Changeable external meter antenna for meter assemblies

1. A meter assembly comprising: a meter comprising a meter antenna housed within the meter; a meter collar coupled to the meter and comprising a collar connector electrically coupled to the meter antenna through a coaxial cable; and a modular antenna assembly comprising a modular antenna and a modular antenna connector, wherein the modular antenna assembly is detachably mounted to the meter collar, wherein the modular antenna connector is configured to detachably connect with the collar connector such that the modular antenna is electrically coupled with the meter antenna, and wherein a gain of the modular antenna is higher than a gain of the meter antenna.

2. The meter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the modular antenna is a directional antenna that is adjustable relative to the meter antenna.

3. The meter assembly of claim 2 , wherein the modular antenna assembly further comprises an adjustable dial, and wherein the adjustable dial is physically connected to the modular antenna such that positioning of the adjustable dial adjusts a direction that the modular antenna is directed.

4. The meter assembly of claim 3 , wherein the adjustable dial further comprises a dial lock configured to selectively secure the adjustable dial in a position relative to the modular antenna assembly, and wherein the dial lock is a tamper resistant dial lock.

5. The meter assembly of claim 3 , wherein the adjustable dial further comprises a position indicator configured to indicate that direction that the modular antenna is directed.

6. The meter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the modular antenna assembly is at a position vertically offset from the meter antenna such that the modular antenna is vertically offset from the meter.

7. The meter assembly of claim 6 , wherein the position of the modular antenna assembly is above the meter such that the modular antenna is above the meter.

8. The meter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the meter collar is configured to connect to a meter socket, and wherein the meter collar is configured to form a single connection of the meter assembly between the meter socket and the meter assembly.

9. The meter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the modular antenna is an omnidirectional antenna.

10. The meter assembly of claim 1 , wherein the collar connector comprises a radio frequency (RF) connector.

11. A meter assembly comprising:

a meter comprising a meter antenna housed within the meter;

a meter collar coupled to the meter and comprising a collar connector electrically coupled to the meter antenna through a coaxial cable; and

a modular antenna assembly comprising a modular antenna and a modular antenna connector, wherein the modular antenna assembly is coupled to the meter collar, wherein the modular antenna connector is configured to detachably connect with the collar connector such that the modular antenna is electrically coupled with the meter antenna, and wherein the modular antenna is a directional antenna that is adjustable relative to the meter antenna.

12. The meter assembly of claim 11 , wherein the modular antenna assembly further comprises an adjustable dial, wherein the adjustable dial is physically connected to the modular antenna such that positioning of the adjustable dial adjusts a direction that the modular antenna is directed, and wherein the adjustable dial further comprises a position indicator configured to indicate that direction that the modular antenna is directed.

13. The meter assembly of claim 11 , wherein the modular antenna assembly is at a position vertically offset from the meter antenna such that the modular antenna is vertically offset from the meter, and wherein the position of the modular antenna assembly is above the meter such that the modular antenna is above the meter.

14. The meter assembly of claim 11 , wherein the meter collar is configured to connect to a meter socket, and wherein the meter collar is configured to form a single connection of the meter assembly between the meter socket and the meter assembly.

15. The meter assembly of claim 11 , wherein the collar connector comprises an RF connector.

16. A meter assembly comprising:

a meter comprising a meter antenna housed within the meter;

a meter collar coupled to the meter and comprising a collar connector electrically coupled to the meter antenna through a coaxial cable; and

a modular antenna assembly comprising a modular antenna, an adjustable dial, and a modular antenna connector, wherein the modular antenna connector is configured to detachably connect with the collar connector, wherein the modular antenna is a directional antenna that is adjustable relative to the meter antenna, and wherein the dial is physically connected to the modular antenna such that positioning of the adjustable dial adjusts a direction that the modular antenna is directed.

17. The meter assembly of claim 16 , wherein the modular antenna assembly is coupled to the meter collar.

18. The meter assembly of claim 16 , wherein the adjustable dial further comprises:

a position indicator configured to indicate that direction that the modular antenna is directed; and

a dial lock configured to selectively secure the adjustable dial in a position relative to the modular antenna assembly.

19. The meter assembly of claim 16 , wherein the modular antenna assembly is at a position vertically offset from the meter antenna such that the modular antenna is vertically offset from the meter, and wherein the position of the modular antenna assembly is above the meter such that the modular antenna is above the meter.

20. The meter assembly of claim 16 , wherein the collar connector comprises an RF connector.