The main data usage is for the snapshots/ANPR data and movement videos - everything else is negligible. Therefore it will depend on:

• How sensitive the movement setting is set to, as any movement will generate and transmit images and, if configured, videos
• How many devices are set up
• Whether movement videos are enabled
• How regularly scheduled snapshots are being captured
• Whether ANPR is enabled

Let’s say you have one, main kiosk recording video, and a separate ‘ANPR’ device which is not recording video you would be looking at c.1Gb per month.

If you have a particular scenario in mind, contact us and we’ll help you to calculate the data usage.

The kiosk is always on, so it will not take long (a matter of hours) to drain the battery. Yes you must power it.

The device just needs to be connected to the internet for the Kiosk to run. That could be wired, wireless or SIM. You choose.

The system is designed to be extremely robust, however there are a number of reasons and remedies for kiosk crashes.

Firstly, are you using Android or iOS?

iOS: the kiosk will remain stable if it is capable enough. Typically very stable kiosks are from newer iPads, less than 3 years old. Phones and iPads per 2020 are typically not powerful enough to remain stable and the kiosk may crash.

Android: there are many, many different configurations of Android. The stability of the kiosk will depend on the device and your set up, however we find typically that Android will occasionally crash without the addition of a companion app which we can provide on request. This is due to the way Android updates apps in the background, which will sometimes cause the Entrinsic Kiosk app to be shut down. For professional set ups, we recommend the use of Android over iOS, which in turn requires the companion app for stability and security reasons.

It is possible to overload the kiosk app by having the sensitivity of movement detection too high, which in turn causes the kiosk to be continually creating and uploading videos. We recommend a medium movement detection setting.

We recommend Android, and for hardware there are many choices, most of which will work absolutely fine, and are significantly less expensive than Apple devices. There is no ‘benefit’ to using iOS, insofar of the user interface, as it looks identical on iOS or Android. The app is relatively lightweight. It has been tested in an extremely old device (8 years) and this works without issue. Simply use a new, or reasonably new Android device. Want a large screen? Buy a large tablet. Want a small screen? By a mobile phone. The choice is yours.

Due to some limitations with the way apps are updated in the background, you may experience occasional crashes, and we have created a companion app which acts as a stability program, ensuring the app is automatically restarted in the event of a crash, as well as fully locking down the kiosk, meaning it is safe from tampering.

If you decide to use iOS, we have tested Entrinsic on a range of devices. We have experienced occasional crashes with older devices (more than 5 years), so we would typically recommend a new or nearly new iPad or iPhone, and you won’t have an issue.

You can open any type of door provided it can be done by completing an electrical circuit. The device connects to a Bluetooth relay, which you can use provided you are on the professional plan. This in turn can switch any device, meaning (typically) doors, barriers and gates can be opened using this method. You could even cause it to switch on lights. For example you might chain a second device that turns on the driveway lights when the gate is opened. See our Advanced Features and Settings section to learn more.

There are a few things you must do, and others are optional.

You MUST:

• Set a PIN/password/lock pattern on your device. Without this, it would be possible to break in to the device by restarting it, assuming you had access to the power button, or a way to disconnect the power, potentially draining the device’s battery and causing it to restart.
• Lock the device down either with App Pinning or the Companion App (available on request) for Android, or Guided Access Mode for iOS. You must do this, otherwise it would be easy for the user exit the app and have access to your device. This is especially important if it is stolen.
• Use a suitable casing or mounting which prevents somebody from easily stealing your device. It goes without saying that there is some risk that the device can be stolen, based on where you have it located, the quality of the case, and how well you have mounted it.

Optionally:

• Restrict access to the device’s power button. This will prevent users trying to get to the lock screen (by holding the button, forcing a reboot), where they could attempt to get into the device.
• Use a high quality mounting case or have it installed professionally.
• Use another device, mounted out of reach, to record video and movement to ensure you have video evidence in the event it is tampered with or stolen.
• We recommend using Android, as you can use the Companion App (available on request), which will fully lock down the device from tampering.

Entrinsic is designed to work for both Android and iOS. However, we recommend Android for professional installation and for the cost saving. There are pros and cons for each:

iOS - Pros

• The device build quality is high
• The app will not unexpectedly crash due to external influences or app updates.
• Use a suitable casing or mounting which prevents somebody from easily stealing your device. It goes without saying that there is some risk that the device can be stolen, based on where you have it located, the quality of the case, and how well you have mounted it.

iOS - Cons

• iOS hardware is expensive in comparison to Android.
• It is possible that the app crashes after a period of time, if the device is underpowered.

Android - Pros

• There is a lot of choice of hardware options - different shapes, sizes and build quality are up to you.
• The cost of Android devices is typically much lower than iOS, and you do not need an expensive or high powered device.
• Provided the Companion App is used (available on request), it is highly stable even under high load and on lower-powered devices.

Android - Cons

• It requires a separate Companion App to be installed to ensure the device is fully stable and locked down.
• Given the large choice of hardware options, you may choose a new device that is incompatible due to an old operating system or being underpowered. This is possible with iOS too, but it’s unlikely if you buy a new device you would have a problem.