wire (pin nr. #6)

Step #8: Make the data connection between the external Mbus device by the provided cable.

Step #9: Ensure that the internal antenna connector (5) is connected

to the PCB board (4).

Step #10: Mount the external, provided communication antenna to

the external SMA-M 50 Ohm type antenna connector (13) to the

device. For the successful operation of the communication module it

is necessary to have appropriate signal strength.

Step #11: Reconnect the battery connector (2) on the PCB board. Then the modem will be started

its operation according to the pre-configured settings (connects to the server in every N-minutes

according to the settings). Now the device is ready to configure.

Step #12: Put the enclosure’s top cover (10) and fasten the screws (11).

Step #13: If you want, you can install the modem enclosure by the bottom-side fixation points

(9) and part or in case of you’ve ordered a 35mm DIN-rail adapter fixate onto a rail – near to the

meter – or mount to the wall of the water pit or the water pipe/pipeline in a fixed position.

3. Modem Configuration

3.1 Configuring the modem by WM-I Term®

Before using the device, the modem most be configured by the downloadable WM-I Term®

software.

Important!

The modem is continously receiving and counting the incoming Mbus messages of the connected

external Mbus device. But, please note that the communication module is not always oeprating

on the network – because of spare of the limited battery capacity.

The module will be awakened only at the pre-configured intervals for a short data transmitting

to a remoter server IP address and afterall it will be going to sleep mode again.

Therefore to send the configuration settings to the modem is only possible in this transmitting

periods. Thats why you need to run the configuration program and keep it opened on your

computer and to be connected to the device on the serial link until the next transmitting, while

the modem will getting the new settings. After the sending you can disconnect the computer.

The modem can be connected to a PC by the 3-pins cable. Connect it to the „USB UART adapter”

(15), and connect the USB adapter to the computer’s USB port.

For the proper communication and operation of the device, setup the SIM card’s APN settings –

as PIN, APN, username and password, and the data sending interval, data sending method

(protocol, etc.).

3.2 Configuring the modem with the WM-I Term® software

1. For modem configuration and testing you will need an APN/data package enabled, active SIM-

ard.

2. The software can be used on Microsoft® Windows® 7/8/10 operating systems.

3. Microsoft® .Net Framework v4 must be installed on your computer. In case of missing this

component, you have to download it and install from the manufacturer’s website:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30653

4. You have to own administrator privileges for the directory where you are executing program.

5. For configuring the modem, it must be connected to the celular network or by serial

configuration mode (for serial configuration you need to connect the pins of the configuration

cable (7)).

6. Connect the cable’s opposite part to your computer’s USB connector (by a RS232-USB adapter).

7. Download the WM-E TERM® tool to your computer by using this link from a web browser:

https://www.m2mserver.com/m2m-downloads/WM-ITerm_v1_0_9.zip

8. Unpack the .zip file into a directory and execute the WM-ITerm.exe file, when the following

application screen appears.

9. In the program window, you will find icons and menu items in the top side of the screen.

10. At the left side of the screen, the navigation buttons will help you

to connect and check the

communication.

3.3 Setup the connection

1. Configure the modem for the connection by choosing the left side CONNECTION button, when

the next tab will be shown with the following connection options:

- Listener IP address for remote configuration (you need to know the IP address of the SIM

card (Listener IP address) and the port number (Listener port) of the device)

- Serial connection (by choosing a COM port and the Baudrate (115200 bps))

For the first connection you need to use the local serial connection option, because the APN

settings are not provided and therefore the modem cannot register on the cellular network.

2. After selecting the right connection mode, and defining the connection parameters, push to

initiating the connection:

- in case of remote connection push the Start listening button

- in case of local serial connection push the Start serial communication button

Then the computer tries to connect to the device.

When it will be possible (the device will be available on the network), the IMEI number will be

asked and the configuration of the device will be downloaded from the modem into the WM-I

Term® application.

Then the configuration download request will be sended to the device

As you can see the Configuration read success message appears at left side, and the following

device status and device entry appears with some control icons at the right side of the screen.

The device is identified by its IMEI (modem) unique identifier.

The Statue (status) is always listed by the device – therefore you can easy to understand that

is it currently online or not.

The COMMUNICATION button on the left side will also help you to list the log of the

communication and modem behaviour and interaction with the configuration program.

About the icons of the connected device(s):

The Edit configuration icon helps you to configure the device.

The NOP icon disconnects the connection (listener) with the device.

The GET icon will download the current configuration from the device into the WM-I Term.

The SET icon will upload and configure the current settings to the device from the WM-I Term to

the modem.

The DEL icon deletes the current entry in the line.

3.4 Configuring the modem

Choose the button from the menu after connecting to the device, and push the icon

and then the Edit configuration icon and the modem the current settings of the modem

will be downloaded to the program.

Then the parameters will be listed by its values and the settings can be modified.

Configure the modem according the requirements and needs.

The following RED signed parameters MUST BE CONFIGURED.

The parameter settings:

APN – SIM card’s APN for connecting to the NB IoT network (ask your mobile provider)

APN user ID – Username for the APN (if necessary)

APN user password – Password for the APN (if necessary)

SIM PIN – PIN of the SIM card (if it is using)

Host IP address – Server IP address, where you would like to send the counted and collected

data.

Host port – Server port number (of the transmitting destination’s address).

Host communication protocol – Choose GRF** (Grafana® compatible server) protocol

Modem ID – Modem identifier (logical identifier), where you can add unique identifier number

to the modem for easy to identify later – especially when you have more installed devices on the

site

Meter ID 1 – Meter identifier (logical identifier), where you can add unique identifier to the

meter for easy to identify later – especially when you have more installed meters on the site

Counter Offset 1 – The starting value of the meter’s consumption counter – when the modem

was installed to the meter. All delta consumption will be added to this value as absolute

consumption value.

Counter reset 1 – If it is 0, the settings will be reseted once at the next cycle

Counter maximum 1 – The max. counter number of the meter system – e.g. 9999

Send interval [sec]*** – Data transmitting cycle / period to send data to the remote IP address

(server) – value in seconds. If you don’t want to use it, set it to 0.

Send delta pulse 1 – Paralell by the send interval you can define a special event to transmit

immediately after every N-impulse. If you don’t want to use it, set it to 0.

Configuration IP address – Configuration IP address of your computer where the device can

download the current configuration at the next transmitting cycle.

Configuration port – Port of your client

FTP username – if you use Ftp protocol to transmit nad upload data, then you have to configure

the FTP username of the server

FTP password – Password for the Ftp upload

MBUS Baudrate – Baudrate for MBUS communication

MBUS wakeup delay [msec] – Time interval from device power on (connected the battery)

until the first data sending (period) – value in msec.

MBUS retry count – How many time retries to read out the meter

Detailed status messages – Choose to serial port debug messages.

Store time between sends [sec] – Received and counted data storage (in non-volatile

memory) interval in sec. After successful data sending will be deleted.

MNC/MCC – MNC is the Mobile Network Code and MCC is the Mobile Country Code – ask your

mobile provider. Max. 6 characters are allowed.

Check the valid MCC and MNC code of your country’s mobile network for the settings. You can

find more information on this website: https://www.mcc-mnc.com/

If you leave the field empty, then the MCC and MNC identifiers will be automatically detected by

the SIM info – if it is supperted by the current cellular network.

Number of retries – How many times try to readout the meter (numbers of cycles/intervals)

FTP server requirements

FTP serveren directory or path cannot be defined. The sent files will be stored in the default

FTP (home directory) in CSV format.

Use passive mode at FTP server connection and add the port range value for the passive

FTP connection.

The currently used SIM card’s IP address must access the FTP server’s IP address, and the

FTP server should be also access the modem during the connection.

Therefore, the modem and the FTP server must be in the same IP segment (zone) to be

configured or using a public APN.

Important!

The modem is not using datetime at receiving and sending files – because on most of the NB

networks it cannot be requested any time data – therefore the the files will be uploaded to the

server in time sequence (the first incoming will be sended and uploaded first). The timestamp

data of the file will be the file storage time on the ftp server.

* CSD long format file, tabulated by semicomma with ID and absolute (counted) consumption

value, measurement data

** CSD short format file, tabulated by comma with ID and absolute (counted) consumption

value

*** In case of Sending interval we do not recommend to setup a frequent period, because the

battery can be exhausted sooner than it could be expected. We recommend to setup the intervals

like once a day (value 86400) or every 4 hours (value 14440), or even if you need every 30

minutes (value 1800)

Important, MBus related information according to the settings

MBus wakeup delay: if it’s configured for a too short time then the Mbus device will not receive

the command and the readout will be unsuccesful.

MBus Baudrate: the max. value is 9600, but there can be some devices, which must be

configured to less baud rate for the sake of the stable communication.

The MBus channel is wired to fix 8 bits, with even parity mode.

Some examples about setting the MBus parameters - as hints:

Meter type WakeUpDelay Baudrate

Elster Q4000 900 msec 9600 baud

Eatron 400 ms 4800 baud

When you have finished the parameter settings, save it by the Assign to client button. The

current configuration will be stored in the program.

Note that by this button the modem will be NOT receiving the settings.

Afterall you will have to send the configuration to the modem by the icon.

Its also important to understand that the device will be receiving the changed configuration and

parameter settings only in the next pre-configured readout cycle – and not at the time of

the configuration. Therefore you have to keep the WM-I Term tool opened until the next

cycle.

After pushing the Assign to client button, now push to the button for sending the

configuration to the modem.

The modem will be ble to receive the configuration from the server at the next readout cycle

(which was pre-configured – by default it is 300sec (every 5 minutes)).

Then the SET configuration message appears in the Stat field in the WM-I Term program.

When the modem received the new configuration parameter values, the Command executed

successfully message appears, at left the Configuration write success message can be seen.

The modem will be using the settings from its next readout period.

3.5 Configuring a group of modems

For configuring and listing of your WM-I MBus® modems, choose the button from the

menu.

There you can select to modify existing modem configurations (entities) from the list or define a

new one.

Later you can send these types for one or more modems.

The Add configuration button helps you to define a brand new configuration setting.

From the listed modems you can delete an entry by the button of the record/entry.

You can modify a configuration entity by the button at the entry.

3.6 Program settings

It can be initiated by the button from the menu, where you can choose language, screen

size and define the directories.

4. Visualizing the evaluated data

1. Open a browser and the following URL in your browser:

http://emr2.m2mserver.com/login

2. Enter the username: wmidemo

3. Enter the password for the username: wmidemo

4. Push to the Login button to enter into the EMR2 Grafana system.