FAQ: FluentPet Connect

Connect Base

How does FluentPet Connect work?

The Base connects to the internet over Wi-Fi. Connect Buttons have a wireless link to the Base. When your learner presses a Button, the Base plays the word and sends the press to the FluentPet app. For the parts of the system, see Connect: See what’s in the box and identify the parts.

How many Buttons can I link to one Base?

Up to 100 Buttons can be linked to a single Base.

Can a Button be linked to more than one Base?

No. A Button is linked to one Base at a time. You can move a Button to another Base in your household; see Connect Buttons: Move Buttons to another Base.

Is the Base battery-powered, and is a charger included?

The Base has a rechargeable battery and a USB-C charging port. The box includes one USB-A to USB-C cable. No charger is included. For how to charge the Base safely, see Safety: Use buttons, HexTiles and batteries safely.

How long does the Base battery last, and how long does it take to charge?

The rechargeable battery in the Base lasts about 2 weeks under normal use. On average, it takes 3 to 4 hours to fully charge the Base.

Will the Base battery wear out?

The amount of energy the battery can store slowly decreases over time, as with any rechargeable battery. The Base uses very little power, so the strain on the battery is low. We estimate that the battery loses 1 to 2 percent of its capacity per year under normal use, so it should take at least 10 years before you notice a lower battery capacity.

At no point will your Base be completely unusable, because you can always use the Base while it is plugged in with the charging cable. If words do not play while your Base is plugged in, see Words do not play through Base when plugged in.

Is there an on/off switch?

No. When the Base is shipped, it is in travel mode. Press the Base Button once (shorter than 4 seconds) to wake it up. There is no sound, and the LED fades in cyan, then goes off. Plugging in the charging cable also wakes the Base. The Base then plays the charging sound, and the LED shows the green charging light.

To turn the Base off for travel, put it in travel mode. Make sure the Base is idle (the LED is off, and the Base is not in Wi-Fi mode or setup mode) and not charging, then hold the Base Button on the bottom of the Base for more than 15 seconds. Release the Base Button. The Base powers down about 3 seconds later. For details, see Connect Base: Turn travel mode on or off.

Does the Base fit my HexTiles?

Yes. It connects to 8-inch HexTiles only, not to 12-inch FlexTiles. See HexTiles: Compare tile sizes and compatibility.

What Wi-Fi network do I need?

The Base needs a 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network. See Connect Base: Set up your Base in the app and Connect Base: Fix problems during Base setup.

Does the Base work without Wi-Fi?

You need Wi-Fi and an internet connection to set up the Base and to download the words you record in the app.

The Base keeps working without Wi-Fi: words still play, and presses are stored on the Base and uploaded when it reconnects, so they appear in the app later. Notifications are not sent for presses that arrive this way.

For the best experience, keep your Base connected to Wi-Fi.

Can I see Petcube videos of presses?

Yes. The Base works together with a Petcube camera. When you link your Petcube account in the FluentPet app under Settings > Petcube integration, you can see the videos that go with each press. To get a Petcube subscription, tap Shop Petcube bundle in Settings > Petcube integration. The button appears when no Petcube account is connected yet.

How loud and clear is the Base speaker?

The Base speaker is louder and clearer than FluentPet’s non-connected Sound Buttons.

Can I change the volume?

No. The Base has no volume control.

What color is the Base?

The Base comes in teal.

Can I use one Base upstairs and another downstairs?

Yes. You hear a press through the Base the Button is linked to, and a Button is linked to one Base at a time. Depending on the environment (indoor or outdoor), the range is about 10 to 20 m.

I am hearing impaired. Do I need the Base?

Yes. The Base is needed for the Buttons to work. It is the speaker for the system, and it sends each press to the FluentPet app.

How do I know the Base battery is low?

When the battery is low, the Base LED pulses green quickly about five times. The app also sends you a notification. See Connect Base: Read the LED and use the Base Button.

Connect Buttons

Can I use Connect Buttons without a Base?

No. Connect Buttons have no speaker of their own, so they need the Base to be heard.

Do I record the words on the Button or in the app?

In the app. Phones have much better microphones, so the words are crisp and clear. See Connect Buttons: Link a Button and record its word.

Does sound come out of the Buttons?

No. The sound comes out of the speaker in the Base.

What is the range of the Buttons?

It depends on the environment (indoor or outdoor): about 10 to 20 m. The sound comes out of the Base, so place the Base within earshot of your learner. It does not need to sit next to the Buttons.

How hard is a Connect Button to press?

A Connect Button needs 200 to 250 g of force to press, the same as Speak Up! Buttons. That suits large and small dogs, cats, nose pushers and other learners. See Buttons: Check button size and press force.

How are Connect Buttons different from other FluentPet buttons?

Connect Buttons link wirelessly to the Base, and every press is logged in the FluentPet app automatically. You can get a push notification on your phone for each press, and the Buttons light up when pressed. Speak Up! Buttons have their own speaker and microphone and do not work with the Base. For a full comparison, see Kits: Choose your first FluentPet kit.

What battery does a Connect Button use?

Each Connect Button uses one CR2430 battery. See Connect: See what’s in the box and identify the parts. For battery safety, see Safety: Use buttons, HexTiles and batteries safely.

Why are Connect Buttons not rechargeable?

A Connect Button battery lasts 1 to 3 years. A rechargeable Button would cost much more without a meaningful benefit.

Do the Buttons give off a lot of radio signal?

No. A Connect Button sends an extremely short message to the Base when it is pressed. Your phone, computer or Wi-Fi router transmits far more.

Does the system contain magnets?

The Base and the Connect Buttons contain magnets. The HexTile connectors do not. See Products: Check materials, safety testing and manufacturing.

Connect and the app

How does a press get from the Button to my phone?

The Base connects to your Wi-Fi router at home, at work or wherever the system is set up.
The router is connected to the internet, where the FluentPet servers are.
When your learner presses a Button, the Base sends the press to the FluentPet servers.
The servers send the press to the FluentPet app on your phone, and you get a notification if notifications are on. See App: Fix missing press notifications.

So you can get notifications at home, at work or halfway across the world.

How fast do presses reach the app?

It depends on several things, including the internet connection of the Base. Typically, a press takes 10 to 15 seconds to appear in the app when the Base runs on battery, and under 3 seconds when the Base is plugged in.

Can the app tell who pressed a Button?

No. The app makes it simple to assign presses to the right household member, and you can set a default teacher and learner for each Base. See App: Use the Activity feed.

Do I need the app to use FluentPet Connect?

Yes. You record the words that the Base plays in the app, and the app tracks all presses and your learner’s progress.

Can I talk through the Base speaker from the app?

No. The Base cannot be used as a speaker for your own voice.