MAX Range: Long-Distance Wireless Submetering

MAX supports up to a 10-mile range, significantly greater than Standard (~1 mile), yet slightly less than LoRaWAN (10+ miles), balancing cost and coverage. Unlike LoRaWAN, MAX uses the 900 MHz ISM band and requires no FCC license. MAX systems cannot be mixed with Standard systems — they use different radios and are not cross-compatible.

Industrial sites, large commercial campuses, warehouses, multifamily communities, and distributed facilities benefit significantly from MAX technology’s extended coverage. MAX is particularly valuable in mobile home parks, commercial facilities, and multifamily sites where adding repeater power is expensive.

MAX technology provides reliable wireless coverage up to 10 miles. This extended range minimizes the number of repeaters needed compared to Standard deployments.

In typical multifamily applications, one repeater will be installed for every 100 units. MAX typically requires fewer repeaters compared to Standard, but slightly more infrastructure than LoRaWAN depending on terrain. For many smaller sites, repeaters may not be needed because MDTs can link directly to the DCAP.

The MAX Range MDT data sheet shows the available models:
• Pulse input, single or dual
• Encoded meter input (Sensus or Neptune), single or dual
• Display MDT units with integrated LCD (California/NTEP Type Approved)
• Time-of-Use interval data with 15-minute logging synchronized to the top of the hour
And others.

MAX MDTs typically provide five years of life using two AA alkaline batteries. The submersible MDT provides up to 10 years using a larger sealed battery.

Yes, MAX technology securely encrypts transmitted data, protecting meter readings and customer information end-to-end.

Yes, MAX seamlessly integrates with most existing metering systems, enabling incremental system upgrades. MAX hardware can also be factory configured in Standard mode to ensure continued compatibility with older systems, protecting existing investments.

Part numbers and serial numbers identify them:

• DCAP: Standard begins with F0/F2/F3; MAX begins with F4
• Repeater: Standard begins with E0/E2/E3; MAX begins with E4

For sites with hundreds of meter points, the installed cost of MAX is roughly the same as Standard because fewer repeaters and less labor are required. At smaller sites, MAX may be slightly more expensive.

Absolutely. Tehama Wireless has no plans to discontinue the Standard product line. MAX is simply an enhanced AMR option, not a replacement, and products can always be supplied in Standard mode to maintain compatibility with existing installations.