The Fi Base and the Fi Collar connect to one another via Bluetooth, see: Fi Base: How It Works. Therefore, it is important that your base is set up in an area where the base can "see" the Fi Collar. Since Bluetooth connections are invisible to the human eye, we've set up a test to understand Fi Base coverage in your home.
Testing is quick and easy, and after performing this test, you'll understand where your dog can go within your home while still staying connected to the base, or discover you may want to reposition your Fi Bases to extend coverage, see: Where Should I Set Up My Fi Base?
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Steps for Testing Your Fi Base Coverage in Your Home
What you will need to test: Fi Base (plugged in), Fi Collar, Mobile Device with Fi App, Wi-Fi
- Note the date/time you perform the test. If you need further help after the test, our customer success team can advise.
- Before you begin, ensure your Fi Base is connected to Wi-Fi.
- Your Series 3 Fi Base has an indicator light. It will show a static yellow light 🟡 if the base does not have Wi-Fi connectivity.
- How Do I Update the Wi-Fi for My Fi Base?
Total time: 15 minutes
- Make sure your Fi Base is plugged in and online, if needed, see: Troubleshooting: Your Fi Charging Base Appears to be Offline
- Remove your dog's Fi Collar and place it near the Fi Base, but not on.
- Turn off Bluetooth on your mobile device. This will force the collar to connect to the Fi Base.
- After 1 minute, turn the Bluetooth on your phone back on.
- Open your Fi App.
- First, we will want to check the collar's connection state, and make sure it is "seeing" the base:
- Tap the Live Tab and then tap your dog's profile picture in the Live Card:
- You will now see the live map. Tap your pet's photo, to reveal the collar's current connection state:
- A status card will appear with an icon in the lower right hand corner of the card. Each icon represents a different connection source. You should see the Fi Base icon
:
- If you see another icon, this means it is not connecting to the base. To understand what each icon indicates, see: How Can I See What My Dog’s Fi Collar Is Connected To?
- If you see another icon, this means it is not connecting to the base. To understand what each icon indicates, see: How Can I See What My Dog’s Fi Collar Is Connected To?
- Tap the Live Tab and then tap your dog's profile picture in the Live Card:
- With your dog's Fi Collar in hand, walk to the furthest location from the Fi Base your dog has access to in your home. Leave the Fi collar in this room for 3-5 minutes.
- Pro tip: Place the collar on a similar level (same height of your dog). For example, if your dog is small, place the collar under a table vs on top of a table. We want to mimic your dog's behavior as much as possible.
- After 3-5 minutes, check the connection state of the collar (same instructions as Step #5):
- If you see an icon showing a blue circle with your initial in the middle, this icon means the collar is now connected to your mobile device and cannot see the Fi Base. This means there is no Fi Base coverage in this area. Move to a room closer to the Fi Base and repeat steps 7-8, until you are in a room where the Fi Collar and Fi Base can connect. - If your pup frequently accesses an area that you discover does not have Fi Base coverage, see: Where Should I Set Up My Fi Base?
- Repeat as needed in different areas (rooms/floors) of your home.
- If your pup spends time outside of your house (such as a yard or patio), we also recommend testing for base coverage in these areas.
- To end the test, exit the full map screen by tapping the back button on the bottom left:
You now know which areas of your home your dog's Fi Collar can "see" the Fi Base and how far the coverage is. Since the connection is established via Bluetooth, the coverage of each home is unique, and will vary depending on building materials and layout.
Questions on your results? Contact Fi Customer Success and let us know when you performed the test, and we can advise further!