Here are answers to some Frequenctly Asked Questions (FAQ).
If your question is not answered here, please use the contact
form to submit your question.
- Can I download a User's Manual?
Yes. It is available by clicking here.
- What is Bluetooth Marketing?
Bluetooth Marketing is a system that scans the local area for Bluetooth enabled mobile cell phones,
or other Bluetooth devices. When a device is found, a contact message is sent, requesting permission to send an
advertisement, coupon, or other marketing information to the customer. The customer may choose to accept or reject
the advertisement - it is opt in and is not spam. The customer may be required by their cell phone to enter a PIN code,
this is a security feature of some phones and cannot be bypassed by a Bluetooth Proximity Advertising system. Once approved
the advertisement is transferred to the customer's mobile cell phone.
- Can you send SMS/MMS or capture phone numbers like other systems?
Bluetooth systems do not do these things.
What you can do is send an image over Bluetooth, and in that image,
you can put a number and a text message for the recipient to send. The text message goes from the
cell phone to an SMS gateway. The cell phone number is captured by the gateway and a file is sent
over SMS to the phone in response.
This can be done using ANY Bluetooth system. There are many SMS marketing companies who
provide SMS services. Once you have an account with an SMS company, you can put the number and
text message strings into images that are sent over Bluetooth.
- What is the range of the High Power Bluetooth transmitter and the Class 1 transmitter?
The high power transmitter can reach a typical cell phone up to 400ft (120m) away in open space.
The mid-range transmitter can reach a typical cell phone up to 300ft (90m) away in open space.
The short range transmitter can reach a typical cell phone up to 160ft (50m) away in open space.
- Why can't the BlueFlyers Wizard write to the USB flash drive on my computer?
Under Windows Vista, User Account Control (UAC) may prevent the Wizard application from being able to write to the USB flash drive. This is a permissions issue due to additional security features built into Vista. If this occurs, UAC needs to be configured to allow the Wizard access to the USB flash drive. One option is to right-click on the Wizard’s launch shortcut and click “Run as Administrator”.
Or User Account Control can be turned off. Follow these steps to disable UAC:
- Open the Windows Control Panel from the Start Menu
- In the Control Panel, double-click "User Accounts"
- Click "Turn User Account Control on or off"
- Uncheck "Use User Account Control (UAC) to help protect your computer"
- Click the "OK" button
- How do I receive files on a Blackberry over Bluetooth?
Set the PIN code to a 4 digit number.
Enable bluetooth on the phone. BlueFlyers will not see the phone until these steps are done:
- Settings->Options->Bluetooth... Enable Bluetooth
- Settings->Options->Bluetooth->Menu Key->options... Discoverable = yes
Enable receiving a file on the phone. BlueFlyers will report No OBEX for the phone until these steps are done:
- Media->Menu Key->Explore... Select file location
- Media->Menu Key->Explore->Menu Key... Receive Using Bluetooth
The phone will ask for a PIN. The ALT key must be used to enter numbers.
The file can now be transferred.
- How do I receive files on an iPhone over Bluetooth?
iPhones currently do not allow file transfers over Bluetooth.
- Why can’t I receive flyers on my phone?
1. Make sure your phone's Bluetooth is enabled. If you have a Motorola, be sure "Find Me" is enabled also.
2. If you have already received the flyer, it will not be pushed to your phone again unless "duplicate mode" is enabled on the unit. You can clear the logs to get the unit to send flyers to all phones again.
3. Some phones will not accept file transfers over Bluetooth. The iPhone is known for this. Some Blackberries will not accept files or can be difficult to set up correctly to accept files.
- Why can’t the Compact Flash card be removed from the front of the unit?
The Compact Flash card is not removable. Attempting to remove it can damage the unit and void your warranty. Note: this is not referring to the USB Flash Drive which can be removed.
- What is the warranty on a BlueFlyers unit?
TRENDnet TBW-104UB has a 2 year manufacturer warranty and all warranty issues must be handled through TRENDnet.
AIRcable Host XR has a 1 year manufacturer warranty and all warranty issues must be handled through AIRcable.
Sena UD100 has a 1 year manufacturer warranty and all warranty issues must be handled through Sena.
C.Crane FM transmitter has a 1 year manufacturer warranty and all warranty issues must be handled through C.Crane.
Xantrex mobile power supply has a 1 year manufacturer warranty and all warranty issues must be handled through Xantrex.
The base unit has a 1 year warranty. Contact us for issues with the base unit.
- Why do I get an alternating alarm tone when I try to load an update on the BlueFlyers unit?
1. Make sure there is only one file in the update directory on the USB Flash Drive.
2. After copying the update to the USB drive, use Windows' "Safely Remove Hardware" function to make sure Windows is done writing the entire update file to the USB drive before the drive is removed from the PC. Compare the size of the update file on the USB drive to the size of the original update file.
3. If you still experience problems, download the update file again from the BlueFlyers website to make sure it was not corrupt. Delete the update directory on the USB drive. Create a new update directory and copy the new update file to the USB drive.
- If the unit loses power, will it continue sending flyers when power is restored?
Yes. The unit will reboot when power is restored and begin sending flyers again.
- Why doesn’t the unit connect to the network after I plug in the Ethernet cable?
The Ethernet cable needs to be connected to unit before it is powered on. Ethernet is only configured when the unit is booting.
- Why does the BlueFlyers unit reboot itself?
Be sure the Bluetooth transmitter is properly connected to the base unit. If the software cannot find the transmitter,
it will reboot to try to correct the problem. The BlueFlyers’ logs can be reviewed for information about the unit’s specific problem.
- Why does the Bluetooth signal from the unit seem weak?
Make sure that the base unit has a line-of-sight path to the location where flyers will be received.
Solid walls and objects will attenuate the Bluetooth signal strength. Using the high powered transmitter,
and possibly a stronger antenna, on the Bluetooth transmitter will increase the unit’s range.
- What is your logo?
Bluetooth was named after a late tenth century king, Harald Bluetooth King of Denmark and Norway.
The Bluetooth logo merges the runes analogous to the letters H and B. Following their lead,
the BlueFlyers' logo adds the rune for the letter F after the Bluetooth logo.
- What is the difference between Basic and Advanced units?
Multiple advertisement campaigns can be run simultaneously on Advanced BlueFlyers units.
Basic Edition units only support Single Flyer Mode.
Ad Mode | Description |
Single | A single flyer file set is loaded on the unit. This flyer file set is sent to Bluetooth devices until a new file set is loaded on the BlueFlyers unit. This is the only mode supported by Basic Edition BlueFlyers units. When configured to Send Duplicate Flyers, the Minutes Between Visits determines when a duplicate flyer will be resent to a device. |
Rotating
(Advanced Edition Only) | Each time a Bluetooth device is located, the BlueFlyers unit attempts to send the next flyer file set. For example, if the BlueFlyers unit is loaded with 2 ad campaigns, then phone 1 is sent file set 1, phone 2 is sent file set 2, phone 3 is sent file set 1, and so on. This helps create a more even distribution of the ads. There can be up to 100 ad campaigns. If phone 1 remains within range, it will not receive file set 2 until the Minutes Between Visits has expired. If configured to send duplicate flyers, all flyers are sent once to a given phone before any duplicate flyer is sent. |
Per Visit
(Advanced Edition Only) | The first time any given Bluetooth device is located, the BlueFlyers attempts to send the first file set. The second time the same device is seen, the second file set is sent. This ensures that the first advertisement is sent most often, the second advertisement is sent less often. There can be up to 100 ad campaigns. If configured to send duplicate flyers, the unit will begin again with the first flyer after the all flyers are sent. The Minutes Between Visits determines the minimum time from when one flyer is sent to when the next flyer can be sent. |
Sequential
(Advanced Edition Only) | This is similar to Single mode in that all files are sent when a Bluetooth device is located. In Single mode, the files are sent based on file size – smallest file sent first. Sequential mode allows the order that files are sent to be specified. There can be up to 100 ordered file sets. Note that multiple files within a single file set are still sent based on size. If configured to Send Duplicate Flyers, all of the files will be sent again to the same device as soon as the Minutes Between Visits expires. |
Scheduled
(Advanced Edition Only) | Scheduled mode allows scheduling times of day for specific flyers file sets. The schedule can be specified as times of day only meaning the same files are sent every day at the same times, or it can be specified as time and date meaning the content sent varies by day and time. There can be up to 100 scheduled ad campaigns. If configured to Send Duplicate Flyers, then be sure the Minutes Between Visits is configured appropriately for the time difference between scheduled ads, the unit will send flyers to the same device as soon as the Minutes Between Visits has expired regardless of whether or not the schedule has transitioned to the next scheduled ad. Each scheduled time can have its own contact message that is sent to cell phones. |
Per Transmitter
(Advanced Edition Only) | Per Transmitter mode supports up to three Bluetooth transmitters with each transmitter operating like an independent BlueFlyers unit. Each has its own contact message, and searches for nearby Bluetooth enabled devices. There is no attempt to evenly distribute flyers – which ever transmitter locates a cell phone first will attempt to contact the device and send its ads. |
- What FM frequency is available for transmitting in my area?
Try using the radio locator web site to find a vacant frequency.
This web site’s address is: www.radio-locator.com/cgi-bin/vacant.
- Why does the FM broadcast have a periodic ticking noise in it?
There may be interference from the BlueFlyers' periodic Bluetooth scans. Move the FM transmitter unit further
away from the BlueFlyers' Bluetooth transmitter.
- Why does the C.Crane FM transmission sound quiet?
Be sure the input level control on the transmitter is turned up.
- Why does the FM transmitter turn itself off?
The C.Crane transmitter has an Auto-OFF feature, this is enabled by holding the power button down for an extended
period of time. Turning the unit off and back on clears the auto shut-off.
