2-Way SMS Communication

[weiss]

Very keen on beta testing, if required...

 

[Matthias Gross]

hmmmm...

what do you mean?

 

[AQD_ottawa]

The SMS unit is in full production and out with all retailers. It was fully Beta tested before launch

Please let us know if you need any product info on the unit.

 

[weiss]

Like the thread title says, 2-WAY SMS Communication. Currently there is no functionality that allows for switching devices on/off via SMS...

 

[AQD_ottawa]

Oh sorry

This will be quite some ways off as yet and probably be associated with the PIII release.

Thanks for your kind offer though

 

[weiss]

Here in South Africa, the technology has been available for a few years whereby you can switch your home alarm on/off (including individual zones), open/close gates, turn pumps on/off, etc via SMS!

 

[AQD_ottawa]

Yep the technology is available and the SMS has the capabilites to do it.

GHL have their own role out plan and time frame of such functions, and they will come but in time.

 

[Matthias Gross]

it is not a big deal to implement such functions

but before we do so we want to get some experience with the SMS-units and their current features

if everything is OK for our customers with the basic and important functions we will go to the next step
(the SMS-units are field-programmable)

but the new functions must make sense and they must work reliable (e.g. what happens if you switch on something and then you have a problem with the radio signal and you can't switch off again?). How does the user get a feedback that his remote access was really successful? Are there dangers?
What do we want to switch? Does it make sense to switch the return pump on/off remotely? At the moment I just can't imagine a sense making function - please correct me if I am wrong.

 

[MSHUR]

I think there is degree of danger in any remote functions.For example, turn on/off skimmer is not a big deal really,but return pump could be problematic. I agree with Matthias we need to get more expirience with existing unit first.

 

[AQD_ottawa]

The one one single thing I can think of that would be of use is if you get an alarm such as for a flood and then unit gave the the option to turn the offending pump off, but this feature only became active in an alarm state

All risks of error switching are then removed

 

[boboxx]

to me even if there is a risk I think it should be implemented and let the end user decide if they want to use that function or not.

 

[AQD_ottawa]

But we have all seen a user get something wrong then in frustration blame the product.

I am with Matthias on this one, I appreciate the want is there, and the ability is most certainly there, but lets just get the unit released before already upgrading it.

It will come we all know this, peace - love - patience

 

[kidney514]

I for one, would like to send a SMS to my unit and request lets says "Status" and have the sensor measurement sent to me! Just a tought.

 

[AQD_ottawa]

I "think" there may be a function for this, I know it was mentioed prior to release, I will have a play with yours Lorin and find out

 

[kidney514]

Hey, hey I want a virgin one, get your hands off my unit!!!!! LOL

 

[Matthias Gross]

"I for one, would like to send a SMS to my unit and request lets says "Status" and have the sensor measurement sent to me! "

-> this is already part of the firmware!

see SMS manual here:
http://www.aquariumcomputer.com/Download/Manual_SMS-Module_18122008.pdf

 

[AQD_ottawa]

Yer I was correct! First for everything.

Lorin, ya out of luck, all the units have had my hands over them to install the USA band number which could only be done over here.