Smart meter – shielding?

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Smart meters send via the mobile network or PLC. Just shield it – and you’re good?

Unfortunately no. On the one hand, a smart meter that communicates via the cellular network behaves like a cell phone that has poor reception. It transmits at maximum power. If you shield the smart meter, it will try to overcome the hurdle with the highest transmission power. If it still cannot establish a connection, the measuring point operator is called into action to correct the “error”.

If the smart meter sends via PLC, the signals do not only run in the direction of the supplier / measuring point operator, but also in the entire house electrical system. The data is therefore available at every socket, lamp, everywhere. The only way to prevent this is to install one line filter.

The only sensible solution remains an application to the measuring point operator that only LAN-bound smart meters that transmit data via DSL are used. However, these smart meters also have a GSM module that ensures data transmission in the event of a DSL failure.

External antenna

In order to protect yourself from this electromagnetic radiation, you can install an external GSM antenna if the smart meter provides an external GSM antenna connection. This should ideally be designed as a roof antenna and mounted at the highest point in order to keep the distributed power as low as possible.

Rod antenna

Rod antennas radiate radio waves horizontally in all directions with the same intensity. Viewed vertically, the radiation pattern has the shape of a lifebuoy. Almost no radiation occurs at the base of the antenna.

Directional antenna

If the location of the nearest cell phone mast is known, a directional antenna can also be connected. The directional antenna has a lobe-shaped radiation pattern that is pronounced in this direction.
The opening angle is usually around 60° (the smaller the better), which ensures a relatively large radiation-free space on the property below and in all horizontal planes, with the exception of the directional lobe of the antenna. The directional antenna also enables a minimum possible transmission power and thus further contributes to reducing radiation exposure.