How to Solve iOS Wi-Fi Connection Issues to smartAIS® Transponders

There have been reports of users experiencing issues with Wi-Fi stability when the iOS WatchMate® application is in use. A symptom of this is where a blue notification banner is repeatedly displayed. On some occasions the WatchMate application may also crash.

Upon further investigation by the support team, it was discovered that the Wi-Fi connection to a smartAIS® transponder can drop out and be replaced by a Wi-Fi connection with internet access.

Both the WatchMate XB-8000 and WatchMate Vision® devices behave in the same manner in regards to this issue, therefore they are referred to as smartAIS device in the explanations below.

Before attempting to address this issue please ensure that the smart device is running the latest WatchMate app with a version of 16544 or greater.

Check the WatchMate App Version:

1. Press the Settings button on the main screen of the WatchMate app at the bottom within the navigation bar

2. Select the SUPPORT row within the App Setting screen

3. Find the row that reads ABOUT APP

4. Underneath that row is a line that reads WatchMate VERSION followed by the version number

Suggested Fixes

Forget all Wi-Fi Connections on the iOS device With the Exception of the smartAIS Device:

Having a single Wi-Fi available puts a stop to iOS trying to search for the internet, and then attempt to utilize what it thinks might be a better Wi-Fi connection.

1. Open the Settings app and select Wi-Fi

2. Select the information icon to the right on the Wi-Fi connection to forget

3. Press the Forget This Network button

4. When the confirmation dialog appears, press the Forget button to the right

   • Repeat the forget process for all Wi-Fi connections with the exception of the Wi-Fi connection associated with the smartAIS device

5. Turn Ask to Join Networks on

6. Restart the WatchMate application on the iOS device

If connection problems persist,  try applying the suggested fixes in step 2 below.

Adjust the Priority of the Wi-Fi Connections:

The order (listed in descending priority) in which Wi-Fi connections are present within the Network settings can also have an effect on Wi-Fi stability. By making sure that the Wi-Fi connection associated with the smartAIS device is moved to the top the list ensures that the unit’s Wi-Fi connection is given a higher priority than others.

This step needs to be performed on a Mac that has the same iCloud account as the iOS device. Wi-Fi settings are synced across to iOS devices with the same iCloud account.

On the Mac Computer:

1. Open the Systems Preferences application on the Mac

2. Select Network

3. Select Wi-Fi in the left hand panel

4. Press the Advanced… button

5. Move the smartAIS device to the top of the list with other Wi-fi connections below

On the iOS device:

1. Open the Settings application

2. Select Wi-Fi

3. Turn Ask to Join Networks on