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Smart meters in the North not working properly due to connectivity

It was always doomed to not work for all, as clearly some committee somewhere decided on a one size fits all solution for each area (the split also being a mistake). Undoubtedly Arqiva's estimates of coverage will have similar poor accuracy to the mobile networks coverage maps. It should have been planned with at least one alternative fallback method, rather than the guy simply saying he can't get it working properly.
 
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My Honeywell smart meter has a 4G SIM module, the gas side chats wirelessly to the leccy side and it all gets integrated (Live vaguely in the South of England). Surely anyone in cell network coverage could use that instead of LRR 423Mhz / 868Mhz, etc. Surely most people in the North have cell network coverage these days?
 
My Honeywell smart meter has a 4G SIM module, the gas side chats wirelessly to the leccy side and it all gets integrated (Live vaguely in the South of England). Surely anyone in cell network coverage could use that instead of LRR 423Mhz / 868Mhz, etc. Surely most people in the North have cell network coverage these days?

Most but not all. It might be more practical to drive around with a LRR data collection van and not pay for SIMs.
 
Most but not all. It might be more practical to drive around with a LRR data collection van and not pay for SIMs.
I find that hard to believe. Humans driving around doing manual data collection? Automation almost always is cheaper on a large scale. SIMs and cell network connections are cheap as chips and automating stuff usually is the best way to go. If there really are vans and humans driving around, checking and recording data, that is quite frankly.. insane xD
 
I find that hard to believe. Humans driving around doing manual data collection? Automation almost always is cheaper on a large scale. SIMs and cell network connections are cheap as chips and automating stuff usually is the best way to go. If there really are vans and humans driving around, checking and recording data, that is quite frankly.. insane xD
My neighbourhood recently was installed with bluetooth water meters in the pavement shutoff valves in front of every house. I would think many meters would struggle with 4G reception if they were tucked away in pavements or cupboards. If only a few percent had such issues then what? But if anyone knows more then please tell.
 
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Here's my two if it's of interest to anyone, are they common as muck?:unsure:
I know nothing about the elster brand. 🤷‍♂️ 😊
 
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My neighbourhood recently was installed with bluetooth water meters in the pavement shutoff valves in front of every house. I would think many meters would struggle with 4G reception if they were tucked away in pavements or cupboards. If only a few percent had such issues then what? But if anyone knows more then please tell.
I would agree yes. My folks in Edinburgh have their leccy meters underground (kinda go down stairs, under the street, there is a room there with all the meters in it) and they are basically stuffed. No 4G signal below ground, they want to get smart meters but essentially can't for this reason. Perhaps bluetooth would be a solution, or as I suggested to them the only other practical way is to have a meter installed above ground somewhere
 
Installed by Scottish Power originally, but I've been with Octopus for a good number of years since then.
 

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Looks very similar to my Honeywell kit, I almost wonder if it's actually using their tech
Yeah maybe just different branding, certainly know Honeywell Zaite450.(y)
They've both worked perfectly for years, still don't know why the gas meter's battery hasn't gone flat after all those years though. 😁
 
Installed by Scottish Power originally, but I've been with Octopus for a good number of years since then.
Oh yes, very similar indeedy, Scottish Hydro installed mine. (Now OVO):)
 
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Yeah maybe just different branding, certainly know Honeywell Zaite450.(y)
They've both worked perfectly for years, still don't know why the gas meter's battery hasn't gone flat after all those years though. 😁
Tell me about it! Kinda amazes me the gas battery hasn't died, and I think it has been a good 5 or 6 years at least since installed :)

I guess it's a lithium of some sort that goes for a good maybe 10 years or so xD
 
Tell me about it! Kinda amazes me the gas battery hasn't died, and I think it has been a good 5 or 6 years at least since installed :)

I guess it's a lithium of some sort that goes for a good maybe 10 years or so xD
Yes, there must be a Duracell Bunny in there. 😊
 
We’ve got one the massive iron meters which the spinning wheel, seems to move faster this time of year…
Just don't look at any spinning wheels garetc. :(
 
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Well, EE has the 'ESN' contact for network, they have to provide 98% coverage of the UK 9 (including Scotland including populated Islands) as part of their contract. If the 4G build for that service is completed then there should not be any problem with swopping the SM service in the North of the country to 4G.
 
We have a Kaifa MA120 with a Toshiba cellular module on top of it. I believe Octopus are trying to get to a point where the data that they collect from their CAD via a Zigbee connection can be used for billing in situations where the meter can't get a connection, but I assume that's a bit of a regulatory minefield.

Currently the daily consumption displays in their app and website as an estimate and then it commits it overnight when the cellular check-in is carried out.
 
Grandparents had a smart meter fitted a couple months back.

They're on the Arquiva system, as I would have been (if I had one)

Letter today from E.On which reads (very cut down)

It doesn't f#&king work
 
Well, EE has the 'ESN' contact for network
They shouldn't...


When our power went out for a couple hours, ALL networks went dead. And I mean all. Even the ESN was essentially gone, the generator at the site didn't kick in - so we were totally cut off. No O2/VF from CTIL and no EE/3 MBNL or ESN. (The power cut was on the 2nd October, O2/VF only just came back online last night!!!!)

The DSLAM for VDSL also did not come back on for 2 hours, which makes me think that had no BBU either!
 
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