SMART METER NOT WORKING.

StClears345

mmmmikey said:

If you're in St Clears then you can check the O2 signal and/or coverage checker - your smart meter uses the same 2g / 3g mobile network as a smart phone. But you need to do this by the meter. At my house I get a signal fine at the front where the meter boxes are but hardly at all in the back garden. Even things such as where you park your car can make a difference.

Also worth being aware that in the south (which includes Wales in this instance) there are various Comms hub options that should have been tried out as part of the install. If you have an SKU1 Comms hub (it says on it) it should be possible to change it for an SKU2 hub, and if that doesn't work an external antenna can be used. Not sure how you go about checking they've followed the correct process and not just given up, though.

Good morning and thank you for your help.
I am about to download the Mastdata App which should be able to tell me the strength.
Unfortunately I already have a SKU2 Hub, as do my neighbors.
Thanks for the suggestion of an external ariel. I have requested one from Octopus but they say the Data Communication Company DCC have refused it as the signal is poor and there is no way of rerequesting as you are only permitted to ask once !!!
I feel your lst sentence sums up the situation as Octopus do seem to have just given up.
Thanks for all your help.

mmmmikey

StClears345 said:

Rodders53 said:

Add into the mix the electric meter/comms unit locations...

External meter box? 
Inside the dwelling?

One home may have the walls (with foil-backed insulating boards) etc,., between the unit and the transmit/receive tower/pole, while the others are sited in clear view of it... 

Places 1/2 a kilometre apart can change reception significantly...  The Freeview TV reception checker is based on 100m x 100m reception squares...

Good morning . Thanks for your help.
Myself and my 2 neighbours all have external T2 Ariels fitted in a porch or similar. My Ariel is in direct line of sight of an EE mast. 

Does the EE mask include O2 kit (the different networks often share masts but install their own kit)? Unless it does it's irrelevant as it's the O2 network you need to connect to. You can check the signal strength with an O2 mobile at the same place as the smart meter. If you have a good signal, that does point to a problem with the comms hub. If it works intermittently that points to a signal issue - if it doesn't work at all then it's most likely to be a configuration issue. 

The policy across all suppliers seems to be prioritising new installations over getting existing ones working and I expect that's the wall you have hit.

StClears345

SuzeQStan said:

We went through something similar with 🐙 -not reading our smart meter - they said there was an issue with signal blah blah - same as you we had close neighbours with no problems at all with their smart meters. We kept at 🐙 and eventually found out that human error - incorrect recording of a number for the meter. Once they realised the mistake we were golden. Took about 6 months of agg

Good morning and thanks SuzeQStan,
Thanks for the suggestion . It gives me hope.
I am on 2 years "agg" so will keep at it . Thanks.

merlodlliw

I have had soar panels and heat pump installed and Iam trying to get a smart metre via Octopus.energy. Engineer came today said signal poor, comming back with a larger  arial.  I have good reception with EE but reading the thread is is O2 signal is used which is poor.  I live north east Wales approx 1300ft high and have line of site of tv mast.  Any suggestions

EssexHebridean

I'd suggest waiting until the engineer comes back with the larger aerial, which will hopefully sort out the issue. 

Gerry1

mmmmikey said:

StClears345 said:

Rodders53 said:

Add into the mix the electric meter/comms unit locations...

External meter box? 
Inside the dwelling?

One home may have the walls (with foil-backed insulating boards) etc,., between the unit and the transmit/receive tower/pole, while the others are sited in clear view of it... 

Places 1/2 a kilometre apart can change reception significantly...  The Freeview TV reception checker is based on 100m x 100m reception squares...

Good morning . Thanks for your help.
Myself and my 2 neighbours all have external T2 Ariels fitted in a porch or similar. My Ariel is in direct line of sight of an EE mast. 

You can check the signal strength with an O2 mobile at the same place as the smart meter. If you have a good signal, that does point to a problem with the comms hub. If it works intermittently that points to a signal issue - if it doesn't work at all then it's most likely to be a configuration issue.

Could be very misleading because you're likely to be measuring the O2 4G signal, but it's the 3G signal that's used by smart meters.

You'd need your set your phone to 2G/3G or whatever and to make sure the displayed signal strength relates to 3G.

mmmmikey

Gerry1 said:

mmmmikey said:

StClears345 said:

Rodders53 said:

Add into the mix the electric meter/comms unit locations...

External meter box? 
Inside the dwelling?

One home may have the walls (with foil-backed insulating boards) etc,., between the unit and the transmit/receive tower/pole, while the others are sited in clear view of it... 

Places 1/2 a kilometre apart can change reception significantly...  The Freeview TV reception checker is based on 100m x 100m reception squares...

Good morning . Thanks for your help.
Myself and my 2 neighbours all have external T2 Ariels fitted in a porch or similar. My Ariel is in direct line of sight of an EE mast. 

You can check the signal strength with an O2 mobile at the same place as the smart meter. If you have a good signal, that does point to a problem with the comms hub. If it works intermittently that points to a signal issue - if it doesn't work at all then it's most likely to be a configuration issue.

Could be very misleading because you're likely to be measuring the O2 4G signal, but it's the 3G signal that's used by smart meters.

You'd need your set your phone to 2G/3G or whatever and to make sure the displayed signal strength relates to 3G.

Thanks @Gerry1 good point.

Smart meters don't need a particularly good signal to work and even if the signal drops out occasionally the data is saved so it can be sent when the signal comes back. 

Best thing to do is to just to wait for the engineer to come back with the better aerial and take it from there.

Ectophile

Gerry1 said:

mmmmikey said:

StClears345 said:

Rodders53 said:

Add into the mix the electric meter/comms unit locations...

External meter box? 
Inside the dwelling?

One home may have the walls (with foil-backed insulating boards) etc,., between the unit and the transmit/receive tower/pole, while the others are sited in clear view of it... 

Places 1/2 a kilometre apart can change reception significantly...  The Freeview TV reception checker is based on 100m x 100m reception squares...

Good morning . Thanks for your help.
Myself and my 2 neighbours all have external T2 Ariels fitted in a porch or similar. My Ariel is in direct line of sight of an EE mast. 

You can check the signal strength with an O2 mobile at the same place as the smart meter. If you have a good signal, that does point to a problem with the comms hub. If it works intermittently that points to a signal issue - if it doesn't work at all then it's most likely to be a configuration issue.

Could be very misleading because you're likely to be measuring the O2 4G signal, but it's the 3G signal that's used by smart meters.

You'd need your set your phone to 2G/3G or whatever and to make sure the displayed signal strength relates to 3G.

I hope it's not entirely reliant on 3G. O2 are switching it off next year. https://www.o2.co.uk/help/network-coverage-and-international/3g-switch-off

2G will be hanging around a few more years as so many things use it.

BarelySentientAI

Ectophile said:

Gerry1 said:

mmmmikey said:

StClears345 said:

Rodders53 said:

Add into the mix the electric meter/comms unit locations...

External meter box? 
Inside the dwelling?

One home may have the walls (with foil-backed insulating boards) etc,., between the unit and the transmit/receive tower/pole, while the others are sited in clear view of it... 

Places 1/2 a kilometre apart can change reception significantly...  The Freeview TV reception checker is based on 100m x 100m reception squares...

Good morning . Thanks for your help.
Myself and my 2 neighbours all have external T2 Ariels fitted in a porch or similar. My Ariel is in direct line of sight of an EE mast. 

You can check the signal strength with an O2 mobile at the same place as the smart meter. If you have a good signal, that does point to a problem with the comms hub. If it works intermittently that points to a signal issue - if it doesn't work at all then it's most likely to be a configuration issue.

Could be very misleading because you're likely to be measuring the O2 4G signal, but it's the 3G signal that's used by smart meters.

You'd need your set your phone to 2G/3G or whatever and to make sure the displayed signal strength relates to 3G.

I hope it's not entirely reliant on 3G. O2 are switching it off next year. https://www.o2.co.uk/help/network-coverage-and-international/3g-switch-off

2G will be hanging around a few more years as so many things use it.

Yes, the comms system will switch back to 2G, which has been guaranteed to be available to 2033.