Smartphone use and smart (electricity) meters

[Lucky Luke]

Hello, Wifi gurus. There did not seem to be any other appropriate forum than this one, so I hope it will be correct to post here.

Thanks to information provided by someone on DIYNot, I was able to cease paying £42.50 per month for broadband and calls, to an Internet Service provider. I now pay only £10.00 per month for a mobile phone contract (previously, I used PAYGO). For this amount, I now enjoy unlimited texts and calls, plus an Internet connection for my computer, which provides a good-enough Internet service. The computer is “tethered” to my phone as a Wifi hot-spot, which acts as a router.


However, a friend told me recently that, if I switch my electricity supply to a “smart” meter (I know that this cannot be enforced, but I am considering doing so), I may need to change my phone service provider, because not all phone service providers offer a smart-meter connection to a smartphone. It occurred to me also that, if what she told me is correct, it would be necessary (as I suppose) to keep my phone switched on all the time, night and day (which I would not want to do) to allow the smart-meter to do its job.


I know very little about matters like this, and thought that someone on this forum might be able to offer some advice. I don’t really want to change my phone service provider (which is Three UK).

My enquiry is not about whether it is advisable in general to change to a smart-meter, or not. It’s about the consequences, for smartphone use, if I did.

With thanks in hopes of an informed reply,
L.L.

 

[Rodders53]

As I understand it the In Home Display won't work without a home wifi connection. You could allow it to connect via your hotspot to display your usage if you wanted. Many people stick the IHD in a drawer after the novelty has worn off.

The smart meter(s) themselves will work fine and communicate back to the energy providers via 2/3G mobile in the South and 430MHz-ish UHF radio in the North without a home network wifi connection.

That metering data can be accessed via your mobile if you wish (it may be around 24 hours after the event though) - either via the energy suppliers App or some similar method.

Google 'how smart meters work' ?
e.g. https://www.smartme.co.uk/how-they-work.html

 

[Stivino]

As I understand it the In Home Display won't work without a home wifi connection.

I don’t think that’s the case.
The guy who installed my smart meter and IHD told me the device used Bluetooth to connect to the meter.

 

[Old Salt]

In home display uses ((yep what he said) zigbee to connect to the meter. Your phone connection has nothing to do with your smart meter.

Change away whenever you want to.

 

[martgreenwood]

UK Smart Meters don't need broadband or Wi-Fi. These use their own mobile or proprietary system depending what part of the country you are in.

So go ahead and get a Smart Meter, you shouldn't have any problems, and you won't need to change your current set-up.

 

[Rodders53]

Thanks for the correction.
My bad.

Had a new meter installed nearly a fortnight ago but not smart.

However reading the link a Zigbee radio network signal not bluetooth. Zigbee is used by Phillips Hue and similar smart home automation devices.
Allegedly has 100m range cf 10m for bluetooth, but at a much lower data rate.

Both use the same licence exempt 2.4GHz frequency bands as wifi. So will be subject to local interference / channel hopping choices that will mean they may or may not work reliably.

 

[Lucky Luke]

UK Smart Meters don't need broadband or Wi-Fi. These use their own mobile or proprietary system depending what part of the country you are in.

So go ahead and get a Smart Meter, you shouldn't have any problems, and you won't need to change your current set-up.

Thanks, martgreenwood, for that unequivocal reply. That's a great weight off my mind. Thanks also to you others that replied. The prompt input — from all of you —is greatly appreciated!

Kind regards to all,
L.L.