Frequently Asked Questions

Should you be looking to have an Alt HAN device installed with your smart meter at your property, you will need to contact your energy supplier directly, as they will be best placed to advise you on options available for your own specific situation.

Should you wish to arrange a building survey, your energy supplier will be able to provide further information on both this and smart metering solutions for your property. Check your gas or electricity bill for your supplier’s contact details or if you’re unsure you can check via the Smart Energy GB website:
Get a smart meter – Find your supplier | Smart Energy GB

Check your gas or electricity bill for your supplier’s contact details or if you’re unsure you can check via the Smart Energy GB website:
Get a smart meter – Find your supplier | Smart Energy GB

The Alt HAN solution has been designed to address situations where the gas meter is remote from the electricity meter. However, Alt HAN Co is unable to comment on specific scenarios relative to any given property. We would therefore recommend that you contact your energy supplier directly, who will be able to advise you in respect of your concerns and the associated feasibility of Alt HAN equipment that may be able to resolve the issues you have.

Alt HAN Co is unable to advise directly on specific device solutions and do not supply devices directly to consumers. We would therefore suggest you speak with your current energy supplier, who can advise you directly on a smart metering solution for your property. Check your gas or electricity bill for your supplier’s contact details or if you’re unsure you can check via the Smart Energy GB website:
Get a smart meter – Find your supplier | Smart Energy GB

Alt HAN devices are available to all energy suppliers. Please contact your energy supplier, who will be able to confirm the solutions that may be available to you.

Alt HAN Co is unable to advise you directly on scenarios relating to an individual property or the energy supplier you are in contact with; we would therefore recommend that you speak directly with your energy supplier to resolve any issues that may exist.

Alt HAN Co is not able to recommend a smart meter installer. Your energy supplier will be able to offer the best advice on who can install a smart metering solution for your specific property and needs.

Alt HAN Co is funded by energy suppliers collectively on a not-for-profit basis.

Alt HAN installations are underway by energy suppliers. Please contact your energy supplier, who will be able to confirm the solutions that may be available to you.

Alt HAN Co does not supply devices directly to consumers. Where needed, they are provided free of charge as part of your smart meter installation. We would therefore advise that you speak directly with your energy supplier, who can advise you on both suitability and availability for these devices.

Whilst Alt HAN devices are available to all UK energy suppliers, only those suppliers who have formally agreed to participate in the procurement and installation of devices are able to offer them to their customers. It should also be noted that participating energy suppliers are at different stages in terms of their roll-out plans for procurement and installation of these devices. To find out more on availability and suitability for your smart metering requirements, please contact your energy supplier directly.

Please contact your own company or the energy supplier you are working with in the first instance; they will either be able to assist you or will have the ability to communicate directly with Alt HAN Co.

No. Alt HAN devices must not be installed in multi-way extension sockets or connected to devices designed to filter Radio Frequency Interference (RFI) or suppress mains surges. Doing so may interfere with their performance and connectivity, potentially disrupting the communication between HAN devices and the Communications Hub. For optimal operation, Alt HAN devices should be plugged directly into a standard mains socket without any intermediary filters or surge suppressors.

Yes. Alt HAN range-extending devices are engineered to operate efficiently across a wide variety of property types, regardless of location. They are suitable for flats/apartments as well as small and large single premises, ensuring robust connectivity in diverse installation environments.

Yes, Alt HAN devices are fully compatible with both SMETS2 meters and U16 gas meters, ensuring seamless integration and reliable communication across these devices.

The Alt HAN Company offers four mixed media devices that can be combined and configured into three distinct solutions to help establish Smart Metering Home Area Networks. These solutions address the challenge of physical separation and obstacles between your electric meter, gas meter, and in-home display. The specific solution suitable for you depends on the specifics of your property.

There are four Alt HAN devices, called Bridges:

• Bridge 1 is installed alongside the electric meter and draws its power directly from the incoming distribution supply.
• Bridge 2 is a plug-in device powered by connecting to any standard electrical socket within the premises.
• Bridge 3 is another plug-in device that also uses a standard socket for power.
• Bridge 4 is battery-powered and is mounted on the gas meter using a bracket.

Each Bridge is designed for specific installation scenarios to extend connectivity between smart metering devices.

Alt HAN devices are fully interoperable with Dual Band Comms Hubs, supporting both 3G and 4G. Our bridge devices operate exclusively at the Zigbee layer on the 2.4 GHz band, which means any end device using the Alt HAN solution must also be compatible with 2.4 GHz. When a Dual Band Hub is deployed, it supports both 2.4 GHz and 868 MHz frequencies. Alt HAN devices connect seamlessly provided they are operating on the 2.4 GHz band.

If you have different suppliers for electricity and gas, please speak to both energy suppliers. They can confirm whether you need Alt HAN and, if so, which supplier will take responsibility for the installation.