3 ms·

I assume that DSL connections aren’t used because not every has one. How far does Ethernet over power line reach? 300m? Could it theoretically reach outside th

by junto 3y ago

I assume that DSL connections aren’t used because not every has one. How far does Ethernet over power line reach? 300m? Could it theoretically reach outside the house to a junction box and if so, could this be a better way of pushing smart meter data to the local provider? I don’t know enough about the technology so maybe I’m being naive.

simne 3y ago
You know, this could be opportunity for some new technology, as ISDN (x.25) is just too much for meters (fixed rate 64kbit via one pair, ISDN usually two pairs, so 128k), even when it is really fit on power (traditional telco line is powered, enough for modern CMOS circuits) and cable length.
everforward 3y ago
A downside of using the home Internet connection is that the user owns it, so they can block the traffic, try to modify the traffic, etc. I wondered about radio; just have these things constantly emit their signals, and then slap a radio receiver on a cell phone tower to collect them. Or maybe some other frequency; I don't know that radio is ideal. There are some privacy concerns too, if people don't want that info to be public. Could always be encrypted.
daveoc64 3y ago
I think having it linked to home broadband would be unpopular from both an energy supplier point of view and from the public. The energy suppliers wouldn't want the support burden of having to troubleshoot people's Wi-Fi, which might not reach to the location where the meter is installed, and could suffer from all sorts of problems. Some consumers wouldn't like the idea of it using their internet connection - even if it was a negligible amount of data consumption. I believe there are some energy supplier provided wireless networks that cover a small part of a neighborhood and all of the meters in that area can connect to the network. I think there are also mesh models where meters communicate over a local network wirelessly, back to a meter that is in the cellular coverage area.
- junto 3y ago
  By Powerline I meant https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-line_communication https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-line_communication But yes, mesh networking might be an interesting alternative.

by junto 3y ago

simne 3y ago

You know, this could be opportunity for some new technology, as ISDN (x.25) is just too much for meters (fixed rate 64kbit via one pair, ISDN usually two pairs, so 128k), even when it is really fit on power (traditional telco line is powered, enough for modern CMOS circuits) and cable length.

everforward 3y ago

A downside of using the home Internet connection is that the user owns it, so they can block the traffic, try to modify the traffic, etc. I wondered about radio; just have these things constantly emit their signals, and then slap a radio receiver on a cell phone tower to collect them. Or maybe some other frequency; I don't know that radio is ideal. There are some privacy concerns too, if people don't want that info to be public. Could always be encrypted.

daveoc64 3y ago

I think having it linked to home broadband would be unpopular from both an energy supplier point of view and from the public. The energy suppliers wouldn't want the support burden of having to troubleshoot people's Wi-Fi, which might not reach to the location where the meter is installed, and could suffer from all sorts of problems. Some consumers wouldn't like the idea of it using their internet connection - even if it was a negligible amount of data consumption. I believe there are some energy supplier provided wireless networks that cover a small part of a neighborhood and all of the meters in that area can connect to the network. I think there are also mesh models where meters communicate over a local network wirelessly, back to a meter that is in the cellular coverage area.

junto 3y ago
By Powerline I meant https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-line_communication https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power-line_communication But yes, mesh networking might be an interesting alternative.