Looking for suggestions to monitor a summer home remotely

[tmorse305]

I have a friend with a summer home but keeps the heat on low all winter.  She wants to monitor the heat and power status and be alerted if the temperature drops below a set point or if the power goes out.

My first thought was to use a Wireless tag and Manager to monitor the heat.  I would have her get a cellular hotspot for WiFi (no WiFi in the home) and plug the hotspot and the tag manager into a UPS to keep them alive if the power goes out.  I was looking for suggestions for the power out notification or alternatives to temperature sensing if there is an easier way.  Or maybe a single solution already exists for both since there must be lots of people looking to monitor these two aspects at remote properties.

Thanks in advance.

[MrBill]

35 minutes ago, tmorse305 said:

no WiFi in the home

Keep in mind the hotspot she gets needs to support a wired connection as well.  The Tag Manager for WirelessTags is a wired device.  If you get a WiFi only hotspot then you're going to need one more piece of hardware.... an AP in client mode to get the tag manager plugged in.

It's surprising that such a device for vacation homes doesn't exist.  Back in the '70's I invented a passive solution using a mercury thermostat, 600 ohm resistor, and the landline.  We just had to remember to dial the number 3 or 4 times a day when it was cold.... if you heard a ring all was well, if there was a busy signal it was below 45 degrees in the house.

[tmorse305]

Thanks MrBill.  I love the 600ohm/thermostat solution, very clever!

[tmorse305]

Update, with a little Google searching there are some solutions out there.  Here are 2 but there are others:

https://store.pumpalarm.com/temperature-power-failure-alarm-p/s-pba.htm?_ga=2.47809767.138710620.1637783922-1478680072.1637783922

 

https://www.isocket.us/order/

 

Both offer power outage and temperature monitoring in one unit.  Equipment cost is ~$200.00 with a monthly fee in the $4-5 range.  I'm not sure how much a cellular hot spot costs per month but this sounds like it might be a cheaper solution.

[MrBill]

52 minutes ago, tmorse305 said:

Update, with a little Google searching there are some solutions out there.  Here are 2 but there are others:

https://store.pumpalarm.com/temperature-power-failure-alarm-p/s-pba.htm?_ga=2.47809767.138710620.1637783922-1478680072.1637783922

 

https://www.isocket.us/order/

 

Both offer power outage and temperature monitoring in one unit.  Equipment cost is ~$200.00 with a monthly fee in the $4-5 range.  I'm not sure how much a cellular hot spot costs per month but this sounds like it might be a cheaper solution.

Those both look like great solutions since they build in the cellular connection.

Try to find out which cell networks they connect to tho, to make sure the service is good for that carrier in the area.  Or ask before ordering about cell coverage in the specific place.