Posted by Article One on
URL: https://www.es-forum.com/Can-I-partially-shield-a-smart-meter-so-it-still-works-tp3109024p3109191.html

Hello everyone,

Good to see some lively discussion, even if we don't all agree on
everything. ;)

Now, what I can say, at least from having stood for a few minutes with my RF
meter in hand by where my trailer is parked on this property, is that I was
not picking up pulses from the smart meter(s) every second or numerous times
per minute.  I think that there are different types of smart meters, and not
all of them send a signal the same number of times per minute/hour/day.

So, Stewart, are you saying that if I stood to the *side* of a smart meter
and picked up its transmitting pulse with my RF meter, that would indicate
that it's omnidirectional?

I'm not talking about wrapping these things in foil (tempting though that
sounds); I'm talking about maybe sticking a piece of clearshield on the
front of them, or putting a square of sheet metal on a post some distance
away from whichever part of the smart meter is pointed toward where my
trailer is, to bounce back some of the RF.

I haven't run thorough tests on the ones on this property yet; what I've
said are my preliminary observations.

I have to weigh it like this: In this house, there is virtually no to very
little cell phone tower noise, even with my most sensitive meter.  Yet, once
I walk/bike/drive into town (these are the suburbs), there are plenty of
towers, shops have WiFi networks, and you can't walk by ten people without
seeing at least one yakking on their cellphone.  Additionally, every house
in this town has an active smart meter.  That's over forty thousand smart
meters.  The one on this house is closer to my bedroom than the two on this
rural property would be to my trailer.

Conversely, this rural property has two smart meters 175-200 feet away from
my trailer.  Perhaps they can be partially shielded as I described above
without impeding their function.  My trailer is also, in essence, a shielded
box.  This property does receive the internet wirelessly, but anyone who's
seen my previous message, and Stewart's reply, will see that it's possible
that the signal they receive is fairly weak and line-of-sight, high up,
since the RF meters don't pick it up ambiently out of proximity to the
outdoor receiving modem.

*Optional reading for those who simply wish to reply to the above follows
below:*

Both places have their pros and cons.  I am still wary of this other
property, but then again - is my current location a perfect spot, either?
Not truly.  Maybe the countryside will do me good.  It's *so* quiet there;
you wouldn't believe how many birds there are on this gorgeous property.*  *No
traffic noise, no construction.

As for going off grid and electrical dirt, etc.: I run the trailer off
batteries, but I don't have a solar setup.  I need AC power to charge the
batteries.  The charger I have generates some AM radio noise at the source
(the charger), but that doesn't seem to carry at all into the trailer.  It
drops off fast.  Looking inside the charger, it appears to be a simple
linear transformer, not one of these "intelligent", high-noise switching
chargers.

I also need to be able to use my computer in the trailer (it's a modified,
lower EMF, fanless, solid state computer with a modified monitor).  I would
run ethernet cable from the property owners office space.  I need 'net
access to do the bit of online work I can do.  So, I need AC power from an
outdoor outlet near the office space.

Let me tell you, the power quality in these people's buildings is *crap*.
 They're nice folks, and generous about sharing their land, and wealthy, and
though open minded, have bought into the high-tech nonsense.  They've got
big TVs, they've got CFLs, WiFi routers and DECT phones.  The man who owns
the place runs a company; he looks dazed all the time.  The AM radio goes
ape-sh*t when I bring it into his office, I've never even heard the noises
it makes in there before; it's quite something.

Yet, I need some of that electricity to charge the batteries and use my
computer.  So, I got a decent 20A rated powerline filter, made by Schaffner.
 I have its chassis mounted on a flat metal ground plane, and the this
ground plane is attached with really heavy gauge copper wire to a copper
ground rod in wet soil.

It performs quite well! The difference in AM noise on the line between the
unfiltered AC extension cord, and after the grounded filter is considerable.
 Is it perfect? No.  I don't have hundreds or thousands of dollars for a
military grade powerline filter, but if I build an off grid system, I'll
have to get one.

However, comparing the filtered line there to the normal AC line in our
house, I'd say that there's probably not any more noise  than here.
 Neither's perfect, but again, I need to weigh the pros and cons.  If I can
convince these people to "clean up" their act, I will be pleased.

All I can say is that I'll have to try the place out.  If I feel better, I
stay.  If not, I go.  Thanks all for your replies, and if you've got any
more sound advice, please keep it coming.

Thanks!

Take care,

R.



On Sat, Jun 25, 2011 at 11:37 AM, Marc Martin <[hidden email]> wrote:


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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