VGB
The Vehicle Gateway Base Station, also known to most utilities as the VGB, is a portable device that can pick up the meters as you drive by them in the field. The VGB reads the 520M radios (blue dots) in your system. If you have 520R radios, this will not read it.
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You also need an antenna, a laptop or tablet, a printer cable (printer end to the VGB, USB end to the laptop).
The VGB is powered by a 12 volt power source (vehicle cigarette lighter). There is an option power jump cable from the VGB if you also have a VXU and although Sensus allows this and it will work, I do not advise it. If you have ability to power them separately, we definitely advise that. If at any point you see the button in the power light flashing, turn it off and restart the VGB. If also using a VXU, turn on the VGB, wait 30 seconds, then turn on VXU.
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The VGB works with the AutoVu software or the FlexRead system. If your utility is still on AutoRead, it will have to move to FlexRead very soon. It is my opinion that by the end of 2026, all utilities will be on the FlexRead system. This will be cloud based and is so much faster, easier, and so many less issues. The VGB can read meters up to a mile away.
The power cable is inserted here where it says VGB Power In. Red dot at top of power plug to red dot on the VGB plug entrance. Then the larger black 12 volt plug is to be plugged into the cigarette lighter.
The printer cable is plugged here in the front of the VGB. The USB portion is then plugged into your laptop or USB to C adapter in the tablet. It advised to always use the same Com Port when using a laptop. If you ever get a VGB communication error, you will need to call your Sensus Technician to get your Com Ports corrected in the AutoVu program.
The antenna screws in right here on the front right of the VGB.