Menvier SD-GSM GSM Speech and Text Dialler

The SD-GSM offers an evolution in design of the industry leading speech dialler range from Menvier. Offering GSM communications, compatibility with the popular ‘pay as you go’ SIM card option and a host of features to make it easier to install and operate.

Features

Easy to install - Even simpler to install the SIM card with the new board layout Increased space within the same size housing to facilitate cable routing
Easy to program - Lets the end user choose up to 10 contact telephone numbers and types of message (voice or SMS text), created to suit their requirements
Reliable - Tried and tested Menvier speech dialler technology built on 20 years experience
Remote access - Dial into the unit and access 4 programmable outputs that can remotely switch electrical apparatus or switch on indicators for a wide variety of technical information signals
Integral thermometer - Can be pre-set at any given temperature from 0°C to 40°C and the SD-GSM will transmit a message when the temperature has been exceeded or reached

Specification

Please click this link for Scantronic and Menvier user manuals

• ****Easy to install, works ok but not perfect...

  By David Waine on 13th Aug 2011

  The unit was supplied well packaged and looks well made. The instructions are OK and cover just about everything you could need to do. The hook up details are based on you understanding the electrical interface requirements (e.g. Active low) rather than the type of alarm to which the unit is to be connected, this means that you do need to know what you’re doing. Also all the inputs have to have the same active level that might be a problem if you’re connecting the unit to several pieces of equipment. Mounting the unit is simple and electrical connections are quite easy to make. It would be good if there were some information on recommended locations for the unit because I found the in-built microphone to be sensitive to being close to fluorescent lights. In addition, there is a ‘listen in’ feature that might be useful which obviously has to be somewhere sensible when required. eg. There’s no point in trying to use this if the unit is located near an alarm sounder. One very minor thing, I could not disable ‘talk’ when listening in. This might have been finger trouble on my part, not sure. There is a section in the manual on trying to get a brand new SIM registered. Personally, I think it would be quite hard to attempt this without a normal phone that is what I ended up doing. I could not get the Hutchinson 3 network to work at all. Virgin would receive calls but not make them, which is of course useless. Vodafone worked really well. Didn’t try any other networks. The display is OK but for some reason the date format is a bit strange, not a problem though. In a similar way, text messages are also formatted rather strangely. Not sure why, but it’s not a problem. The set up and programming menus are really easy to understand. There are test facilities that make it possible to make sure each step in the connection and configuration process is completed correctly. I really liked this part. I really like the Text Forwarding facility, as this will ensure that if the network sends the unit a text, it will pop up on the customer’s phone. There is also a ‘heartbeat’ text facility that I really like; you can have a text daily or less frequently that gives the customer confidence that the unit is working correctly. I did not realize when ordering the unit that it has no internal battery meaning that it looses the time if disconnected. More importantly, it will not make an outgoing call if the power is removed. I didn’t like this as I thought that the unit was really a direct parallel with a bell box (which of course keeps working if the external power is removed). One thing that a customer will need to understand about these units is that they are not maintenance free. You have to keep the SIM topped up with money and of course; the unit could stop working if the network barred the device for any reason. I’ve used 2 of these units and found them basically OK. They are the first GSM dialers I’ve used and to be honest, at this price I’ll be looking at something else before using more. I was hoping for all the bases to be covered at this price and the lack of internal battery is a big negative.

Submit a Review