Q: What do I need to get started?

A: 1) Files Thru The Air WiFi device 2) Micro USB cable 3) PC Running Vista, XP (Home or Professional editions) or Windows 7 4) router or access point 

Q: What operating systems are compatible with the WiFi software?

A: Windows 8.X, 7, Vista, XP.

Q: What is the difference between the sample rate and the transmission rate? 

A: The sample rate sets how often the unit takes a reading.  The transmission rate sets how often the unit transmits this information back to the PC.  For example, to save battery life on the sensor you may select the sample rate as every 10 seconds and have the transmission rate as every 6 readings which will mean your data is updated every 60 seconds.

Q: Settings will not save

A:   1)    There may be an issue with the .NET framework. Try reinstalling or running a clean up tool   2)    If using a VLAN then you will need to allocate an SSID to a dedicated network for the sensors, otherwise it may bypass the DHCP service and will not be allocated an IP address   3)    Verify that PC and sensor are on the same network   4)    If using an access point make sure that it is connected to the internal network and not acting as a guest   5)    Make sure that the Firewall on the PC allows full access to WIFI-TH.exe   6)    Completely uninstall the software, delete the WiFi directory from Program Files or Program Files (X86) and delete WiFi directory from My Documents and then reinstall the software   7)    On Corporate systems make sure any switcher rules allow communication between the sensor and PC

Q: How can I reset my sensor?

A:   The sensor can be reset by holding the button for 10 seconds. Release the button  when LOW is flashing in the top right hand corner of the display. The sensor can be reset by holding the button for 10 seconds. Release the button when LOW is flashing in the top right hand corner of the display. The sensor will retain all settings but will lose any data that has not been transferred to the PC.       A factory reset can also be performed, hold the button for 20 seconds until FArS appears on screen. Doing this will return the sensor to the factory state deleting all settings and clearing all previously recorded data.  

Q: What does it mean when the MAX, MIN and battery symbol are all displayed on the LCD at the same time?

A: This is displayed if the unit is charging and the temperature of the unit has reached 40°C.  This display is featured to alert the user as once at 40°C or above the unit will not recharge. 

Q: How do I turn the sensor off?

A: The sensor will remain on permanently unless the battery runs out.

Q: How do I know if my router is 802.11b compatible?

A: All routers are 802.11 compatible and there are 4 types; a, b, g and n.  To find out what type of router you have you may need to refer to your router user manual or if it’s provided by your Internet Service Provider contact them and ask them.

Q: Why have I lost all my data?

A: The only way sensor data is lost is if you deliberately delete a sensor.  The programme asks if you definitely want to delete the sensor so you won’t be able to do this by mistake.  

Q: How do I delete a sensor?

A: Select the sensor you wish to delete and right click.  From the options select Delete Device.

Q: What does the syncing icon in the software mean?

A: If your PC has been turned off, when you turn it on again, the sensor will awaken and reconnect after a maximum of 30 mins.  After the sensors have successfully reconnected the data stored in their memory will be transferred to the PC.  Whilst this data is transferring the syncing icon will appear.

Q: Sensor will not connect to PC

A:   1)    Try plugging the USB cable in again   2)    Restart the software   3)    Restart sensor by holding the button in for 20 seconds   4)    Check COM ports. There have been issues with certain devices having the same COM port allocated, even though it is not connected. If this device is disabled then this fixes the problem, or alternatively you can change the COM port. To change the COM port go to Control Panel, Hardware and Sound, Device Manager, Ports, STMicroelectronics Virtual COM port, Port Settings, Advanced and then select a COM port from the drop down menu that is not in use. Windows Vista and XP may differ.   5)    Missing Drivers. If this is the case please reinstall the software.

Q: Sensor will not connect to the network

A:   1)    Check that password being entered is correct   2)    Check if 80211b is enabled on the router   3)    Ensure MAC filtering is not switched on.  If it is switched on only known devices will be able to connect to the router   4)    Check that you are trying to connect to the same router or network that the PC is connected to   5)    Check to see if the sensor is in range of the router   6)    Check the type of router. Some routers have known issues, please contact us for details   7)    Check to see if the router has the latest firmware   8)    If the router has WEP Encryption ensure that the HEX key is being entered rather than the password. You can double check this on www.wepkey.com   9)    Check that DHCP service is running. This allows the computer to allocate the sensor with an IP Address. If it is not running the sensor will not be given an IP Address and will not be able to connect. Also, check that the DHCP service allocates IP addresses of the PC and the sensor of the same subnet. Make sure there is space in the DHCP service. If there is not a space available it will not allocate the sensor an IP address and it will fail to connect   10)  WPA Enterprise is not supported. (this is a type of encryption)   11)  Wireless mode must be mixed, not Greenfield   12)  Make sure that you are not running a virtual machine on the PC. The virtual machine will be given a different IP address to the PC. It must be given an IP address in the same range as the physical PC.   13)  If the PC has two network connections one of them must be disabled. It can be reconnected later, but initially it must be turned off   14)  Make sure that the SSID does not contain any spaces   15)  Check that there are not two WiFi routers that have the same name

Q: The next button is missing on the Alarms page 

A: Check that the font scaling on your PC is set to 100%

Q: Will the unit work with a VPN (Virtual Private Network)

A: No.

Q: What affects the battery life of my FilesThruTheAir WiFi device?

A:   1) Transmission period 2) WiFi encryption method 3) WiFi encryption key rotation frequency (determined by the router) 4) Signal strength between router and WiFi device 5) Presence, volume and type of WiFi traffic from other devices 6) Sample rate 7) Operating temperature

Q: What do the different LEDs on the WiFi-Alert mean?

A: 1) Bottom right LED constantly on: the Alert is powered up and waiting to be configured. 2) Bottom right LED flashing: the Alert is powered up and searching for the WiFi access point it has been configured for. 3) All LEDs flashing/chasing around the outside edge: the button has been pressed for 10 seconds and when released the Alert will restart. 

Q: How do I activate the WiFi signal strength indicator on the WiFi-Alert?

A: Press the button three times.  All LED\'s and a fast beep indicuate a strong signal.  Limited LEDs and a slow beep indicate a weak signal.

Q: How should I power a WiFi-Alert?

A: The WiFi-Alert has been designed to be continuously powered via the mains.  However, it does contain a rechargeable lithium polymer battery for position the device and for limited power during the event of a mains failure.

Q: How do I mute the alarm on the WiFi-Alert?

A: Press the button on the WiFi-Alert once or remotely via the PC software.

Q: Can I use my WiFi-Alert on the Cloud?

A: The WiFi-Alert is not currently Cloud compatible.  However, we are planning to have a Cloud version ready later in 2014.

Cloud

Q: When will the FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud be ready?

A: The FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud has now launched. Please visit www.filesthrutheair.com to sign up for your cloud account today.

Q: What is an Audit Check?

A:   In some applications it is necessary for a sensing device to be visited periodically and physically checked by the user. When enabled, the Audit Check function records these checks, which are displayed on the graph, and in tabular data. To record an Audit Check, the user simply presses and holds the device button for three seconds. On the LCD, both MIN and MAX flash together to acknowledge that the Audit Check has been recorded.

Q: Does it cost to use the FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud?

A: The cost of the FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud will depend on which account type you have chosen and how many sensors you require connected to your account.   FREE – Up to two sensors with alarms capability – perfect for the beginner to try the system.   PERSONAL – Unlimited sensors, data storage and e-mail alerts. Data Export and Report Printing. From GBP 4.99 or USD 7.99 per month.   PROFESSIONAL – As per the PERSONAL account with the addition of multiple locations, multiple users and an administrator panel to control your system. A Device Audit trail is exportable from the Session tab in the View Data page. From GBP 7.99 or USD 12.99 per month.

Q: What does Setup Pending mean?

A: This means that you have changed a setting on a sensor, for example the transmission rate, an alarm level or any other parameter. The sensor will receive its new settings the next time it transmits to the FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud, the set-up will be pending until that time.

Q: How many sensors can I connect to my FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud account?

A: The number of sensors you can connect will depend on which type of FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud account you have. This will be Free, Personal or Professional. You are able to change which account type you have by clicking on the Account link.  

Q: Is it possible to upgrade or downgrade my account?

A: You can upgrade your account at any point. Downgrade is also possible, depending on the number of sensor devices you have connected to your account. You cannot downgrade to a FREE account. To change your account type click on the “Account” link and select CHANGE.

Q: How can I cancel my FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud account?

A: You can cancel your account by clicking on the “Account” link and selecting CLOSE ACCOUNT at any time. Your sensors will no longer work on the FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud but can still be used in PC only applications.

Q: Can I purchase a FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud account in my country’s currency?

A: We can currently accept payment in GBP or in USD. If you are not in a country using GBP, we would recommend using USD as your payment method.

Q: How can I access the FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud?

A: You can access your FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud account using any internet enabled device through a web browser. This could be your PC at home/office, your iPad/tablet or your mobile phone, etc. The FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud supports IE7 and above, and the latest Chrome, Firefox and Safari browsers. Data charges may apply if viewing data from your FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud account on your mobile phone.

Q: How secure is my data on the FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud?

A: Your data on our FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud account is very secure. The only way to access your account and data is to use the email address and password that you specified when signing up to your account. If you have multiple users with access to your account, a user with Administrator privileges can control which data individual users can access. We regularly back up all data and take all industry standard precautions. However, we always recommend that you also back up any data locally.

Q: What is the difference between the sample rate and the transmission rate?

A: The sample rate sets how often the WiFi device records a reading. The transmission rate sets how often the WiFi device transmits this information to the FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud. Choosing the right sample and transmission rate for your specific needs is vital to ensure that you maximize battery life. Every application is different so we have made the system as flexible as possible.  

Q: Why have I lost all my data?

A: The only way sensor data is lost is if you delete a sensor device. The FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud asks if you definitely want to delete the sensor so you will not be able to do this by mistake. If you have a Free account, the FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud stores only the most recent 45 days of data. Data older than this is automatically deleted.

Q: How do I archive or delete a device?

A: Select the device(s) and click on “Archive/Delete”. From the options list you may: 1) Archive - keep the data but remove the device(s) from use 2) Clear - keep the device(s) active but delete all of the data 3) Delete – delete the data and take the device(s) out of use.

Q: Is there an app for the FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud?

A: The FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud is web based and can be accessed using a browser on a phone, tablet, PC or MAC. This keeps the system very flexible. We may produce an app in time but currently you can enjoy all aspects of our FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud service by visiting www.filesthrutheair.com .

Q: How often does the sensor device send data to the FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud?

A: When you first connect the sensor to your FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud account the default transmission period is pre-set to five minutes. You can change the transmission rate by clicking on the sensor you want to change and then clicking on Change Device Settings. The transmission rate setting does not affect delivery of alarm conditions which are transmitted immediately.

Q: Can I try the FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud service before committing myself to paying monthly for an account?

A: Our Free account is perfect for people wanting to trial the FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud with up to two devices. Reporting functionality is limited to paid-for accounts but the free account will allow you to try the system. It is easy to upgrade to a Personal or Professional account at any time. 

Q: Is the FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud guaranteed to be “up” 24 hours a day, 365 days a year?

A: The FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud will have to be taken offline on rare occasions if the servers are upgraded or if any system maintenance is needed. This will be infrequent.

Q: Why does my LCD on the sensor device show a different value to the reading on the FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud?

A: The LCD is updated every two seconds giving near-instantaneous readings at the sensor whereas the FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud receives readings recorded at the sample rate and transmitted to the FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud at the transmission rate. In the case of the WiFi-TH and WiFi-TH+ sensors, the LCD will indicate measurements at 0.5°C and 1%RH resolution, but the FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud will always show a greater resolution. The FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud is where your raw data should be viewed for the highest resolution.

Q: I noticed that you have a wide range of sensors. Can I add all the different device types to my FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud account?

A: Yes. The system will offer you specific features depending on the device you have selected.

Q: How many devices can I add to my FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud account?

A: You could feasibly have an unlimited number of sensors on your account, depending on your account type. Large quantity users will need to contact our sales team to activate a large quantity account.

Q: What if I forget my Cloud account password?

A: All passwords are held in an encrypted format online. If you forget a password, please use the “forgotten password” link on the Sign In screen. This will ask for your email address and will send you a link to reset your password.

Q: Is there a way to reduce the number of email alerts I receive?

A: You can tailor the emails you receive in a few ways: 1) When setting up email alerts in the Change Device Settings page, you can freely select which events cause emails to be sent. Perhaps you are only interested in the measured alarm levels and can un-tick some other options you don’t need. 2) When you set-up an alarm level, you can delay the onset of the alarm by a selectable period of time. For example, when monitoring the temperature of a chiller, you might not need to know if the temperature exceeds the alarm level briefly (when someone opens and closes the door, for instance), but you do need to know if someone leaves the door open. When using dual channel sensor devices, alarm delay is independently settable for each channel. 3) Have you set an alarm level that is too low or high? Every time a device goes into or out of alarm, an email is sent. If your device is constantly “chattering” around the alarm level, you will receive more emails. 4) To reduce email traffic further, you can choose to reduce the number of alerts, by periodically summarising them into a single email. You can enable this option, and specify how often the summary emails are sent, in My Settings.  

Q: Why is a sensor alarm reset when I change an alarm setting?

A: Changing any alarm setting in Change Device Settings, will cause the sensor to be refreshed with all alarm settings. This may cause an existing alarm condition to be reset.

Q: Can I use sensor devices to monitor AC power?

A: Yes, you can receive email alerts when AC power fails or is restored. Simply connect the sensor device to a mains-derived power source (e.g. a USB +5V power supply), and enable email alerts for AC power in Change Device Settings. Caution: Readings may be affected on some types of sensor device while the internal battery is being charged. However, once charged, continued connection of the charger or external battery pack will have no effect. NEVER CONNECT THE SENSOR DEVICE DIRECTLY TO THE MAINS.

Q: How does the FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud work with time-zones?

A: Free or Personal FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud accounts have a single time-zone which is specified at the time you Sign Up. All times and dates on the FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud will be shown for your chosen time-zone. In a Professional account, which accommodates multiple sites, you can specify a different time-zone for each location. When viewing data, event logs or device properties in a Professional account, times and dates are shown as local (i.e. at the sensor location).

Q: What is a recording session?

A: In order to manage data received from your sensor device efficiently, the FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud divides data up into what we call ‘sessions’. Your sensor device will begin a session when it first begins logging. If you make any changes to the device such as a sample rate or alarm level change, the FilesThruTheAir™ Cloud closes and saves the current session and a new session is created. A complete list of all sessions is shown in the Sessions tab on the View Data page. All sessions are marked with a date and time to show the period that they cover, together with an audit trail showing the changes which caused a new session to start. In a Professional account you can also export this audit trail as a pdf.