Identify your METER
Notice a New Electric Meter on your home?
Are you are wondering if you have received a “Smart Meter”? Please Review the following two meters very carefully so you can be certain which kind you have.
BC Hydro “digital” meter ( Itron Centron C1S )
To our knowledge has NO WIRELESS functionality to it, and was likely installed before July 2011.
http://emrabc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/ITRON1-1024×578.jpg
FOR MORE INFO ON THIS MODEL https://www.itron.com/na/productsAndServices/Pages/CENTRON.aspx
NOTE : These can be MODIFIED, Antennas ADDED, measure the RF Levels to be sure its not transmitting
BC Hydro Smart Meter ( Itron Centron II with OPENWAY )
which has WIRELESS functions.
It also can use Zigbee Wireless, Cellular phone network, Ethernet or Phone lines
according to Itron Patents and Itron Annual Reports
#1 : FIRST CHECK FOR THESE WORDS “OPEN WAY“ which are located at the Bottom
#2 : The distinctive “V” pattern on the right, this is a Dock for the hydro company to read the Smart Meter when there in person.
#3 : Notice the Black BUTTON for controlling the digital Display, Its only on a Smart Meter.
#4 : Installed after JULY 1st 2011
http://emrabc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/smart-meter.jpg
FOR MORE INFORMATION
CENTRON II OPENWAY C2SO C2SOD CN2SOD C2SXD
www.itron.com/na/productsAndServices/Pages/CENTRON%20II.aspx
www.itron.com/na/PublishedContent/CENTRON%20II%20C2SXD.pdf
INDUSTRY CANADA / MEASUREMENT CANADA
http://www.ic.gc.ca/pics/lm/electric/ae/1631.pdf
Three Antennas Inside a Smart Meter
An Investigation of Radiofrequency Fields
Associated with the Itron Smart Meter
page 34
“For the Itron equipment that was the subject of this investigation, Two separate transmitters are contained in
the end-point meters. The wireless mesh network can be referred to as an RF LAN (radio frequency local area network).
The Itron RF LAN operates in the 902-928 MHz license free band using spread spectrum
transmitting technology. A second, separate transmitter that operates in the 2.4 GHz frequency range (2405
MHz to 2483 MHz) uses direct sequence spread spectrum technology that is referred to as a Zigbeeradio.
This Second transmitter is included for use with Home Area Networks (HANs) allowing customers, for
example, to control certain electric appliances or systems within the home. When fully implemented, the
customers will be able to connect wirelessly with the HAN radio and set times at which various appliances
and/or electrical systems may operate, thereby taking advantage of those times during which electricity rates are lowest.
The RF LAN provides data communications among the various end-point meters and an associated cell relay meter.
Cell relays are end-point meters that contain yet a THIRD Transceiver that is designed for wireless connection to the cellular WWAN,
i.e., relaying of the data received from the various end-point meters over a private connection to the electric utility company.
The transceivers use the same frequency bands used by cell phones.
Two different frequency bands are used by these cell-relay transceivers, either the 850 MHz band or the 1900 MHz band.
7 Figure 2-3 shows a cell relay with the flexible dual band antenna located on the inside surface of the meter cover.”
CALIFORNIA uses CELL RELAY ( AKA “Medusa” ) , READ PDF ABOUT THEM HERE
Fiona Taylor of BCHYDRO claims that “CELL RELAY will NOT be used, and all will be Pole mounted SMART GRID CELL ROUTERS ”
Watch a Video from California showing an ITRON CELL RELAY in operation
Zigbee Antennas
Itron & Zigbee
“ Transmission range is between 10 and 75 meters (33 and 246 feet) and up to 1500 meters for zigbee pro, although it is heavily dependent on the particular environment. The output power of the radios is generally 0 dBm (1 mW).”
BC HYDRO – Smart Meter ( Wireless / Constant )
BC HYDRO – Smart Meter Router ( Wireless / Constant )
FORTISBC GAS METER ( Wireless Collector networked to Smart Meter )
WATER METERS ( Wireless activated by Drive By Collection )