RV Whisper

[AikenRacer]

Last week, we lost power to our motorhome at the beach. The temp rose in the mh with our two dogs. Luckily we were not gone long and got the power restored. I am now looking at the RV Whisper system that sends me text alerts, etc if the temp in the motorhome rises. I have read some comments about it on this forum but looking for more pros and cons with this system from others who have used it. Thanks for any comments,

[Happytraveler]

We have the Marcell Alert System for over a year now, so far very happy with it.Marcell for RV's

[emiddleb]

I did a fair amount of digging at one point because I was interested in a security system (I was looking for remote camera monitoring but still applicable.)

As Dave(Magicbus) pointed out, the un-obvious thing in these systems is that if you want real-time monitoring/alerts, some sort of connectivity is required. Usually Internet, or sometimes cell like the MarCELL system.

So now you have to look at what sort of customer-supplied infrastructure you can set up. Few of these systems connect directly to the Internet but rely on an existing connection. Campground wifi may or may not exist (or be reliable.) If so, means probably setting up your own wifi router to connect to it. When it's not there, you are probably looking at Internet through a cell connection. Now you are needing some sort of cell/wifi hotspot.

Of course, now you need to be in an area where you have a good cell signal. Usually there, but I've certainly been in campgrounds (Michigan UP) where none exists.

Finally, power. All these things require power, and if you want to be alerted when the power goes out.... hmmm. Now have to figure a way to run both the monitor system and wifi/cell off battery.

All are solvable problems, but not always obvious. Few are just plug-and-play. Most of these systems are designed by someone in an office with reliable power and high-speed Internet with little consideration of being out in the boonies or dry camping in the middle of the wilderness.

Just be sure to dig into which system you are considering and understand HOW it sends alerts to your phone and what's required.

[magicbus]

krivanj wrote:
That system only sends data to the server 3-4 times per day. No good to monitor for dog's health....

Which system are you referring to? The MarCELL system sends "pertinent data" 3-4 times a day, but if you read the next paragraph you would see it sends alerts immediately to your text or email.

If the MarCELL Cellular Connected Monitoring System detects temperatures that are too high or too low, if humidity is out of range or if the power goes out, the MarCELL sends an alert message to the cloud which immediately sends you a text message, email and a voice phone call warning of problems at your remote property. It even sends you alert messages when the power is restored.

and

The MarCELL Cellular Connected Monitoring System will notify you immediately via Text, Email, or Call of temperature alerts, humidity extremes, power outages, and when power is restored.

Immediately works OK for me.

Dave

[Ranger_Smith]

You could get something like a simplisafe system and just use the temp monitor and don’t sign up for a monitoring plan. Just set it up for alerts to your phone

[krivanj]

That system only sends data to the server 3-4 times per day. No good to monitor for dog's health....

[magicbus]

An auto generator start is great until you find out your genset didn't start and your coach is overheated. I have no experience with RV Whisper but it does require you provide wifi for remote monitoring, so if you lose power you are probably SOL. I have been looking at something like this service Cell network based monitoring for monitoring the house when we are away. Should work fine in the RV too and they offer seasonal service.

Dave

[doc_brown]

chuckftboy wrote:
If you don't have auto generator start, its easy enough to add. Mine is set every time we set-up.

Ditto. Installed the unit in 30 minutes and the wireless control module is on my dash. Great device.

[chuckftboy]

If you don't have auto generator start, its easy enough to add. Mine is set every time we set-up.

[larry_cad]

I'm sure you have a generator in your motorhome. Do you also have automatic gen start? If so, there is a function that will cause the generator to start automatically if the inside temperature goes above your chosen set point. If you then also have your A/C set to come on, the generator will take over, even if there is a power failure, and run your A/C

[Ranger_Smith]

Did you have your Auto Gen Start set to on and did you have temperature set up on it. I have mine set so if thermostat calls for cooling and no power gen will come on till coach cools down.