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How can I get my new Chameleon In Home Display (IHD) joined to the network and displaying my usage information?

  • February 13, 2018
  • 24 replies
  • 13352 views

Hey there!

I just received my new smart meter and the IDH (black model "Chameleon") and I successfully joined my home WIFI. The WIFI Signal is displaying three bands, so all good for the internet connection.
When it comes now to the "Join network" which is I imagine the connection to the smart meter reading, It loop over and over again without any chance to get my real-time consumption, any clue?

 

Best answer by AndyB

Updated on 10/10/25 by Ben_OVO:

 

Great work getting your new In-Home Display (IHD) connected to your WiFi!

 

This is slightly different to the Home-Area Network which connects the device to your Smart meter and displaying your usage information. The engineer would help to get this set-up if they’ve provided the IHD at the time of your smart meter installation. If you’ve received the device at a later date or needed a replacement you’ll need to contact our Support Team to complete the pairing process. They’ll send a remote message out from your smart meter which will then allow the device to join the network.

There’s more info on our device guides below:

 

SMETS1 Chameleon In Home Display (IHD) guide

SMETS2 In Home Display (IHD) guide

 

All paired up but still having issues? Check out or trouble-shooting guide below.
 

 

OVO member but not got a smart meter yet? - Book today!

Smart Meter not communicating with us? Fill in this Online Form

Interested but not yet an OVO member? - Check out our plans!

 

24 replies

Tim_OVO
Retired Moderator
  • OVO Forum Legend
  • February 14, 2018
@kesvic @random_number @AndyB @Lr19 @Valskihepp @Petershome @Thor - by the looks of it you have the same IHD - can you advise @jarod77 :?

Tim

  • New Member***
  • Answer
  • February 14, 2018

Updated on 10/10/25 by Ben_OVO:

 

Great work getting your new In-Home Display (IHD) connected to your WiFi!

 

This is slightly different to the Home-Area Network which connects the device to your Smart meter and displaying your usage information. The engineer would help to get this set-up if they’ve provided the IHD at the time of your smart meter installation. If you’ve received the device at a later date or needed a replacement you’ll need to contact our Support Team to complete the pairing process. They’ll send a remote message out from your smart meter which will then allow the device to join the network.

There’s more info on our device guides below:

 

SMETS1 Chameleon In Home Display (IHD) guide

SMETS2 In Home Display (IHD) guide

 

All paired up but still having issues? Check out or trouble-shooting guide below.
 

 

OVO member but not got a smart meter yet? - Book today!

Smart Meter not communicating with us? Fill in this Online Form

Interested but not yet an OVO member? - Check out our plans!

 


  • New Member*
  • February 15, 2018
Hey there!

I just received my new smart meter and the IDH (black model "Chameleon") and I successfully joined my home WIFI. The WIFI Signal is displaying three bands, so all good for the internet connection.
When it comes now to the "Join network" which is I imagine the connection to the smart meter reading, It loop over and over again without any chance to get my real-time consumption, any clue?


My Chameleon IHD has two signal strength displays in the top-left corner. One for the link to the smart meter, the other for the link to your home wi-fi. Not sure which is which but one has curved lines expanding upward from a point, the other is vertical bars.

It sounds as though you have successfully linked to your wi-fi. Sorry, but no idea how to link to the smart meter as the installation engineer did that when fitting the smart meter.

  • Author
  • Carbon Cutter*
  • February 16, 2018
The IHD is connected to my home WIFI, the issue is that the IHD isn't connected to the network in order to fetch data consumption from you guys... Could you advise? Pretty sure it's an issue with the pairing between the IHD and the smart meter.
No documentation on your website for the new IHD, I'm just myself trying to figure this out, any help would be much appreciated.

Tim_OVO
Retired Moderator
  • OVO Forum Legend
  • February 16, 2018

Hi @jarod77 it might be best to get our Care team to make sure the IHD is connected to your smart meters correctly. None of our forum users will be able to check this. Reach out to them via Facebook, Twitter or  online chat via the Help Centre.


  • Author
  • Carbon Cutter*
  • February 16, 2018
Email sent. Thanks

Coop_UK
Carbon Cutter*
  • Carbon Cutter*
  • April 6, 2018
I have now also managed to connect the Chameleon IDH to my home wifi however it is still not bringing any live data back ?

I'm in a 2nd floor apartment so too far away from my meter for the normal (ZigBee) signal to reach.

Any ideas how to get results back through wifi instead as without it the IDH is pretty much useless which is a shame.

Lucy_OVO
Retired Moderator
  • Retired Moderator
  • April 16, 2018
Can you send us a screenshot from your My OVO account @Coop_UK?

Coop_UK
Carbon Cutter*
  • Carbon Cutter*
  • April 20, 2018
Good Morning Lucy please see attached as requested.

Nancy_OVO
Retired Moderator
  • Retired Moderator
  • April 20, 2018
Good Morning Lucy please see attached as requested.

Hi @Coop_UK, you'll need to click on the 'My Smart Usage' box (middle right). This should bring up your usage graphs.

Nancy

Coop_UK
Carbon Cutter*
  • Carbon Cutter*
  • April 20, 2018
Good Morning Nancy,

I can see that online for the previous day. I am meaning in regard to the In Home Display and live use. So that I can see what uses what and I can make a difference.

  • New Member*
  • December 9, 2018
My meter broke and was sent a new one followed instructions and when I clicked join network nothing happens there is just an esclamation mark flashing in the left hand corner. Says no data where my electric and gas balance should be

Lucy_OVO
Retired Moderator
  • Retired Moderator
  • December 11, 2018
Hopefully you'll find the answer on here @Lolipoplil 🙂

  • Carbon Cutter**
  • February 9, 2019
I received my new Chameleon IHD yesterday and contacted OVO to activate but it hasn't connected to Wi-fi or meters. Please can anyone help?

Nancy_OVO
Retired Moderator
  • Retired Moderator
  • February 14, 2019
Hi @Coolnan - I've moved your post onto this topic about connecting your IHD. Hope this helps!

  • Carbon Cutter**
  • February 16, 2019
Thank you for your help. I am now sorted thanks to a member of OVO contacting me regarding my problem, nobody had disconnected my old IHD!

Thanks for help everyone.

how do I input my tariff and standing charge in to the smart meter? All I get at the moment is KWH usage. thanks

Nancy_OVO
Retired Moderator
  • Retired Moderator
  • March 21, 2019
Hi @Julian Earnshaw - I've moved your post over here.

Sounds like your IHD needs connecting rather than anything inputting. More info above ☝🏼

  • New Member*
  • August 22, 2025

Is it possible to connect my smart meter to my home WiFi? Phone connection is very poor.


Blastoise186
Plan Zero Hero
Forum|alt.badge.img+1
  • Plan Zero Hero
  • August 22, 2025

Hi ​@AndyHat ,

Sorry, but I’m afraid not - it’s banned for security reasons.

There are options like Mesh Comms Hubs and booster aerials though - so you may be able to get around the issue that way.


  • Carbon Cutter****
  • August 22, 2025

DCC were supposed to be trialling connection via WiFi last year but I’ve not seen anything about it. A shame as it would solve most of the no-WAN cases overnight.


Nukecad
Plan Zero Hero
  • Plan Zero Hero
  • August 22, 2025

Yes there were technology trials.

However just because you could do something doesn't mean that you should do it.

As said there are security issues involved with connectiing smart meters to the internet.

Whilst it might sound like a good idea for some consumers (and suppliers) point of view it would potentially be a route for ‘Bad actors’ to access the Nation Grid and disrupt it (or even close it down altogether) which is not an acceptable risk that any sensible government will allow.


Blastoise186
Plan Zero Hero
Forum|alt.badge.img+1
  • Plan Zero Hero
  • August 22, 2025

Another big reason is that if you’re off-supply due to running out of PAYG credit, it’d be impossible to get the credit delivered automatically if the meter runs via your Wi-Fi because there’d be no internet connection as the router would be offline. And no way to reliably remotely deliver Additional Support Credit either for the same reason.

Frankly, unless you’ve got a fancy setup like Ubiquiti UniFi like I do, it’d also be impossible to isolate the Smart Meter(s) from the rest of your local network - that’s another reason why it’s not happened.

I checked with an expert this afternoon - as far as they know, the trial in question has made no further progress and probably won’t be going much further.


Chris_OVO
Community Manager
Forum|alt.badge.img
  • Community Manager
  • August 25, 2025

Hey ​@AndyHat

 

A warm welcome to the community and if you haven’t already check out our new members area.

 

Some members have mentioned that connecting your smart meter to the internet isn't secure. But don't worry, we have some solutions to help with any signal issues! If you can share a bit more about your setup and where you're located, we'd love to offer some friendly advice and support. Also, feel free to upload pictures of your meter setup. Our community is here to help with more suggestions, too!

 

This article might have more information but not specific to your circumstances