Multiple and interchangeable meter reading probes

A method to monitor utility meters comprising:

• detecting a characteristic of a first utility meter with a first probe head, wherein the characteristic of the first utility meter is dependent on a usage of a first utility metered by the first utility meter;
• communicating first information related to the characteristic of the first utility meter from the first probe head, through a first cable coupled to a probe connector that is mated to a probe interface of a communication unit;
• detecting a characteristic of a second utility meter with a second probe head, wherein the characteristic of the second utility meter is dependent on a usage of a second utility metered by the second utility meter;
• communicating second information related to the characteristic of the second utility meter from the second probe head, through a second cable coupled to the probe connector that is mated to the probe interface of the communication unit;
• and
• sending a message from the communication unit indicating the usage of the first utility or the usage of the second utility;
• wherein the characteristic of the first utility meter is different than the characteristic of the second utility meter.

An article of manufacture comprising at least one non-transitory machine readable medium comprising one or more instructions, in response to being executed on a computing device, cause the computing device to:

• receive first information related to a characteristic of a first utility meter from a first probe head through a first cable coupled to a probe connector at a probe interface of a communication unit, wherein the characteristic of the first utility meter is dependent on a usage of a first utility metered by the first utility meter;
• receive second information related to a characteristic of a second utility meter from a second probe head through a second cable coupled to the probe connector at the probe interface of the communication unit, wherein the characteristic of the second utility meter is dependent on a usage of a second utility metered by the second utility meter;
• and
• send a message from the communication unit indicating the usage of the first utility or the usage of the second utility;
• wherein the characteristic of the first utility meter is different than the characteristic of the second utility meter.