Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the more common questions we get asked. Contact us for additional answers.
What is Telegauge and what does it do?
Telegauge is a service which connects to devices which provide data, collects that data, and displays that data on one or more screens. It's like a traditional HMI, but modernized so screens can be displayed in browsers and tablets. In the most common configuration, there is a Telegauge device on an industrial network, paired with a cloud server, whose job it is to serve screens to your web browser.
Why don't I just use the monitoring service from one of my vendors?
Many vendors are offering monitoring services these days. Telegauge is different because it monitors all devices. In addition, it stores the data, provides notifications, data retention and reporting.
Will this work with my device/network/facility?
Yes, Telegauge is very flexible, and can be configured to support a wide variety of (modern) equipment. It uses custom pollers to connect to devices and gather data. In many cases, these devices speak common protocols, such as Modbus. Other times, devices have static webpages which have to be scraped. Other kinds of devices, particularly residential smart devices have a web-based API.
What about old, legacy devices?
That one is tricky, and depends on the device. It is often possible to add additional sensors to older devices. For example, wrapping CT's around power lines going to and from older power meters. It depends on the device.
You upload data to a 'cloud' server. Is it secure?
Yes, the Telegauge device on your network opens a 2-way connection to the cloud server, using industry-standard 2048 bit encryption. Additionally, the cloud server is configured to deny all outside connections, except from the facility's public IP. And, of course, the Telegauge device is protected by the facility's own firewall policies. It has no external, web-accessible port whatsoever.
What if there is no internet connection?
Some remote facilities don't have an internet connection. We offer devices with integrated LTE/4G cell modems. Ideal for those remote solar-powered water meters.
Do you have an App?
No. Since screens are all unique to each installation, it's difficult to have a single App that fulfills the needs of everyone. However, in both iOS and Android, webpages can be added to the springboard. Once you add your installation url to the springboard, it behaves like a full-screen app, with all the custom screens. Plus, Telegauge knows when it's being displayed on a mobile device, and can show screens created specifically for mobile devices.
Can I run it on my own hardware?
No. Telegauge requires its own environment to run. It has OS-level needs, such as running tasks on a schedule, being able to run constant polling daemons, and access to some root-level functions (serial ports, and nmap, for example). Plus, we maintain a consistent operational environment across all installations for simpler maintenance. A Docker Container is in development, however.
Who creates the screens?
You do! We do! We will create screens for you, but at any time, you can create and edit your own screens. Telegauge has a built-in screen editor.
Can I display Telegauge screens in my operations center?
Of course. It's a popular configuration. We can mount touch screens ranging up to about 80 inches on the wall of your operations center. You can even mount several touch screens, showing different Telegauge screens.
How long do you store data?
Practically, forever. We still have archive data going back to 2009. Archived data may not be available for things like trending or reporting, but is available upon request.
How is the monthly service fee calculated?
The nature of Telegauge requires ongoing services to maintain its operation. Specifically, cloud servers, internet connections, data storage volumes, cellphone SMS gateways and more. Additionally, and importantly, the monthly service fee pays for continued maintenance and improvements to the software.
How do notifications/call-outs work?
As Telegauge collects data, it compares each new value to the tag's definition of alarm and warning levels. If the value crosses one of these thresholds, it looks to see if any user is subscribed to be notified, and if so, that user receives an SMS with the tag name, time and value. Telegauge sends the notification immediately, so any delay is due to the inherent nature of SMS on cellphone networks.
Can I export data?
Of course. You can either select a tag, and export the data (with options for date ranges and re-sampling), or generate a report. Reports have the advantage of being able to be emailed periodically.
Do you offer on-site installation?
Yes. We can come to your facility and install all necessary equipment. Rates vary by location.
Do you support 'Protocol X'?
We already support many protocols, and can support any protocol with a public spec. Telegauge's roots are in power generation, so most of our protocols are from that industry. We write all of our own data collection pollers, and as such, any protocol is a candidate.
How many data points have you collected?
Billions
That's a weird logo!
Yes it is:
- It kind of looks like a meter, with the needle pointing to the upper right.
- It kind of looks like an old english T, as well as the letter G. TG = Telegauge.
- It resembles a lowercase sigma σ, the symbol for Standard Deviation, an important statistical measure, used heavily in Telegauge.
- The arrow in the upper left represents "remote", as in "remote monitoring".
How big is your company?
We are a small, family owned company, and like other family owned companies, customers are very important. We have personal relationships with most of our customers. Communicating with someone at Telegauge means you are probably communicating with someone who wrote some of the software. Therefore, your questions get answered, your suggestions get implemented, and your bugs are fixed. Big companies do not, or can not, do that.