Fermax Notification Lag: A Troubleshooting Guide
A key feature of a modern Fermax door entry system is the ability to receive calls on your smartphone, allowing you to answer your door from anywhere. However, if there's a significant lag between someone pressing the call button and the notification arriving on your phone, it can lead to missed visitors and frustration. This guide will help you troubleshoot and resolve the common causes of notification delay.
Understanding the Journey of a Notification
To diagnose the lag, it's helpful to understand the path the signal takes:
- A visitor presses the call button on the outdoor panel.
- The signal travels to the indoor monitor.
- The indoor monitor connects to your home Wi-Fi and sends the call data to the Fermax cloud servers.
- The Fermax servers then send a push notification to your smartphone via Apple's or Google's notification service.
- Your phone receives the notification and the app rings.
A delay at any point in this chain will result in a notification lag.
Common Causes and How to Fix Them
Let's break down the most frequent culprits for delayed Fermax notifications.
1. Smartphone and App Settings
Often, the issue lies with the power-saving features on your mobile device.
- Disable Battery Optimisation: Modern smartphones aggressively manage apps to save battery. This can delay notifications from apps that aren't actively being used.
- On Android: Go to
Settings > Apps> find your Fermax app (e.g., BLUE) >Battery. Set it to 'Unrestricted' or 'Not optimised'. - On iOS: Go to
Settings > General > Background App Refreshand ensure it is enabled for the Fermax app.
- On Android: Go to
- Check Data Saver Settings: Ensure that background data is not restricted for the app, especially when you are on a mobile network.
- Update the App: Make sure you have the latest version of the Fermax app installed from the App Store or Google Play.
2. Network Connectivity Issues
A weak or unstable network is a primary cause of lag.
- Monitor's Wi-Fi Signal: The indoor monitor needs a strong and stable connection to your router. If it's far from the router or in an area with poor coverage, the signal will be delayed. Try moving your router closer or installing a Wi-Fi extender.
- Your Phone's Connection: Whether you're on Wi-Fi or mobile data, your phone needs a good connection to receive the notification promptly. If you are in an area with poor mobile reception, delays are likely. Test the notification speed when your phone is connected to a strong Wi-Fi network.
- Internet Upload Speed: Your home internet's upload speed is important. If it's very slow, the monitor will struggle to send the call data to the server quickly. Run a speed test to ensure you have adequate upload bandwidth (at least 2 Mbps is recommended).
3. System and Server Checks
If the network and phone settings are correct, look at the system itself.
- Reboot Your System: A simple but often effective step. Reboot your Fermax indoor monitor and your home router. This can clear up temporary glitches.
- Check for System Updates: Ensure your Fermax system has the latest firmware installed. Updates can include performance improvements that reduce latency.
- Server Delays: On rare occasions, the push notification service or the Fermax cloud servers may experience high traffic or temporary issues, causing a global delay. This is usually temporary and resolves itself.
By systematically working through these troubleshooting areas, you can pinpoint the cause of the notification lag and restore the instant, reliable call alerts you expect from your Fermax system.