SmartGridElectronics.Net is reporting that some smart meters are causing RFI. In an article published today, they say:
The smart meters that Central Maine Power Company (CMP) is installing throughout its territory pursuant to Commission approval are causing radio frequency interference with some customers’ electrical appliances, personal computers, and communications devices. To date, over 200 customers have contacted CMP about problems with a variety of appliances and devices including phones (cell, cordless, and landline), answering machines, Internet routers and wifi, personal computers, TVs, garage doors, fire alarms, clocks and even electric pet fences. The most common problem is interference with wireless internet routers, because they use similar radio frequencies. The problems can often be resolved by simply changing a setting on the device. Other concerns include malfunctioning phones, Internet routers crashing or freezing, damage to computer hard drives, static and clicking sounds on communication and computer gear, inability to stream Netflix, failure of TV remote, and other appliance malfunctions.
Fortunately, they’re not using BPL for this project. They’re using some kind of wireless networking in the 2.5 GHz band. Even so, it makes you wonder if anyone ever did any EMI/RFI testing on these devices.
ZDNet Australia has also published an article on this situation.
Hmm. I’d say that a number of issues attributed to them are likely red herrings. Most of the complainents likely never did any A/B/A testing, to see if their particular problem went away or returned if the device was turned off, then back on. Where’s there’s smoke, there’s fire, of course, and I’d say that CMP has a tiger by the tail. The bad press will likely force them to do something to shut everyone up.
On the home front, the Ann Arbor water company has been installing those water-powered remote-reading transmitters in folks’ basements over the past few years. They transmit a burst of data every minute or so to a neighborhood receiver perched on a nearby utility pole. I checked the FCC ID on the box in my basement, and found that it was licensed for somewhere in the 450+ MHz, if I recall correctly. However, I found that my unit, and ones I could also hear in my neighborhood is parked squarely on 433.92 MHz, which is a favorite frequency for Part 15 remote transmitters, like car key fobs, and tire pressure monitoring sensors. With a whole neighborhood of these water meter readers, that portion of the 70 cm band sounds pretty busy. The readers seem to be putting out a good deal of energy, and likely exceed the limit normally imposed by the FCC for Part 15 devices in the 70 cm band.
I wonder if it will ultimately be found that the thousands of meters in Ann Arbor are all operating illegally…
I am a vintage radio buff. I find substantial amount of “noise” on the AM band that interferes with my ability to enjoy my old AM radios.
my ‘smart meter’ seems to squak alot on the CB radio receivers as well as lots of broad band hash…
Have noticed some spikes at 45 KHz, up to the 1420 MHz. This shows up in spectral scans while doing radio astronomy.
Having the same problem here. The AM broadcast band specifically 680 khz and about 100khz above and below is completely wiped out as I approach the side of my house where the smart meter is. I get within 20-30 feet of it with a battery powered AM radio and it gets wiped out completely. Like it’s spewing an enormous amount of radiation from the not so smart meter. Inside my house same thing.
Are you sure its not simply noise being radiated down the power line rather than smart meter noise? I had severe line noise in my shortwave receiver (I’m a licensed ham) and the engineers from my power company and I walked the entire length of my power line and their ultrasonic sniffer found several sources of interference, from loosening connections to an; old defective transformer to cracked insulators. One morning I woke up to the sound of heavy trucks in my alley. They replaced ALL the old poles, insulators, ran new wiring and replaced the ancient and defective transformer. Wow.. Noise level dropped several units of signal strength (we call it S units) and now I can hear weaker stations again. Take a portable AM receiver, tune it to an unused frequency and walk around your house. Stick it up to switches, sockets, appliances etc. You may have noise sources inside your house. Then go outside and walk near the lines and see if you have it there. Call your power company. I told mine, “hey, guys, if you’re radiating it, it’s not going thru a meter and you are not able to charge for it”. Maybe that’s what got their attention. Good luck.
Same problem with radio interface since we had our new meter installed a couple of years ago. Even picking up some interference on the fm band. I called Wisconsin Electric Power and they sent a tech to check out my complaint. I showed him the interference with a small hand held Walkman battery radio using headphones. He asked if all my radios were old and when I replied they were he said I needed newer equipment. He unplugged the meter from the house and the static dropped appreciably but didn’t completely stop. Checked a neighbors meter with my radio and his interference was a third of mine. There was no convincing this guy and I forgot to tell him it was also on our car radio when I drove into the driveway. I’m not finished with this yet! I’m going to complained again though not sure what they can do.. Was an amateur radio operator with General Class, K9RAO
I’d keep banging on them, if I were you. It’s not your fault that their equipment is causing interference! That’s just BS. I’d report this to the ARRL, too. They may not be able to do anything for a single person, but if you can get a number of people to complain with you, you might have a case.
I have been having severe RFI from 80 khz up to 350 mhz. I contacted AMEREN the utility here beginning in May-June of this year. After getting tired of lip service, I set out to track the interference issue myself. 4 blocks away I located a very noisy smart meter concentrator that is spewing out the worst sounding signals I ever heard. If you park your car with in 300 feet of it it completely wipes out even local am signals.. AMEREN had already removed one of the old devices for a noise issue. To me it sounds like perhaps they contain a flakey switching power supply. If I don’t get resolution soon I am going to file complaints with the FCC and FAA both. From what I gather the utility line crews don’t like the tech crews reporting these things unless they have it 100 percent nailed. Ok great but what is so hard about flipping a disconnect switch or pulling a meter for a few minutes to isolate the source of the noise
I thought that I had the same problem; used the battery AM Radio process, and discovered that almost ALL my LED Light Bulbs were what was wiping out my radio reception ! May not be all my problems, but seems to be over 90%, and THAT is what is important. Not sure how/why an LED Device can completely fill an entire house with Radio Frequency Interferance ….. !,,,