Another problem with smart meters

[Michael Rolls]

You wouldn't think it possible in this day and age, but the UK's nuclear missile warning system could be compromised by interference from smart meters. Apparently the radio frequency that the meters use to send information is too close to that of the radar warning system, so homes near RAF Fylingdales in North Yorkshire can't have the devices fitted.
Given how crowded the airwaves are, surely before new transmission licences are granted there should be some sort of checks? Back in the days of the CB  craze the illegal frequency some of these radios used clashed with model aircraft radio control systems and there was a lot of complaining at the time
Mike

[klondike]

Yes I saw that a while ago. From what I can make out they have developed and even installed some meters that operate on a differenet frequency to avoid the problem. I suspect it was caused by the military being cagey over what frequecies they use otherwise Ofcom would not have licensed smart meters to use the band they do.

[Diasi]

From what we were told at the time of their installation, Smart Meters have SIM cards & use existing GSM approved frequencies.

I think that Fylingdales have been sloppy in not keeping up with GSM technology & now want everyone else to sort out their shortcomings.

[klondike]

Now I thought that but apparently they don't use GSM frequencies if what I read is correct. I saw mention of frequencies in the 400-500MHz range (don't recall exactly what but I can maybe find the article again) and that is way lower than any mobile phone frequencies used. Will see if I can find what I read.

Found this sooner.
It is a 2017 consultation on a couple of sub bands for use by smart meters
Consultation on Proposed Release of the 410-415.5 / 420-425.5 MHz sub-band

A big Ofcom report on 420-450MHz which mentions Flyingdales so it was no secret which I originally thought may be the case.

So just another SNAFU

[Sheila]

Our smart meters stopped working last year and when, at last, someone came to replace them, he said that his had stopped working too.  I think he said that some changes had been made to them which caused problems.

[crabbyob]

During the war we had smart meters
when they required money the gas stopped

[klondike]

Did they bring down Luftwaffe bombers though? It seems the new ones might have been able to.

[Diasi]

From Scottish Power.

The gas meter is battery powered for safety, so it does not have the power to transmit by phone and it sends its signal by a short range radio signal to the electricity meter.  The electricity meter uses the mobile phone network to send occasional gas and electricity readings to SP.  You can set the frequency of updates from monthly to daily or half hourly. The electricity meter also sends live short range radio signals to your IHD.   The IHD is for your convenience and is not involved in the smart meter transmission process.

The short range radio signal is similar to wifi and bluetooth, but is actually a low energy system called Zigbee.  Your home wifi network is not involved at all.

I'm not certain whether or not the newer SMET 2 meter boxes use another system but before our SMET 1 meters were installed the engineer checked the mobile phone signals from all the providers to make sure that at least one of them was strong enough.

[klondike]

I'm pretty sure they did with mine too but now it seems that they have transitioned to somewhere in the 400MHz range which isn't used by mobiles. I'm guessing it was maybe because mobile coverage is crap in plenty of places.

My gas meter is also battery powered. Not sure what they do when it runs out?