Phone activated functions on an RV???

[rockhillmanor]

omg, Thought I'd seen it all but guess not.

There is another thread where an RV'er is locked out of opening his slides and awning on his RV.

WHY? Because he is using his cell phone to open them and it is malfunctioning. :S

First of all I did not know that there is an app you can buy where you use a cell phone to operate almost all of the functions on an RV.
https://www.asaelectronics.com/downloads/dl/file/id/832/jrvcs105_in-command_owners_manual.pdf

Have we as RVers gotten that lazy that we need to use a cell phone to operate our RV's when our RV 'comes with already installed' buttons/switches to operate everything?

Not to mention the lack of security of using a device like a cell phone having access to all of your RV inside an out.

I certainly would NOT want to own an RV that is hackable, 'phone activated'.

What happens when you don't have good cell phone coverage where you are parked? Do you sit there refusing to go inside the RV and flip the switch to activate your slides?

How many of you would use a phone app to operate your RV?

[D_E_Bishop]

I have a difficult time remembering how to text on my flip phone and most of the time don't even know where it is. Our oldest daughter on the other hand will prep their second home before leaving their primary residence. Turns on the heat or AC, the spa, if it will be dark when they arrive, programs when the lights will come on...

I don't condemn nor do I avoid things like being able to turn my under step lights on remotely when we return to our rig at night. These things can be really nice but I don't have fond memories of them from my childhood and they aren't as romantic to me as wood stick matches or the really uptown flint lighter for my gas fired Coleman lantern. And at my age I have come to enjoy the warm and fuzzy feelings of doing things in the manner we did them in the 40's.

It is as I was reminded in another post, just a different point of view and not for everyone. Some things are, however, really cool.

[drsteve]

As long as these systems are not internet connected I don't see security as a problem. I love me some technology and geek toys as much as the next guy, but I also really like reliability. And few things are more reliable than an old fashioned mechanical rocker switch.

[docsouce]

To each his own. As an old motorhead I understand the world of geekdom. What used to be engines and Hot Rods is now phones and Apps. I personally would love a new Pick Up truck with crank windows, no accessories, standard transmission (4 speed with a granny 1st or "3 on the tree" and an am/fm radio all held together with bench seats. All this with a sticker price $25,000 less that what is out there now. We all have our dreams I guess..
Oh and on line banking... You guessed it!!!

[JaxDad]

rockhillmanor wrote:

JaxDad wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:
How many of you would use a phone app to operate your RV?

So phones are secure enough for online banking but not secure enough to control an RV?

Nope!
I would never do my banking via a cell phone.

Then you’d be really shocked when me and the DW come out of the restaurant to find it pouring rain, I pull out my phone, push a few buttons and my car powers itself up, pulls out of the parking spot and drives to the front door to pick us up all by itself, then opens the doors for us even.

As a pilot I can do all my flight planning, get the weather for the route and even pre-order my fuel with my phone. Then when I get aboard I upload it to the aircraft. During the flight the phone stays connected and pushes info to the aircraft.

[rockhillmanor]

JaxDad wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:
How many of you would use a phone app to operate your RV?

So phones are secure enough for online banking but not secure enough to control an RV?

Nope!
I would never do my banking via a cell phone.

[Planning]

I think that the operative question to ask is why anyone cares about how anyone else decides to accessorize their life.

Instead of the OP question, how about one that asks, "why do we not want to mind our own business and stay in our own lane".

[dhust]

MrWizard wrote:
i suspect the command system APP, uses bluetooth NOT wifi
and certainly NOT cellular
you have to be Approximately with in 30ft of the command center for the BT connection to work

Some may hook up through Bluetooth but I know mine uses its own private WIFI. It's "One Control" app put out by Lippert Components.

[MrWizard]

i suspect the command system APP, uses bluetooth NOT wifi
and certainly NOT cellular
you have to be Approximately with in 30ft of the command center for the BT connection to work

[toedtoes]

CavemanCharlie wrote:

JaxDad wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:
Not to mention the lack of security of using a device like a cell phone having access to all of your RV inside an out.

I certainly would NOT want to own an RV that is hackable, 'phone activated'.

What happens when you don't have good cell phone coverage where you are parked? Do you sit there refusing to go inside the RV and flip the switch to activate your slides?

How many of you would use a phone app to operate your RV?

So phones are secure enough for online banking but not secure enough to control an RV?

As for coverage, I didn’t read the specifics but I suspect the system uses Bluetooth or WiFi not the cellular network otherwise your RV would need its own SIM card and service plan.

I don't really care about someone who uses their phone to open the slide on their RV. But, I DO NOT use my phone for online banking. That seems crazy to me.

I don't have one of those card that you swipe for everything either. My last girlfriend had one of those. Used it for everything. She never knew how much money she had on it and was always complaining about being broke. Someone stole her number too and then she had a real mess in her hands. You have a right to do whatever you want but, it's not for me.

I suspect your girlfriend's money problems weren't due to the technology but rather to her money habits.

It's very easy to know how much money you have left on a card after making a bunch of purchases. Just as easy as knowing how much money you have left in a checking account after writing a bunch of checks.

Technology is good. Not all technology is right for everyone. I don't need remote control access to my RV - but then I am happy unlocking my car door with a key too. However I love my power windows.

Use what you like. Skip what you don't.

[dhust]

I have it on my Northpoint 5th wheel and love it. It doesn't control everything but enough tgat I use it everytime. Mine doesn't unlock the doors, and only the main lights are on it, but it can put out the slides and level the 5th wheel. Everytime I pull into a campsite I look at the manual leveling area. It tells me how many degrees out of level I am front to back and side to side. I can then determine whether i need to put boards down to level and how far dow to extend my front landing gear so I can get it level.

It really came in handy one night when we were out later than we expected. We pulled up in the rain, pulled out the smartphone and opened the awning and turned on the outside lights.

There are switches that also control everything and we use them most of the time... but occasionally we use the phone.

Mine hooks up through its own private WIFI with its own security password. This sometimes gives us fits when we connect to it trying to get an internet connection as it does not have that access.

I love it.

[CavemanCharlie]

JaxDad wrote:

rockhillmanor wrote:
Not to mention the lack of security of using a device like a cell phone having access to all of your RV inside an out.

I certainly would NOT want to own an RV that is hackable, 'phone activated'.

What happens when you don't have good cell phone coverage where you are parked? Do you sit there refusing to go inside the RV and flip the switch to activate your slides?

How many of you would use a phone app to operate your RV?

So phones are secure enough for online banking but not secure enough to control an RV?

As for coverage, I didn’t read the specifics but I suspect the system uses Bluetooth or WiFi not the cellular network otherwise your RV would need its own SIM card and service plan.

I don't really care about someone who uses their phone to open the slide on their RV. But, I DO NOT use my phone for online banking. That seems crazy to me.

I don't have one of those card that you swipe for everything either. My last girlfriend had one of those. Used it for everything. She never knew how much money she had on it and was always complaining about being broke. Someone stole her number too and then she had a real mess in her hands. You have a right to do whatever you want but, it's not for me.

[Mr_Mark1]

Rockhillmanor, the beauty of the app is that you don't have to buy it and you can use your motorhome the way that you want to.

The nice thing about the app, is that the Coach converter can call into your coach and correct things remotely, download updates, etc.

Safe travels,
MM.

[bukhrn]

rockhillmanor wrote:
omg, Thought I'd seen it all but guess not.

There is another thread where an RV'er is locked out of opening his slides and awning on his RV.

WHY? Because he is using his cell phone to open them and it is malfunctioning. :S

First of all I did not know that there is an app you can buy where you use a cell phone to operate almost all of the functions on an RV.
https://www.asaelectronics.com/downloads/dl/file/id/832/jrvcs105_in-command_owners_manual.pdf

Have we as RVers gotten that lazy that we need to use a cell phone to operate our RV's when our RV 'comes with already installed' buttons/switches to operate everything?

Not to mention the lack of security of using a device like a cell phone having access to all of your RV inside an out.

I certainly would NOT want to own an RV that is hackable, 'phone activated'.

What happens when you don't have good cell phone coverage where you are parked? Do you sit there refusing to go inside the RV and flip the switch to activate your slides?

How many of you would use a phone app to operate your RV?

Not me, I get it to make a call, and send a text, (most of the time), anything else is way too technical for me. 😉

[drsteve]

TurnThePage wrote:
I'm all for new gizmos and automation, but I will surely miss my manual awning when I get around to upgrading the old RV.

X2. I am still trying to figure out why a power awning is seen as a necessity, or even an improvement over the manual kind. The power feature saves probably 90 seconds in setup time, and adds another electromechanical system that can malfunction.

[toedtoes]

No judgement from me. But I have to ask about remotely opening/closing a slide from outside:

Don't you worry that you forgot to check and make sure nothing is blocking the slide?

I know me. I would have to go inside and stand watching while the slide is moving for fear of having missed something in the way. (Hence the main reason I won't have a slide - my own ability to create a costly repair).