Smart meter connectivity

theredsalamander

Does anyone please know how to test for Smart meter connections outside my walls. In rural Wales, so south zone. Inside my house there is apparently no connction to signal or WAN (thick walls). Octopus gave up chasing SMS to try T3 external aerial. If I thought I could get a signal I'd move the meter - the grid connnection is overhead cables, the house geometry is easy, so a "relatively" straightforward technical solution, if expensive. I could then charge batteries overnight to power a heat pump.

QrizB

theredsalamander said:

Does anyone please know how to test for Smart meter connections outside my walls.

In the south it's Telefonica's mobile network, so O2 / Virgin Media.

Do you have decent O2 / Virgin Media mobile coverage anywhere?

Scot_39

In theory the mobile providers area coverage maps might give you an idea.

https://www.o2.co.uk/coveragechecker

https://www.vodafone.co.uk/network/coverage-map

O2 are existing current hubs, vodafone are the new / next generation (so even if get o2 now - youll switch to vodafone by iirc c2033).

So as above for o2 - what about Vodafone 4G mobiles in area ?

Not sure if they come with external antenna options like the old Telefonica (O2/Tesco et al mobile) Toshiba SKU2/3(mesh) options

And would a T1 / T2 aerial mounted at another point in the house do rather than a T3 external - or have you already tried those - in normal or mesh mode ?  (If you have any sort of 2G signal in the rooms)

But all will need a visit from Octopus's meter fitters - and if they wont come with a hub and t3 - unless its the thought of using ladders and cabling to say roof line externally thats stopping them (good old H&S) - I suspect you might have the same issues regardless.