Aclara SMETS2 smart meter communication hub lights - what do the flashing sequences indicate?

I wasn’t expecting anything to change until we had a response via @Tim_OVO for the questions he forwarded to the (very) technical team.

And I don’t think Tim is around today because there’s other stuff been posted which he would normally have responded to.

The fact that the WAN indicator isn’t changing from its error state is actually good news. We’d be in a more tricky situation if the symptoms were erratic. It’s much easier to diagnose faults when they’re stable.

@Transparent I don't have much patience as you can probably tell !

It's just that the entire time I have had smart meters I have had problems !

I was with Scottish Power for just over 2 years and I had constant problems which were never resolved and to top it all their customer service was terrible.

Good customer service is one of the reasons I moved to OVO.

I don't regret moving despite the smart meter problems that I have had since joining OVO last July.

I just don't think that smart meters use reliable technology as it isn't just me that has had problems, this forum is full of customers with similar problems.

At least there's some good news as you said that the error state is stable !

A further note and that's my LAN connection is stable as I still have my IHD displaying energy usage which hasn't always been the case as I sometimes used to get a "waiting for current data" message !

@MikeE this is probably not helpful for you, as you’ve done these meter health checks already. But I’ve just posted a full tutorial guide on these SMETS2 smart meter health checks. Check it out here 

I wonder if you could just have a read, make sure there’s nothing new there for you to check and do, and then let us know. 

There’s also a new SMETS2 IHD tutorial guide for you to look at.

Probably not the solution in your case, but worth a look I’d say. 

:) 

Also wasn’t today the day you were hearing from our S2 team….?

The guides are well presented…

… but I’ve already concluded that the issue which @MikeE is facing is a clear WAN error, and can’t be addressed any better by the level of help we can provide between us on the Forum. We need engineering support with access to the data and the CCDB map.

My current list of likely possibilities is:

• a software upgrade has gone wrong and lost the WAN connection
• there’s a fault at the only Telefonica transmitter which Mike’s Comms Hub can connect to
• there’s a localised change to the transmission route, possibly someone installing foil-based insulation

And there’s still a possible workaround by changing the Comms Hub for an SKU2 so there’s a Mesh network option available. Let’s remember that this location is in the Welsh valleys.

@Tim_OVO I have read your articles and I did follow your instructions, in fact I saw a lot of meter data that I mostly didn't understand mainly on the electric meter !

I did come across "Tariff 000000" on the electric meter and I am wondering if this is right as surely they shouldn't be all zeros ?

Today should have been the day I heard from the team that I sent my answers to regarding the smart meter health check.

I know you asked a few questions to your expert team on my behalf but I am not sure when you will hear from them.

Don’t worry about Tariff 00000 on the electricity meter (ESME) display @MikeE 

A SMETS2 meter must be capable of supporting at least 4 separate tariffs, although we tend to just use one or two (Economy-7 being the 2nd one). You’ve just scrolled the menu through to one of the unused tariff slots.

I just wanted to say that in the 14 months I have been with OVO this is the first time that I have had a WAN error. 

I used to regularly get HAN errors where the IHD lost the connection and I used to see the "waiting for current data" error message !

In fact I am amazed that my IHD is still working !

I would be interested in getting a SKU2 upgrade but I am wondering if there are enough people available in my area as I think that @Transparent mentioned that I would need to be in a small network for it to work !?

Like you say it could just be a software upgrade that has gone wrong and if so a resetting of the connection should restore things back to normal ?

*edited by mod*

@Transparent Thanks for explaining the tariff 000000 reading :)

I think we need to be less concerned about the previous range of errors affecting your IHD. Even if these were caused by software bugs, they could be resolved by sending upgrades “over the air”.

The issue with the WAN connection is far more serious because:

• it prevents OVO being able to obtain your meter readings
• it prevents any more software upgrades being sent to you, so unless this turns out to be a problem with Telefonica’s equipment, you’re going to need a site visit.

Although the Forum Moderators can directly access the engineers, they are not from a technical background. So I wouldn’t expect them to work through the logic in the way that some of us can!

That’s why I keep reading what you post and then defining it in clear, technically-correct language!

And, by the way, WNC don’t supply an SKU2 Comms Hub. So if this needs changing, you’d get one made by Toshiba.

You wrote: this has got me thinking as to why a SKU2 wasn't fitted on the installation date

Me too!

This is why I’m asking that the engineers check the CCDB map, which shows the transmitter range for your area. It’s still the case that the vast majority of customers will need a SKU1. However, if I flip the argument around and try to imagine where in GB I might be likely to find a greater proportion of SKU2s, then the Welsh valleys would be high on my list!

@Transparent So a WAN error is pretty terminal as there is no way to reestablish the link other than an engineer visit. I didn't know that !

No wonder why my WAN connection wasn't reset. Now I know why.

When you say that the Welsh valleys would be high on your list is that because of a (generally) poor signal ?

My area isn't all that hilly if that makes a difference, in fact it's quite flat really !

@Transparent "This is why I’m asking that the engineers check the CCDB map, which shows the transmitter range for your area."

If the engineers check my area and it comes back as a poor signal area, do you know if that would mean I am eligible for a SKU2 upgrade ?