may be fascinating technology, but it won't be so fascinating when you are facing a huge electric bill because they jacked your rates up during peak hours.
the system fascinates me from a tech standpoint, but where this tech is ultimately heading spells bad news for the consumer and his/her wallet ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe" <k1ike_m...@snet.net> To: <Repeater-Builder@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 8:12 AM Subject: Re: [Repeater-Builder] PG&E Smart Meter Program >I worked on an antenna problem recently on a 900Mhz spread spectrum > meter system here in Connecticut. I only spent an afternoon, but the > technology is fascinating. Two way communications from selected sites > to the meters will eventually be implemented. If the customers meter > does not have a direct path to the site it can relay it's data through > another meter that it has connectivity to. Kind of like a big mesh > network. Every meter is also a repeater. It is eventually going to be > a two way network, not just for meter reading. The power company will > be able to control the load of devices in the customers home or business > location (presumably for a discounted rate) as the power company needs > to adjust demand. A good example would be to shut off your electric hot > water heater for 5 minutes. This would probably have no direct effect > on the customer, but would be a great cost saver for the power company. > > Using spread spectrum and 900Mhz, the range of this system is amazing. > Very few meters are in dead zones. These bad zones only need a meter > strategically placed on a high building or power pole to become a > repeater. Very impressive system..... > > 73, Joe, K1ike > > > ------------------------------------ > > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > >
