Quick Answer
Most modern standby generators include Wi-Fi monitoring as a standard feature. Apps — Generac Mobile Link, Kohler OnCue, Cummins Connect — let you check status, view run history, and receive fault alerts from anywhere. For alerts during an outage when home Wi-Fi is offline, a cellular communication card (sold separately, roughly $100–$300) communicates via cell network. Remote monitoring is most valuable when you're away from home during an outage.
Key Takeaways
- 1Wi-Fi monitoring is typically included in current residential standby units at no additional hardware cost.
- 2Apps provide real-time status, run history, fault alerts, and maintenance milestone reminders.
- 3Cellular communication cards (~$100–$300 + service fees) keep alerts flowing when home internet goes offline during an outage.
- 4Generac Mobile Link, Kohler OnCue (with dealer diagnostic connectivity), and Cummins Connect are the main manufacturer platforms.
- 5Remote monitoring tracks self-test pass/fail history — a failed self-test alert is often the first sign of a developing issue.
- 6Most valuable for second homes, frequent travelers, and any situation where you may not be home when an outage occurs.
What remote monitoring actually does
Remote monitoring connects your standby generator to your smartphone via Wi-Fi or cellular signal, giving you status updates and alert notifications regardless of where you are. The most useful capabilities: knowing when the generator started (and why), tracking how long it's been running, receiving alerts for fault conditions before they become serious failures, and confirming that the weekly self-test completed successfully.
Remote monitoring doesn't let you start or stop the generator remotely in most systems — it's primarily a visibility and alert tool, not a remote control interface.
Generac Mobile Link
Generac's remote monitoring system is called Mobile Link. It connects via Wi-Fi or an optional cellular communication card (sold separately) and provides real-time generator status, run history, maintenance alerts, and push notifications for faults. The Mobile Link app is available for iOS and Android. Basic functionality is free; some advanced features are available on subscription plans.
Mobile Link is available for most Generac residential standby units manufactured in the last several years. Older units may not support it without a firmware or hardware upgrade.
Kohler OnCue
Kohler's remote monitoring platform is OnCue. It provides similar functionality — status monitoring, fault alerts, run history, and maintenance reminders. OnCue connects via Wi-Fi and includes a dealer-access component that allows Kohler's service network to remotely diagnose issues.
The dealer connectivity feature can be useful for scheduling service or diagnosing a fault condition without requiring an in-person visit first.
Cummins Connect
Cummins offers their Connect remote monitoring platform for residential and commercial standby units. It provides real-time status, fault notification, and service history tracking via home Wi-Fi.
For homeowners who travel frequently or have a second home with a generator, remote monitoring for any brand significantly improves the ability to confirm the generator started correctly during an outage and is running without issues.
When remote monitoring is most valuable
Remote monitoring pays off most clearly when you're not home during an outage — a work trip, a vacation, or a second property. Instead of relying on a neighbor to check the generator, you get push notifications the moment it starts and alerts if anything is wrong.
It also improves maintenance discipline: apps track maintenance milestones (oil change due, spark plugs due, annual inspection due) and send reminders rather than leaving you to track this manually — which directly supports the long-term reliability of a system you rarely think about between outages.
Frequently asked questions
Sources
- Generac Home Standby Generators — Manufacturer product documentation for Generac's residential standby line.
- Kohler Energy Is Now Rehlko — Manufacturer announcement confirming Kohler's power systems and engines business rebranded as Rehlko starting in 2024.
- Cummins Home Standby Generators — Manufacturer product documentation for Cummins' residential standby line.
What should you do next?
See how remote monitoring fits into a complete annual maintenance plan for your standby generator.
Generator Maintenance Checklist →