Unlicenced? Really? I am so corry to hear cuch a thing !
Ofcom set to release interesting spectrum chunk for unlicenced use
Following its January consultation Ofcom plans to release another 12MHz of spectrum into the unlicensed wilds, to the benefit of hobbyists and utilities alike. The two bands start at 870 and 915MHz and are both 6MHz wide. In January Ofcom noted that the MoD hadn't yet agreed to the release, and that the EU was considering …
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Friday 28th June 2013 19:01 GMT Mark #255
"Right now Smart Meters, which have been mandated by the UK government, have to use cellular networks which is both expensive and inefficient, so alternatives are eagerly sought."
Of course they don't have to use the cellular network. They could use low data-rate PLT (it's only the high bandwidth type that has the radio hams up in arms), or something else which already exists. (What's that you say, Skippy? Lots of people have broadband connections that could be used to transfer a few kB a month?)
The thing is, if the utilities have to develop an alternative, they can probably get government funding for it. Using existing solutions (GSM or PLT, or...) won't attract that cash.
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Sunday 30th June 2013 09:42 GMT Velv
Expensive is a relative term. Cellular data might be more expensive per message than setting up your own network, but you've got the cost of setting up your own network.
So if you choose a different wireless solution, you've got to put in the base stations. Similarly with PLT, but you've got all sorts of other equipment on the line that will interfere with signals (a lot of the protection gear has frequency filters). And you need to have repeaters in 5Km circles a bit like the cellular network.
I agree broadband could be used - perhaps the government should be mandating that all properties have a fixed line service installed as a national backbone, even if the property owner or user doesn't have any subscribed services. Could be used for all sorts of things in addition to smart meters.
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Monday 1st July 2013 10:33 GMT Anonymous Coward
"perhaps the government should be mandating that all properties have a fixed line service installed as a national backbone, even if the property owner or user doesn't have any subscribed services"
So who's going to pay for that? 14% of UK properties don't have a landline, so the cost isn't going to be cheap.
"Could be used for all sorts of things in addition to smart meters"
Like what? No use for spying if they aren't using an interwebbed computer in the first place...
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Sunday 30th June 2013 21:18 GMT Anonymous Coward
Hang on a minute, they want to use my internet connection to report home? NO. Not a chance. I decide what I connect and to a certain degree what data is transferred. It does also raise a slight irony rating at the fact they would be using your electric and internet to report back, thus costing you money, albeit a very small amount.
I'll agree to that, when the power companies pay me for access to my network & my facilities. In other words, never.
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Monday 1st July 2013 09:03 GMT Ed 13
Can't use U.S. Equipment
Please don't think this will men you can use US "915 Band" equipment in the UK.
The FCC and IC 915 Band stretches from 902 to 928MHz, so is much wider than this new allocation.
The band is squashed in around the GSM900 Frequencies. Uplinks (phone to base station) are 876 to 915 and downlinks are 921 to 960, which is one of the reasons that the US use GSM850 instead.
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Monday 1st July 2013 10:03 GMT Bill Ray
Re: Can't use U.S. Equipment
Agreed - not all US kit will be usable here.
You'll notice that the SparkFun link is to a tunable device which will fit within the proposed bands, and there's still questions over broadcast power and duty cycle which might not match, but we'll have to see how that pans out.
Some kit will be usable here, and some with minor modification (and thus relatively cheap), so I stand by the assertion that it will be fun.
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Monday 1st July 2013 13:06 GMT Anonymous Coward
Really Smart Idea...
There is one thing missing here, if your broadband is provided over normal telephone lines, these are subject to all kinds of nasty electrical transients, residual lightning surges, etc. The smart meter people are proposing to connect your smart gas meter to a device connected to your telephone line!!
I don't think someone has really thought this through, must be the dumbest smart idea ever...