Will the transmitter interfere with my radio, phone or computer?

[NJ7L]

I just received a note with my bill from NW Natural regarding Automated Meter Reading.

Here's the link regarding Automated Meter Reading (https://www.nwnatural.com/services/account_info/Automated_Meter_Reading.asp).

NW Natural says the transmitter works on a low-power frequency and is designed not to interfere with other equipment according to NW Natural.

Has anyone had "automated meter reading" and have you had any interference on any ham radio frequencies?

[KD0FAA]

Well, I think that your transmitter could possibly interfere with your radio but only if it is at the same frequency. Same for the phone... But, The computer I think is fine...it doesn't use RF to communicate but uses the internet for its communications.

[W4SUL]

My electric meter is read that way. The meter only transmits when it is polled by the passing meter reader truck. It has never caused a problem.

Sparrow

[ZL3GSL]

There are a number of bands used around the world for LPRF devices. 433.92 MHz is one used in many applications. The bottom of the 70cm amateur band in NZ is 430 MHz, and from time to time, LPRF devices do cause problems in amateur repeaters. (Home weather stations are frequent offenders).

A power metering system being installed in NZ forms an area network -- in the area of 900MHz -- so individual meters can repeat transmissions from other meters until they reach a company master site, where the data are probably linked by landlines to the computer. I believe if the network is down the system can use cellphone connections. The system uses realtime monitoring, with readings every half hour ... possibly to give provision for charging the "market spot price".

Of course if the unit interferes with your radio, you could always put a tin can over their antenna. ;)

The LPRF standards always say something like " must not cause interference, and must accept interference".

[W5HTW]

My electric meter is read that way. The meter only transmits when it is polled by the passing meter reader truck. It has never caused a problem.

Sparrow

Same here. They do not transmit all the time, only when polled, and unless there is a problem, that is only once a month. And then only for a few seconds.

They have been in use here for quite a few years and cause no problems.

Ed

[KA5S]

NW Natural says the transmitter works on a low-power frequency and is designed not to interfere with other equipment according to NW Natural.


There are a number of possibilities. Some I've seen mentioned are unlicensed Part 15 WiMAx or 900 MHz, and licensed 900 MHz. If they are using unlicensed Part 15 devices, that leads to the interesting possibility that YOU might interfere with THEM -- and they'd have to live with it.


Cortland
KA5S

[KD4MOJ]

They city of Tallahassee is deploying the Honeywell Smart Meter... 900Mhz spread spectrum. They use a "collector" in each neighborhood to get the info from the houses. It's connected up to the internet via the local cable company. From the docs, it seems that each house can also "repeat" the others signal in case the collector cannot poll the residence. The collector has a little white 900Mhz antenna on top of the box

Mojo