Overpriced, does not have to be, but very comfortable ...

... If you have because out, will be as "taken" the software.
But from the front. My girlfriend has a freshwater swimming pool with just 400l content. The old filter had already after three weeks so after that you could not watch with a clear conscience the whispering, the cleaning was worthwhile again very. So the idea came up to use a powerful filter, which should also have an equally significantly longer service life thanks mainly to significantly larger volume. It was the Eheim Professionel 3e 2076, bought at Zooplus (sry Amazon :-)). He calibrates itself with an electronic control, various programs ... a nice touch. However dawned on me that the programming on the available keys (key combinations and key sequences) could quickly lead to resentment. Lo and behold, an electronic interface for programming and status inquiry and control of the filter via a graphical user interface from a laptop or PC you could buy it. Okay, read some reviews, "aha, there are also problems, probably just for some other ..." ;-), and ordered the part!

As it was there, it went off. I have two laptops available, with a 64bit Vista 32bit, a WIN7. Have downloaded and installed from the Eheim-side in both the current Control Center 1.0.5 (older version on the supplied CD). I briefly machs: Vista notebook just could not connect to the filter, no matter which COM port you chose what was crap, because the Vista notebook is that of the girlfriend, and for whom it was supposed to be. Email to dealers who quickly called back, I should update (?) Upload of the Eheim page. The only thing I found was no update (I had already the latest version of the CC, but "NET Framework 3.5" can be downloaded for XP and Vista. It may be that I did not keep any sequence, because this installation caused even nothing. But it is installed, as well as the CC for the umpteenth time, even with Registry Cleaner (regedit) after uninstalling and before reinstalling. This should Eheim might also provide an installation guide available? ...

I have set my Vista efforts then, because on the WIN7-64bit notebook closed the connection immediately! It takes a few seconds until the connection is established to the filter, but then you can see everything: current status with the target and actual flow, you could select the programs, save user profiles (max five varierte programs.), Then Send to filter and hey presto, changed the Einströmklang because the filter took the new values. What a flow splendor opposite the old filters! But unfortunately, worked here as well not all. I wanted to set the 12-hour bio-rhythms. The CC showed these to transfer as current status, but I would have to lower the speed because I had programmed a lower flow rate for this precisely fitting 12h. Maybe I was wrong somehow? I separated the filters, closed the CC, waited a few seconds, shut the filter on again, waiting for the system sounds and launched the new CC Behold: Constant Flow, nothing 12h bio-rhythm. Of course that was again crap. After several attempts and also the consideration of sending back, I now get a bow, the works. They programmed a profile "Stream Function" sends it, waited for that it actually runs (very easy to detect the flow fluctuations in the range of seconds) and sends afterwards the then the 12h bio-rhythm. And that has always worked - do not ask me. But I can also take advantage of the clear advantages of the interface and so can be programmed and controlled Electronic filter easily and Tastentipperei (so half the Cabinet) will be spared me.

Conclusion:
+ Convenient operation of the filter and convenient utilization of the capacity of the filter

- Not always true status feedback in CC
- Partial non-acquisition of programming
- Does not work (for me) on Vista
- Considering what you get overall clearly too expensive (but comfortable, wenns works)

The interface stands and falls with its operation via the software, the Control Center (CC), this is (still) not mature, because they (each smaller computer game is a significantly higher programming claim justice!) Despite really not complicated data control easily to misunderstandings on server-side leads. But if they are "under control" has, it is fun and enjoyable. Although believed to be less time would have cost in hindsight, to press the keys, it is easier with the durchzuprobieren programs CC and create your own programming as a profile and send them, because you have not half crawl into the aquarium cabinet, sees not only light-emitting diodes on a scale as a measure, but real target and actual values, as the filter specifications controls itself and adjusts visible.

Good to expensive idea, not quite well done, what kind of people who like it sometimes can sometimes something "sample" and spend time.