Radio Telemetry – Radio Data Networks

Radio Telemetry Solutions

Reliable monitoring without reliance on GSM networks

Monitor, control, and protect your critical assets in real time using secure, resilient radio communications.

Radio Data Networks delivers proven radio telemetry systems designed for demanding environments—used by utilities, environmental organisations, and infrastructure operators for over 40 years.

Radio Data Networks Radio Telemetry

Radio Data Networks Limited delivers a uniquely flexible range of radio telemetry systems designed for critical applications where reliability, security, and simplicity matter. Operating seamlessly across Ofcom-licensed radio, Iridium satellite, and/or cellular networks, our solutions ensure dependable communications in even the most remote or demanding environments.

What sets RDN apart is true plug-and-play deployment. Systems can be installed, expanded, and reconfigured without the need for software development or programming—dramatically reducing setup time and ongoing complexity. Built with wide choice of industrial-grade inputs and outputs, including volt-free contact inputs, optically isolated inputs up to 1.5kV, analogue with up to 16-bit resolution, SDI-12, optically isolated outputs, and gold-plated relay contact outputs, our systems integrate effortlessly with PLCs and SCADA platforms.

All systems are designed and manufactured in the UK under an ISO 9001:2015 quality management system, ensuring consistent performance, traceability, and the highest standards of engineering excellence. Now wonder some of our systems have been in service for over 20-years.

With thousands of installations in service across Utility sector, Industry, and governement bodies such as the Environment Agency, and Natural Resources Wales (NRW) or covage is vast and collectively or systems deliver up to half a billion messages annually.

Each system incorporates automatic health checks and generates alerts in the event of any communications failure, providing continuous assurance of system integrity.

Our modular architecture, powered by the unique RDN1000 data protocol, supports one-way, two-way, or hybrid communications. Data routing is automatic, enabling a single input to be securely distributed to multiple outputs with ease.

Our systems also integrate with our smart sensing technologies, including our BDT water level and FDT flow sensors, as well as emergency call points—providing a complete, connected monitoring and control solution.

By leveraging Ofcom-licensed radio telemetry, we provide a secure, interference-resistant communication channel that is legally protected and exclusively available to RDN and its customers—ensuring performance you can trust when it matters most.

Radio Telemetry Options

LICENCE-FREE RADIO TELEMETRY

Licence-free operation is permitted in the UK on several radio channels and is perfect for short range applications within a site. This is a non-protected service and could be subject to interference from other users, devices, electrical equipment to which there is no redress. Hence for this reason we would not recommend its use for any links crossing 3rd party land or for more critical applications.

LICENCED RADIO TELEMETRY

Radio Data Networks are official Ofcom licence holders for radio telemetry services across the whole of the UK and Channel Islands. Licenced telemetry provides exclusivity and protection in law from interference and eavesdropping, enabling us as we do, to send almost half a billion messages annually, many of which cross third party land without fear of compromise.

VHF VS UHF

Speak to any radio amateur and they will confirm that VHF always will outperform UHF for communications, with respect to distance and penetration through forests and buildings. It was for this reason VHF was chosen for terrestrial audio broadcasts for the FM service for cars and homes, similarly we have uniquely chosen it for telemetry.

Radio Telemetry vs Cellular Solutions

Choosing the right communication method is critical. For mission-critical, radio telemetry provides greater control and reliability.

Reliability

Factually, a well-designed radio telemetry system can outperform cellular and other forms of communications with reliability in the triple nines. Messages can go from the transmitter to receiver without the involvement of 3rd parties or the internet permitting totally autonomous operation (see Licenced radio telemetry). Key to reliability is to keep data packets short, data rates slow and to include robust error checking as we have with our RDNET protocol.

Power Efficiency

Compared to cellular of satellite, a well-designed message protocol such as our RDNET can be highly power efficient as messages can be sent and received without the need to connect and to negotiate a session. The RDNET protocol is also adaptive, in that it automatically changes the message length to suit the payload. For this reason, we are able to offer enviable battery lives measured in years and even decades

Security

Being a local message, there is no means for hostiles to remotely hack or block a radio telemetry message from distant lands. Protocols such as RDN include several security features prevent both erroneous messages getting through.

Addressing

The RDNET protocol is based included a 32-bit address function which provides over 4-billion sensor or unit addresses. In the RDNET protocol it is the addressing that sets the source and destination of a message.

Licenced Radio Telemetry

Radio Data Networks are official Ofcom licence holders for radio telemetry services across the whole of the UK and Channel Islands. Licenced telemetry provides exclusivity and protection in law from interference and eavesdropping. It also permits us to utilise higher transmit power levels and to plan with our customers how frequently they need data.

Need more information?

Contact our technical team today to find your next solution. Find out more information on our Linkedin page for latest updates.

+44 (0)1279 600440

For technical datasheets, consultative advice and to explore our larger portfolio, our technical team of engineers are happy to help. Alternatively, you can email us at sales@radio-data-networks.com.