Octopus - smart meter problems

System

This discussion was created from comments split from: Smart meter installed weak/no signal.

MarzipanCrumble

I am O2 (South Wales).  The SW MESH and WAN are flashing in harmony every 5 secs but not the HAN.  I have had a hub and ariel fitted but could the ariel go outside where the signal maybe stronger?

Scot_39

MarzipanCrumble said:

I am O2 (South Wales).  The SW MESH and WAN are flashing in harmony every 5 secs but not the HAN.  I have had a hub and ariel fitted but could the ariel go outside where the signal maybe stronger?

According to the smartme link text from above - I'll relink here - you need a T3 for external.

https://www.smartme.co.uk/smets-2.html

Thought I read the other day - 5 seconds meant WAN healthy.

Is your problem comms to DCC / supplier from electric - or gas meter  IHD ?

MarzipanCrumble

My SM2 are not connecting with Octopus.  The MESH WAN and SW (?) are flashing harmoniously but not the HAN.  A hub has been fitted - don't know what/which.  An ariel has been fitted but only goes about 40cm (16inches) from elec meter andnot outside.

O2 signal is very weak/non existant in that room.  SM2 is mounted on wall near a window.  Was told my walls 'were too thick'.  Lucky me!

So should I ask for T3 and external ariel?

Scot_39

MarzipanCrumble said:

My SM2 are not connecting with Octopus.  The MESH WAN and SW (?) are flashing harmoniously but not the HAN.  A hub has been fitted - don't know what/which.  An ariel has been fitted but only goes about 40cm (16inches) from elec meter andnot outside.

O2 signal is very weak/non existant in that room.  SM2 is mounted on wall near a window.  Was told my walls 'were too thick'.  Lucky me!

So should I ask for T3 and external ariel?

I am not sure you understand my comment re healthy comms on WAN.

The Wide Area Network WAN is tge one used to ommunicate with outside world - via DCC to supplier.

It if slow flashing WAN status is I thought for connected and healthy.  But it is so long since I looked at my external meter I could be wrong.

For a full description of status for cellular in midlands and south and Arqiva radio in north type comms hubs - there are annoyingly differences on say HAN for instance as I read those tables - see pages 19 onwards of 

https://www.smartdcc.co.uk/media/kdged1me/communications-hub-supporting-information-v20.pdf

Read that and see what status of WAN (to from supllier) and HAN (purely local) leds says.


The HAN network so light  is seperate from the WAN network the aerial is designed for.  its for comms only to internal / local devices like gas meter and in home display.

But as  above if I am right the WAN flashing slowly suggests it's connected - so if supplier not reading thats potentially a supplier issue not a meter issue.

There is certainly no harm in asking re T3  but if the wan is sayings its healthy and connected with the t1/2 internal there is no point.

Not sure I've seen photos of t3 posted here but seen couple of examples of the  internals lifting signals out of basements or metal meter enclosures etc.

MarzipanCrumble

Thank you for the above.  Not sure I understand it, it is written for a trained installer/engineer.

Is there a way I could check if any data coming through to DCC?  

I have emailed Octopus.

Scot_39

MarzipanCrumble said:

Thank you for the above.  Not sure I understand it, it is written for a trained installer/engineer.

Is there a way I could check if any data coming through to DCC?  

I have emailed Octopus.

Yes its a bit technical.  But a couple of FAQ posts on suppliers sites were a little less than clear.

You could try using an app that uses DCC data is one possibility. Maybe Bright or Hugo - there used to be a web site too - but that needs some second authorisation from one of the others now iirc.

Or just wait to hear back from supplier.

As you have MESH and a blank HAN - going to assume your on a cellular hub.

So a low frequency flash - defined as once every 5 seconds (as you stated above) - is healthy for both the WAN and the MESH lights - from table 6 and 8 - and the HAN off - if no devices been connected after install from table 7 (p22/23/24/25).

But a medium or high frequency flash - 2 seconds or twice per second - means something else.

Octopus might respond - and might even just have another attempt to connect - but in end may need to send an engineer to check it or even do a full reboot.

The fact they fitted an aeiral though suggests they were aware of the signal problems already - it's not that common a requirement.

MarzipanCrumble

Bright I have already.  However I think it is showing the device numbers of the old SM2s that Octopus replaced.  On devices it is showing completely different number to that on the meter.  Wonder if Octopus hasn't registered the new meters

QrizB

MarzipanCrumble said:

My SM2 are not connecting with Octopus.  The MESH WAN and SW (?) are flashing harmoniously but not the HAN.

It sounds as though your WAN is fine, the problem is with the HAN which connects both meters (assuming you have gas) and the IHD to the hub.

MarzipanCrumble said:

So should I ask for T3 and external ariel?

If the WAN is OK, you don't need any change to your antenna. You might however need Octopus to send someone out and pair your meters to the HAN, as it seems the last engineer may have failed to do this.

Phones4Chris

MarzipanCrumble said:

Bright I have already.  However I think it is showing the device numbers of the old SM2s that Octopus replaced.  On devices it is showing completely different number to that on the meter.  Wonder if Octopus hasn't registered the new meters

It may take 24hrs or so for everything to update. The Bright App (as well as Octopus) will only update once the new meter is register. Log in to your Octopus account and see what meter serial number is showing.
As mentioned by Scot_39, if all is working OK, the SW, WAN and HAN light should flash in unison every 5 seconds. In your situation it sounds like you also have a MESH connection, that should flash in unison. If the HAN still fails to light then the IHD is not connecting (as mentioned the system may not have been updated for your IHD). You may have to contact Octopus if that doesn't resolve itself and give them the GUID of the IHD and ask for someone in the smart meter team to get it linked to your new meter. (The GUID is on the back or bottom of the IHD and also on the OK button by pressing the "Right" button a few times until you get to IHD Information the press OK again.) Don't make any mistakes with the number.

MarzipanCrumble

My new meters were fitted Nov 24.  However the synchronised flashing has only just started.  Before they flashed separately at various intervals.

I have a pink mini which never connected.  I am loathe to mess with my router which does bboth 2.4 and 5 GHz  and pink mini only connects if 2.4 GHZ and no 5 GHZ

Ugh when so many on here say ditch the IHD is the IHD now so important to have connected?