How to use local control?
The one feature I wanted since getting the Tailwind is local control. Specifically, so I should be able to open the garage door with my phone even if the Wifi is down. So I checked in today and it looks like it is available but I can't find any information on how to use it. My firmware is 9.9.7 and I'm using Android.
So apologies if my search-fu is failing me but how do I set this up? Or can I get in the beta if it is still in beta?
I am excited to have this. Thanks.
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Official comment
Hi F.D.
Local control requires WiFi. Local control means "in the same LAN". So the internet can be down, but the WiFi network still needs to be present and functioning.
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Ah, I see it just works. That's great, although probably should be documented (unless of course it is and I just can't find it). I would still like to see this supported with being able to control your Tailwind over Bluetooth (perhaps as a fallback to Wifi). Here are a couple of scenarios where this would be desirable:
I have my router set up on a smart outlet that defaults to off if there is a power outage. So if I lose power (even if it is just a flicker) while I am out my wifi isn't coming back up till I can go turn it back on.
Now granted this is probably more of a me problem although I suspect I am not the only one who might have some variation of this situation. Here are probably some more common situations.
When Wifi cannot connect to the Internet my phone (which is a Samsung) switches to mobile data automatically. So if the Internet is out but the Wifi is still up I'm still not going to be able to control the Tailwind. Now granted I can work around this but someone like my wife wouldn't have a clue and just be frustrated the Tailwind isn't working.
Another circumstance I've encountered that is probably pretty common is that my Wifi connection to my router is spotty from the car in the driveway. It isn't uncommon for it to drop, not reconnect, or just not work when I am in the car even if it shows I have a connection. I am well within Bluetooth range though so it would be good if it could fall back if Wifi doesn't make the connection.
Anyway, just a suggestion to make Tailwind a better and more reliable product and I am extremely pleased to see more features being added. Hopefully, Bluetooth control can make it somewhere on to the roadmap.
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Thanks F. D.
I'll ask the firmware team about this. I know we had this chat a couple years ago and there was some kind of challenge with implementing it even though Tailwind has bluetooth and WiFi hardware built into it.
And you're 100% right about the WiFi in the driveway. I've had many discussions with customers about their auto-open feature and I've told them to increase the auto-open distance because the moment their phone sniffs out the WiFi signal it will try to join it, and it will kill the mobile connection and try desperately to use the WiFi - which, even though it might be connected, is practically useless.
It seems like the OS for both Android and iPhones have an issue with this. If they connect to a strong WiFi signal and determine the network doesn't have an internet connection, they will fall back to the mobile network fairly quickly. But if the WiFi network is of questionable strength it seems the phones will keep trying and trying and trying to hold on far too long, causing upwards of 1 minute of connectivity loss.
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Hi Andrew,
This thread is about local control, which means "not over the internet" and all communications take place over the local WiFi network. If you are wanting to use local control commands then those commands must originate within your WiFi network. That is the very definition of the protocol.
However, it appears you are asking if people need access to your WiFi network if you share access with them through the Tailwind app and they accept the invitation. They do not need to be on your WiFi in that case. They can control the door as long as their phone has internet access and you can revoke or edit that permission at any time.
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