How to Make the HomeStation Mobile

Note: This article is for collars and HomeStations with serial numbers below 20000


If your cat is out of the HomeStation's signal range or you suspect he is inside a building or in a location with poor GPS reception, you need to make the HomeStation mobile.


You will need the following:

  • A computer
  • Our HomeStation Configurator (you might still have this on your computer form the original setup)
  • The original USB data-cable supplied with your HomeStation
  • The petTracer app on a smart phone with mobile data
  • A charged power bank

Watch this video, you will also find the steps below:

STEPS

  1. Open the HomeStation Configurator on your computer and remove all configured Wi-Fi networks
  2. Activate your phone's hotspot and ensure you choose the 2.4 GHz band (Android) or Compatibility Mode on iPhone (see section below if you don't know how to do this)
  3. Reload the Wi-Fi list on the left in the HomeStation Configurator
  4. Choose your phone's hotspot from the Wi-Fi list, enter your password and click on the add button
  5. Add additional hotspots if needed
  6. As the last Wi-Fi, add your home Wi-Fi to the HomeStation. You should now have at least two Wi-Fis listed on the right-hand side of the software screen, with your phone's hotspot being at the top
  7. Finish the setup and unplug the HomeStation from the computer

How to activate the Personal Hotspot on an iPhone:

Go to Settings > Personal Hotspot > Allow others to Join

Activate "Maximise Compatibility"

Note: Further information can be found directly on Apple's support website LINK

Good to know 💡: Sometimes the Personal Hotspot in Settings is shown as switched on but this might not actually be the case. Go to the Control Panel on your phone screen and set it to Discoverable:


How to connect the Mobile Hotspot on an Android phone:

1. Open your phone's Settings app.

2. Tap Network & Internet > Hotspot & Tethering > Mobile Hotspot.

3. Turn on Mobile Hotspot.

4. To see or change a hotspot setting, like the name or password, tap it. If needed, first tap Setup Mobile Hotspot.

Note: Further information can be found directly on Google's support website: LINK

IMPORTANT: For Android devices with the latest operating system the option "Allowed devices only" must be deactivated.


Mobile HomeStation in use:

To make the HomeStation mobile please carry out the below steps in strict order.

1. Unplug the HomeStation from the mains

2. Activate your phone's hotspot and ensure you choose the 2.4 GHz band (Android) or Compatibility Mode on iPhone

3. Plug the HomeStation into your power bank. You should now see on your phone that there is a device connected to the hotspot

  1. Ensure that the blue LED on the HomeStation flashes blue once every 20-30 seconds

On an iPhone you will see that connection has been successful if the clock in the top left-hand corner of your phone screen turns green.


On an Android phone the HomeStation is displayed under "Connected devices" with a name in the format of: "ESP _ ******".


Note: Some iPhones have an automatic hotspot time-out feature. Please make sure you plug the HomeStation into the power bank within 90 seconds of activating your hotspot.


If there has been no contact with the lost cat/collar within 30 minutes, the hotspot connection will break off automatically and you will have to activate it again. Keep an eye on your phone to ensure the hotspot connection is still live and reactivate it as needed.


You now have a mobile HomeStation and can start searching for your cat or lost collar. 


IMPORTANT: If at any point the HomeStation gives a quick double flash it means that it has lost the connection to the hotspot. Please do the following:

  1. Unplug the HomeStation from the power bank
  2. Re-activate the hotspot from your phone
  3. Re-connect the HomeStation to the power bank
  4. Refresh the app

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