A circularly polarized, multiband, and wideband antenna and can communicate with a GPS system. The antenna may include a driving element, first, second and third conductive parasitic elements electrically connected to the driving element, and a ground plane. The parasitic elements are provided with different lengths to provide for wider band operation with multiple resonant frequencies. The radiated wave has a low angle of propagation and travels for at least 1-2 miles.

A sensing device for a hydrant can include a sensor located entirely within an interior cavity of a hydrant body of the hydrant and configured to measure a property of a fluid of a fluid distribution system and an antenna in communication with the sensor and positioned within the interior cavity.

Example aspects of an antenna cap for an antenna node, an antenna assembly, and a method for assembling an antenna assembly are disclosed. The antenna cap for an antenna node can comprise a housing, the housing defining a continuous sidewall, the continuous sidewall defining a first end and a second end, an end wall at the first end, the end wall and continuous sidewall defining an interior cavity for receiving an antenna, an opening at the second end for access to the interior cavity, the continuous sidewall comprising a fastener proximate the second end for attaching the housing to the antenna node.

A dipole antenna structure that includes a sheet of metal that forms elements of a dipole antenna. The sheet of metal includes a first arm, and a second arm connected to the first arm, and formed substantially co-planar with, and non-parallel to, the first arm. The sheet of metal further includes at least one impedance matching element connected to the first arm and the second arm, where the at least one impedance matching element is formed in the sheet of metal at an angle relative to a plane that coincides with the substantially co-planar first and second arms.

One embodiment is a device, which comprises a cable attached at a first end to a radio module, the cable having a plurality of electro-magnetic interference (EMI) resistant elements connected at a plurality of positions, a radial board wherein the cable is attached thereto at a second end, and an antenna connected to the radial board, the antenna being configured to receive power from the radio module and to radiate.

An antenna cap includes a housing defining an elongate continuous sidewall, the continuous sidewall defining a first end and a second end, an end wall extending from the first end, the end wall and continuous sidewall defining an interior cavity for receiving an antenna, an opening defined at the second end and configured for access to the interior cavity; and a fastener proximate the second end and configured for attaching the housing to the antenna node, the fastener formed with the continuous sidewall, wherein a length of the continuous sidewall between the first end and the fastener is greater than a length of the fastener, and wherein the continuous sidewall defines a consistent outer sidewall diameter from the first end to the fastener.

A system for detecting the topology and phase information of an electrical power distribution system is provided. For example, the system includes a group of meters connected to an electrical power distribution system and can communicate with each other through local network connections such as a mesh network. Each of the meters is configured to generate and transmit voltage data to a correlator of the group of meters. The correlator calculates the correlations between each pair of meters in the group based on the voltage data received and further transmits the calculated correlations to a mapper through the mesh network. The mapper determines the topological or phase relationship between at least the group of meters based on the received correlations.

An intelligent electronic device (IED) is provided. The IED includes a metering sub-assembly and an input base module sub-assembly. The metering sub-assembly is hinged to the input base module sub-assembly, where when in an open position, various cables, connectors, and input/output cards/modules are accessible. Various input/output cards/modules are interchangeable to add/change functionality and/or communication capabilities to the IED. In one embodiment, a communication card is provided with at least one antenna disposed internal or external to a housing of the IED.

Disclosed is a system and method for wirelessly monitoring process conditions within a reactor vessel. A sensor-enabled radio frequency identification tag is located within a catalyst bed of a vessel and used to measure various conditions within the vessel. The sensor-enabled RFID tag is wirelessly linked to a reader for transmitting interrogation signals and for receiving transponder signals from the sensor-enabled RFID tag that carry information representative of the measured condition.

An antenna system for a meter and/or other communication device, including a capacitive electric field source and an external antenna element. The capacitive electric field source is positioned within a dielectric cover and is electrically connected to an output port of a transceiver for forming an electric field indicative of the output signal. The external antenna element is separated from the capacitive electric field source by the dielectric cover and is configured for capacitively coupling to the capacitive electric field source and radiating electromagnetic radiation indicative of the output signal. The external antenna element then efficiently radiates and receives electromagnetic waves for wireless communications.