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You Might Be A Vampire If…………You’re Worried About Radio Activity.

By
Home Inspector with Aspect Inspection

You Might Be A Vampire If…………You’re Worried About Radio Activity.

I recently got this warning via an acquaintance on facebook It came with the link below, which takes you to a site inviting you to a seminar/meeting on the subject.

 

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Hydro Qc Installing Smart Meters- Info Session on RadioActive Dangers from Smart Meters

The idea sounds familiar because this can has been kicked around before.  It is the same dumb idea as getting cancer from cell phones and hands free ear sets.

The Smart Meter is being introduced by our local power utility, Hydro Quebec.

These hydro meters, (residential electric utility meters), are now going digital and will have a limited low power wireless network which works just like the cell phone equipment.

What is that, exactly? It's a radio. A very small weak broadcasting radio with limited range.

What are radio waves? Simply a form of light that we cannot detect with our eyes.

So the radio 'light' from these meters is about as strong as an average flashlight.

The meter readers used to have to enter your property, find the old style mechanical meter on the side of your house, and correctly read it and then record the data.

This is not always as flawless as you may think.

 Now when they stop in your neighbourhood they won’t even need to get out of their vehicle. They will send out a radio signal or cell call and the meter on your house will respond, and transmit the consumption data. Once the meter reader’s unit confirms reception, your meter’s radio will turn off.

The process could be called radio activation and this is where the scary term ‘radioactive’ is drawn from. You’ll notice it was used in the linkage sent with the facebook warning.

But there is no radioactivity involved, no harmful radiation, only a weak radio and for less than a minute.

This technology, increases home security, will improve accuracy and the utility personnel don’t have to deal with strange dogs, poor or difficult access to meters, poor or absent lighting and occasionally territorial homeowners.

But if you are a homeowner and you find the light of a flashlight painful, you might be a vampire. Maybe an unhealthy one at that as there is a world of difference between the suns light and a flashlight beam.

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Jimmy Faulkner
Florida. Homes Realty & Mortgage - Wantagh, NY
The Best Of St. Augustine

Dear Robert: Perhaps you are not worried about invasion of privacy. It slowly creeps up on us until we are captured by quess who.

Feb 23, 2013 12:42 AM
Edward & Celia Maddox
The Celtic Connection Realty - Queen Creek, AZ
EXPERIENCE & INTEGRITY - WE TAKE THE HIGH ROAD

You are right Jimmy, this invasion of information is scary.

Feb 23, 2013 12:49 AM
Charles Buell
Charles Buell Inspections Inc. - Seattle, WA
Seattle Home Inspector

Robert, there seems to be no end to how people will scare themselves needlessly.  Someone more famous than me said something to the effect that all we have to fear is fear itself.

Feb 23, 2013 03:17 AM
Robert Butler
Aspect Inspection - Montreal West Island, QC
Montreal Home Inspector | Aspect Inspection

Hi Jimmy and Edward-Celia. I'm not worried as the change is only in how the data is retreived. And the accuraccy improved. I've been a victime if an 'incorrect' reading. My bill suddenly quadrupled. It was not easy to get corrected.

Hi Charles. Agreed. And of course they fear what they don't understand and if it's new and they don't understand, somehow that's worse.

Feb 23, 2013 05:39 AM
Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Robert...

We have had this here in GA for some time and it sure beats having a meter reader walking around the house!

Feb 23, 2013 09:55 AM
Robert Butler
Aspect Inspection - Montreal West Island, QC
Montreal Home Inspector | Aspect Inspection

Hi Richard that is true. I appreciate the accuracy. Trying to get corrections from a bureaucratic utility is a pain.

Feb 23, 2013 10:00 AM
James Quarello
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT
Connecticut Home Inspector

Miss Information strikes again :) I think some folks just like being scared. 

Feb 23, 2013 10:11 PM
Robert Butler
Aspect Inspection - Montreal West Island, QC
Montreal Home Inspector | Aspect Inspection
Yep. The facts just get in the way Jim. They probably tell ghost stories before going o bed.
Feb 25, 2013 11:11 AM