Losing mobile signal doesn't mean losing your tracker. If you're near your pet, your phone links straight to the tracker over Bluetooth and most of the app carries on as normal.
When Bluetooth mode kicks in
The app always prefers the mobile network. When the tracker can't reach it but your phone is within Bluetooth range, the connection label switches to Connected via Bluetooth (blue) and location updates continue.
What works and what doesn't
| Feature | Over a Bluetooth-only link |
|---|---|
| Your pet's location, updated through your phone's direct link | Works |
| LIVE tracking | Works |
| Virtual fences | Works |
| Power saving zones | Works |
| The Separation Anxiety Monitor | Works |
| Report danger | Works |
| The tracker light | Works |
| Module (Bluetooth) firmware updates | Works |
| Refresh on the map | Greyed out — it asks the tracker for a report over the mobile network |
| Main firmware updates | Not available — the tracker downloads these itself over the mobile network, so a Bluetooth link doesn't help |
Virtual fence and power saving zone settings are delivered to the tracker over Bluetooth too, so you can still change them.
The app sums it up like this:
Some features are limited — You can still start LIVE tracking, and {pet}'s location keeps updating over Bluetooth. Features that need the tracker's own mobile signal — like pulling a fresh update on demand, or staying updated once {pet} moves out of Bluetooth range — resume when it reconnects.
Things to know about the Bluetooth link
Important: Only one phone can be connected to the tracker over Bluetooth at a time. Once a phone connects, the tracker stops advertising itself, so a second phone can't connect until the first one disconnects.
Please note: Bluetooth work needs the Ask A Vet app open on screen. While the app is in the background it only handles alerts and location events.
When you walk out of range
If your Bluetooth link drops while the tracker is also unreachable on the mobile network, your phone posts a notification:
Connection to {pet}'s tracker was lost — The tracker is offline and out of Bluetooth range. We'll keep trying and update the location as soon as it reconnects.
[CONFIRM: the practical Bluetooth range in metres owners should expect].
Related articles - My phone won't connect to the tracker over Bluetooth - My tracker shows "Disconnected" or "Tracker can't reach the network" - Tracker settings are greyed out