diff --git a/smartmeter.rb b/smartmeter.rb
index 666bc83..127a6c9 100644
--- a/smartmeter.rb
+++ b/smartmeter.rb
@@ -22,6 +22,8 @@ def open_device
   rescue 
     p "Serialport Error - reverting to 'example_blurp.txt'"
     io_device = File.open("example_blurp.txt")
+    # start at random place in the file
+    io_device.seek(rand(1500), IO::SEEK_SET)
   end 
   return io_device
 end