[Boatanchors] So-Called Utility "Smart Meters"

[Jim Wilhite]

Eddy I have had one of these for the past four years and do not hear 
anything on the HF bands.  It communicates in packets when polled so 
the duration of the communication is very short.  I can't imagine 
one that requires constant communication.  They should only be 
interested in the peak (if they charge for peak) and total KWH used 
unless they bill you moment by moment.

My REC polls mine about the 25th of the month then sends the bill by 
the 1st of the month.

You should call them and ask for a discount because they are saving 
so much money :>), like that will ever happen.

73

Jim/W5JO



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "EP Swynar"
Subject: [Boatanchors] So-Called Utility "Smart Meters"


> Good Morning All,
>
> The good folks here at the Ontario Hydro generating outfit (or 
> WHATEVER it is that they might call themselves this week) have 
> elected to install so-called "smart meters", in place of the 
> regular old-fashioned ones, at the street AC drop point outside of 
> everyone's house...
>
> For the uninitiated, "smart meters" automatically keep track of 
> power usage in each home, and then charge rates according to 
> whether or not it's "peak / prime" time, or otherwise...apparently 
> (as I understand it) these odious devices are in constant 
> communication wirelessly with "Big Brother", feeding the data to 
> some central collection point, to calculate final billing...and 
> they mark the end of days for the old-fashioned, traditional 
> humanoid meter reader.
>
> Oh yes, did I mention that this is all a "...GOOD thing" for 
> Ontario...?
>
> Anyway, I'm VERY curious if any Hams reading this, who may have 
> already had smart meters installed at their respective QTHs, have 
> experienced any sort of RFI either to, or from, the readers...? I 
> wrote a strongly-worded letter to the local co-ordinator of this 
> effort, and received a phone message back from one of his minions 
> that I would be hearing from them shortly...that was about a month 
> ago.
>
> The monitor was installed at my QTH here a coupla days ago, but 
> the system is not yet operational.
>
> Any sage words from the ranks of the knowledgeable...?
>
> Thanks in advance, & my vy
>
> ~73!~ Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ