Retrieve data from water meter (868MHz)

[Gert_Winther]

I have a Kamstrup flowIQ® 2200 water meter and I’m looking for a hardware solution to read its encrypted 868 MHz signal.

I am not interested in IR-based solutions; I want to capture the wireless transmissions directly. Since the signal is encrypted, the solution must support custom AES key entry for decryption.

Furthermore, it needs to support communication with an MQTT Broker (or similar) in Homey, so I can integrate the meter data into my smart home setup. Does anyone have recommendations for reliable hardware that works well for this purpose?

[Rmb]

The way you formulate your questions it looks like you are looking for a device that receives the encrypted 868 message and sents a decrypted message to MQTT broker in Homey.

However Homey can receive 868 signals, so you could write your own Homey app.

[Gert_Winther]

I am afraid that this exceeds my capabilities. I don’t have the necessary skills, and I don’t understand why it requires hardware that then has to communicate with an MQTT Broker?

[Rmb]

@Gert_Winther

and I don’t understand why it requires hardware that then has to communicate with an MQTT Broker?

Because that is what you write.

[Gert_Winther]

Its a total “Lemming“ effect
It is what I read on the Internet.

[Rmb]

ChatGpt?

Maybe the Kamst-IR Gateway is your solution.

[Henrik_Johnsson]

@Rmb

However Homey can receive 868 signals

Only pre 2023 models (i e the spheres), right?

[Rmb]

That is beyond my knowledge, see https://support.homey.app/hc/en-us/articles/4409763154322-Using-868-MHz-devices-with-Homey

[smarthomesven]

@Henrik_Johnsson

Only pre 2023 models (i e the spheres), right?

Yes

[Peter_Kawa]

Yes, 2016-2019 models only, but only in theory.
@rmb @Henrik_Johnsson I remembered someone explaining, and I found the post:

@Caseda

868Mhz is availabe and online for the older Homey’s, it just wasn’t very useful.

Thanks to Z-Wave:
It could only work on ASK modulation for listening, and sending.
But most of 868MHz devices work with FSK which could only be send (from Homey to device, with a short duration for listing to a “signal received” signal back), not receive anything else.
And thus no app really was ever made for it as it was also really difficult to create apps (some tried but stopped trying eventually cause a good signal was difficult to get recorded).

And I believe FCC (american institute) doesn’t allow 868mhz being broadcasted by any device (Z-wave has a different frequency because of this in america), so to get their validation was also a reason to remove the chip in its entirety.

There ain’t a single published 868Mhz app-store app as well:

@Peter_Kawa

[Peter_Kawa]

@Gert_Winther Imho it’s best to check the device & manufacturer site instead of reading fairy tales by AI

As mentioned before, the simplest and easiest way is to use a smart pulse counter, because the FlowIQ 2200 provides for an IR pulse system:

This company sells Kamstrup & Homey compatible pulse readers
https://smartgateways.nl/product/kamstrup-multical-stadsverwarming-vattenfall-eneco-essent-nuon-home-assistant-domoticz-homey-rest-api-mqtt/
(I use a magnetic pulse counter from this company for a Dutch watermeter)

Explanation:
https://haprofs.com/water-link-digitale-watermeter-uitlezen-met-home-assistant-domoticz-en-homey/

[Camelen]

Take a look at this device:

WIMBIB – Remne Technologies AB

But also make sure that you have the WMbus version of the water meter and not NB-IoT.

It has its own app:

WIMBIB | Homey