How does it work?
An IoT emergency button is available at a reception desk or, for example, a meeting room. The button is intended for one specific room or location. In an emergency, press the button twice within two seconds and the alarm procedure starts.
How can you tell the button is on?
The button is always on. When it's connected to the network, the status light flashes blue every 10 seconds, alternating with a colour that shows the battery level (see below). The button is then ready to use.
How do I raise an alarm?
Press the button twice within two seconds. Each press gives a short beep, so you'll hear two beeps in a row.
How do I know the alert went through?
After you press, the button connects to the network, determines its location and sends the alert. The light pulses blue quickly while the location is determined and flashes green while the alert is sent. Depending on the network and the conditions (indoors or outdoors), this takes between 2 and 12 seconds. Once the alert has been sent, the button gives a one-second beep. The light then goes back to alternating between blue and the battery colour.
What happens after the alert?
Once the alert is received, the agreed alarm protocol is activated. This may mean that your colleagues receive a notification on their phone (call and flash SMS) that you need assistance. Colleagues can indicate via this message that they are responding, which is then shared with the other colleagues so everyone knows who responded first. If nobody responds, the alert is resent to all colleagues after two minutes.
It is also possible that the ARC will call to verify the alert and, if necessary, contact the police.
What do the lights on the button mean?
Battery level, every 10 seconds when the button is connected:
Blue - green: connected, battery above 40%.
Blue - yellow: connected, battery between 25% and 40%. Charge the button soon.
Blue - red: connected, battery between 10% and 25%. Charge the button.
Yellow - red: battery below 10%, no longer connected to the network. Charge the button immediately.
Connection, location and updates:
Yellow pulsing, about once per second: the button is connecting to the network, for example after a restart.
Two fast yellow flashes every 5 seconds: the location could not be determined.
Fast blue pulsing, then green flashing: the alert is being sent.
Slow cyan pulsing: a firmware update is downloading. This takes about 1 minute over LTE-M and up to 10 minutes over NB-IoT. The button then restarts and you'll hear three beeps.
Red lights:
Fast red flashing: the button is restarting.
Solid red: a system fault has occurred. If the light stays red, restart the button.
Red, 1 flash every 5 seconds (Error 1): sending a message failed. Restart the button.
Red, 2 flashes every 5 seconds (Error 2): a firmware update failed. Restart the button.
Red, 5 flashes every 5 seconds (Error 5): the SIM card isn't recognised or the button keeps restarting. The button then stops working. In that case, please contact us.
How do I restart the button?
If the button can't connect to the network or shows an error code, restart it. Hold the button down until you hear three beeps (about 10 seconds), then release it. The first beep sounds as soon as you press, followed by one every 5 seconds. The restart only begins when you release the button. The button may also install a firmware update during a restart, so it's best to have it on the charger.
During the restart the light flashes red quickly. It then pulses yellow while the button connects. Once it's connected, the light goes back to alternating between blue and the battery colour.
Does the button need charging?
Yes. The battery lasts about two weeks on average, depending on use and network conditions. If the battery drops below 20%, you'll get an email reminding you to charge the button.
Charge the button with a USB-C cable from a computer or USB wall charger. While it's charging, an orange light is lit above the connector. It goes off once the button is fully charged. Charging takes about 2.5 hours, a little longer if the battery was completely empty. The button won't charge if the surrounding temperature is below 0°C or above 40°C.