OMG fix your netstack!
To level-set: I retired as Fellow at Cisco Systems, having built mission-critical networking code and systems for decades.
The Fortress gateway, cloud server, and iOS app manage to stop communicating way too frequently. The last app release adds the ability to manage the device locally via Bluetooth, which is a godsend.
The battery scheduler is virtually useless. Changes to key parameters (min charge state, max sell-to-grid rate, etc.) take effect immediately. If you want to run your house on the battery from 6 to 9am (to avoid Duke’s prime / critical prime rate winter window) set your alarm clock for 5:55am, manually adjust a couple of sliders, and hit save.
That is IF the device, cloud server and app are willing to play nicely. Multiple timeouts are to be expected.
If you’re on site, Bluetooth is your friend. If not, reset everything in sight and hope for the best.
The Fortress gateway, cloud server, and iOS app manage to stop communicating way too frequently. The last app release adds the ability to manage the device locally via Bluetooth, which is a godsend.
The battery scheduler is virtually useless. Changes to key parameters (min charge state, max sell-to-grid rate, etc.) take effect immediately. If you want to run your house on the battery from 6 to 9am (to avoid Duke’s prime / critical prime rate winter window) set your alarm clock for 5:55am, manually adjust a couple of sliders, and hit save.
That is IF the device, cloud server and app are willing to play nicely. Multiple timeouts are to be expected.
If you’re on site, Bluetooth is your friend. If not, reset everything in sight and hope for the best.
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Not good
This app has never worked right and as such doesn’t provide the necessary information to monitor the system and ensure it is operational.
The app is a mess
This app is poorly designed and written and barely works half the time.
Poorly designed and clunky app
We’ve had Fortress equipment for our hybrid solar with battery backup system for about two months now and although the actual system works well, this app is terrible. Displays data in a strange and what they must think of as a “nuanced” way but in reality it is hard to understand and lately, doesn’t show real time data at all. It’s been down for about three weeks now with no update from the company or explanation; really a pretty poor showing. I would recommend the equipment but not this this app, it’s terrible!
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Could be better with respect to displaying data
Now that our new system is up and running, I unreservably recommend the Fortress hardware (inverter/smart energy panel). However, I find this app to be lacking. I’d expected it would display energy usage and production data in most any way I’d like to slice it. By day, month, whatever. The latest app update - while most welcome - is limited to displaying data on any given day - but not by other periods (weeks/months/electric bill billing period). The goal should be to view the data over any date range desired.
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Issues….
Now that our new system is up and running, I unreservably recommend the Fortress hardware (inverter/smart energy panel).
However, I find this app to be lacking. I’d expected it would display energy usage and production data in most any way I’d like to slice it. By day, month, whatever. The latest app update - while most welcome - is limited to displaying data on any given day - but not by other periods (weeks/months/electric bill billing period). The goal should be to view the data over any date range desired.
ISSUE: When we charge our EV, the app cannot account for it. The large current draw for the car isn’t included in the house load number and there isn’t a separate icon for the EV. We’re using in excess of 10kW while charging the car, but the app only shows us using a fraction of that (the normal house load).
However, I find this app to be lacking. I’d expected it would display energy usage and production data in most any way I’d like to slice it. By day, month, whatever. The latest app update - while most welcome - is limited to displaying data on any given day - but not by other periods (weeks/months/electric bill billing period). The goal should be to view the data over any date range desired.
ISSUE: When we charge our EV, the app cannot account for it. The large current draw for the car isn’t included in the house load number and there isn’t a separate icon for the EV. We’re using in excess of 10kW while charging the car, but the app only shows us using a fraction of that (the normal house load).
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Issues….
Now that our new system is up and running, I find this app to be lacking. I’d expected it would display energy production and use data most any way I’d like to slice it. By day, month, whatever. The tesla app would be a model to emulate. Happy with the hardware and would unreservedly recommend it. The app - in its current state - is disappointing. UPDATE: Fortress has made a number of updates to the app, including the ability to see usage and production on a given date. In our case, the data itself isn’t populating as of yet, but the functionality appears in the app which is welcome. ISSUE: When we charge our EV, the app cannot account for it. The large current draw for the car isn’t included in the house load number and there isn’t a separate icon for the EV. We’re using in excess of 10kW while charging the car, but the app only shows us using a fraction of that (the normal house load). Bottom line: upgraded the rating for the app from 3 to 4 stars. Clearly Fortress is putting effort into polishing the app. Appreciated. UPDATE 2: Regarding the usage and production data display…still no actual data is displayed. So this would be most welcome functionality - if it worked…if it actually populated with any data…
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Weak on displaying energy production
Now that our new system is up and running, I find this app to be lacking. I’d expected it would display energy production and use data most any way I’d like to slice it. By day, month, whatever. The tesla app would be a model to emulate. Happy with the hardware and would unreservedly recommend it. The app - in its current state - is disappointing.
UPDATE: Fortress has made a number of updates to the app, including the ability to see usage and production on a given date. In our case, the data itself isn’t populating as of yet, but the functionality appears in the app which is welcome.
ISSUE: When we charge our EV, the app cannot account for it. The large current draw for the car isn’t included in the house load number and there isn’t a separate icon for the EV. We’re using in excess of 10kW while charging the car, but the app only shows us using a fraction of that (the normal house load). Bottom line: upgraded the rating for the app from 3 to 4 stars. Clearly Fortress is putting effort into polishing the app. Appreciated.
UPDATE 2: Regarding the usage and production data display…still no actual data is displayed. So this would be most welcome functionality - if it worked, if it actually populated with any data…
UPDATE: Fortress has made a number of updates to the app, including the ability to see usage and production on a given date. In our case, the data itself isn’t populating as of yet, but the functionality appears in the app which is welcome.
ISSUE: When we charge our EV, the app cannot account for it. The large current draw for the car isn’t included in the house load number and there isn’t a separate icon for the EV. We’re using in excess of 10kW while charging the car, but the app only shows us using a fraction of that (the normal house load). Bottom line: upgraded the rating for the app from 3 to 4 stars. Clearly Fortress is putting effort into polishing the app. Appreciated.
UPDATE 2: Regarding the usage and production data display…still no actual data is displayed. So this would be most welcome functionality - if it worked, if it actually populated with any data…
Show more
Weak on displaying energy production
Now that our new system is up and running, I find this app to be lacking. I’d expected it would display energy production and use data most any way I’d like to slice it. By day, month, whatever. The tesla app would be a model to emulate. Happy with the hardware and would unreservedly recommend it. The app - in its current state - is disappointing.
UPDATE: Fortress has made a number of updates to the app, including the ability to see usage and production on a given date. In our case, the data itself isn’t populating as of yet, but the functionality appears in the app which is welcome.
ISSUE: When we charge our EV, the app cannot account for it. The large current draw for the car isn’t included in the house load number and there isn’t a separate icon for the EV. We’re using in excess of 10kW while charging the car, but the app only shows us using a fraction of that (the normal house load).
Bottom line: upgraded the rating for the app from 3 to 4 stars. Clearly Fortress is putting effort into polishing the app. Appreciated.
UPDATE: Fortress has made a number of updates to the app, including the ability to see usage and production on a given date. In our case, the data itself isn’t populating as of yet, but the functionality appears in the app which is welcome.
ISSUE: When we charge our EV, the app cannot account for it. The large current draw for the car isn’t included in the house load number and there isn’t a separate icon for the EV. We’re using in excess of 10kW while charging the car, but the app only shows us using a fraction of that (the normal house load).
Bottom line: upgraded the rating for the app from 3 to 4 stars. Clearly Fortress is putting effort into polishing the app. Appreciated.
Show more
Weak on displaying energy production
Now that our new system is up and running, I find this app to be lacking. I’d expected it would display energy production and use data most any way I’d like to slice it. By day, month, whatever. The tesla app would be a model to emulate.
Happy with the hardware and would unreservedly recommend it. The app - in its current state - is disappointing.
Happy with the hardware and would unreservedly recommend it. The app - in its current state - is disappointing.
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