A method for obtaining information from a utility meter, the method comprising steps of: emitting radiation on to a rotating element of the utility meter; receiving incident radiation comprising reflected radiation from a reflective surface of the rotating element, the reflective surface having a marker; determining an instant value of intensity of the incident radiation; determining a reference value from historic values of the intensity of the incident radiation; and detecting passing of the marker, as a function of the reference value and the instant value by: - determining a first threshold value from the reference value, - determining a second threshold value from the reference value or the first threshold value, the second threshold value being at a second minimum offset from the first threshold value, wherein a first minimum offset and the second minimum offset are in a same direction, and - detecting the marker when the instant value first crosses the second threshold value in the direction of the first and the second minimum offsets followed by the instant value crossing the first threshold value in a direction opposite to the direction of the first and the second minimum offsets, characterized in that the detecting step further comprises a step. of: - keeping the first threshold value and the second threshold value constant, between the instant value crossing the second threshold value and then crossing the first threshold value and - updating the first threshold value so as to ensure that the first threshold value is always at the first minimum offset from the reference value. emitting radiation on to a rotating element of the utility meter; receiving incident radiation comprising reflected radiation from a reflective surface of the rotating element, the reflective surface having a marker; determining an instant value of intensity of the incident radiation; determining a reference value from historic values of the intensity of the incident radiation; and detecting passing of the marker, as a function of the reference value and the instant value by: - determining a first threshold value from the reference value, - determining a second threshold value from the reference value or the first threshold value, the second threshold value being at a second minimum offset from the first threshold value, wherein a first minimum offset and the second minimum offset are in a same direction, and - detecting the marker when the instant value first crosses the second threshold value in the direction of the first and the second minimum offsets followed by the instant value crossing the first threshold value in a direction opposite to the direction of the first and the second minimum offsets, characterized in that the detecting step further comprises a step. of: - keeping the first threshold value and the second threshold value constant, between the instant value crossing the second threshold value and then crossing the first threshold value and - updating the first threshold value so as to ensure that the first threshold value is always at the first minimum offset from the reference value. - determining a first threshold value from the reference value, - determining a second threshold value from the reference value or the first threshold value, the second threshold value being at a second minimum offset from the first threshold value, wherein a first minimum offset and the second minimum offset are in a same direction, and - detecting the marker when the instant value first crosses the second threshold value in the direction of the first and the second minimum offsets followed by the instant value crossing the first threshold value in a direction opposite to the direction of the first and the second minimum offsets, - keeping the first threshold value and the second threshold value constant, between the instant value crossing the second threshold value and then crossing the first threshold value and - updating the first threshold value so as to ensure that the first threshold value is always at the first minimum offset from the reference value.