Hi!
My cottage is in a remote area with no internet access. Luckily, there's cell coverage. It would be amazing if I could control my heat pump using SMS.

(2024-12-27, 09:12)Paul Wrote: Hi!
My cottage is in a remote area with no internet access. Luckily, there's cell coverage. It would be amazing if I could control my heat pump using SMS.

We appreciate your interest in an offline mode for our service. We have been investigating a solution to send ON/OFF commands via SMS using GSM Power Plugs (power plugs with SIM cards). At the moment, it does not seem likely that we will find an acceptable (free and scalable) solution.



Additionally, we were exploring the possibility of using an Android app to remotely control devices that need to be turned ON/OFF with an infrared remote (via SMS or "missed call"-based automation). Here's how it would work:

1. You would need a spare phone that you can leave on the premises.
   
2. We send automated messages (place a call) to your phone.
   
3. Our app reads the SMS messages.
   
4. The app then uses infrared to turn on your heat pump (or another IR-controllable device). If your phone does not have infrared capabilities (as many do not), you can obtain an inexpensive infrared adapter for your phone.
   

But then again, it does not seem likely that we will find a good solution with SMS or "missed call"-based automation.

If the communication via SMS gateways (or using the "missed call"-based automation) does not prove to be successful, we could still communicate with your phone (via our Android app using your data plan) to remotely control devices that need to be turned ON/OFF with an infrared remote. That of course would be possible if the cell coverage is sufficient for data. Here's how it would work:

1. You would need a spare phone that you can leave on the premises.
   
2. We send an automated command to our app on your phone.
   
3. The app then uses infrared to turn on your heat pump (or another IR-controllable device). If your phone does not have infrared capabilities (as many do not), you can obtain an inexpensive infrared adapter for your phone.
   

We will continue looking for a solution for those without a proper internet connection.
Thank you for your suggestion!


* If using your phone for home automation, avoid keeping it plugged in constantly. Use a timer to charge for a few hours daily—this helps maintain safe battery levels and prolongs battery life.

OK, thank you.
And how about sending commands through a LoRa mesh network?

(2024-12-30, 09:12)Paul Wrote: OK, thank you.
And how about sending commands through a LoRa mesh network?

Thank you for your question. Unfortunately, creating a private LoRa mesh network across all the NordPool countries (3 million square km) is not feasible. It would require approximately 30,000 LoRa devices, posing significant challenges in terms of cost, maintenance, and other logistical issues.