Silicon, or no Silicon - that was the question

Using silicon-based photosensors (SiPMs, originally called G-APDs) for photon detection, the First G-APD Cherenkov Telescope (FACT) successfully introduced a new technology in ground-based gamma-ray astronomy. Withstanding bright moon light conditions, SiPMs allow for a significant increase in observation time. Excellent gain-stability during operation is achieved with an automatic correction system making FACT an ideal instrument for long-term monitoring. Remote operation and automation of data taking further enlarge the duty cycle by utilizing the available observation time efficiently. Immediate processing in an automatic analysis chain provides quick look results within short time scales and allows for triggering other observations in case a significant flux increase is observed. The successful implementation of the new technology combined with a modern control system and analysis framework opens up the possibility for efficient long-term monitoring of the brightest known blazars and paves the path to more stable and inexpensive instruments.