Field Testing of 3G Cellular and Wireless Serial Radio Communications for Smart Grid Applications

Smart grid solutions are increasingly making use of wireless communications as a core component for moving information to make more intelligent decisions. This paper considers a synchrophasor system implemented on a distribution feeder that uses two different wireless communications technologies to transmit synchrophasor measurement data simultaneously. This system was implemented to demonstrate advanced distributed generation control and its impacts in terms of grid support on the broader electrical feeder. A wireless serial communications solution and a 3G cellular solution were implemented, allowing a comparison of the performance of these different technologies. Because phasor measurement unit data are continuously streamed at up to 60 messages per second, these data provide a means to continuously evaluate the communications systems. Performance data were measured and archived over a one-week period, providing detailed information to compare the wireless communications technologies implemented. Using this information, recommendations are made in this paper about which wireless technology may be better suited for a variety of utility applications.