Balmar SmartLink User Reviews

Balmar SmartLink
Balmar SmartLink
CDI ELECTRONICS, LLC

Top reviews

Needs update

Every time I start my engine the app freezes up and I have to do a hard reset
It also seems to not agree with my Magnum charger/inverter with battery monitor by 7% on SOC
My only 2 issues
I like that I can monitor remotely from my flying bridge while cruising

App works fine

Seems to work as designed for me. No complaints.

Not ready for prime time

This system has so much potential but in my opinion the gateway and app haven’t yet reached a quality level sufficient to release to consumers. While there is a lot of potential, I fought stability issues last year and missed release of the upgrade that fixed much of this. What other app makes you search for updates rather than notifying you. Now that I have the latest stability of the gateway is better but this weekend I find out the Advanced Settings page is unusable. Goes crazy after changing a parameter and won’t let you save the change.
Show less

Doesn’t work

It simply doesn’t work. When I call support I get a message to leave my number and they’ll call back. They never do.

Never works when you need it

Just get victron if you want something that works. I like the Balmar brand but they really dropped the ball on this app. First of all it never connects unless you disconnect the whole system then it will work once then not again until you disconnect the thing. When it works the first time there is very little info that it gives you. The voltage should have hundredths. Should give you history ect. The alternators are good.
Show less

Buggy application

Brand new install by the book SG 200 shunt - MC618 - Bluetooth. Worked for an hour. Now the application is in « initialize gateway ».

Should work out of the box …

Have to update components sequentially

Absolute nightmare to update. Just a very rudimentary product and UX

Needs to be more stable

Software locks up trying to connect to the network on a frequent basis. When this happens the only resolution is to disconnect it from power. Upon reconnecting to power it will connect for a while and the it locks up again.

From firmware version to firmware version the state of health changes radically, from always being at 100% to dropping to 57% just from updating the firmware.

It would also be nice to eliminate the startup screen choice of demo or actually running the app. Just launch the app.

Historical information would also be nice.
Show less

App doesn’t see the Bluetooth connection

On first use after install, the app works. On repeat uses, the app can’t find the Bluetooth transmitter. Frustrating to have to keep uninstalling and reinstalling the app and/or disconnecting and reconnecting the BlueTooth cable.

Unit is freezing since firmware update

I updated the firmware on the shunt. Bluetooth and screen and now the unit freezes. The only way I can get it working again is to pull the fuse out for a while.

Alternatives to Balmar SmartLink