COMPLIMENTARY
Firmware Update

GE Customers Only

Hi GE Residential Customers!
If you are reading this FAQ, your devices need a firmware update. Here are the two signs that you need an update.

 

Two Signs You Need A Firmware Update

  1. Home App is stuck on ‘connecting’ screen and you can’t get past it
  2. Home App continually serves you with ‘pop-ups’ from bottom of App screen telling you in red font to update PLUS you have yellow exclamation points on each of the devices needing an update

What To Do Next

  • If you have #1 stuck on the connecting screen, then you have waited too long to do the update. Please send your devices to Avi-on and we will do it for you. Info below.
  • If you have #2, pop-ups and exclamation points, then you can still do the from the Avi-on Home App. Scroll down past the Complimentary Update instructions for screenshots related to  iOS and Android
  1.  Can’t Connect? Send your devices to Avi-on for a complimentary firmware update
As a service to GE customers, Avi-on has provided a mail-in firmware update service since 2017. The typical turn-around time is about 4 weeks. Please send your switch to the address below.

Avi-on Labs Complimentary Firmware Update–GE Switches 
2700 Rasmussen Road, Suite L-10 
Park City, Utah 84098 

2.   Getting firmware update pop-ups and yellow exclamation points? Do the firmware update yourself

Updating Firmware

At various times you may need to update the firmware of your Avi-on device.  Here’s how:

Updating firmware is easy and you don’t need to do much.  Here is how it works:

General Tips:

  • If you use Apple phones you will need IOS 10 OR LATER
  • For both iOS and Android, you will need Avi-on app 1.7.4 or Later
  • Please make sure you have the latest Avi-on app before you start.
  • Give yourself a few minutes without distractions to complete the update
  • Don’t do other things on your phone while the update is occurring.  Try to avoid any phone calls or other things that may distract you and the phone.
  • Stand near the device and try to stand still.  Unlike general operation of your network, the update process requires a direct connection between the phone and each device.  You may need to move around a little to create a strong connection to each device you are updating.
  • Follow the steps and execute the requests the applications makes at the time it requests it.
  • Don’t stop in the middle.  The device and the phone can be a little touchy during this process if you get out of order or quit in the middle.

You will know there is a firmware update by seeing a little yellow exclamation point on the devices that need an update.

If you Have an iOS phone or tablet, follow this process

Step 1:  Make sure you are standing near the device.  Open the app AFTER you are standing nearby.  Confirm by turning the light on and off.

Step 2:  Press the update button and Lets Get Started. The app will begin the update process

Step 3:  When asked by the app, Leave the app and GO TO THE SETTINGS SCREEN.This is different from what the app will tell you to do. DO NOT CYCLE AIRPLANE MODE. Instead, go to SETTINGS and turn BLUETOOTH OFF/ON. Why? Because this is how iOS works, and it is a necessary step.Then return to the app and the update will continue.

Step 4:  When the phone asks to pair the device, press “Pair”  If you press cancel, the update will fail, your device will not function until you restart and complete the update process, and you will need to Reboot your Phone before starting again.  This is due to issues in the iOS and Android operating system we cannot control. If you leave an update and your device becomes inoperable, power cycle the device to regain functionality.  DO NOT perform a device reset, as this could cause permanent loss of connection to the device if the update fails.

Step 5:  The app will ask you to reset the bluetooth radio one more time again.  Leave the app and swipe up (iOS) or down (Android) and turn AIRPLANE MODE off and on. 

THAT’S IT. The app process will complete, and your device is updated. 

Just to be safe, if you are updating multiple devices in a row, please REBOOT your phone in between each update.

ANDROID PHONE

If you Have an Android Phone, follow this process

THAT’S IT. The app process will complete, and your device is updated. 

Just to be safe, if you are updating multiple devices in a row, please REBOOT your phone in between each update.

If you Have an Android Phone, follow this process

Step 1:  Make sure you are standing near the device.  Confirm by turning the light on and off.

NOTE:  Some Android phone Bluetooth radios may have difficulty completing the OTA process.  While we have done everything we can to make it as reliable as possible, and it works over 95% of the time, please follow these instructions exactly to have the best success.  In particular, be sure to:

  • Stand near the device for the entire process
  • Do not do anything else with your phone until the full update is completed
  • Preferably turn off cellular connections or update at a time you do not expect to get phone calls
  • Make sure your battery is fully charged

Step 2:  Press the update button and Lets Get Started. The app will begin the update process

Step 3:  When asked by the app, say yes when the app asks to turn on the bluetooth radio.  This is to cycle the bluetooth radio of the phone, which is a necessary step.  After saying yes the update will continue.  If the app asks you to pair the device, say yes to that also.

THAT’S IT.  The app process will complete, and your device is updated.

Just to be safe, if you are updating multiple devices in a row, please REBOOT your phone in between each update.

HERE is how you can check the firmware version to see if it updated:

What if something goes wrong:

If something goes wrong, don’t worry.  It will work and you will be running again.

If the update fails for any reason, just REBOOT your phone and restart the process again from the beginning
Possible reasons for failure can include:

  • Leaving the app during the update process
  • Sometimes receiving a phone call during the update can cause a problem
  • Moving out of range of the device in the middle of the update
  • Turning off the power to the device during the update

It is possible depending on when the failure occurred that your device may not function until you successfully complete the update. If you leave an update and your device becomes inoperable, you may need to power cycle the device for it to regain functionality. DO NOT perform a device reset. This may cause a permanent loss of connectivity to the device if performed in the middle of a firmware update.

You must REBOOT your phone if it fails before trying again.  Some settings in the mobile phone operating system bluetooth software can only be reset with a reboot.  We did not make this up, it is Apple and Android, sorry.

Step 4:  When asked by the app one more time, say yes when the app asks to turn on the bluetooth radio.  This is to cycle the bluetooth radio of the phone, which is a necessary step at the beginning and end of the process.  After saying yes the phone will return to the app and the update will be finished.  If the app asks you to pair the device, say yes to that also.