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Recommendations We have determined multiple courses of action we would recommend to the City of Arden Hills. They are arranged in this document in terms of Good, Better, and Best. If desired, ANCOM can provide a quote to provide any of the following solutions. First, we present the "Good" Solution: The receive antennas and collectors have been exposed to the elements for several years now, and there may be some degradation in receive capability due to this. We could replace all the receive antennas and cable assemblies with new equipment. This would rule out the possibility of equipment failure as a cause of the decreased reading, but would do nothing to change the way that the collectors function. The antennas that are in use are readily available as are the cable assemblies, so this solution could be implemented relatively soon. This would also be the lowest cost solution. However, this solution does not address that there is still an elevated noise floor present, and any interference coming in to the collector would increase along with the water meter transmissions. Next, we will discuss the "Better" Solution: Since there is collection deficiency in a defined area of the city, our "Better" solution is to replace the receive antennas with a completely different antenna system. This would involve the use of directional antennas that have higher gain. Instead of utilizing the low-profile antennas that are currently in place, we would install a set of directional Yagi antennas that would receive water meter transmissions from a set direction. Utilizing a directed array of antennas would allow us to "shape" the area of reception from a particular collector. Last, we offer, for your consideration, the Best solution: This solution is to install a 4th collector in the southern area of the city. We have determined that if available, a 4th collector utilizing the directional antennas would greatly increase the receive area of the system. We have identified Johanna Marsh Park as a viable location for the potential 4th collector. This solution would require the installation of a structure or pole that would put the collector around 40 feet above the ground. This would ensure an adequate RF pathway would exist between any potential water meter and the collector. We understand there are many logistical challenges that are present when trying to install poles in a marshland environment, and there are certainly other locations that may be available. Our recommendation is simply the most centrally located, City owned property we could find.