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I have had a Smart Meter for less than a year, I waited until they got to SMETS2. But have just read this and not happy ggggrrrrr.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meter_Point_Administration_Number
Will 3G switch off - kill my Smart Meter
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Don't panic
They'll have a plan. It may take a while to replace all the Comms units (if they even need replacing), but it's not like they'll all stop working next week!
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Will we be able to use Octopus tariffs if Smart Meter stops working and not being read every 30 mins ?
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No, but do you really think it'll get to that point?
Have faith that the right things will happen in the right order.
Don't forget that smart meters and tariffs are really useful for the national grid to smooth out demand - they won't want half the country's smart meters stopping working!
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Not all mobile networks are scrapping 3G this year so your smart meter will just connect to the next network it can
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TX200 I understand that they want a fully secure system from your smart meter to the billing but it does seem like devices like the octopus home mini could fill in the gap if there really is a risk of people losing the capability.
Smart meter communicates with octopus home mini (or similar) which then uses customers internet connection to securely send the data.
Or an IHD that actually transmits the data over the internet rather than just reads it.
Betteridge's Law:
" Betteridge's law of headlines is an adage that states: "Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no."
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deanjesper No, it won't. Doesn't work like that.
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Daveb01 No it'll be your energy supplier who fits the new comms modules, not Vodafone. Also Vodafone have nothing to do with the current 3G connection - that's O2.
Maybe I've given you the wrong idea if you're "reassured" š
There's no way all the comms modules will get swapped before 3G services get withdrawn. Not a chance. Best hope is suppliers prioritise people on time-variable tariffs but we'll see.
Then you're into the lottery of 4G coverage given its only Vodafone cells you can connect to - although I suspect that'll soon be Vodafone/Three which will improve matters somewhat.
However SMETS2 meters store 13 months 30-minute import data and 3 months (IIRC) 30-minute export data so the supplier can get DCC to pull the data once the meter is reconnected.
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O2 say they won't start switching off the 3G network until 2025 https://www.o2.co.uk/help/network-coverage-and-international/3g-switch-off
Personally I have been concerned about the 3G switchoff for a while. We live in a fairly rural area and quite often my phone shows its on 3G not 4G. 5G very much the exception and limited to larger towns
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geoffreycoan O2 have a contract until 2028* to supply the 3G network for DCC so it'll be a limited switch-off unless they can find an amenable (corrupt) politician to help them out. I'm sure they'll have no problems at all š
*Ā£1.5bn 15 year contract signed in 2013
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deanjesper what?!
You'll have to be a bit more specific than that š
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naltsta It uses the same cells but effectively the DCC traffic is VLAN'd off from all other O2 3G traffic. Its actually not that simple but its a reasonable analogy.
They could probably decommission a fair few 3G cells in urban areas and still be compliant with the DCC contract but that'd be meaningless in financial terms. The big savings come from decommissioning all 3G equipment on the network and the savings are mainly power related - 3G kit uses a LOT more power than 4G/5G, mainly because the majority of it is built using 15+ year old chipset designs which are several generations behind in terms of physical fabrication.
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Just had a look at 3G cutoff, and here are my findings:
EE - starting Jan24, completed end of Feb24
Vodafone - started in 2023, completed end of Jan24.
Virgin-O2 - starting Jan25, completed Dec25.
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deepanshus Daveb01 also, it seems a bit old fashioned to use network carrier for data when almost all the houses have a working Wi-Fi and if the Wi-Fi drops, the device catches up and fills in the readings when network is established
Having worked in large IT all my life, I don't agree.
As much as possible you want to eliminate points of support or variability in IT system design.
I get your point that most homes have working Wi-FI, but not everyone has, so you're still going to have to design a system and a reliable backbone network for those that haven't - or don't want their smart meter using their Wifi.
But more critically, if you are piggy backing off the home Wi-Fi it would become an absolute nightmare to support.
Smart Meter out of range of the Wi-Fi
Home Wi-Fi is down.
Home Wi-Fi password has been changed or new router installed and it stops working.
By having a dedicated mobile or radio network provided by a Telco you remove loads of support angst. The DCC has a single contract to supply the network service and critically they are in control.
I would do the same!
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I would also add, if it was going through your Router, it would not take long for someone to hack it and manipulate the data.
Looking at my Smart Meter, it looks like the Cellular bit at the top could be changed hopefully for a 4G or 5G module fingers crossed.
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geoffreycoan There's also the issues of security - you can do a lot more than pull data if you're connected to the meter and by limiting the interface(s) on which that could occur you reduce the attack surface. Pretty sure that if meters were connected via home networks they'd have to be patched for vulnerabilities monthly š
Having said that it is possible to pull data via the ZigBee interface which the IHDs use so I suspect a bodge for people on time-variable tariffs will emerge when the rollout of 4G comms units takes years longer than expected (face it, everything else in the UK does).....
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Just read this.
The government and UK mobile network operators have agreed to phase out 2G and 3G mobile networks by 2033 in order to free up bandwidth for 5G and future 6G services. This impacts the service provided by TelefoĢnica (Virgin Media O2) for Smart Meter communications in the Central and Southern regions of the UK.
This change will require the replacement of communications hubs on the Smart Electricity Meters in the Central and Southern regions of the UK. To achieve this DCC plan to have 4G single band Communications Hubs available in 2023, with dual band to follow in Q2 2024.
4G connectivity for the smart meter network will be provided by Vodafone who have signed a services agreement with DCC. The agreement, signed in 2023, is to build and operate a 4G managed network for up to 15 years.
The TelefoĢnica and Vodafone services will run alongside each other as the Smart Meters are transferred to the 4G service.
Do Smart Meters use 5G?
No. Smart Meters in the Central and Southern regions of the UK currently use 2G and 3G, with a move to 4G as those bands are shut down.
Even in the future a move to 5G is unlikely as the amounts of data transferred are very small and long-distance communication is the main requirement. 5G is a higher frequency technology and generally low frequencies are most reliable and capable of penetrating obstructions like buildings, which is why 2/3/4G will often work in more places than 5G. Higher frequencies are also more easily scattered by objects. (Updated: 2023-08-18)
I recommend going here as it has loads of info and pics, e,g, power used, meaning of flashing lights and frequency of the flashing etc etc.
Read more at: https://www.smartme.co.uk/smets-2.html
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Daveb01 Its a good site, been there before.
Bottom line is that it takes months to get a smart meter installed now (in East Mids) so how is this going to happen even if O2 keep their 3G running until 2028?
Prepay meters will be first to get changed, then supposedly SMETS1 (meter and new comms unit) and finally SMETS2 comms units.
That's more meter/comms changes in the next 4 years than they've managed to do in the last 15 years.
That's why I think there will have to be a bodge to allow meter readings via the zigbee connection to some form of box/IHD in the house which will send the readings to your supplier.
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4 years and still my smart meters are still dumb.
I have had every excuse including RAF Fylingdales messing with my signal.
That is on the East Coast, I live in the Pennines 50miles away!
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naltsta It doesn't really need to be "secure" - all you can do via Zigbee is pull data, can't write data to the meter so just needs a supplier-provided "box" to connect to the suppliers servers and send import/export data.
Needs the back-end of all the suppliers existing systems altered though to pull data not just from DCC but from their own "boxes". Octopus are probably ahead of the game in that regard due to their customer base.
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Vestas That's more meter/comms changes in the next 4 years than they've managed to do in the last 15 years.
If part of the slow rollout is due to public reluctance, then people who already have a smartmeter should be less resistant. And if it's only the comms box that has to be changed, that doesn't actually require messing with the mains cabling, so doesn't need as much training.
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Daveb01 thanks for finding the article.
Where I live, the O2 signal is by far the best, we get reasonable 4G inside now and I can make and receive phone calls on my mobile.
I was on Vodafone with my work mobile previously. Rubbish signal, variable even for calls let alone data so I used to redirect my mobile to my landline.
Just saying that network coverage isn't ubiquitous. Not just at home but my experience of O2 has been that its generally better coverage than Vodafone. Why the DCC couldn't have got a cross-network agreement signed?
And a significant upgrade ahead for the switchover. I confidently predict the deadlines will slip when reality hits.
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Am I right in thinking that the Comms hubs can talk to neighbouring Comms hubs to get to the DCC? On a mesh style network?
If so, perhaps they won't need to immediately upgrade every Comms hub?
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I think there is room to manoeuvre O2 are saying end of 2025, but in reality the document says by end of 2033 so they can move it right for 8 years ?
Everyone else will be in WiFi 9 and 7G by then šš
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geoffreycoan reading your reply makes me think why i even thought about asking the question :-)
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Donāt forget Vodafone has just purchased Three, so they will be as big as EE, and hopefully have better reception areas.
There will only be 3 major operators:
EE
Vodafone
Virgin/O2
I also thought they have an agreement to share masts now, so coverage will just get better.
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deanjesper It is.
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Complaint to Octopus in press
The firm's boss acknowledged the complaint and noted that Octopus had had "a million such sessions looking at those darned things" noting that they were "so bad" currently. He explained: "Smart meters can be really cheeky - they send about 200 different messages and all need to be in order to get the data."
Mr Jackson said it was "honestly so frustrating" explaining that the spec for smart meters was "a decade out of date" but the firm had no choice but to continue using them. He added: "TBF it's got better over time - but it especially hits Octopus customers because of all our insanely popular smart tariffs and services..."
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4 years and still my smart meters are still dumb.
I have had every excuse including RAF Fylingdales messing with my signal.
That is on the East Coast, I live in the Pennines 50miles away!
Now with the Ombudsman to kick the DCC. I dont want any money, just the damn things to work so i can do what I want with my system
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If you have a SMETS 1 Smart Meter have you asked them to upgrade it to a SMETS 2?
This would be the first thing I would do.
Thinking about it, your meter is not a Smart Meter any more, so you should be able to request a Smart Meter š, if your with Octopus does it give you the option?
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It was/is SMETS2 since the day it went in. March 2020
hundreds of emails and at least 12 different meter changes
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Daveb01
I was just going to mention that I had seen a really useful post with a link to a tech resource site about all things smart meter. Then I noticed it was your post ( https://www.smartme.co.uk/smets-2.html )
ššš
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Tenkaykev That's a great reference. I went with Octopus in 2021 mostly because of Greg Jackson's technical blog about smart meters which proved that they knew what they were talking about (more than Scottish Power, anyway). When they came to install the SMET2 meter, I casually mentioned that I was going to have solar plus batteries and he said: "Oh, you won't need that one, then." And luckily he had another type of meter in the van. I didn't realise at the time, but the reference above says that some SMETS2 can't handle solar panels which may have been the reason for the last minute swap.
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Daveb01
I was on Flux for the summer but they could not figure out my off peak battery charging and wanted to bill me for 6 moths standard electric even after I gave them half hourly data from EM115. we managed to agree numbers when i asked them to take it to the ombudsman.
They have now put me on a pre-configured eco7 meter that I must read each month.
it is a Kaifa, so I dont have those lights.
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Daveb01
I am in the north in the area of the Arqiva RF network.
I dont think it is the fault of Octo, it is the fault of Arqiva in not having enough coverage, particularly in hilly areas. Presumably they thought about this when they bid for the franchise, but have then not spent enough on infrastructure to deliver what they should have.
I cant complain to Arqiva though as I do not have a contract with them. My contract is with Octo and hopefully me taking it up with Octo and the Ombudsman they will both somehow force Arqiva to do something., though that is a bit of wishful thinking.
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It looks like they did not fit a Smart Meter that has the right features and the ability to add an aerial. It also looks like a pre-payment meter?
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Do you have a communication hub attached to the top with WAN and HAN.
I was trying to help with the knowledge I have, but have no idea where to go from here sorry.
It seems they could not be bothered and possibly fitted the smart meter without a communication hub on top.
If it was me I would get them back round to sort it out fit the correct meter with an aerial if needed?
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They have fitted numerous meters and numerous comms hub, I do not think there is an antenna option for an RF comms hub, even though I sent them this 2 years ago,
Arquiva have now admitted there is a problem and are "thinking about solutions", but no other information given
I was told if i touched things it would be certain death!!
When I suggested some sort of antenna they said that they were not allowed to drill a hole in the wall, I said \i would do that. No progress in that area.
https://anengineersview.tech.blog/smets2-is-there-anybody-there/
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Daveb01
A preconfigured ECO7 meter was fitted as the only way to bill me for off peak night charging of my battery, as the smart meter could not be interrogated for half hourly data even though I could give it to them from this.
https://community.givenergy.cloud/d/2881-report-data-download-as-excel-file
Thay refuse to "accept 3rd party data" even though Octo and GivEnergy supposedly work in partnership. I offered Octo my APi but they said "cannot accept 3rd party data"
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I feel for you Steve, sound like your between a rock and a hard place š
It would make me feel like not reading the meter so they have to visit, but I am not saying do this.
I hope they sort it in the future, once 4G becomes available they may have more options.
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One of the engineers had an "extension cable" for use of meters in basements.
It was about 1m long and plugged into that multi pin comms port and the comms hub then fitted on the end. Meter in basement, comms hub at ground level inside.
Trouble is Octo have now reverted to "your walls are too thick" though no tests of any sort have ever been done.
The extension cable would need a hole about 2"dia to get it outside the wall because of all the pre-terminated gubbins on each end. and the comms hub would then be on the outside wall. Don't know if it is IIP rated etc
I am waiting for Arqiva suggestions
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SteveCook It won't be the walls, Arqiva use the same frequency for smart water meters and they're underground š
I'm not sure you'll get anywhere with Arqiva, seen lots of instances where the response is basically "Tough luck, we don't have 100% coverage and never will have". Pretty sure Arqiva were open to offers for their UK smartmeter business a while ago but dunno what became of that, if anything.
If its at the ombudsman then the only fix I can see is for Octopus to be told to use their own IHD to collect 30 minute data data locally and provide a method for you to transfer that data to them once a month or whatever.
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Vestas
Thanks, I think that is why they fitted the eco7 meter and I read it.
Just very annoying as before octo fitted the smart meters and before I invested in inverter, batteries and panels, I asked about signal and Octo said in writing in March 2020 "they would not fit smart meters if they "could not provide full functionality"
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SteveCook AFAIK you can in fact commission a SMETS2 meter without a WAN connection, it just needs to be provisioned locally and there are tools for doing so.
That being the case an IHD should be able to pull 30 minute data via ZigBee comms from the meter. Its just a case of getting that data to Octopus and I was under the distinct impression their "in house designed" IHD did just that via the end-users wifi/internet connection if setup to do so.
Octopus can't hide behind "third party data" excuses if their IHD is pulling from the meter and sending it to Octopus.
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Steve, have you got an Octopus home mini?
I have one and it connects to the internet via your WiFi and reads meter every 5 mins. It links to the Octo app so they will get your readings this way.
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Vodafone have switched off 3G as well now
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Three have started, completion end 2024.
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...and none of them have anything to do with smart metering.
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Hhhmm, if you look at the top of the post, it says the 1st two digits of your MPAN will tell you if your on 3G. I am, and it says cellular on my smart meter. After some investigation where I live it uses the O2 network. It also says Vodafone will be taking the contract soon and they donāt have 3G. Just a heads up if anyoneās stops working.
I hope it does not the same as you, but at am not holding my breath, and I always plan for the worst and hope for the best š
Daveb01 everyone's smart meter that uses 3G is using the O2 signal so won't be affected for a while, Vodafone will take over with a 4G signal once comms units are replaced.
Three, EE and Vodafone's 3G switch off will not affect smart meters as they don't supply the 3G network used by meters.
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If only we had been more circumspect about using existing cables.
https://en.selectra.info/energy-france/guides/electricity/linky
Swap the satellite for a suitable backhaul (which could include satellite) at aggregator sites (such as major transformers) and it would just be so much simpler.
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Update looks like Virgin/O2 will start switching of there 3G service from April 2025.
Fingers crossed no Meters stop working š¤
https://news.virginmediao2.co.uk/virgin-media-o2-to-begin-3g-switch-off-in-durham-in-april/
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More details on the transition process on the DCC website https://www.smartdcc.co.uk/news-events/2g-3g-network-sunsetting-the-future-of-connectivity/#:~:text=Our%20core%20SMETS2%20service%20in,for%20the%20next%209%20years.
In short the 3G network will be switched off through 2024 and 2025 and smart meters will fall back to the 2G network
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Iām in East Yorkshire and my comms hub worked sending import, export and gas readings. However there were quite often gaps in the data which I could see in in the Octopus app and in detail on the Octoprice site. This led to billing being all over the place. Whether this was because of the infamous Fylingdales radar station (Iām 30 miles away) or just poor network who knows. However the hub failed altogether a few weeks ago. An Octopus sub contractor came yesterday and installed a 4G comms hub. He said its was the fifth one of the day. I connected the mini device and within an hour so the Octopus app was showing live data. Hoping it continues and billing / credits can become regular.
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Well, I am in the North -near Skipton - and after nearly 4 years of hassle (new smart meters every 3 months), Octo finally agreed the Arqiva RF network in my area does not really work with hills in the way. They actually did not admit anything, just fitted (mid 2023) a GSM comms hub with remote antenna and it all worked instantly. 3 weeks ago Octo emailed me saying they needed to change the comms hub to a 4G device, as 2G/3G is being turned off 30th December 2025
A man turned up today. He took one look at the dual band comms hub and antenna that is fitted and said "The unit I am supposed to fit will not work, and so I am not taking the existing comms hub out". He then left. See image of existing unit with antenna. Dont know what will happen now?
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SteveCook My understanding is that 2G is not being turned off.
I have a similar antenna on mine, it is a booster antenna for areas of poor mobile signal. We had over a year of the smart meter not working down to the installer not fitting the booster antenna. Once I finally got the right person to look at it, they fixed it straight away,
https://www.smartdcc.co.uk/our-smart-network/do-smart-meters-use-3g/
Confirms that the 3G switch off is not an issue
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geoffreycoan
Geoffrey
Thanks
I did ask Octo this in Nov 2024 and they said I did not need to change my hub. When the email came 3 weeks ago, I asked again and why were they telling me conflicting info. Never got an answer other than "man is coming on 18/12/26". I am currently in an X conversation with them, but losing the will to live!!
I dont think they make 4G hubs with antennas yet (that was the impression from the engineer (dont get going me on that word))
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Still no clarity
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i dont think they have any idea. There was no mention of compatibility issue.
Now returning 13th Jan to fit the 4G hub and see if it works without an antenna
"Thank you for your email.
I understand the engineer was unable to replace the comms hub due to compatibility issues with the existing unit. To get this resolved as quickly as possible, please contact our engineers directly on 0808 196 7511. They will be able to discuss the situation with you and advise on the next steps.
If you have any other questions or need further assistance, please donāt hesitate to get in touch.
Kind regards,"
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SteveCook from what I read of the DCC article thereās no massive need to get this done, the 2G will continue to work. You might not need an external antenna on your hub to receive 4G, depends on what your Vodafone signal is like.
For me I definitely would. Vodafone signal is rubbish here, O2 is the best, but theyāve signed with Vodafone - unless its a multi-network carrier agreement ?
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The booking email just received say they will be swapping out the gas and elec meter (again !!! Aargh, that will be the 13th set of meters). Just keep trying the same thing and hope it works.
The lady said she knows 2G will carry on working until 2033 but "they want to get ahead of the game"
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geoffreycoan from what I read of the DCC article thereās no massive need to get this done, the 2G will continue to work.
Geoffrey out of interest are you in the official south UK for these hubs? North of the "line" in LRR land, our engineers in the past were never trained on fitting 2G hubs, (hence the horizontal antennae, even though mine clearly marked with "UP").
Hi @SteveCook too. I possibly live just up the road from you, in Malhamdale, and have had the same email. Reading between the lines the email seems to read that the comms hub would not suit your meters rather than being an a no-antenna problem? Hence the meter change?
I understand the 2033 date is the end of the 2G switch off and some areas (we're very rural here) will be impacted sooner because of limited masts and coverage issues force the 2G removal sooner to make way for more 4G/5G antennae on small masts.
We had a nightmare getting a 2G hub (I ended up in Twitter banter with Greg Jackson about the wasted visits before he put me onto the head of Octopus Energy Services who look after the metering side (have his direct email still). LRR coverage is terrible here even at the top of hills!
Because the engineer had never fitted one before (and like Steve's stuck the antenna up sideways!) I think the antenna was fitted as standard, but it does not imply the signal is weak and that a 4G hub needs an antenna.
https://octopus.energy/comms-hub-replacements/
I plan to get them to try it, with the option to swap back by blocking his van in with my car ;-) My date is Monday 22nd š¤
original email to us for @geoffreycoan
Your communications hub (also known as a ācomms hubā), which was installed as part of your second-generation SMETS2 smart meter system, relies on the 2G/3G smart network.
Weāve been informed by the network owners that the 2G/3G smart network in your area, which is used by your comms hub, is scheduled to close by 31 December 2025, affecting your current smart meterās connectivity. Your meter will continue to operate after the network stops working, but it will lose its smart functionality. This means that we wonāt receive automatic reads from your meter, and you will need to submit manual meter reads.
Weāll upgrade your comms hub with a new, future-proofed 4G-compatible hub. The upgrade is quick and easy with no additional cost ā it'll take about 30 minutes, and your power wonāt be interrupted in most cases. Someone from our team will be in touch with you shortly to get you booked for a date that suits you.
ā Have any questions?
Simply reply to this email or give us a call on 0808 164 1088, and one of our dedicated team members will be happy to help.
Love and power,
The Octopus Energy Team
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Mouton thanks for sharing. It is good that Octopus are reaching out to advise that the network will affect your smart meter and theyāll replace the comms hub, but I do have my doubts about the words 2G/3G network being combined together.
And of course if it loses its smart functionality the impact (not stated) is that youāll probably (potentially?) lose access to any smart tariffs as thereāll be no time of use data being sent. The meters can hold a period (6 months?) data internally so if the swap doesnāt happen on time then the billing data wonāt be lost, but could still be very frustrating.
I live in Bedfordshire so very definitely in the mobile data area. Iāve seen tales of people on the boundary between the two that have had a lot of issues with the radio network, so glad thatās not happening to me.
I did have enough issues getting my smart meter to work though, in part I think because my initial smart meter was installed about 2 weeks before my supplier failed and I got moved to Eon Next as a SOLR switch. Eon seemed not to know about my meter being smart, but permanently offline, so took about a year of hounding them before they finally came and swapped it. Swapped it from a twin rate smart meter to a single rate smart meter which didnāt work either.
Swapping back to a twin rate smart meter then required changing from the single rate smart to a single rate dumb, then to a twin rate dumb, and finally to a twin rate smart. Which also didnāt work.
By then my fixed rate had expired with Eon so I moved to Octopus. They said they couldnāt read my smart meter, the Octopus engineer when he arrived looked on his database and said that I needed an extended range aerial as the mobile signal was weak and the old one would never work. Swapped the meter (again) and its been fine ever since.
Part of me is loath to allow anyone to touch it given the strife getting it to work in the first place ā¦. !
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geoffreycoan but I do have my doubts about the words 2G/3G network being combined
I agree with that completely. A statement like that glosses over the fine technical detail, eg about 2G's continuance for data like this beyond its use for voice.
I get very frustrated with the sweeping generalisations about just getting smart meters as the way to solve all problems, cheaper and better tariffs, etc. All too often they do not, "just work", far from it. Quite encouraged though about more signs of life from the DCC about new tech.
Let's see what happens on Monday!
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Mouton
Same message as I received, though when this thread started 1 year ago, I emailed Octopus and asked then and was told that my meters and dual band hub would not need to change. When this recent message came through, I asked them about the statement they sent me 1 year ago. They seem to ignore that point.
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SteveCook FYI comms hub swap complete, 15 minute install. IHD and Octopus Home Mini all conected within 2 hours. The comms hub is fine without an external antenna (Vodafone is primary network these days not O2, although allegedly it can roam - not seen this in writing myself).
Obvs we are simpler than you with Kaifa MA120 electricity only metering.
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Mouton
Thanks. I dont know where you are. I am near Skipton. I am not even supposed to be on GSM 2G/3G. The North is the Arqiva RF network for smart meters. Problem is the hills get in the way, and after nearly 4 gears of trying Octo put in a GSM comms hub and said "they will have to deal with the grief they will get from the DCC for not sticking with RF signaling". I don't know why they fitted the antenna, perhaps the man was just fed up after fitting 11 previous sets of meters and made sure he was never coming back again. Here's hoping the 4G will work, cos' they dont have an antenna version (according to the man who came)
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SteveCook Hi Steve. We're half way up Malhamdale, still BD23. We had the same problems getting a 2G hub as an "approved exception" to the rules. 4G is now a standard offering in the North UK (by DCC standards) if LRR doesn't work, no more special permission rubbish. I have a lot of contacts in this area having helped Octopus get volunteers and do the same fix for lots of people up here (affects Malham, Settle, Gargrave, Hellifield, Long Preston etc) and they are all being swapped to 4G without question, or repeating the LRR fiasco. Sadly a few in very remote spots might struggle with the underlying move to Voda from O2 not having the same coverage.
If you can get a Vodafone signal near your meter you should be fine š¤
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My understanding is as follows.
First-generation smart meters (called SMETS1) use a Sim card to communicate via mobile networks. This makes them less secure than the second-generation models (SMETS2), which use a separate network to send energy use readings to your supplier. The data that SMETS2 smart meters transfer to energy firms - just your electricity and gas use - is secure and encrypted.
Note the 'separate network'. It is 3G or whatever but not the same as the mobile phone signal. There are several data carriers around loosely called 3/4/5G but these are NOT the ones we use to call/text/whatever. Not my area of expertise but what I remembered from a lecture I attended last year.
S
Latest email text from Octo. Note I am in the Arqiva RF area and should not really be on 2G/3G, but after nearly 4 years (12 sets of gas and elec meters) a dual band comms hub (RF and GSM i believe ?) was the only way to get the smart meters working.
Hi Steve,
Thank you for your messages and for sharing the photo of the existing comms hub with the antenna.
It appears that your meter is fitted with specialist equipment, which is why the engineer was unable to replace the comms hub with the 4G unit they had. The new booking we have in place is fully aware of the existing setup, so they can bring the appropriate equipment to complete the replacement.
We understand the importance of maintaining your smart meter functionality, especially with the 3G switch-off approaching, and we are working to resolve this as smoothly as possible.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please do let me know.
Best wishes,
S
Octopus turned up today. Removed the dual band comms hub (2G/3G and RF)? with antenna and fitted 4G comms hub in about 10 minutes. All worked straight away. Result!
I am amazed it took 12 sets of meter swaps to get this far.
I wonder where the money actually comes from to pay for all this
S
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SteveCook Yep, and it's not just covering that either:
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SteveCook So we all end up contributing to the incompetence of Capita
Yes and we have done since Thatcher effectively created them and serco in the 1980s.
Jobs for the boys* at the top, minimum wage at the bottom** and a quite staggering amount of layers of incompetent management who only ever fail upwards***.
*ex civil servants, MPs, Lords & Ladies
**the rest of us
***relatives/friends of the boys at the top