Bluetooth vs. WiFi Communication Explained

Modified on Mon, 29 Jul at 8:13 PM

Your lock includes both Bluetooth and WiFi. Bluetooth is used to communicate directly with the mobile app when you are within close proximity to the lock. WiFi is used to communicate with the cloud so that it can be controlled and report events remotely.

This article includes the following:

Bluetooth Supported Functionality

Bluetooth is used to communicate directly with the mobile app when you are within close proximity to the lock.

The following functions are currently supported over Bluetooth:

Registering your new lock with your account. The mobile app will scan for locks within Bluetooth range. Once found the lock will be registered via Bluetooth.
Setting Up WiFi - the app will communicate over Bluetooth to connect the lock to WiFi.
Lock/Unlock - when within close proximity to the lock, the app can lock and unlock the lock directly over Bluetooth in real time.

WiFi Supported Functionality

WiFi is used by the lock to communicate with the cloud so that it can be controlled and report events remotely.

Please Note: If you do not Connect to WiFi, you will not be able to manage several aspects of your lock, such as Access Users (PIN codes), Lock Settings, and Schedules. This is because these aspects of the lock are managed over WiFi.

Functionality Over WiFi:

Adding/Managing Access Users
Updating Lock Settings
Adding/Managing Access & Lock Schedules
Viewing Event History

Example:

If you add an Access User or change a Lock Setting from the mobile app, the app will send that data to the cloud. When the lock next connects to the cloud, it will download this new data to add new Users or change Settings. The lock will also upload any events via WiFi so they can be displayed on the mobile app.

WiFi Heartbeats Explained

Our WIFI locks are extremely convenient because they utilize WIFI in order to connect and communicate over the internet. This means that no additional gateway/hub is needed and devices can connect to existing WIFI routers already in the home or property.

The WIFI radio is turned off when the lock is not in use. This is because WIFI radios consume power at a fairly rapid rate. There are 2 ways that the WIFI radio can be activated so that it will connect to the internet. The first is by pressing a button on the keypad and the second is via regularly scheduled 'Heartbeats'.

After the initial registration, Heartbeat Interval is set to the default setting of 1 hour. This setting can be updated to best fit your needs or to conserve battery life.

Heartbeat Interval

Because the WIFI radio is turned off when the lock is not in use to conserve power, a "Heartbeat Interval" is set in order to wake up the lock at scheduled intervals. Each time the lock connects it will check for new commands, such as lock or unlock or the addition of new user codes.

When the lock does wake up and connect to WIFI, it keeps the connection open for about 5-10 seconds. After this period, the lock will disconnect from the internet and go back to sleep until the next user action (press a button on the keypad) or Heartbeat.

Viewing Your Lock

Bluetooth Vs. WiFi Connection

After adding your lock, the app will land on the Lock List view. This is the default view when logging into the app, or when clicking on the Home button on the bottom navigation bar.

Select a lock to view.

When landing on the Lock Detail view, the app will scan to see if the lock is within Bluetooth range. During this scan, the status will show as "Syncing".

If your lock is NOT within Bluetooth range, the app will sync with the cloud for the latest status of the lock. This status will appear after 5 seconds, after the app determines the lock is not within Bluetooth range.

If your lock IS within Bluetooth range, the app will display the Bluetooth signal and the lock status communicated over Bluetooth.

Locking and Unlocking: Bluetooth Vs. WiFi Connection

To lock or unlock the door from the app, click on the round lock status button. In this example, clicking on the Locked button will Unlock the door.

Locking/Unlocking Over Bluetooth

Because this lock is within Bluetooth range of the lock (as is shown by the presence of the Bluetooth Signal icon), the lock will unlock within a couple seconds of pressing the button.

Locking/Unlocking Over WiFi

If you are not connected to the lock over Bluetooth, you will only see the WiFi icon at the top of the lock detail view.

Because the lock’s WiFi is not always on, there can be a delay from the time you press the button and when the lock connects to WiFi to receive the unlock command.

If unlocking over WiFi, the app will display a confirmation message to ensure this is understood by the user.

The status will then show Pending to indicate the lock will receive this command upon its next connection to WiFi.