Topics in this article include:
- What is Wave to Unlock?
- How to Enable Wave in the Console
- Compatibility and Range
- Best Practices for Wave-to-Unlock
- Helpful Links
- Contact Support or Sales
What is Wave to Unlock?
Wave to Unlock is a touchless form of access control that allows users to wave their hand in front of the Rhombus Credential 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.
It utilizes a combination of a motion sensor on the reader and the Bluetooth signal on the phone in order to obtain and process the mobile credential within a designated range of the reader. This range is customizable within the Rhombus Console by someone with administrative access.
How to Enable Wave in the Console
Wave to Unlock can be enabled in the console by any user with the appropriate Rhombus administrative permissions.
1. Navigate to the "Devices" page.
2. Select the "Access Control Doors" tab.
3. Select the door you would like to add Wave to Unlock on.
4. Scroll down to "Settings" and select Wave to Unlock.
5. Toggle on "Allow this door to be unlocked with a hand wave." The toggle will turn blue when allowed, and then select "Save."
Every time a user uses Wave to Unlock to badge in, it will create an index point in the camera timeline and label it as "Badge authorized events," "Door unlocked events," and "Door locked events."
If you want those index points to appear on the timeline, you can enable them by clicking "Events (Manage)" at the screen's bottom left corner and then selecting the type of events you want to display.
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. Because of this, it will be important to do some testing on your ranges to figure out what will be best for your environment and needs.
Adjust the Range
1. Navigate to the "Devices Page" in the Rhombus Console.
2. Select the "Access Control Doors" tab across the top.
3. Scroll down and select the "Settings" tab.
4. Click "Wave to Unlock."
5. Toggle the ability to use "Wave to Unlock" either on or off.
6. When toggling "On", use the scroll bar to set the distance.
7. Click "Save" when finished adjusting the settings.
Best Practices for Wave-to-Unlock
- Enable Bluetooth on Your Phone: Make sure that your mobile device has Bluetooth enabled. You can usually do this through the settings menu of your phone.
- Enable Location: It is recommended that the Rhombus Key App has permission to use Location "for all time" 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. This means that even if you're not actively using the app, it should remain open and running in the background. You can usually do this by opening the app and then minimizing it. Please note that the application must be in your active apps tray on your mobile device to be able to communicate with badge readers.
- Configure User Console Settings: Within the Rhombus console, you can configure users for access control. Make sure that the option for "Allow authentication via Rhombus Key app" is turned on for your user profile. This setting enables the wave-to-unlock feature to work with your device. The Add User Credentials for Rhombus Key App article goes over how to add a new user or configure an existing user, for mobile credentials.
- Configure User App Settings: Within the app, there are specific permissions that need to be granted in order for wave-to-unlock to be configured. For more information, please see the "Permissions" section for either iPhone or Android in the Rhombus Key App Walkthrough article for more details on permissions.
- Be within Sensor Range: For the wave-to-unlock feature to work, your mobile device needs to be within a certain distance from the sensor. Distance ranges are customizable in the Rhombus console by altering 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 needs to be to the reader to unlock. Make sure that 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. Please keep in mind 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 that all users are set-up with wave-to-unlock on their personal devices, we recommend sharing out these Best Practices, as well as the Rhombus Key App Walkthrough article, which covers settings and app permissions.
Helpful Links
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.
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