Humidity Meters and Telecommunication

A humidity meter is a piece of equipment used to monitor an environment's percentage of relative humidity. The average humidity meter is made of a thermometer, two metal nodes, and an electric charge that measures the level of voltage conducted through the air's moisture.

An RTU is the Most Important Part of a Humidity Monitoring System
A humidity monitoring system is composed of at least one humidity meter connected to an RTU, or remote telemetry unit. This RTU is what transmits the alarm data recorded on the humidity meter into an accessible form. With a good RTU, it's possible to stay informed on the status of your site's humidity levels at all times of day and from any location.

Dangers of Humidity on Telecommunications
Humidity can pose a significant threat to telecommunications infrastructure. High humidity causes water in the air to condense, and will often permeate and short-circuit valuable electronic devices. The buildup of moisture in the air can thicken the atmosphere and disrupt wireless signals. Low humidity causes brittle circuit boards and creates buildups of static-electricity that can spontaneously damage your hardware. Every year, thousands of networks fall victim to the effects of uncontrollable humidity.

Why You Need to Research and Use the Right RTU
Depending on your current and future network monitoring goals, selecting the right RTU may seem like an overwhelming task.

Many RTUs are locked into a single proprietary protocol, thus making them useless for your current system and potentially incompatible with future technologies. Don't get locked into a single compatibility - look for RTUs that provide immediate improvements to your current system but also support your overall upgrade plan.

Often companies that do not specialize in RTUs will sell products using plastic cases and inferior mass-produced hardware. Make sure your RTU has a durable metal case and specialized, quality-tested hardware with proven reliability.

Lastly, your RTU needs to provide you with basic monitoring functions such as a web interface, detailed alarm notifications, and advanced alarm analysis. You should be able to access your humidity levels from any location, and receive customized text or email notifications in cases of emergency.

Deploy an RTU that Meets Your Criteria
Advanced RTUs, such as the NetGuardian 216, work with your humidity meters to automatically generate notifications and keep you updated on the status of your sites. The NetGuardian 216 uses SNMP, the industry-standard protocol, and provides you with 16 discrete alarm inputs and 2-8 analog inputs, allowing you to monitor a large amount of devices. Manufactured by DPS Telecom, a company that specializes in RTUs, the NetGuardian is proven reliable and can be customized to fit the exact needs of your network site.

The NetGuardian 216 also supports 4-threshold analog monitoring, enabling you to specify when and how you will receive alerts. For example, imagine that humidity at your site reaches a moderate, but not dangerous, level. The NetGuardian can send you an email that you can view whenever you next open your inbox. Or, if humidity reaches critical levels, the NetGuardian can send text messages directly to your phone, so you are always aware of emergencies. With its 2 integrated controls, the NetGuardian can also be used to control your humidity equipment even when you're off site.

Don't let unexpected levels of humidity drag down your revenues. Make sure to protect your infrastructure with humidity meters and alarm monitoring equipment. Make the most of your telecommunication operations, and consider the NetGuardian your choice for an advanced RTU.