An overview of data transmission channels for the monitoring system of an average and low voltage city distribution network

The given article is a review in its nature. The problems of monitoring the cable distribution networks and distribution transformer substations conditions have been discussed in the article. The necessity of their operation modes continuous monitoring is shown. The main attention in the article is devoted to the reviews of the SmartGrid data transmission channel for the «digital layer» making up. The main advantages and disadvantages of data transmission channels of both wire and wireless type have been considered. It is shown that the PLC technology application, as well as wire and even fiber-optic lines, is currently inexpedient from an economic point of view. The Smart Dust technology has been surveyed. It pro-vides secure self-tuning sensors-to- monitoring devices of different types communication. The main advantage of this network is that it can route the transmitted data by itself minimizing the number of active links in the network regardless of any circumstances. The expediency of communication channels with distribution transformer substations organization due to the GSM networks provided by mobile operators has been substantiated. However, it is necessary to duplicate the data transmission channel by using various transmission GSM technology methods (TCPIP, UDP, CSD, DTMF, SMS, etc.). The need to duplicate the communication channel by using the services of two or more mobile operators is emphasized. From the analysis of the GPRS TCP IP service, it transpires to take into account the periodic disruption of the channel without signalling about the dis-ruption either to the server or to the client; the disruption caused, as a rule, by the reset of the APN servers of the GSM operator. It is shown that in the monitoring equipment of the substation it is necessary to provide independent watchdog timers for monitoring the system and network hangs, as well as an analyzer of temporary lack of data monitoring