Posted on 03/27/2017 9:46:39 AM PDT by Lorianne
Might be as simple as each appliance has a particular electrical noise signature in operation, and this alone acts as an identifying trait when used in correlation with a change in electrical draw. This presumes the meter monitor system can sample / analyze the electrical noise.
Computational devices have unique signatures beyond IP or MAC address considerations. The motherboard, video processor system, network card, etc. of a PC for instance, produce a unique pattern of time based interaction. The combination of resident software and hardware adds another layer of identifying character. Software with functional but variant code can, in combination with server interaction, act as an identifying beacon.
This is similar to having multiple sonar profiles of the same class of submarine, allowing identification of a specific ship, based on minor variances in the acoustic signature.
My daughter’s house (I own it) got a smart meter last week.
At least now we don’t have make sure someone is home to let the meter reader into the basement any more.
My daughter’s house (I own it) got a smart meter last week.
At least now we don’t have make sure someone is home to let the meter reader into the basement any more.
And it’s only the municipal water meter.
A 20-year-life lithium thionyl-chloride battery, likely with a lithium-ion "capacitor" to improve pulse current.
Sigh.
Here's the problem: most people know nothing about this technology, and assume it's spying on them.
Sigh.
Been in the business as an engineer for 20 years. I tire of these discussions. In fact, I've had it. Yep, it's spying on you! It knows when you have sex!
Inject a faux electrical noise similar to that produced by real systems subject to observation, masking their operation.
I said. “No, a fee is something you pay for something you get. this is a fine.”
They even provide data that shows when the home is empty. Burglars could do a lot with electrical usage graphs.
Ha .. yeah I don’t disagree given the fluctuation in currents for startups and such
I personally would assume you are not paranoid, but I also would discount google. That is someone amusing themselves, and like termites, if you see one, you have an infestation.
If I might give a piece of advice based on personal experience, make sure you aren’t doing anything which would be problematic if, say, it were to be recorded and placed in your permanent file. And that goes for whatever you do in the most private areas of your home as well. Keep your nose squeeky clean. I am not kidding. Shoot, shovel, shut up is no longer on your menu.
Ten years ago I would have scoffed at such advice, but no more.
YMMV. I’d say more, but I have my own problem.
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