Smart meter

brewerdave

MartinGreenwood said:

Dolor said:

jerogers12 said:

Thanks for that. Makes sense! Pity Octopus couldn't have suggested that. Will ask them to contact DCC on my behalf.

It appears that Meshing is more complicated than I first thought. Note the requirement for Data Collector Units.

Q: What is a mesh network?

Unlike a cell-phone network, which has large antennas that capture and transmit data, with individual phones moving around and connecting to the closest antenna in order to utilize the network, a mesh network has no centralized antennas. Every meter in the network can connect to every other one (within a certain distance- roughly a mile or two in the case of some smart meters that have been tested). Information moves around and then is collected by centralized hub antennas usually mounted on utility poles called Data Collector Units (or DCU’s).  There are also collector meters, which collect data from other meters- these tend to have higher emissions and (we believe) tend to be more associated with reported health problems.

That article is referring to the American system.
In the UK system the smart meters act as data collectors, which is why some meters will have both mesh and normal communications - it is these meters which send the data out of the mesh to the rest of the system.

When I had my smart electric meter fitted last November I asked the BG fitter whether my meter would default to MESH comms. if the mobile signal proved too weak - his answer ? None of the meters he was fitting then (as far as he was aware) ,were mesh capable- it was mobile or nothing! As it happens it is working normally and reporting back to base even tho we have little or no mobile signal here.

dunstonh

brewerdave said:

MartinGreenwood said:

Dolor said:

jerogers12 said:

Thanks for that. Makes sense! Pity Octopus couldn't have suggested that. Will ask them to contact DCC on my behalf.

It appears that Meshing is more complicated than I first thought. Note the requirement for Data Collector Units.

Q: What is a mesh network?

Unlike a cell-phone network, which has large antennas that capture and transmit data, with individual phones moving around and connecting to the closest antenna in order to utilize the network, a mesh network has no centralized antennas. Every meter in the network can connect to every other one (within a certain distance- roughly a mile or two in the case of some smart meters that have been tested). Information moves around and then is collected by centralized hub antennas usually mounted on utility poles called Data Collector Units (or DCU’s).  There are also collector meters, which collect data from other meters- these tend to have higher emissions and (we believe) tend to be more associated with reported health problems.

That article is referring to the American system.
In the UK system the smart meters act as data collectors, which is why some meters will have both mesh and normal communications - it is these meters which send the data out of the mesh to the rest of the system.

When I had my smart electric meter fitted last November I asked the BG fitter whether my meter would default to MESH comms. if the mobile signal proved too weak - his answer ? None of the meters he was fitting then (as far as he was aware) ,were mesh capable- it was mobile or nothing! As it happens it is working normally and reporting back to base even tho we have little or no mobile signal here.

Isn't mesh only used in certain regions? - if so, it could be that your installer isn't being supplied them as his patch doesn't need them  (or maybe they were just unavailable or too expensive due to the electronics issues of the last few years)

LMac1812

I’ve been on the waiting list for a smart meter for over 2 years. I had solar panels and a battery installed last august and was told I needed a smart meter to get paid for the electricity returned to the grid. (Exporting a lot during summer!) Still can’t get a smart meter! Keep being told there’s no engineers in my area. It’s so frustrating… are there other ways to get a smart meter? I’ve recently changed energy providers to see if that helps but currently they also don’t have engineers in my area. Any advice would be really welcome! 

PennineAcute

No.  Smart meters never function properly.  People never get correct bills/statements and energy companies are trying to avoid installing them.  They never work and the Government are trying to ban them as they are that bad!

badmemory

LMac1812 said:

I’ve been on the waiting list for a smart meter for over 2 years. I had solar panels and a battery installed last august and was told I needed a smart meter to get paid for the electricity returned to the grid. (Exporting a lot during summer!) Still can’t get a smart meter! Keep being told there’s no engineers in my area. It’s so frustrating… are there other ways to get a smart meter? I’ve recently changed energy providers to see if that helps but currently they also don’t have engineers in my area. Any advice would be really welcome! 

You aren't getting a smart meter because if you had one you would cost them money.  I bet next door without solar could get one within the week.

[Deleted User]

badmemory said:

LMac1812 said:

I’ve been on the waiting list for a smart meter for over 2 years. I had solar panels and a battery installed last august and was told I needed a smart meter to get paid for the electricity returned to the grid. (Exporting a lot during summer!) Still can’t get a smart meter! Keep being told there’s no engineers in my area. It’s so frustrating… are there other ways to get a smart meter? I’ve recently changed energy providers to see if that helps but currently they also don’t have engineers in my area. Any advice would be really welcome! 

You aren't getting a smart meter because if you had one you would cost them money.  I bet next door without solar could get one within the week.

Complete and utter nonsense. There are a myriad of reasons why a supplier cannot fit a smart meter. It could be that the location is in a known area of poor communications, or there is a shortage of installers in that area. In some areas, there are shortages of certain types of smart meter.