Smart meter in block of flats - Is it possible to have one fitted?

Thanks for that. So at installatiin I could opt for a DBCH and if rquired fit Alt Han later. Or is it best to wait for Alt Han to become available again

I’d say wait for AltHAN to return. At the moment it’s on pause due to an issue with the plug-through sockets but they’re working on it and will return to the market soon. We just don’t know exactly when yet.

When AltHAN does return however, priority over stocks will initially be to fix existing installs to resolve the faulty sockets. Once they’re done, I suspect new installs will be possible again.

Best to wait for AltHan to return, as I believe DBCH isnt compatible with AltHan bud.

Finally talked to OVO Installing engineer who knows this building and pretty much agreed with comments above. He also advised that the issue here is the WAN (Carlisle area) signal being weakened by the thick mill building walls. Advised that DBCH was used more for gasmeters although there is a flat here with it in the meter room.

So decided to wait and hence cancelled the upcoming smartmeter appointment.

Thanks for your input.

Hello again Blastoise186.  Could you please advise where I can get information on the location o the WAN long wave radio transmitter is in Carlisle *Edited by mod*.  I cannot find this anywhere. Also who should I ask to see if the area is in a good or poor reception area. Thanks

Unfortunately, that information isn’t publicly available, partially for National Security reasons. Even if I did know myself, it’d be under NDA and I wouldn’t be able to say.

What I can say is that checks are done when you attempt to book an install - if the signal isn’t good enough, the appointment is blocked.

I noted a number of the smartmeters (where fitted) in the communal meter room have the DCC Han and Wan (green) lights flashing at various intervals.  Quite a number flash (WAN & HAN) at 5 second intervals.  Others are shorter or longer but may be due to tennant changes and neglect of the meters. So I believe 5 seconds is a good indication of signal strength and DCC connection with the smartmeter. Right ?

All indicators (except for the red usage one) should be flashing at 5 sec intervals. Other rates show faults or updates in progress 

Well there was a campaign to get everyone on smart meters, which is what eventually lead me to get one beginning of 2022, because funnily enough, i thought it would save me the awkward trip to utility cupboard for taking meter readings.

And long story short, the smart meter never worked, until finally in mid september, it magically started to send readings every few days or so on average. And for the very reason of me living in a ground floor flat, away from the utility cupboard which is on the first floor, i was told by the smart meter engineer that like if they receive a signal, they will provide me with an inhome display as well. But I never got the inhome display, which I dont understand why, cause even if the smart meter can’t send readings to ovo, it would still be useful for me to see my usage and meter readings without having to go to the utility cupboard? Obviously i know my flat’s distance to the utlity cupboard might be an issue.

Now my question is, would I able to to request a free inhome display and if so does it mean they’ll be able to have an “alt HAN” setup for me to get the signal to reach my flat?

Hi @pinkfloyd198 ,

AltHAN is currently suspended right now while some important fixes are being developed. However, there’s still a chance that Dual-Band Comms Hubs might work. Have a word with OVO Support next week and they can potentially explore that for you.