A one-way direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) communications wide-area network is the data collection channel (uplink) of an automatic meter reading (AMR) system, and a paging network, or other suitable communication channel is the optional forward (downlink) channel. The communications network may include one-way meter modules (transmitters) each communicatively coupled to a corresponding electric, gas or water utility meter, and may include two-way meter modules (transceivers) each coupled to such a corresponding utility meter. The meter modules monitor, store, encode and periodically transmit metering data via radio signals (air messages) in an appropriate RF channel. Metering data air messages are collected by a network of receiver Base Stations (BS) and forwarded to a Data Operations Center (DOC), which acts as a metering data gateway. The reception range of each base station is typically over 5 miles in urban areas, allowing sparse infrastructure deployment for a wide variety of metering data collection applications.

A scalable and modular fixed-base wireless network system for wide-area metering data collection, composed of at least one of each of the following components: meter modules, which monitor, store, encode and periodically transmit metering data via radio signals (air messages). The network may contain both one-way (transmit only) and two-way (transmit and receive) meter modules; Receiver Base Stations, which receive, decode, store and forward metering data to a central database and metering data gateway, referred to here as the Data Operation Center (DOC). Base Stations do not perform any meter data processing, but simply transfer decoded air messages to the DOC; and a Data Operations Center, which communicates with all of the network's Base Stations and receives decoded air messages from the Base Stations. The DOC processes, validates and stores metering data in a meter database that it maintains for the entire meter population operating in the network. The DOC has the capability to export or forward metering data to other systems via standard data protocols, which may be scaled up in its air message handling capacity and in its application features, by integrating it with a wireless data-forwarding (downlink) channel, such as a paging network, which is required in order to provide service to two-way meter modules that may be operating in the network. This channel enables the sending of time synchronization and other commands to two-way meter modules, thus providing the operator with considerable flexibility in their choice of network capacity, features and system cost.