App Profile: Vitotrol

nigbode

Rating: 4/5

Finally we got the device installed for the Viessmann Vitodens 200 Gas heating system: Vitocom 100 LAN 1. It was the first time for our local service agent to install it, people with little background in systems to control via router and internet. The installation was easy - ten minutes to click-in the adapter within the main board, fixing the device on the wall, connecting it with - the main board via Ethernet cable red (supplied) - the router with Ethernet cable white (supplied) - DC power adapter to the power wall outlet. The second part to connect this to the Internet was my own work: I used a power line adapter (Devolo 500) to connect the Internet router to the basement where the Viessmann device is installed. This worked right out of the box: it was immediately ready to connect the Vitocom to the router. I did this in advance: download this app Vitotrol (and I downloaded the showcase version to get familiar with the interface before the installation). Get the serial number from the Vitodens case: it has 16 digits. To register the equipment with Viessmann you need this serial number: plus your email and choose a password. That was all to register: they send you a confirmation to your email, which you have to confirm yourself to make sure that the email is your address. (Be patient: it takes more time than usual communications like this, about 5 minutes) After that, the system installs itself - nothing else to do but wait a couple more minutes: the system is running. Total time: 20 minutes. This is proving that they did a good job to create a very user friendly interface. (Their only problem at Viessmann is to explain things in writing - seems more complicated, than things really are,) Operation day to day: Very smooth and intuitive UI. It works perfect, you easily get familiar with the system. The App controls basic features, but fundamental user features are not settable within the App. You can do this with their web interface with your browser. ( Don't try this on an iPad: the application is not made for that, use Safari or any other desktop browser for that.) Wishes? The only point for a wish list right now is to improve the long delay it takes to update informations from the server to the App: it is not clear how to initiate an update. Maybe this would be a good feature: call the actual system data without delay. But be patient! It usually appears without warning in the next couple minutes. (It would be 5 stars, if the system would be more responsive) After all, this is a perfect system to have your heating system under control from a distance, but even in house it's a nice and comfortable feature. It works well on iPhone as well as on iPad 3 or mini. I combine the system with a Netatmo weather station: this gives me exact information about the real temperature in the house, when I control it remotely. We use the whole system for a house we rent out to guests and want to be sure they do not arrive and the house is cold. (It happened a couple times - not a very amusing situation) Thanks to Viessmann. You did a great job! (The installation is in Bad Saarow, Brandenburg near Berlin in Germany)

Talkfreak

Rating: 1/5

App control of my heating was a major reason for buying the expensive Viessmann system, so this app is a huge disappointment. The app is outdated and it mostly fails to connect with the Viessmann server so it is hit and miss whether I come home to a warm house. In terms of design and features, and compared to apps for HIVE or Nest the Vitotrol app leaves much to be desired, such as a quick and intelligent way to turn your heating on and off. These is no IFTTT interface or geolocation. With this app it's hit an miss that I can even get a sync going to see the current room temperature - even when I'm on my local network. Do not buy Viessmann expecting remote or intelligent control.

dr i.w.

Rating: 1/5

update war nicht gut, funktioniert leider gar nicht richtig. die vorige variante vor dem update hat zumindest funktioniert, obwohl die drei heizkreise nicht korrekt benannt waren: es gab "heizkreis 1", "heizkreis 2", und wieder "heizkreis 1"; unsere heizung hat drei kreise und zwei "vitocoms". per laptop kein problem, aber die APP ist noch nicht reif für den einsatz bei einer heizung in einem grösseren haus.