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March 28, 2022
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Why can't my supplier resolve my smart meter Wide-Area-Network (WAN) signal issues?

  • March 28, 2022
  • 54 replies
  • 13754 views

Who has a SSE or OVO installed smart meter that doesn’t work and more significantly has NEVER worked? Succumbing to promotional pressure and keen to save/monitor my electricity usage, I had one installed 3.5 years ago — and it never worked from the off, save after a few months to provide exactly the same as the old one. After complaints and taking the matter to the ombudsman service (upheld on all counts and resolved with goodwill and indefinite pledges to sort out the issue). That was 20 months ago and there’s been zilch in action or communication since. Now that OVO is running the show, we will see what happens. I have no information on whether my situation is unique or common and why this is so, except that it is largely a government communications agency’s fault (DCC). Hence my question. I am in a small town in the northeast of Scotland, where everything else digital works just fine - with, as far as I know, three SSE electricity sub-stations and three digital/telecoms masts within a mile of my house. Thanks for taking the time and trouble to post if you can help or enlighten me in any way.

Best answer by Blastoise186

Updated on 01/12/25 by Ben_OVO

Hi @rawx ,

I’m Blastoise186, one of the forum volunteers here. I don’t work for OVO myself and cannot access your account, but I might be able to help figure out some diagnostics. Please could you post some photos of your meters, as I need to figure out what you’ve got so that I know what I can try.

If you have SMETS2, then your location means you’re on the Long-Range Radio based Arqiva WAN. All smart meters do ultimately connect to DCC, but there’s two ways of doing so. If you were in the Southern Territory, it would have been the Cellular based Telefonica WAN instead, but that option wouldn’t have worked as well in rural parts of Scotland, whereas Long Range Radio has a far better chance.

While the tech and concept sounds great on paper, in reality the Arqiva WAN has been plagued with issues and you are not alone here. Unfortunately however, fixing those issues is beyond OVO’s control as only Arqiva can install more infrastructure and repair their existing masts. It is only after this is done, that OVO/SSE would be able to truly fix your smart meter issues. Even if you switch supplier, I’m afraid this same issue will still affect you.

One of the best resources we’ve got is the website SmartMe, which we commonly use here on the forum anytime we get stuck or need reliable source info.

My own smart meter, Raichu, is a SMETS2 Aclara SGM1411-B with a WNC SKU1 Communications Hub, installed by OVO in April 2021. It which runs on the Telefonica WAN as I’m in the West Midlands. For me, it’s always worked perfectly as well.

54 replies

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
March 28, 2024

OK done that. Not that impressive that they now want 45 days to reply!

That sounds like it’s raised a tech case directly to the team responsible. They need time to go through the data, run diagnostics and make other decisions. However, you might get a response faster if you’re lucky.

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BPLightlog
Super User
Super User
March 28, 2024

I am on a domestic 3 phase supply, I wonder if these instructions / forms are designed for a single phase supply and therefore not useful?

 

Hi @Chris Watt , just a thought as there aren’t many 3 phase smart meters. Which meter do you have?

Kaifa MA329B

Ok - that meter does have a ‘Flying Lead’ capability to help move the connected comms to a better location. I’ve never seen one in use and don’t know who uses them but mentioned for what it’s worth

Kaifa FL100

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Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
March 28, 2024

I know of only one Site that uses said flying lead (and it’s not my own). It’s used because there isn’t enough space to put the Comms Hub directly on top of the meter, so the Comms Hub is a bit further up the wall where there is enough space.

However, those leads aren’t very long - you’re talking maybe 2m at best if memory serves.

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Newcomer
March 28, 2024

I am on a domestic 3 phase supply, I wonder if these instructions / forms are designed for a single phase supply and therefore not useful?

 

Hi @Chris Watt , just a thought as there aren’t many 3 phase smart meters. Which meter do you have?

Kaifa MA329B

Ok - that meter does have a ‘Flying Lead’ capability to help move the connected comms to a better location. I’ve never seen one in use and don’t know who uses them but mentioned for what it’s worth

Kaifa FL100

Interesting, can’t find any data on Kaifa website about length, etc. - maybe mobile website not great.

Found a user post saying flying lead is 1.5m. That won’t be enough to get out of the basement.

Does anyone know if there is a fixed length on the T3 aerial?

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
March 28, 2024

T3 have pretty long cables. I’ve never found the details but given that they’re external and roof/wall mounted? They’ll be long enough to cope.

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Newcomer
August 19, 2024

Just for information, the Kaifa FL-100 Flying Lead can be ordered in two lengths, 0.5m and 1.5m.
See the SMETS 2 page on smartme.co.uk.

Newcomer
March 6, 2025

Has anyone else had this issue where their new smart meter have been installed but not commucating with OVO, The Engineer was only able to fix the electric meter and left a note (No Wan), and mentioned I need to send readings everymonth. Post code. 

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
March 6, 2025

Hi ​@Temmyt ,

This is a known process called Install & Leave. DCC will be notified and asked to implement a solution to complete your install at a later date - it’s only done if the engineer has tried all the options he’s allowed to do and none have worked.

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March 6, 2025

I recently had an electricity meter fail to connect to WAN after a few days. They had to replace the meter. The new meter doesn’t talk to the in-house display. The engineers really shouldn’t be allowed to walk off jobs half-finished like this.

Blastoise186
Super User
Super User
March 6, 2025

I recently had an electricity meter fail to connect to WAN after a few days. They had to replace the meter. The new meter doesn’t talk to the in-house display. The engineers really shouldn’t be allowed to walk off jobs half-finished like this.

Sometimes they are required to do so per the policies and procedures in place that are agreed by the entire industry.

They can’t just stand there all day holding up other jobs…

The XJoin command will migrate your IHD over. It just has to be done a specific way.

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