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Why long-term stability and spurious-free performance are crucial
Smart meters have evolved beyond simple digital electricity meters. They now serve as communication hubs, collecting and analysing consumption data in real time and transmitting it reliably over many years. To achieve this, not only are long-life batteries essential, but also high-precision frequency components such as quartz crystals and oscillators.
In this article, we highlight two often underestimated but crucial aspects:
- Long-term stability of frequency control products
- Avoidance of spurious frequencies
Long-term behavior: When time becomes a challenge
A smart meter must operate maintenance-free for ten years or more. But how do quartz crystals and oscillators behave over this period?
The three key factors:
- Frequency drift: Deviations due to temperature changes, voltage fluctuations, or mechanical influences
- Aging: Long-term changes in crystal structure leading to frequency shifts
- Tolerance budget: The sum of all permissible deviations that an application can tolerate
Excessive drift or aging can significantly impair functionality, especially in applications requiring precise time stamps and stable radio communication. That is why Jauch uses frequency products with optimized long-term stability and high frequency stability – specifically developed for applications with tight tolerance requirements.
Spurious-free performance: Clean signals are essential
Spurious frequencies – unwanted harmonics – can occur in quartz crystals when, in addition to the desired resonance frequency, other parasitic resonances are excited. These can impair signal quality and are particularly problematic in communications applications. They may:
- Interfere with data transmission
- Lead to misinterpretations of signals
- Disrupt or interrupt communication protocols
Especially critical in radio communication:
- Smart meters often use NB-IoT, LoRa, or 5G.
- Spurious frequencies can reduce signal quality and lead to packet loss.
- A clean frequency is vital for reliable, bidirectional communication between meters and utilities.
Jauch therefore offers crystals and oscillators specifically designed for spurious-free performance, with frequencies that are optimally suited to common wireless protocols.
Conclusion: Frequency components – the silent backbone of smart metering
Whether it’s long-term stability or signal purity: reliable smart metering is not possible without high-quality clock generators. Choosing the right quartz crystal or oscillator is just as important as choosing the right battery.
Jauch supports developers with:
- Quartz crystals and oscillators with a service life of over 10 years
- Frequency products optimised to minimise interference in radio communication
- Temperature-compensated oscillators, WA quartz crystals, and RTC clock crystals
- Individual consulting and design support, including the white paper “Jauch Crystals for IoT Applications“
Smart metering is a long-distance race – choosing the right frequency components ensures the system stays on track for years to come.
