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Re: [Amps] So-Called Utility "Smart Meters"

To: amps@contesting.com
Subject: Re: [Amps] So-Called Utility "Smart Meters"
From: hughd@cogeco.ca
Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2008 12:15:16 -0400
List-post: <amps@contesting.com">mailto:amps@contesting.com>
Hi Ed, and all.

The local utility here in Flamborough, Ontario decided to install a 
smart meter at my house just a couple of months after we moved in about 
5 years ago. I haven't noticed any a appreciable noise on HF or any of 
the higher bands. I'm a  casual EME operator on VHF and my noise level 
has not changed at all, nor do I notice any sweeping noise or broadband 
noise at any particular spectral intervals.

One of these days I'll bring a spectrum analyzer home from work and go 
out to the side of the house to sniff around the meter and see what I 
can detect.

73, Hugh VA3TO/NA3TO

>
> EP Swynar wrote:
>   
>> 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

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