The shutdown of the 2G mobile network  by Swisscom in Switzerland will also have consequences for existing systems. The familiar remote control  of heating systems,  pumps  and  other  installations  will  be disabled. Therefore, new solutions are required.

At the end of 2020 , the over 25-year-old mobile technology 2G was shut down in Switzerland by Swisscom. Systems or heating units can no longer be operated with 2G technology remote controls. Therefore, the new remote control devices for industrial and building technology from ComatReleco offer not only 2G but also 3G and 4G connectivity.

A SIM card is already integrated and selects the best possible mobile network for the device at the location of use worldwide. Programming and configuration can also be done remotely.The remote control relay complies with the common standard, is easy to handle in the field of cloud and SMS technology, and ensures  secure communication. The monitoring of the current states of the inputs and outputs can be done via web browser or through the app. Alarm notifications are sent via push notification, email, or as SMS. The IoT platform is operated by ComatReleco.

Holiday apartment in the Valais

The Müller family from Rheinfelden has a holiday apartment in the Valais. Until now, they were able to control the heating via SMS using the conventional 2G system to switch it on or off. To also control the heating remotely with the new radio technology, they decided to opt for the new 4G system CMS-10R from ComatReleco. The integration of the software was carried out by Intech-ICS AG  and custom programmed."We were able to import the existing configuration file with just a few adjustments," says father Manfred Müller. Now the Müller family controls the heating via an app. This also offers functions such as live parameter monitoring. In the IoT portal, the values of the inputs and outputs can be continuously monitored or changed.

Access for multiple users

Thanks to separate access, multiple users can control the same device via the app. The Müllers have set up two accounts, one for the parents and one for their adult daughter. "If I want to spontaneously spend a weekend at our holiday home in winter, I can turn on the heating before I leave," says daughter Yasmine Müller.

With  the  remote control, various parameter applications can be monitored.In the holiday apartment in Valais, the heating is monitored to detect any disturbances early and to prevent consequential damage. Additionally, the rainwater tank is now monitored using water level sensors. The sensors report  a high-  or low level from the tank. If the water level is low, the  pump  is deactivated by  an internal programming of the device itself.  When the water level rises again, the device reactivates the pump. This makes it easier and more accurate to control the automatic irrigation in summer – and  the  Müller family not only saves heating costs with the new remote control device but also protects the environment.

Here is the product CMS-10R.

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