Went to check on some details in the victron connect app today, to be greeted with a mandatory update to v3.15 before I can use see any information or make any changes to one my MPPTs. I am completely off-grid, so cannot afford for anything to go wrong - so I have questions.
What makes an update mandatory, who decides this and based on what criteria?
What gives someone at Victron the right to brick a device that I have paid for and works perfectly fine?
Why is there no changelog to indicate what changes are being made to my system by this update (the changelog should be available to read in the app before the update so an informed choice can be made regarding the update, not hidden away in the Victron dealer/support site)
A quick search of these forums show that users are having issues since updating, so how can we trust these manadatory updates? Another search shows difficulty in downgrading again following a mandatory update, are these updates guarenteed not to break our setup? If they do are Victron going to cover the cost of hiring and running a generator until a new working device has been provided by Victron under warrenty for their botched updates?
As far as I can tell, the only reason for a mandatory update would be due to a security failure (some way to bypass the login allowing changes to be made without permission) or a safety concern (something like a charger not shutting off when a charge cycle is complete). If this was the case I woulf be fine with the update, however from the forums it appears this is not the case.
So please be open with us, what is changing in these updates and why are they mandatory for working devices? Is there a safety or security risk that Victron dont want the public to know about? Otherwise there is very little reason for a mandatory update.
"Generally speaking there has also been a long effort to reduce, and hopefully eliminate the requirement of mandatory firmware updates all together. So systems that are working well will not be required to do an update if they don't want to." this quote is from Guy Stewart (Victron Community Manager) 2 years ago on this forum, yet we are still getting them.
For the avoidance of doubt, I actually really like the Victron product line, both personally and commercially. I have a full victron setup at home, and have installed many, many victron systems for work. I love seeing the updates to the VRM portal, the island image on the mobile app was very cool, and fitted the theme perfectly. I use betavrm.victronenergy.com as my primary VRM seeing all the new features, im not adverse to change. I am strongly opposed to being forced to install updates to a fully functioning system that is my only source of power, with no information on the benefits and no guarentee that I wont be left without power.
My rather negative post above is due to the risks involved in putting a MANDATORY update onto my devices which I rely on, which are working perfectly fine and have done for many years. Im just hoping that Victron doesn't follow in the footsteps of the tech giants, installing a MANDATORY update that either breaks something, or removes features that may be relied upon, then hides behind terms and conditions. It is very simple, I should be presented with a list of changes contained in a firmware update, and have the ability to make a decision if the changes are right for me and my system, or if there is too much risk. Removing my ability to use the product I purchased, and which the Victron Terms and Conditions of Sale make clear is a product that I OWN once payment is complete is disrepectful, and to be fair a pretty shady business practice.
