Help CenterThe reason Bluetooth on your phone needs to be on when adding the Gen 2 WiFi alarm panel to the Smart Life app is related to how many smart devices, including WiFi-enabled ones, initialize their connection setup. Here’s a breakdown of why this is necessary:
1. Initial Device Discovery and Setup:
- During the initial setup, many smart devices, like your WiFi alarm panel, use Bluetooth as a temporary, low-power communication channel to establish a connection with your phone. This helps to make the initial pairing process smoother.
- Bluetooth is often used to discover the device in close proximity because it’s more reliable and efficient for local communication during setup compared to WiFi, especially before network credentials are shared.
2. Provisioning WiFi Credentials:
- Once the Smart Life app detects the alarm panel via Bluetooth, it can then help transfer your WiFi credentials from your phone to the alarm panel. This process is known as "WiFi provisioning."
- Bluetooth allows the secure and straightforward transmission of the WiFi network name (SSID) and password to the alarm panel, enabling it to connect to your home’s WiFi network.
3. Simplifying the User Experience:
- By using Bluetooth for initial setup, the device can automatically be discovered and paired with minimal user interaction. Without Bluetooth, users would have to manually search for the device and input the WiFi credentials in a more cumbersome process.
Once the device is connected to your WiFi network, Bluetooth is no longer required for normal operation, and all control and monitoring can be done through the WiFi connection via the Smart Life app.
In summary, Bluetooth is required during the initial setup phase to make the process smoother and easier, particularly for discovering the device and transmitting WiFi credentials. After that, the WiFi connection takes over for day-to-day usage.