Understanding the Features of Your Fermax System
Fermax offers a wide range of video door entry systems, from straightforward audio/video communication to advanced, IP-connected solutions. If you feel your system has limited features or is not performing as you expected, it's often a matter of understanding the specific capabilities of your installed model. This guide provides a clear and helpful overview to help you identify your system's features and explore potential options.
1. Identify Your Fermax System and Model
The first step is to know exactly which Fermax product you have. Features can vary significantly between different lines like VEO, LOFT, DUOX, or MEET.
- Check the Monitor: Look for a model number on the back or side of your indoor monitor.
- Consult Documentation: If you have the original manual or installation paperwork, it will contain the precise details of your system.
- Key Differentiator: A primary distinction is whether your system is a traditional analogue/digital system (like DUOX) or a fully IP-based system (like MEET). IP systems generally offer far more advanced features.
2. Common Features and Where to Find Them
Let's look at some common features and which type of Fermax system they are typically associated with.
- Call Forwarding to Mobile: This popular feature allows you to answer your door from anywhere using a smartphone app. This is almost exclusively available on IP-based systems like Fermax MEET or with specific Wi-Fi enabled monitors in the DUOX line. If you have a more basic VEO or LOFT monitor, it likely does not support this.
- Video Memory (Image Capture): The ability for the monitor to automatically save a picture or short video of a visitor who rings when you are not home is a hardware-specific feature. It must be built into your indoor monitor. It cannot be added via a software update if the monitor doesn't originally support it.
- Smart Home Integration: Connecting your intercom to services like Google Home, Alexa, or other third-party smart devices requires an IP-based system that can communicate over your home network. The Fermax MEET system is designed for this type of integration.
3. Exploring Your System's Settings
For the features your system does have, they may need to be enabled or configured correctly.
- User Menu: Access the user menu on your indoor monitor. Here you can typically adjust settings like ringtone volume, screen brightness, and, if supported, configure Wi-Fi or call forwarding settings.
- Installer Menu: Some advanced settings are only accessible through an installer menu, which may require a specific code to enter. It's best to consult your installer or the technical manual before changing settings in this menu.
4. Considering an Upgrade
If your current system genuinely lacks the features you desire, an upgrade may be the best path forward.
- Monitor-Only Upgrade: In some cases, you may be able to replace your basic indoor monitor with a more advanced model from the same product line (e.g., swapping a basic DUOX monitor for a DUOX Wi-Fi monitor) to gain new features. This is often the simplest upgrade path.
- Full System Upgrade: To move from a non-IP system to a feature-rich IP system like MEET, it would typically require replacing the outdoor panel, the indoor monitor(s), and the central power supply unit. This is a more significant investment but provides the most modern features and flexibility.
By identifying your current system and understanding its capabilities, you can set realistic expectations and make informed decisions about how to achieve the functionality you need.