Why are people so disparaging about IHDs?

matt_drummer

RG2015 said:

matt_drummer said:

RG2015 said:

No it doesn't, HAN is not wifi.      

What is it then?

There is no physical connection, how do you think the data gets to the IHD?

It was a joke, probably not funny though 

Clearly not to me!

Raxiel

matt_drummer said:

RG2015 said:

No it doesn't, HAN is not wifi.      

What is it then?

What do you think HAN stands for?

There is no physical connection, how do you think the data gets to the IHD?

Strictly speaking they're correct.
WiFi is a wireless networking protocol. The HAN uses the ZigBee protocol, which is similar in that it uses short range radio, but it's distinct from WiFi in the same way the CDMA (2G) or HSPA (3G) protocols are used for the SMETS1/2 WAN are distinct 

[Deleted User]

MattMattMattUK said:

[Deleted User] said:

MattMattMattUK said:

Chrysalis said:

I think IHD's would be better without cost been quoted, used for usage, not tariff or billing information.

I also think the octopus mini should be how it should have been from the start, I find it much better than the IHD I received.

For those who dont know, Octopus are trialling a product which sends usage information to your phone for the current day and live watts usage.  So no need to be sitting next to a IHD display, and with it being an app, it means octopus can provide software updates when needed.

https://octopus.energy/blog/octopus-home-mini/

I am really surprised that the system for getting data off the HAN was not better designed, if they had made it accessible by user paring, over Zigbee, Bluetooth etc. then it would have solved a lot of issues, would have allowed a PC to draw down data easily etc. The data accessibility at the local level seems flawed.

Our smart meter system is deliberately locked down for security reasons as there is the potential for a malign actor to cause considerable long-term damage to the National Grid if our smart meters are disconnected from the Grid en masse.

https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/information/the-smart-security-behind-the-gb-smart-metering-system

I understand why elements of the system need to be secured, especially the elements around connection/disconnection, but there is no reason that the data access part could not have been made more accessible on the local level, allowing direct paring to the HAN at a local level rather than requiring remote paring, which would have no risk of disconnection being in the walled off HAN components. 

Bear in mind how long our smart meter system has been in development: well over 10 years. I very much doubt if someone was writing SMETS today it would be in anyway similar to SMETS1 or 2. 

A consumer pairing devices to the HAN gives him/her access to the comms hub and to both meters. Why open up a potential entry point to the system which could be exploited just to satisfy a few consumers.

RG2015

Raxiel said:

matt_drummer said:

RG2015 said:

No it doesn't, HAN is not wifi.      

What is it then?

What do you think HAN stands for?

There is no physical connection, how do you think the data gets to the IHD?

Strictly speaking they're correct.
WiFi is a wireless networking protocol. The HAN uses the ZigBee protocol, which is similar in that it uses short range radio, but it's distinct from WiFi in the same way the CDMA (2G) or HSPA (3G) protocols are used for the SMETS1/2 WAN are distinct 

Yay! Points for the pedants.

Sea_Shell

Well, after being so chuffed that our IHD was accurate with regards usage (if not the tariff since coming off our fix), i've now been hoisted by my own petard, as it were.

We've just come back from a few days away.   We always turn off the heating & HW controls (in the summer), and so we use ZERO gas on the whole days we're away.   Which has always been recorded as such.

However, today, when reconciling my figures, it has spurious random usage noted!!! 

It's instead showing, 5.17, 7.18, 4.53 on the days that should be ZERO.

We checked we hadn't left the hot water on, and we hadn't.     Very strange.     The IHD thinks we've used 50.98 kwh, so far this month, if the 'daily' are added together, but only 34.72, if you take the 'monthly' to date usage fig (June).   

The lower figure tallies with our actual meter reading.

To check this, we noted that IHD gas use stood at 7.61 (after heating the HW) and then we cooked lunch (pan of pasta), and the IHD showed that we had now used 8.07.   'Usage' of 0.91khw.    (We left it to click over on the half-hour update)

At the same time, our meter had progressed from 1462.1 (pre lunch) to 1462.141 m3, so usage of 0.041m3 x 11.2 = 0.46kwh    (Ignore this...brain fart)

Most peculiar!!    Any theories? 

[Deleted User]

Sea_Shell said:

Well, after being so chuffed that our IHD was accurate with regards usage (if not the tariff since coming off our fix), i've now been hoisted by my own petard, as it were.

We've just come back from a few days away.   We always turn off the heating & HW controls (in the summer), and so we use ZERO gas on the whole days we're away.   Which has always been recorded as such.

However, today, when reconciling my figures, it has spurious random useage noted!!!    We checked we hadn't left the hot water on, and we havent.     Very strange.     The IHD thinks we've used 50.98 kwh, so far, if the 'daily' are added together, but only 34.72, if you take the 'monthly' to date usage fig (June).   

The lower figure tallies with our actual meter reading.

To check this, we noted that IHD gas use stood at 7.61 (after heating the HW) and then we cooked lunch (pan of pasta), and the IHD showed that we had now used 8.07.   'Usage' of 0.91khw.

At the same time, our meter had progressed from 1462.1 (pre lunch) to 1462.141 m3, so usage of 0.041m3 x 11.2 = 0.46kwh 

Most peculiar!!    Any theories? 

I am confused. The meter records usage in M3 but the IHD shows usage in kWh (using a fixed CV from the gas mirror in the comms hub). Are you comparing ‘apples with apples’?

Two scenarios come to mind. One you will not like. It could be a pilot light or a small gas leak downstream of the gas meter.

Sea_Shell

Dolor said:

Sea_Shell said:

Well, after being so chuffed that our IHD was accurate with regards usage (if not the tariff since coming off our fix), i've now been hoisted by my own petard, as it were.

We've just come back from a few days away.   We always turn off the heating & HW controls (in the summer), and so we use ZERO gas on the whole days we're away.   Which has always been recorded as such.

However, today, when reconciling my figures, it has spurious random useage noted!!!    We checked we hadn't left the hot water on, and we havent.     Very strange.     The IHD thinks we've used 50.98 kwh, so far, if the 'daily' are added together, but only 34.72, if you take the 'monthly' to date usage fig (June).   

The lower figure tallies with our actual meter reading.

To check this, we noted that IHD gas use stood at 7.61 (after heating the HW) and then we cooked lunch (pan of pasta), and the IHD showed that we had now used 8.07.   'Usage' of 0.91khw.

At the same time, our meter had progressed from 1462.1 (pre lunch) to 1462.141 m3, so usage of 0.041m3 x 11.2 = 0.46kwh 

Most peculiar!!    Any theories? 

I am confused. The meter records usage in M3 but the IHD shows usage in kWh (using a fixed CV from the gas mirror in the comms hub). Are you comparing ‘apples with apples’?

Two scenarios come to mind. One you will not like. It could be a pilot light or a small gas leak downstream of the gas meter.

OK, when I say 'tally' I mean to within the same single digit, so yes, we might be the odd decimal out.

The actual meter recorded lunch as using 0.46kwh (using 11.2 as the conversion factor)
And the IHD recorded the same use as 0.91kwh*

We have no pilot lights anywhere, and if it was a leak....why would the figures be so random, as it's showing "usage" of 5.17:7.18:4.53 when they should be nil. 

Will keep a sharp eye on it over the afternoon (and coming days), as we shouldn't use any more gas today (until 7am in the morning).

It isn't showing any more used since 1pm....which is good!!   


*ETA - ignore the bit about lunch readings...got my calculator finger in a knot.

They both show 0.46kwh usage!!!

Still doesn't explain the "ghost" holiday usage 😕

Sea_Shell

Well, folks, it appear to have re-calibrated itself overnight, and is now showing zero gas for the 3 days in question.   It's also adjusted some figures from before we went away, oddly.

The daily figures still don't add up to the used so far this month figures, but hey ho.   

No extra usage shown from yesterday, and zero first thing this morning, so I think we can rule out leaks!! 

It was just the IHD having a 'wobble' having been turned off.  

Swipe

Hopefully your smart meter will get an over the air tariff update on 1st July and fix any existing anomalies

QrizB

Thanks Sea_Shell (really!) for bumpinf thids thread. I've just caught up with 13 pages of discussion and am not sure whether I know anything new but at least my coffee had sooled enough for me to drink

Sea_Shell said:

It was just the IHD having a 'wobble' having been turned off.  

I turned mine off overnight a few months ago. It had a similar wobble but eventuially sorted itself out (or the data expired from the IHD's history display, I'm not sure which).