Wireless M-Bus for Smart Metering: Enabling Efficient Utility Data Collection with Truesync Collect

As smart metering continues to accelerate across utility sectors, Wireless M-Bus (wM-Bus) has established itself as a leading protocol for secure, interoperable, and energy-efficient data communication in electricity, water, gas, and heat metering. At Truesync, we implement Wireless M-Bus through proven modules from Radiocrafts and Friendcom, integrating them with our powerful Truesync Collect M-Bus Data Concentrator for reliable and scalable deployment.

For an industry reference and foundational understanding, we align with the standardisation and mode definitions outlined in OMS-compliant RF technologies.

📡 What is Wireless M-Bus?

Wireless M-Bus is defined by the EN 13757-4 standard and designed specifically for metering applications. It operates in license-free ISM bands (primarily 868 MHz in Europe) and supports a variety of communication modes:

Core Operating Modes

• S-Mode (Stationary): For walk-by or stationary collection of data; efficient and simple.

• T-Mode (Frequent): Supports more frequent transmission, ideal for drive-by or short interval reading.

• C-Mode (Compact/Bidirectional): Full duplex mode allowing command-based and on-demand readouts.

• N-Mode (Narrowband): Designed for long-range operation at 169 MHz with extended coverage.

These modes are tailored for various use cases — from infrequent manual meter reads to real-time data acquisition over fixed networks.

Benefits of Wireless M-Bus

• Low Power Consumption: Enables >10 years of battery life in devices.

• Robust Security: Utilizes AES-128 encryption and OMS-compliant authentication schemes.

• Interoperability: Backed by the Open Metering System (OMS) standard, ensuring compatibility between devices from different vendors.

• Proven Scalability: Thousands of meters can be managed in dense urban environments.

🧩 Radiocrafts and Friendcom: OMS-Ready Wireless Modules

At Truesync, we deploy smart metering devices built around Radiocrafts RC1180-MBUS3 and Friendcom OMS-certified modules, both supporting multi-mode Wireless M-Bus (T1, S1, C1, N1) and meeting the highest performance criteria in OMS interoperability tests.

These modules are:

• Pre-certified for OMS v4.x compatibility

• Available in compact form factors for easy meter integration

• Highly reliable in noisy RF environments

• Optimized for long battery life with configurable transmit intervals

  
  

🔌 Truesync Collect: The Smart Data Concentrator for Wireless & Wired M-Bus

The Truesync Collect M-Bus Data Concentrator acts as the central hub of a hybrid metering network, bridging Wireless M-Bus and Wired M-Bus endpoints to your backend or MDM system.

🚀 Key Features of Truesync Collect

Feature	Description
Dual Protocol Support	Supports both wired M-Bus (EN 13757-2) and wireless M-Bus (EN 13757-4)seamlessly.
OMS-Compliant	Fully supports data from OMS meters across water, gas, heat, and submetering devices.
Auto-Discovery & Meter Management	Automatically scans, logs, and manages connected and newly installed wireless meters or repeaters.
Time Sync & Scheduling	Periodically synchronizes with meters using SNTP and issues scheduled readouts.
Buffered Data Storage	Stores billing data, hourly/daily profiles, and event logs in a secure ring buffer.
Communication Interfaces	Available with RS-485, Ethernet, and LTE/4G for integration with cloud or local systems.
Remote Configuration	Supports firmware updates, parameter tuning, and remote diagnostics via CLI or API.
On-Demand Commands	Instant meter reads, syncs, and updates can be initiated manually or via API.
Mesh Repeater Support	Integrates wireless repeater topologies using multilevel routing logic for signal extension.

This makes Truesync Collect ideal for:

• Retrofitting legacy wired networks with new wireless OMS meters

• Sub-metering in large commercial and residential complexes

• Municipality-wide smart water, gas, or heating rollouts

The concentrator seamlessly integrates both legacy wired and new wireless infrastructure into a single backend stream, eliminating data fragmentation and improving operational visibility.

🧠 Smarter Utilities with Truesync

Combining standards-driven wireless communication (OMS/wM-Bus) with enterprise-grade data acquisition, Truesync enables utilities to:

• Ensure accurate billing and consumption analysis

• Reduce on-site visits via remote firmware and diagnostics

• Improve energy/water efficiency through data-driven insights

• Scale networks over time without major infrastructure changes

Ready to Transform Your Metering Infrastructure?

Truesync IoT Systems Global offers:

• OMS-compliant wireless modules from Radiocrafts and Friendcom

• Custom metering firmware stacks

• End-to-end metering platforms powered by Truesync Collect

Explore the full datasheet for Truesync Collect here, or get in touch for a tailored consultation.