agh that would make sense- but the 420 has an external aerial option so I read to avoid local interference - not sure whether that was fitted. Recommend for reliable comms in poor reception areas and where there is local interference. But is down to planning and installation of the smart meter.
Bruce’s picture suggests the 420 is right on the ground - which is not a good reliable place for transmission unless there is an external aerial - perhaps its routed behind that chip board ?
Here is a DIY aerial booster added to the EDMI hub.
Hi James, just to let you know, I haven’t forgotten. I asked them a few question, and the lady there responded to a couple but needs more investigation to check around the exported data.
1)My meters are next to each other, but the IHD does sometimes struggle with getting a connection. Will this help? Your IHD will get data from your communications hub which is usually on, or next to your electricity meter. The IHD needs to be in range to pick up the ZigBee signal from the Comms Hub. This distance can be impacted by signal attenuating items in “line of sight”, such as thick walls, radiators, large metallic objects, foil insulation etc. When placed between the Comms Hub and your IHD, it will repeat the ZigBee signal, extending the range of your Comms Hub signal.
2)I have solar panels, so will the app show me when I am exporting to the grid, and by how much? I am checking if the app shows solar. Our IHDs show when you are exporting, but this depends on data being provided by the smart meter which is very limited.
3)on question 2, how up-to-date will this be? Will it be the same as the IHD, or will there be a delay Not Answered
4)Will the app show me the value of the current Total Export value - currently I have to get this directly from the meter by pressing buttons? we do not show any solar information on the Fuuli app. This is because we can only get data when the meter supplies it and, as previously mentioned, this is extremely limited
The various issues detailed above reinforce my reluctance to agree to having a smart meter. I am happy to submit 2 readings each month via an app. to ensure my monthly direct debit is on track. Despite the marketing propaganda suggesting that they are for my benefit rather that that of the utility companies (my biased perception), I don’t need to know minute-by-minute what I’ve spent on gas or electric. The latter is presumably increased very slightly by the meter and its communication mechanisms.
If you have an old house and your meters are at the back of a cupboard full of things that will fall on top of you (like most peoples understaffs cupboard) then yes, this is clearly an advantage.
If you have Solar Panels, then you will be monitoring energy use a lot more, and so the latest meters help here.
If you are going through the process of understanding where all your energy costs go as part of a cost savings, or planet saving project, then the In House Display (IHD) will really help here. For example, I found that an old freezer was eating away at my energy costs (£100pa), and so replaced it with one that costs just £26pa.
Smart Meters are, I suggest, only for your benefit if you use a tariff with dynamic time of day pricing and/or you want to automate consumer and export readings. Some of these smart meter tariffs if you use EVs, batteries, heat pumps etc can provide significant savings over regular fixed or E7 tariffs
Yes they can also show rate of usage - but there are other products that can do that - such as flow clamps around your main mains feed.
I had an electricity import and export smart meter installed last year and they have worked seamlessly - and I like the visibility and control they give me with my PV and Battery setup.