- How does nio™ work?
nio™ works by running software on your mobile that communicates via Bluetooth with one or more nio™ tags. These tags can be secured to almost any item you want to protect and form a security zone between your tagged item and your mobile phone. If the tag or your mobile move outside of the security zone they both alarm to alert you of a potential loss or theft so that it can be prevented.
- How can I make nio™ alarm more quickly once outside my security zone?
The speed with which nio™ alarms once outside a security zone can be set using the alarm delay. The delay can be used to avoid false alarms which might be caused if you happen to move outside the security zone for a few seconds. The minimum alarm delay is 5 seconds. The maximum delay is 20 seconds. To modify the alarm delay select a tag using the nio™ software and the press the Advance button. The Advance options screen displays the alarm delay slider which can be adjusted. The further the slider moves to the right, the longer the alarm delay.
- What are security zones?
The security zone is at the heart of nio™. Security zones set a specific perimeter around your mobile device that causes the tag (and mobile device, if requested) to alarm if the tagged item moves outside it. You should control your security zone based on your surroundings. If you are in a high-risk environment (subway, coffee shops and other meeting places) you may want to set your security zone to high risk. This will shorten the security perimeter and cause the system to alarm before it gets too far away from you. If you are in a low-risk environment (your home, office or hotel) you may want to set the security zone to low-risk, giving you greater freedom of movement away from your tagged item.
- What are the ranges of the security zones?
Operational zone of between 1 to 25 meters depending on the security zone and the environment.
nio™ has been designed to react to the environment that it is in, based on the perceived risk. For example, if you are in a room full of many people or obstructions and cannot directly see your tagged item, then nio'sT security zone will be tighter than if there were no people or obstructions in the same room. The ranges are therefore only guidelines and can also vary between handsets.
- What's the battery life on the nio™ tag?
When fully charged the nio™ tags battery can last up to 3 weeks if left in standby. On an average use of around 2 hours per day, your nio™ tag will last up to 1 week.
- How can I tell how much battery life remains on the nio™ tag?
Each tag displayed in the nio™ software on your mobile has a battery indicator which tells you how charged the battery is. If you are unclear where to find this see page 8 of the user guide
www.bluenio.co.uk/userguide.
- How long does the nio™ tag take to charge?
When fully depleted your nio™ tag will take approximately 40 minutes to charge.
- Can I overcharge my nio™?
You cannot overcharge your nio™ tag. Once the tag is fully charged the charge light will go off and the battery will automatically stop charging.
- Can I use other Bluetooth devices on my mobile whilst using nio™, such as my headset?
Yes. nio™ will not interfere with other Bluetooth devices and has been test to work with most Bluetooth headsets.
- On which mobile handsets does nio™ currently operate?
nio™ currently operates on most Blackberry, Nokia, Sony Ericsson and other popular mobile handsets, including Windows Mobile devices. A full list of compatible devices can be found at
http://bluenio.com/compatibility.
- I can't see my nio™ tag when I press search. How can I find it?
First check to make sure that your nio™ tag is charged. Once fully charged and the blue light indicator has gone out. Use a paper clip or similar object to press the reset button in the small hole at the back of the nio™ tag. The nio™ tag will beep twice to indicate that is now discoverable. The nio™ tag will remain discoverable for 50 seconds during which time you should press the search button using the nio™ software on your mobile. See page 13 of the user guide (
www.bluenio.co.uk/userguide) for a more detailed description.
- How do I change a security zone?
To change security zone from the home screen:
- Go to the Tag Control Panel by clicking the desired tag on the home page.
- Click the Zone button.
- Select your preferred security zone.
If your nio™ tag is connected it will beep and illuminate once to confirm the new security settings. If your nio™ tag is not connected, the next time you connect to your tag, it will use the new security zone setting.
- Will nio™ run in the background on my mobile?
Many mobiles now support background operation on software applications including nio™. nio™ will run in the background on all Blackberry, Windows Mobile, Nokia N-Series, E-Series and other handsets running S60 platform. For a list of handsets currently known to run nio™ see
http://bluenio.com/compatibility. This page is regularly updated so please re-visit if your handset isn't currently there.
- Can I use the mini-USB charger that comes with my mobile?
Whilst we cannot guarantee compatibility, your nio™ tag supports standard mini-USB and will therefore charge using many mobile chargers including those supplied by Blackberry.
- I can't connect to my nio™ tag. What's wrong?
There may be a number of reasons why your nio™ tag isn't connected. Before contacting support try the following:
- Ensure your tag is charged. One way to test this is to use a paper clip or similar device to press the reset button in the small hole at the back of the nio™ tag. If the tag does not beep twice, the battery is flat and will need recharging.
- Ensure Bluetooth is activated on your mobile. Check your mobile handbook to find out how to do this if you are unsure.
- Ensure the nio™ tag and your mobile running the nio™ software are in close proximity, preferably within around 1 meter and with a clear line of sight.
- I've disconnected and my tag is still alarming. How can I stop it?
Using a paper clip or similar device press the reset button in the small hole at the back of the nio™ tag. This will cause the tag to beep twice and will stop alarming.
- I'm connected and my tag keeps alarming even though I'm inside my security zone. What's wrong?
Check to see if the tags motion sensor has been activated. This can be seen by clicking the Advanced button in Tag Control Panel for your connected tag.
- What's the best way to change a security zone?
Make sure that you're standing in close proximity to your tagged item when changing security zone to be certain the two devices are able to communicate. This should especially be done when changing the security zone from a low risk to a higher risk setting. Always make sure that you wait for the nio™ tag to beep (and flash) to confirm that the new security zone has been set. This is particularly important when changing the security zone from high risk to low risk, as if the zone has not been properly set then nio™ will alarm.
- I've changed my security zone and nio™ keeps telling me it's updating?
Whenever a security zone is changed the nio™ software will tell you it is updating until the change has taken effect. Make sure that you are close enough to your nio™ tag when changing zone to be certain the tag and mobile are able to communicate. If you still get the updating message after a further 60 seconds, stop the connection and try again.
- My Blackberry cannot find the nio™ tag. What shall I do?
Some Blackberry phones refuse to find the nio™ tag during the pairing process.
The best thing to do to force them to find nio™ is to search for and pair your nio™ tag using the Blackberry Bluetooth Manager. Then repeat the same process using the nio™ software.
Please make sure you reset the tag each time you try to pair with it. It is visible for 50s after the double-beep on reset.
- What's the maximum range of nio™?
A maximum range of up to 25 meters can be achieved when in the low risk security zone. nio™ is designed to prevent the loss of your valuable items and as such won't let your tagged item get too separated from your mobile.
- How can I download the nio™ software onto my mobile?
nio™ can be downloaded directly onto your mobile from
http://download.bluenio.com.
The easiest way to install the software onto your handset is to open the download link (above) in your phone's browser and then to click on your recommended software version.
- I've changed my mobile. Can I transfer nio™ onto my new device?
Yes. You will be given a unique product ID number when you purchase nio™. Contact support and advise them that you have a new mobile device. They will then provide you with a new link to download the nio™ software.
- Where can I buy nio™?
You can currently buy nio™ directly from the
Bluenio website and will soon be able to purchase nio™ from
Amazon too. Revisit this page for regular updates.
- Can I connect to more than one nio™ at a time?
Yes. Currently nio™ will allow simultaneous connections with up to 5 nio™ tags.
- Will the nio™ tag work in water?
No. If your nio™ tag becomes submersed in water remove it immediately and allow it to dry. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE TAG. Drying make take over 24 hours depending on environmental conditions. Attempt to connect to the tag using your mobile. If this fails then the tag is beyond repair and must be replaced.
- Will nio™ work on the Tube, or where there is no mobile phone reception?
Yes it will. Unlike GPS tags, each nio™ tag communicates directly with your mobile and does not need any phone reception, satellite, or communication tower to operate. This makes it an ideal security companion inside shopping malls and on underground public transport.
- Does my mobile have to be Bluetooth enabled to use nio™?
Yes. nio™ will only work on Bluetooth enable handsets.
- Can I adjust the sensitivity of the motion sensor?
No. The sensitivity of the motion sensor has been set to provide robust operation in a range of environments and to limit and false alarms.
- Does having a nio™ affect the battery life of my mobile?
Because nio™ uses Bluetooth the battery life on your mobile will be affected, however this has been kept to a minimum. Charging your mobile every 1 to 2 days will ensure that the battery does not become too depleted.
- Will the security zones vary in different environments?
Yes. nio™ has been designed to react to the environment that it is in based on the perceived risk. For example, if you are in a room full of many people or obstructions and cannot directly see your tagged item, then nio'sT security perimeter for a given zone will be tighter than if there were no people or obstructions in the same room.
- Will any information I give you be kept private?
