Wave to Unlock

Topics included in this article:

• Overview
• Console Setup
• Compatibility and Range
  • Adjust the Range
• Best Practices for Wave to Unlock
• Helpful Links
• Contact Support or Sales

Overview

Wave to Unlock is a touchless form of access control that allows users to wave their hand in front of the Rhombus Readers (DR20 and DR40) to authenticate their assigned mobile credentials. This eliminates the need for a physical credential, such as a proximity card or key fob.

Wave to Unlock utilizes a combination of the reader's motion sensor and the phone's Bluetooth signal to obtain and process the mobile credential within a designated range of the reader. This range can be customized by an admin within the Rhombus Console.

Console Setup

Wave to Unlock can be enabled in the console by any user with appropriate Rhombus administrative permissions.

1. Navigate to the "Doors" page, and select a door.

2. Scroll down, select the "Settings" tab, then click the "Wave to Unlock" setting.

3. Toggle on "Allow this door to be unlocked with a hand wave." The toggle will turn blue when enabled. Select the Bluetooth RSSI range desired for the Wave to Unlock feature and click "Save."

Every time someone uses Wave to Unlock to badge in, an index point is created on the camera's timeline and will be labeled as "Badge authorized events," "Door unlocked events," and "Door locked events."

To have these index points displayed on the timeline, click "Manage Event Types" on the left hand side, and select the desired event types.

Compatibility and Range

Wave to Unlock works using Bluetooth technology and its range is configurable in the Rhombus Console. The range is determined by RSSI values based on Bluetooth signal strength. An RSSI value closer to 0 indicates a stronger signal required, thus a closer range to the device. An RSSI value can vary based on a multitude of factors like device type, device location (a pocket or bag), device coverings (phone case), etc. It is important to test Bluetooth ranges to determine what setting will be best for your environment.

Adjust the Range

1. Navigate to the "Doors" page, and select a door.

2. Scroll down, select the "Settings" tab, then click the "Wave to Unlock" setting.

3. Adjust the Bluetooth RSSI range desired for the Wave to Unlock feature and click "Save."

Best Practices for Wave to Unlock

• Enable Bluetooth on Your Phone: Ensure your mobile device has Bluetooth enabled.
• Enable Location: We recommend that the Rhombus Key App has permission to "Always" use Location by checking the app permissions in your phone's settings.
• Keep the Rhombus Key App Running: It's important to keep the Rhombus Key App running in the background of your phone if location is set to "while using" the app. 
• Configure User Console Settings: Configure users for access control within the Rhombus Console. Ensure the "Allow authentication via Rhombus Key app" option under your user profile is enabled. This setting allows the Wave to Unlock feature to be used with your mobile device. The User Credentials for Rhombus Key App article covers adding a new user or configuring an existing user for mobile credentials.
• Configure User App Settings: To configure Wave to Unlock, specific permissions must be granted within the Rhombus Key App. For more information, please see the "Permissions" section for either iPhone or Android in the Rhombus Key App Walkthrough article.
• Be within Sensor Range: For the Wave to Unlock feature to work, your mobile device must be within a certain distance from the sensor. Ranges are customizable in the Rhombus Console by adjusting the RSSI value to meet your needs. For more information, please refer to the Compatibility and Range section above. The closer the RSSI value is to 0, the closer the device must be to the reader to unlock. Ensure your device is within this configured proximity range when attempting to unlock a door using Wave to Unlock.
• Approach Angle: When you turn the corner or change direction, it can take a moment for your phone and the reader you're trying to unlock to "talk" to each other. Additionally, other physical obstacles can cause a signal blockage or strength reduction. Thick walls, metal objects, wallet phone cases, etc., can all place strain on your mobile device's BLE connection to the badge reader. Remember that when walking to a badge reader from a blocked angle, or if there are additional obstacles that may affect BLE strength, the reader may take a few seconds to read the RSSI value and accept your credentials.

To ensure all users are set up with Wave to Unlock on their personal devices, we recommend sharing these best practices, as well as the Rhombus Key App Walkthrough article, which covers settings and app permissions.

Helpful Links

• User Credentials for Rhombus Key App
• Rhombus Key App Walkthrough

Contact Support or Sales

Have more questions? Contact Rhombus Support at +1 (877) 746-6797 option 2 or support@rhombus.com.

Interested in learning more? Contact Rhombus Sales at +1 (877) 746-6797 option 1 or sales@rhombus.com.