The data communication between each remote location and the LevelMonitor software platform is one of the essential links within our total offered services. The selected type of data communication determines to a great extent the ultimate reliability and availability of the data from remote location and the correlation with the costs.

Therefore LevelMonitor offers a variety of communication possibilities, namely:

• Telephone lines (PSTN)


• GSM-data or GPRS



• Mobitex



• Ethernet



• Satellite

In order to offer the best achievable services in communications, LevelMonitor is Business Partner of Royal KPN, RAM Mobile Data as well as Vodafone.
Furthermore, LevelMonitor is also authorised Satamatics provider, for communication solutions through satellite. This reflects our commitment to our customers and their requirements.

In normal circumstances, telephone lines (PSTN) will seldom be found near tanks or silos. Even if they are available, they are usually connected to a telephone exchange, which can disrupt the software. This explains why most applications are equipped with wireless communications. In addition, it can be rather expensive to install a telephone line into the field, whereas Vendor Managed Inventory in principle is intended as an extra service for the end-user/customer. LevelMonitor perspective prefers only to request the end-user to supply the power for the DAC-Module (Data Acquisition & Communication Module) on location, although it can be battery or solar powered as well, if necessary.

The selection of wireless communication depends on the desired reliability and availability relative to the costs.
Although communication through a GSM/GPRS network is the preferred solution, several investigations have identified that it is less suitable for critical applications. None of the five Dutch GSM/GPRS operators can offer assurance within their Standard Service Level regarding reliability and availability of their network.
RAM Mobile Data, as operator of the Mobitex network, is the only commercial provider who guarantees 99.9% availability in their Standard Service Level. Unfortunately, the Mobitex-network has only national coverage in Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg and Sweden.

For locations abroad and/or when maximum reliability and availability is required, satellite is an excellent and proven alternative, certainly when the so-called "roaming" costs of the GSM-network providers are taken into consideration.

Each DAC-Module based on GSM communication is, due to their configuration, only suitable for data communication. In case of remote locations in the vicinity of country borders, the DAC-Module is forced to connect to the local network. This avoids any unnecessary costs regarding the data communication and the possible exploitation through voice communications.

In cooperation with RAM Mobile Data, the DAC-Module at the remote location can also be connected to the LevelMonitor software platform by means of a fixed IP-address through a VPN. This avoids the need to install expensive hardware at the remote site. Additionally, it will prevent abuse since no superfluous data can be sent to and from the DAC-Module and it prevents misuse of voice communications which results in reducing the communication costs in this particular case to an absolute minimum.

If you are interested in our partial or complete VMI solutions and services or in particular, our data communication solutions, you can contact us via . We will get in touch with you as soon as possible.