I've just received my "invite" for installing Smart Meters. So its decision time, yes I know they are not compulsory but the inevitable outcome at some point in the future will be some kind of penalty for not having them or they will be compulsory. Also the surrounding neighbourhood will have them installed & the time will come when I am surrounded by smart meters & whatever bad things they might bring whether I want them or not.
I read all the advertising blurb & it smells like the same old crap we had about the wonders of DAB radio, I don't see any advantages for my situation, I am well able & have measured my meters for years, am very conversant & active w.r.t. economising on power usage - & why I leave my Naim powered on 24/7 - & I don't need a smart meter to help me in that regard.
I have read extensively on how they work &, avoiding the obvious anti smart meter campaign blogs, have not been able to find out that much. Some www sites/blogs have RF health concerns, some HAM radio sites report interference, but nothing much on hifi & AV or other domestic issues. What I do know is Smart Meters have x2 transmitters that operate on x2 networks – WAN (Wide Area Network) sub-1Gz that links individual properties to each other and to the base station. HAN (Home Area Network) ~2.5Ghz meter to display. As an avid audio hifi nerdish & being short on real information, I am seeking answers regarding any negatives people with real experience have found & would appreciate any forum'ites feedback.
So whats the griff guys
Posted on: 13 July 2016 by Mike-B
The deed has been done !!! Hoping for a Lovely Rita Meter Maid, I was well disappointed with Dave the installer bloke. Anyway, he installed the two meter kits, including replacing the incoming main fuse to meter cables & it was all set to go in just under 2 hours.
I've read up on smart meters re the techie stuff & my initial concerns re. wifi & ZigBee RF interference are in most cases not a problem according to the various providers & the meter/comms companies (but they still include the caveat that it might be). Dave said in 3 years of installs, including high density flats (apartments) with electricity, gas & water smart meters, he has never encountered a problem. In my case I have my 2.4GHz band fixed on Ch-1, & looking at the wifi neighbourhood on inSSIDer I see only very weak two or three others on Ch-6 & Ch-11 so I doubt very much that these will be a problem. The meter to display ZigBee link does not have much of range anyhow, it works well in the kitchen (its normal home) but is struggling in the lounge (wifi router location) where its a bit sluggish showing changes. I can't detect any interference or wifi conflict, I guess because the ZigBee millisecond bullet bursts are low power, wifi sync/speed has not changed @ better than 66/18Mbs & SNR margin is better than the 6dB target. So my fears have proved to be unfounded.
Posted on: 13 July 2016 by Mike-B
Ch-108 its OK, but as I said in prev post, I don't need the extra power (1W) as laptop(s), PC & iPad have zero probs with 200mW all around the house. I'll be going back to the previous ch-44 or similar.
ZigBee is locked down, but from what I can find (not 100%) & as I understand it the ZigBee module scans the 2.4 spectrum at initial start up & sets to a fixed quiet(est) channel between wifi 1, 6 & 11. The installer did not know much other than that. I'm still trying to find something more & I haven't found any detector app such as inSSIDer that can see ZigBee.
Posted on: 26 July 2016 by Mike-B
Update on my Smart Meter. (a) ZigBee signal is weak & not able to receive in some parts of house such as where originally intended to be located in the kitchen & although it's OK in most parts of the lounge its not receiving at my listening chair so am deprived of fiddling. (b) Its not possible to load a different (my own) tariff & standing charge. Overall I'm a bit not impressed, but the deed has been done & at least I don't need to go read meters on cold frosty mornings. There is no detectable interference with wifi or other audio goodness so original fears were unfounded. I've contacted Scottish Power on both the above & although had an acknowledgement, no one has come back on news of possible solutions.
I also finally moved out the last of the incandescent light bulbs & replaced the 6 x 60W = 360W we had in the lounge for maximum level lighting I replaced them with R63 non-dimmable LED's - 6 x 8W = 48W. Interestingly they show on the S.M. as using 40W. I also checked out the rooms most used lighting from 7 x 5W = 35W LED dimmable GU10's, these show 30W on max brightness but 0W (zero) on full dim. ............ & before anyone asks, there is no detectable "noise" emissions or audible interference from any of my LED's or LED dimmer switch.
