Wi-Fi Heartbeat Interval Explained

RemoteLocks are extremely convenient because they utilize WiFi in order to connect and communicate over the internet. This means that no additional gateway is needed and RemoteLocks can connect to existing WiFi routers already in the home or property.

The RemoteLock's 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

Heartbeat Interval

Because the RemoteLock's 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 10 to 15 seconds. After 5 seconds of inactivity (no keypresses on the lock and no new commands received from the web), the lock will disconnect from the internet and go back to sleep.

The lock can also be set to wake up the WiFi and connect to the server the moment the keypad is pressed (if Wake WiFi is set to On). Therefore, when someone unlocks the door, it will wake up and report this event immediately instead of waiting until the next heartbeat. Additionally, if you have someone outside the house that you wish to let in, but don’t want to give them a code, simply unlock the door from your smartphone, then instruct that person to press any button on the keypad to wake the lock up. The lock will then receive the command from the internet and unlock the door.

The Heartbeat Interval effects the longevity of the lock's batteries. The longer the interval (the period for which it sleeps), the longer the batteries will last. We recommend setting an interval of one hour or more for the best experience. Watch the video below for more info.