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Reserve Your Seat TodayIf you are doing research about remote monitoring, you most likely came across the word "RTU" a couple of times. For those curious about telemetry meaning, it's worth noting that RTUs play a key role in transmitting this kind of data. Especially if you want to deploy a brand new monitoring system for your network, it's critical that you understand what this equipment is and what exactly it does.
First, in order to understand the definition of an RTU, you need to know what the letters RTU stand for. Understanding the telemetry meaning in this context is essential, as RTUs are needed for collecting and sending data remotely. There are actually two different definitions, but they mean almost exactly the same thing:
Remote Terminal Unit (RTU)
Remote Telemetry Unit (RTU)
So, let's break down these 3 words, in order to understand remote telemetry units and remote terminal unit's definition. Grasping the telemetry meaning will clarify their purpose in your network.
An RTU is a electronic device that you install at a remote location to monitor and control the other equipment you have there (plus relevant environmental values like temperature, humidity, and water leakage that have a direct effect on electronic equipment). This remote functionality is helpful when exploring the telemetry meaning in modern network systems.
There's not much reason to have an RTU where you have full-time staffing, because those areas are already covered by watchful personnel at all times (OK, someone could fall asleep on the job, but you get the idea). When it comes to telemetry data transmission though, RTUs are indispensable.
This device is going to act as a terminal or system for transmitting telemetry data and information. The telemetry meaning here emphasizes the transfer of critical data over long distances. It's a terminal in the sense that data is collected from individual pieces of your equipment, aggregated at the RTU, then sent to you using your chosen communications method. The alarm data that's sent to you is known as "telemetry".
The word "telemetry" is also commonly used in hospitals to describe very similar data: a patient's health status (which is not much different from your network equipment's health status).
An RTU is a single unit/device that performs the functions described above. This unit's ability to facilitate telemetry highlights its relevance in the broader understanding of telemetry meaning.
RTUs are an integral part of supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems. SCADA system is a monitoring and control system that is integral to many industries including power utilities, and manufacturing. SCADA's role aligns closely with the telemetry meaning as it focuses on data collection and remote operations.
These supervisory and data acquisition systems are all about process control and information gathering. This ensures that a site manager has all the information they need. When you think about telemetry meaning, it often ties directly to the kind of data SCADA systems process. You can read more about SCADA here.
Now that you know what RTUs are and what they actually do, you might be curious about their specific capabilities and how you can select the perfect-fit unit for your real-world scenario. Exploring telemetry meaning further will help you understand how RTUs fit into larger monitoring systems.
If so, you can always talk to one of our application engineers as well. They are experts in remote monitoring and can direct you to the best option for your network - no commitment required. So, give us a call today and learn more about RTUs and how they can benefit you. Understanding telemetry meaning can enhance your decision-making when choosing the right RTU.
