Is my Smart Meter really dumb?

Reed_Richards

I had a Smart Meter fitted yesterday but the installer concluded that the EDMI 420 communication device sitting on top of it could not quite get enough signal to communicate.  Therefore I would still have to submit manual readings and I couldn't have a hand-held device.

After he left and things had settled down the two lights on the EDMI have been giving a quick simultaneous flash ever 5 seconds or so, which from what I read indicates normal operation.  So was he too impatient to leave or does normal=inactive in my case?  

MattMattMattUK

Reed_Richards said:

I had a Smart Meter fitted yesterday but the installer concluded that the EDMI 420 communication device sitting on top of it could not quite get enough signal to communicate.  Therefore I would still have to submit manual readings and I couldn't have a hand-held device.

What do you mean by "hand-held device"?

Reed_Richards said:

After he left and things had settled down the two lights on the EDMI have been giving a quick simultaneous flash ever 5 seconds or so, which from what I read indicates normal operation.  So was he too impatient to leave or does normal=inactive in my case?  

It really just depends if it starts reporting through the network or not, you can keep an eye out for that with your provider, but you would also need to potentially submit readings until it works correctly, it will be a waiting game. 

[Deleted User]

Reed_Richards said:

I had a Smart Meter fitted yesterday but the installer concluded that the EDMI 420 communication device sitting on top of it could not quite get enough signal to communicate.  Therefore I would still have to submit manual readings and I couldn't have a hand-held device.

After he left and things had settled down the two lights on the EDMI have been giving a quick simultaneous flash ever 5 seconds or so, which from what I read indicates normal operation.  So was he too impatient to leave or does normal=inactive in my case?  

Speak to your supplier and invite them to tell you what they intend to do to meet their obligations under the Smart Meter Installation Code of Practice? The Code is included in the Supply Licence:

https://www.edfenergy.com/sites/default/files/smicop_v7.3_-_final_01_jul_21.pdf

Have a look at paragraph 5.

la531983

MattMattMattUK said:

Reed_Richards said:

I had a Smart Meter fitted yesterday but the installer concluded that the EDMI 420 communication device sitting on top of it could not quite get enough signal to communicate.  Therefore I would still have to submit manual readings and I couldn't have a hand-held device.

What do you mean by "hand-held device"?

Probably means the IHD.

Reed_Richards

MattMattMattUK said:

What do you mean by "hand-held device"?

I have no idea!  It was something the installer held in his hand, about the size and shape of a remote control but I didn't get to see it.  He just told me I could not have one because the comms hub was not working.

brewerdave

Are they issuing battery powered IHDs now ?

[Deleted User]

brewerdave said:

Are they issuing battery powered IHDs now ?

IHDs have been battery powered for some years now. That said, the device is not intended to be run on the battery. The battery is there primarily to allow consumers to move IHD around the home to see what power is being drawn when, say, the immersion heater is turned on.

baser999

We had a contractor here for Octopus to instal a smart meter a few weeks ago and he had issues getting a wi-fi connection. Said the meter would still read as it should, it simply wouldn’t relay meter readings back to base. Then all of a sudden it picked up a signal, alls been well ever since. Seems they’re getting wi-if issues in certain areas. 

Swipe

Seems a cop out not giving you a IHD just because the comms hub can't send a reading to the supplier. How is that relevant in any way?

[Deleted User]

baser999 said:

We had a contractor here for Octopus to instal a smart meter a few weeks ago and he had issues getting a wi-fi connection. Said the meter would still read as it should, it simply wouldn’t relay meter readings back to base. Then all of a sudden it picked up a signal, alls been well ever since. Seems they’re getting wi-if issues in certain areas. 

Depending on where you live, the comms hub connects with the DCC network via the Telefonica (O2) mobile network or by UHF radio. The only wifi is the secure Zigbee connection between the gas meter; the IHD and the comms hub.

Gerry1

baser999 said:

We had a contractor here for Octopus to instal a smart meter a few weeks ago and he had issues getting a wi-fi connection. Said the meter would still read as it should, it simply wouldn’t relay meter readings back to base. Then all of a sudden it picked up a signal, alls been well ever since. Seems they’re getting wi-fi issues in certain areas. 

Smart meters don't use wi-fi.  They use the O2 mobile network in the south and central areas, and Arqiva Long Range Radio in the north and Scotland.