With the modernization of district heating systems, many older residential communities are upgrading traditional heat meters to smart metering systems. Manual meter reading is inefficient and lacks real-time monitoring capability.

By combining LoRaWAN wireless communication, M-Bus data acquisition, and an IoT platform, heat meters can be remotely monitored without large-scale infrastructure reconstruction.

This article introduces a LoRaWAN-based wireless heat meter reading solution, including system architecture, device selection, and platform capabilities.

System Architecture
Network Topology

The system architecture is as follows:

Heat Meters → KC22 M-Bus Collector → LoRaWAN Gateway → ThinkLink IoT Platform

The KC22 device collects data from multiple heat meters and transmits it via LoRaWAN gateways to the platform.

System Components
Device Type Model Function
M-Bus to LoRaWAN Collector KC22 Collects meter data and converts it to LoRaWAN
Outdoor LoRaWAN Gateway GDO514-AGCN470-N-2 Receives LoRaWAN data
IoT Platform ThinkLink Data management and analytics
KC22 Data Collector
Key Features
Feature Description
M-Bus communication Connects to heat meters
Protocol support CJ/T188 heat meter protocol
Local data parsing Decodes data locally
LoRaWAN transmission Sends structured data to gateway
EdgeBus VM Supports TypeScript logic
Remote configuration Modify sampling parameters remotely
Low power design Sleep mode outside heating season
Technical Specifications
Parameter Value
Meter capacity Up to 4 heat meters
Battery life More than 8 years
Communication protocol LoRaWAN / M-Bus
M-Bus standard CJ/T188
Data rate 2400 bps
Data format 8 data bits
Parity Even
Stop bit 1
Protection IP65
GDO514 LoRaWAN Gateway
Key Features
Feature Description
Long range communication LoRaWAN wireless coverage
Multi-channel reception Handles multiple devices
Data forwarding Sends data to IoT platform
Remote management Supports remote maintenance
Technical Specifications
Parameter Value
Model GDO514-AGCN470-N-2
Channels 4
Frequency CN470
Backhaul 4G cellular
Installation Outdoor
Protection IP65

Typically, one gateway can cover around five residential buildings depending on the environment.

ThinkLink IoT Platform
Core Platform Features
Module Description
Data collection Collects meter data
Visualization Historical data charts
Data analytics Temperature and flow analysis
Alarm system Device offline alerts
Energy analysis Heating energy monitoring
Integration MQTT API support
Dashboard Visual monitoring interface
Solution Advantages
Advantage Description
Strong protocol compatibility Supports multiple heat meter protocols
Wide coverage LoRaWAN enables large area coverage
Easy deployment Simple installation via M-Bus
Low maintenance cost Long battery life
Flexible data applications Energy and cost analysis