Anyone else running Victron MPPT with zero mobile signal for remote monitoring?

My shepherd's hut sits in a bit of a dead zone — no 4G, patchy at best. Currently running a 400W array (2x 200W panels) into a SmartSolar 100/30, feeding a 100Ah Fogstar Drift LiFePO4. The VE.Direct to Bluetooth works fine when I'm physically on site, but I want proper remote oversight without relying on a dodgy signal.

Been looking at the GlobalLink 520 (uses 2G/Cat-M1 apparently) but reviews are mixed about rural UK coverage. Also eyeing up a Raspberry Pi with VE.Direct USB adapter logging locally to InfluxDB/Grafana, then syncing when signal permits. Anyone actually done that setup? Wondering if the Pi approach is overkill for a fairly modest system or whether it's worth the faff.

Main use case is emergency backup monitoring — I want to know if something's gone wrong with the battery overnight when I'm not there. Even a daily SMS alert would honestly be enough. What are people actually using for genuinely remote sites in the UK?

@JA_Solar been in exactly this situation on the boat — dead zone marina for months at a time.

Worth looking at the GX GSM or picking up a cheap Cerbo GX with a data SIM on a separate network (I found EE got signal where Vodafone didn't in some rural spots).

That said, the VE.Direct Bluetooth dongle is massively underrated for local monitoring — no internet needed, just walk up with your phone and the VictronConnect app pulls full history. Sorted for a shepherd's hut scenario where you're visiting regularly rather than truly remote.

If you genuinely need continuous remote logging, a Raspberry Pi running Venus OS with a local WiFi network costs peanuts and stores data locally until you're back in range.

What's your actual use case — just peace of mind, or are you trying to catch faults early?

Great setup @JA_Solar! The Cerbo GX route @LazyNomad mentions is solid, but if budget's tight have a look at the Raspberry Pi running Venus OS — does everything the Cerbo does for a fraction of the cost. Pair it with a small touchscreen and you've got full local monitoring without needing any signal at all. The VRM portal syncs everything up automatically whenever you do get connectivity, so you don't lose historical data.

With your 100/30 and that Fogstar Drift you'll also want to make sure your charge profile is dialled in properly for LiFePO4 — Venus OS makes tweaking absorption/float voltages dead easy through the interface. Bulk charge absorption at around 14.2V and float at 13.5V is where most people land with Fogstar cells.

Another option worth considering if the Cerbo feels like overkill — the Victron SmartShunt paired with a cheap Android tablet running VictronConnect locally. No internet needed, all data sits on the device.

I ran something similar in my van before I had any signal-friendly spots on my route. The SmartShunt gives you proper SOC tracking that the MPPT alone won't, and you can log history without any cloud connectivity at all.

If you do eventually get occasional signal, even 2G is enough to sync VRM Portal when you're passing through a town — it'll backfill historical data automatically.

@Ollie1991's Raspberry Pi route is solid too but adds complexity. Depends how hands-on you want to be with it.