Product Description:
The GSM single phase utility power monitor is used to monitor the mains power at your premises by simply plugging the Unit into one of the power plugs. Install a SIM and SMS your cell phone number, or the number that you want to receive notifications on to the Unit and you will start receiving power failure notifications via SMS’s from the Unit. Handy SMS bases status requests and front mounted visible LED indicators indicate network and functional statuses. An optional extra, water, temperature or humidity sensors can be added, the Unit will then send warning SMS’s when the sensors reach user definable pre-set minimum or maximum values.
Product Specifications:
- Minimum input voltage: 85VAC. (Battery will operate below this voltage).
- Maximum input voltage: 264VAC.
- Dimensions: 95mm x 58mm x 54mm (L x B x H).
- Operating Temperature: +1°C to +85°C.
- The mains power will detect as OFF when below ± 46VAC.
Extra Information:
The Unit will send a SMS message just after 09h00 on the 01st of every month. This is to keep the SIM active. This message will be sent to the default destination number as well as all extra destination numbers.
Product Features:
- Integrated South African 3 pin plug.
- Utility mains power detector, single phase.
- GSM unit with Micro SIM socket, externally accessible.
- External GSM Antenna.
- Internal Lithium-ion polymer rechargeable backup battery and Charger.
- Simple and quick setup procedure.
- Status LED indicators.
- Optional: Addition of a 1-wire Temperature sensor with a range of -55°C to +125°C with increment steps of 0.0625°C.
- Optional: Addition of a humidity sensor with a range from 0 to 100%.
- Optional: Addition of a water sensor.
SIM Setup on a Network:
- Clients can purchase a SIM card from the following network providers; Telkom, Cell-C, Vodacom and MTN.
- Once the RICA SIM card has been purchased, the following instructions is to be undertaken:
(this is a generic process for all Networks and finer details may differ between networks).
- Insert the SIM card in a normal phone to receive OTP with web portal and app registrations setups.
- Remove the SIM’s security pin.
- SIM will now be activated on the network belonging to the SIM provider i.e. MTN, Cell-C etc.
- Register an account with the number that belongs to the SIM network on a web portal i.e. (www.my Vodacom.co.za). If you already have an account with the same Network, the new SIM number can then be linked on your current account
- Linked number allowance per network; Telkom = 10 numbers, Cell-C = 14 numbers, Vodacom = 10 numbers and MTN = 20 numbers.
- Please follow the prompts of each network provider to ensure that steps are not missed.
- Some networks will have the option to select that no messages can be retrieved when linking the number, this is a good option to select so that no OTP’s will be sent to the number.
- Download the network app onto your phone and enter OTP once again.
- Your SIM is now setup and ready for installation in your new device.
LED Indicators

Blue LED (GSM MODE – GSM Network Indicator)
- OFF: GSM module is OFF.
- Briefly flashes ON / 1 sec OFF: Not registered on GSM network.
- Briefly flashes ON / 3 sec OFF: Registered on GSM network.
- Briefly flashes ON / 0.5 sec OFF: GPRS communication is established.
Red LED (POWER/SSI – PWR ON/OFF and Weak GSM Signal Indicator)
- Off – Unit battery is flat or Unit faulty.
- 5 sec. Flash: The Power is OFF.
- 1 sec. Flash: Power is On and Unit is functional.
Yellow LED (BATTERY – Battery Charging ON/OFF)
- OFF: Battery fully charged.
- ON: Battery is charging.
- LED Flickering: Battery not Present or Faulty.
Setting up the device:
- Connect the external antenna to the unit. There are two options of antennas that can be purchased.
- Swivel Antenna: used for area and location of the device with good signal
- GSM Magnet Base Antenna with 3m cable: used in area with poor signal


Care should be taken to hold antenna/connector straight when screwing onto thread.
Do not overtighten the antenna nut as stripping or breaking the connector will void your warranty.
.
- Ensure that the Cell number of the SIM is available.
- Remove the Security PIN lock from the SIM card if it came with it
- Insert the Micro SIM into the slot with the gold-plated contact facing upwards and the cut corner going into the slot. Continue pressing until it is embedded into place.


Ensure that you have done a full number setup for your SIM card and that all registrations with the SIM was completed successfully with Username and Password. Once the SIM card has been inserted into the device, please refrain from removing the SIM card out of the device, this is due to the sensitivity of the SIM contacts. There is a high risk of causing damage to these contacts if one keeps removing & re-inserting the SIM card. Damage occurred to the SIM contacts will result in repair costs as this is not covered under Netshield’s warranty for this device.
- Plug the unit into a power socket outlet, preferable where a good GSM signal is available.
- If the battery is completely drained, allow the battery to charge for at least 10 minutes before using.
Optional Environmental Sensors
The following optional sensors can be purchased separately from Netshield and connected to the Power Monitor:
- 1-wire Temperature sensor with a range of -55°C to +125°C with increment steps of 0.0625°C.
- Humidity sensor with a range from 0 to 100%.
- Water sensor.
SMS Commands:
- SMSDNO#: Store number in Unit.
- NAME: Set device name.
- HELP: Returns the list of valid commands.
- STATUS: Returns the status of the device.
- RESET: Factory reset.
- LIST: Returns the list of extra numbers.
- HTEMP: Set High temperature limit.
- LTEMP: Set Low temperature limit.
- HYTEMP: Set tolerance of temperature limit.
- HHUM: Set High Humidity Limit.
- LHUM: Set low Humidity limit.
- HYHUM: Set tolerance of Humidity limit.

Battery Low message is sent when the battery is low, this command is not available for configuration.
The delivery of SMS’s may take up to two minutes.
HELP, STATUS, RESET & LIST are the only commands that will send a reply SMS.
After a command is sent, give the device up to two minutes to register the command, sometimes delays in the GSM network cause the device to be slow.
SMS Commands Explained:
SMSDNO# “082xxxxxxx”
Description: Stores number into device. “#” is the position in memory to save number. The device can store up to 5 numbers (1-5), NB!! These configurations are saved into the device; thus, a complete power down will not remove the configurations.
Example:
To store a number in position 1, send the following, replace number in quotations with required number. All letters must be in capital. Send one command at a time.
SMSDNO1 “082xxxxxxx”
Once the SMS is sent give the device 2 minutes to save it.
To clear a single number saved, send the following with the required slot:
SMSDNO1 “”
NAME “Unit 1″
Description: allocates a name to the device. The name of the device must be inserted between Quotation marks.

The site name may not exceed 15 characters.
HELP
Description: Sends a list of commands that user can use to setup device or view status.
STATUS
Description: Returns a SMS with the current status of the device.
Status SMS Explained:
- Name
- STATUS
- Date + Time: Current time and date.
- Power Status: Indicates mains power ON or OFF.
- Temperature: Time and date of last mains power failure.
- Humidity: GSM Signal Strength Indicator as a percentage.
- Water Level: Battery voltage.
RESET
Description: Resets Unit settings and configurations to factory default.

Using this command will erase all previous config data including site name and numbers.
LIST
Description: Returns the list of saved numbers.
HTEMP
Description: Set High limit of temperature, once temperature exceeds this limit an alert will be sent. If this command is not configured the device will not send any temperature limits.
Example: The command below sets the temperature limit for 30°C.
Set limit: HTEMP “30”
Remove Limit: HTEMP “”
LTEMP
Description: Set Low limit of temperature, once temperature exceeds this limit an alert will be sent. If this command is not configured the device will not send any temperature limits.
Example: The command below sets the temperature limit for 5°C.
Set limit: LTEMP “5”
Remove Limit: LTEMP “”
HYTEMP
Description: Set Tolerance limit of temperature, once temperature approaches the set limit, a warning will be sent to notify the user. If this command is not configured the device will not send any temperature limits.
Example: The command below sets the temperature tolerance for 1°C.
Set limit: HYTEMP “1”
Remove Limit: HYTEMP “”
HHUM
Description: Set High limit of humidity, once Humidity exceeds this limit an alert will be sent. If this command is not configured the device will not send any Humidity limits.
Example: The command below sets the temperature limit for 80%.
Set limit: HHUM “80”
Remove Limit: HHUM “”
LHUM
Description: Set Low limit of humidity, once humidity exceeds this limit an alert will be sent. If this command is not configured the device will not send any temperature limits.
Example: The command below sets the temperature limit for 5%.
Set limit: LHUM “5”
Remove Limit: LHUM “”
HYHUM
Description: Set Tolerance limit of humidity, once humidity approaches the set limit a warning will be sent to notify the user. If this command is not configured the device will not send any humidity limits.
Example: The command below sets the humidity tolerance for 1%.
Set limit: HYHUM “1”
Remove Limit: HYHUM “”
Setting up your SIM configuration:
Here is an example of how-to setup the Unit with the following info:
Site name: MyHouse
Send status messages to two numbers: 082 345 6789 and 083 123 4567
Optional:
Temperature high limit: 40°C
Temperature low limit: 5°C
Tolerance limit of temperature: 1°C
High limit of Humidity: 80%
Low limit of Humidity: 10%
Tolerance limit of Humidity: 1%
SMS the following message string to configure the Unit’s destination number and name:
Note that the Unit must be plugged into power and functional.
- NAME “MyHouse”
- SMSDNO1 “0823456789”
- SMSDNO2 “0831234567”
Optional:
- HTEMP “40”
- LTEMP “5”
- HYTEMP “1”
- HHUM “80”
- LHUM “10”
- HYHUM “1”
To test the Unit, send the STATUS command and wait for an SMS to be sent with the current Status, give the unit 5 minutes to respond. If no SMS is received, check to ensure that you have airtime on the Sim card or send the STATUS command again.
To test if the Unit is functional, unplug the device and wait for a Power alert SMS to come through. Once it does, power the Unit again and it will send another SMS re-instating power.