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majoco

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#171557 22-Apr-2015 16:57
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Hi Guys,

I recently had installed a "Smart Meter" from my power company Mercury Energy. I have one of those RTL SDR receivers and I was wondering if it's possible to pick up the signals from it. I hear that in the USofA they are on around 900MHz but I don't pick up diddley around there. I get the signal from the Wharite TV transmitter on just a 150mm whip so getting a signal from the other side of the garage shouldn't be too hard, should it? My other scanners are cellular blocked around 900MHz.

It could be that the Smart Meter responds to interrogation as the meter reader drives past, or is it even radio at all - could be a request down the power line with the data then going back to the Power company via the good old telephone line like the Coke machines - or is there a cellphone hiding in there somewhere? I doubt it as the box around it is galvanised sheet steel. Still my best guess is a radio signal down the incoming power cable which won't get past the end of the line at the street transformer.

Anybody any clues?

Cheers - Martin

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johnr
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  #1289580 22-Apr-2015 17:03
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If it's the meter I am thinking of it operates in the Vodafone 900Mhz band



Ruphus
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  #1289584 22-Apr-2015 17:07
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How long did scan for? They don't constantly transmit, only briefly twice a day I think.

johnr
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  #1289594 22-Apr-2015 17:15
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Ruphus: How long did scan for? They don't constantly transmit, only briefly twice a day I think.


tiny amounts of data once or twice a day if I remember correct not sure what you mean about the scan part but do you mean RAU?



johnr
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  #1289595 22-Apr-2015 17:16
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Routing Area Update is RAU

k14

k14
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  #1289597 22-Apr-2015 17:17
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I thought they had a sim card and the data is sent every so often using either a data connection or txt message format over 3g or GPRS or something like that?

johnr
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  #1289598 22-Apr-2015 17:18
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Not SMS they are packet switch and yes they have a SIM

Ruphus
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  #1289627 22-Apr-2015 17:49
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johnr:
Ruphus: How long did scan for? They don't constantly transmit, only briefly twice a day I think.


tiny amounts of data once or twice a day if I remember correct not sure what you mean about the scan part but do you mean RAU?


I was referring to the OP trying to pick up the signals from the smart meter.

 
 
 

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andrewNZ
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  #1289633 22-Apr-2015 17:58
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My understanding is that there are two types of meter. One uses a cellular connection, the other uses a wireless mesh network.

I have no idea how to identify them.

majoco

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  #1289801 22-Apr-2015 21:56
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I think Rufus meant ' how long did I scan for' meaning how long did I listen on that band of frequencies. Well, it was only minutes. If the meter squirts the data only a couple of times a day, then the chances of catching it are pretty slim.

I did find this document as a pdf which seems to explain everything...

RF fields from a WEL Networks Smart Meter

If you Gooooogle for it, it explains everything. It would be nice if the "Home Network" was implemented, but perhaps we like being mushrooms.

Cheers and thanks for the replies - Martin.

 

 

 





Oblivian
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  #1289809 22-Apr-2015 22:12
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Just don't cover it in tinfoil to stop it radiating your brain (theres sites recommending it!) unless you want reading issues :)

coffeebaron
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  #1289828 22-Apr-2015 22:40
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I wonder if any of these meters that have their own radio / mesh network run on 1800 frequency? Some power companies have played havoc with the mobile networks 4G rollout.





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knoydart
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  #1289849 22-Apr-2015 23:23
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coffeebaron: I wonder if any of these meters that have their own radio / mesh network run on 1800 frequency? Some power companies have played havoc with the mobile networks 4G rollout.



No, the smart meter mesh networks have been on 900 MHz Short Range device general user radio licence - google silver spring networks for more info. The likely source of the 1800MHz 4G issues is deployed fixed links in the same management right as the cellular services. Cant say more than that!

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