4 ms·

I'm not sure how modular they are, if they're just replacing a transmitter or something, I've seen some places transmitting only locally (zigbee or other) then

I'm not sure how modular they are, if they're just replacing a transmitter or something, I've seen some places transmitting only locally (zigbee or other) then a module on the street syncing upstream But let's say even $500 (it's probably cheaper) for something that lasts 8 years is still much cheaper than sending people to get the readings

phaer 3y ago
> But let's say even $500 (it's probably cheaper) for something that lasts 8 years is still much cheaper than sending people to get the readings Probably true, but only as long as one can continue to externalize the cost of handling the resulting e-waste to future generations or at least current-day taxpayers.
- xxs 3y ago
  "e-waste" is, unfortunately, mostly a term used to deflect from the real issues with all the garbage produced. Shipping and installing the meters likely generates more waste than producing the meters, themselves.
- matt_kantor 3y ago
  I don't get it. Wasn't the cost of sending people to get readings externalized also?
  - amanaplanacanal 3y ago
    It was paid for out of your monthly bill.
    - matt_kantor 3y ago
      Right, but that's also the case for the cost of handling the resulting e-waste. Maybe they meant "externalize" in the "externalities" sense—environmental damage, etc? If so that makes some sense, but for a full accounting you'd have to compare that to the externalities caused by all the people driving around to take readings (tailpipe emissions, adding to traffic, etc).
      - phaer 3y ago
        Yes, that's the meaning I had intended
sokoloff 3y ago
Here they drive a car/truck around which reads the meters via a signal on the ISM band. I listen to these and other automated meter broadcasts with an RPi, a TV dongle, and this software: https://github.com/bemasher/rtlamr https://github.com/bemasher/rtlamr
asdefghyk 3y ago
RE "...ut let's say even $500 for something that lasts 8 years is still much cheaper than sending people to get the readings ..." If a meter is read every 3 months, that is 32 reads in 8 years. That's about $15 a read In my street, it takes a meter reader about 2 minutes max to read , record a meter and walk to next meter. need to allow for overheads, so to me its unknown if it actually is cheaper or not to send a human ???
- lizknope 3y ago
  A meter read every 3 months? All of my utilities (electricity, natural gas, water) have monthly bills.
  - logifail 3y ago
    > A meter read every 3 months? All of my utilities (electricity, natural gas, water) have monthly bills. You don't need to read monthly to bill monthly. Our electricity provider used to read yearly, yet we've always paid monthly.
  - SAI_Peregrinus 3y ago
    My gas company has monthly bills, but read the meter annually. They estimate usage other months, you send in any corrections if it's wrong, rnd at the end of the year they read the meter & reconcile any discrepancy.

phaer 3y ago

> But let's say even $500 (it's probably cheaper) for something that lasts 8 years is still much cheaper than sending people to get the readings Probably true, but only as long as one can continue to externalize the cost of handling the resulting e-waste to future generations or at least current-day taxpayers.

xxs 3y ago
"e-waste" is, unfortunately, mostly a term used to deflect from the real issues with all the garbage produced. Shipping and installing the meters likely generates more waste than producing the meters, themselves.
matt_kantor 3y ago
I don't get it. Wasn't the cost of sending people to get readings externalized also?
- amanaplanacanal 3y ago
  It was paid for out of your monthly bill.
  - matt_kantor 3y ago
    Right, but that's also the case for the cost of handling the resulting e-waste. Maybe they meant "externalize" in the "externalities" sense—environmental damage, etc? If so that makes some sense, but for a full accounting you'd have to compare that to the externalities caused by all the people driving around to take readings (tailpipe emissions, adding to traffic, etc).
    - phaer 3y ago
      Yes, that's the meaning I had intended

sokoloff 3y ago

Here they drive a car/truck around which reads the meters via a signal on the ISM band. I listen to these and other automated meter broadcasts with an RPi, a TV dongle, and this software: https://github.com/bemasher/rtlamr https://github.com/bemasher/rtlamr

asdefghyk 3y ago

RE "...ut let's say even $500 for something that lasts 8 years is still much cheaper than sending people to get the readings ..." If a meter is read every 3 months, that is 32 reads in 8 years. That's about $15 a read In my street, it takes a meter reader about 2 minutes max to read , record a meter and walk to next meter. need to allow for overheads, so to me its unknown if it actually is cheaper or not to send a human ???

lizknope 3y ago
A meter read every 3 months? All of my utilities (electricity, natural gas, water) have monthly bills.
- logifail 3y ago
  > A meter read every 3 months? All of my utilities (electricity, natural gas, water) have monthly bills. You don't need to read monthly to bill monthly. Our electricity provider used to read yearly, yet we've always paid monthly.
- SAI_Peregrinus 3y ago
  My gas company has monthly bills, but read the meter annually. They estimate usage other months, you send in any corrections if it's wrong, rnd at the end of the year they read the meter & reconcile any discrepancy.