Symptom: M Signal Error

Symptom: M Signal Error

  1. Device Shows “M Signal Error” on screen
  1. Check the antenna 
  1. Check the signal strength on the far right hand side of the screen. It will display a number between 8 and 30. Above 15 is preferable for reliability. Below 12 the meter could start losing network connectivity periodically. Below 8 the meter will no longer be able to connect to the network.  
  1. Note, a signal of above 33 could indicate connection issue, and that the system does not know what the signal actually is. This sometimes presents as a signal of 99.
  1. Ensure the antenna connector on the board is not loose/broken.The antenna connector plate is perpendicular to the top PC board. This means that if it is handled without care, the soldered connection could break.
  1. If it is, the meter requires replacement. 
  1. Ensure the antenna cable connector is screwed in tight.
  2. Ensure the antenna cable is uncoiled, and extended all the way.
  3. Ensure the antenna is positioned outside of the DB board, in the best possible position for the best signal. 
  4. In order to exclude antenna issues, swap the antenna with another antenna. 
  1. Investigate alternative network providers (sim card) options.
  1. We have standardised on Vodacom sim cards on the majority of our devices. In some areas, however, MTN has better signal. We can provide replacement MTN sim cards to the customer. 
  1. If the previous steps did not resolve the issue, there are 2 options, depending on the number of meters in the immediate area.  
  1. Install a high range antenna on the specific meter.  
  2. Install a signal booster in the general area to boost the signal to all meters. 
  1. If none of the above steps resolved the issue and the PM in question is in the range between PM56120422 to PM57461022, it may be a hardware error and the meter requires replacement. Ensure the faulty meter comes back to the office to be refurbished and go back into stock. 


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