Operating FAQ’s

 

1. Can I change my service package?

2. When will Sherlock send me my weekly HomeData Report?

3. Can I change the time and/or day of the week that I receive my weekly HomeData Report?

4. How often can I request an OnDemand Report, and when will it include pictures?

5. How does the alert function work, and when will I receive them?

6. How can I control when Sherlock is on or off duty?

7. How long will Sherlock operate on his back-up battery during a power outage?

8. Can I use Sherlock outdoors?

9. Will Sherlock work in any geographic location?

10. When does Sherlock speak, and what is he saying?


1. Can I change my service package?

Yes, you can upgrade your service, change from a quarterly to an annual service plan, or simply renew your existing subscription by clicking on the Renew/Upgrade service tab located on the homepage of your Subscriber Control Panel. If you have multiple devices, you can manage each device’s subscription separately by selecting the specific device’s tab located at the top of that screen.


2. When will Sherlock send me my weekly HomeData Report?

Sherlock will send you your first weekly HomeData Report approximately one week after your initial activation is complete. Thereafter, he will send subsequent reports on a regular seven day cycle, typically timed to occur mid-day to optimize lighting conditions for any pictures that may be a part of your package.


3. Can I change the time and/or day of the week that I receive my weekly HomeData Report?

Yes, if you’d like to change either the day of the week or time of day for the weekly reports, simply complete the following steps:

  • Choose the day and time that you’d like Sherlock to send his weekly HomeData Reports.
  • When you reach that time (for example noon on a Monday), push Sherlock’s power button and wait to hear the voice prompt that confirms that he is off duty.
  • Wait at least 15 seconds after the prompt has ended and unplug Sherlock’s power cord.
  • Wait at least 15 seconds and plug Sherlock back in and then push his power button. You should hear a voice prompt confirming that he is back on duty.

That’s all it takes, you’ve now successfully reset your HomeData Report timer and Sherlock will now begin reporting on his new weekly schedule.


4. How often can I request an OnDemand Report, and when will it include pictures?

There are no limits on how often you can order an OnDemand Report. Simply login to your Subscriber Control Panel, click on the OnDemand button, and your report will typically be emailed to you in less than two minutes. If you’re enrolled in the Inspector Package you’re entitled to unlimited OnDemand Reports at no additional charge, with the first 30 in any calendar month including a SherlockSnapshot picture. If you’re enrolled in the Elementary Package, OnDemand Reports will incur a $1 per report charge (requiring an active credit card to be on file), and each report will include a SherlockSnapshot picture.


5. How does the alert function work, and when will I receive them?

Sherlock comes from the factory with the following alert settings:

                                     Alert                           Threshold

Power Outage           Always On                 Any loss of power to outlet

Temperature             On                             High = 80F    Low = 45F

Humidity                    Off                             No thresholds set

You can easily modify the temperature and humidity settings either by, turning them on or off, or by changing their alert threshold values to meet your specific monitoring objectives. You can also personalize who will receive the alerts by registering up to four different email addresses and four different mobile phone numbers to receive alerts from each device. When Sherlock senses an alert condition he’ll immediately send you an initial alert notification, then hourly updates for the next six hours, followed by updates every six hours until 48 hours after the initial alert was sent (as long as Sherlock’s back-up battery has sufficient charge). At that point, if the condition is not resolved he’ll continue to report on its status in your ongoing weekly HomeData Reports. If at any point during this 48 hour cycle the problem is resolved, he’ll immediately send you an all clear message and resume normal monitoring


6. How can I control when Sherlock is on or off duty?

Once Sherlock is active and on duty, it’s as simple as pressing his power button to suspend monitoring and take him off duty. When this happens you will hear Sherlock’s voice tell you “I’m now off duty; if you want to put me back on duty just press my power button.” You’ll also receive a confirmation email and text that he has been taken off duty, and we’ll suspend the delivery of your weekly HomeData Reports until you put him back on duty. When you want to put him back on duty, just make sure he’s plugged in and then press his power button. He’ll respond by saying “I’m back on duty; you’ll receive a confirmation email that I’ve resumed monitoring shortly.” Remember, while he’s off duty he’s not collecting any temperature or history data, and you’ll be unable to order any OnDemand Reports.


7. How long will Sherlock operate on his back-up battery during a power outage?

As with anything powered by a rechargeable battery, it all depends on its state of charge, the age of the battery and how it’s being used (i.e. heavy use of OnDemand reporting during an outage will reduce the time it can operate).  Assuming normal usage, when fully charged Sherlock has been designed to be able to complete his normal 48-hour alert reporting cycle with capacity to spare. If for any reason he can’t complete the cycle he will send you a ”battery- depleted” message to let you know that he will cease active monitoring until the AC power has been restored.


8. Can I use Sherlock outdoors?

No, Sherlock has been designed and tested to perform his monitoring function in an enclosed structure, sheltered from direct contact with moisture, blowing dirt and debris, and other effects of harsh outdoor conditions. Exposure to those conditions has the potential to affect his accuracy and reliability, and in certain cases create the possibility of damage that would void his warranty and potentially lead to safety risks.


9. Will Sherlock work in any geographic location?

Since Sherlock relies on a reliable connection to Verizon’s U.S. wireless data network to deliver his services, he will only work in areas where that network has coverage. And while we’ve designed him with an advanced antennae system to help him in connect in difficult to reach locations, there will still be areas where he’ll be unable to deliver services. If you’re thinking of relocating Sherlock and want to confirm coverage, you can visit www.housesetter.com, enter the new address in the ordering process, and we’ll let you know if he should be able to connect at that location.


10. When does Sherlock speak, and what is he saying?

Sherlock is smart enough to deal with all of the complexity required to do his job almost completely on his own. But as simple as he is to use, we thought there might be times when you'd want to know what he's thinking, so we gave him a voice so he could tell you.

He's actually pretty well behaved, so he only speaks when he has something important to say, which isn't very often. Below is a listing of the conditions that will cause Sherlock to say something, and exactly what you can expect to hear. And even though he's born and bred in the USA, you may notice that he's got a British accent - honestly, what else would you expect with a name like Sherlock?

Condition What he says
When powering up the first time "I'm back on duty. You'll receive a confirmation email that monitoring has resumed shortly"
When initial configuration is complete "Your service is now active. I'm on duty. You should receive a confirmation email shortly"
When he's about to take a picture "I will take a picture in the next 5 seconds and send it to you shortly"
When you've unplugged him without turning off the power "I've detected a power interruption, if you've unplugged me without turning off the power button please turn me off"
When he's on and you turn him off "I'm now off duty. When you want to resume monitoring service just turn me back on"
When he's off and you turn him on "I'm back on duty. You'll receive a confirmation email that monitoring has resumed shortly"
If he's having problems connecting "I'm having a problem connecting to the wireless network. Please try moving me to a different location"
Turning him on when he's deactivated "I currently don't have an active subscription. You can reactivate me at www.housesetter.com"