Using a V.ALRT Bluetooth button with SafeZone

Overview

Using the Alert Button (Emergency Only)

You can use the V.ALRT Alert Button to raise a SafeZone alert without touching your phone

1. Press and hold the V.ALRT button for 3 seconds or press the button quickly 3 times ("panic mode")
2. This action activates an Emergency (RED) Alert

This page guides you through the setup and usage of a V.ALRT Bluetooth duress button for use in conjunction with your SafeZone App on your Apple or Android smartphone.

The V.ALRT button comes with a rubber lanyard ring or wrist strap as standard, and an optional belt clip is available. It comes installed with a CR2032 watch battery which should last around 5+ months of normal usage.

The button allows you to raise an Emergency (RED) Alert in your SafeZone App, without contact with your phone. 

In order to use the V.ALRT, the button must be:

• Paired with your phone/mobile device.
• In range of your phone (we recommend no more than 10 metres - the SafeZone App and the V.ALRT button will warn you when it is out of range), and
• SafeZone app must be running on your phone (it can be in the foreground or background) 
  • The SafeZone App should not be "killed" on an iOS device - an alert will not be raised if the V.ALRT button is pressed.
  • The SafeZone App can be “killed” on an Android device and the alert can still be raised

Compatibility

V.ALRT can only be used on SafeZone App 3.109+ and is not supported on Windows Phones. Supported devices are:

• iPhones and iPads running iOS 12.2+
• Android Phones and Tablets that have Bluetooth capability running Android 6.0+

V.ALRT Behaviour

The table below outlines the behaviour of the different beeps on the V.ALRT device and what each beep means.

Pairing your V.ALRT with SafeZone

1. Open up the SafeZone App
2. Tap on the Menu button in the top-left
3. Tap on Alert Devices.
4. Press and hold the V.ALRT button for 15 or more seconds, it will then beep and start flashing green, at which point you may release the V.ALRT.
   
5. Tap on Refresh to refresh the device list.
   
   The V.ALRT you are trying to pair with will appear in the list of devices on the SafeZone app and it will be in the "NOT CONNECTED" state.
   Important: Be careful not to do this at the same time as anyone else in the vicinity as the V.ALRT buttons can be hard to distinguish by name.
6. Tap on the V.ALRT button from the list of devices in the SafeZone app, and from the pop-up menu, tap on Connect.
   
7. The V.ALRT button will beep and flash green once. Its state in the SafeZone App will change to "CONNECTED" and can now be used to raise alerts.
   

Unpairing the V.ALRT button

1. Open up the SafeZone App
2. Tap on the Menu button in the top-left
3. Tap on Alert Devices.
   
4. Tap on the V.ALRT button from the list of devices in the SafeZone app, and from the pop-up menu, tap on Disconnect.
   
5. The V.ALRT device will beep twice, flash red continuously and its state in the SafeZone app will change to "NOT CONNECTED" and can no longer be used to raise alerts.
   
6. The V.ALRT can be quickly re-paired by simply tapping on the device in the list and tapping on Connect.

Turning off the V.ALRT device

From time to time, you may wish to turn off the V.ALRT device if you wish to:

• pair it with a new phone
• stop using it for a time being when you are away from work

Important: this can affect the behaviour of the SafeZone App – you will not be able to raise alerts through SafeZone while it is switched off and you may receive constant notifications that the alert device has been disconnected.

If you still wish to turn off the V.ALRT button:

1. Press and hold the V.ALRT button for 30 seconds until it flashes red (the device will flash green during this time as it thinks it is being put into pairing mode, keep holding the button down until it flashes red)
2. To successfully re-pair the V.ALRT button with the SafeZone App, it is recommended to restart your mobile device and follow the steps in Pairing the V.ALRT button

Device Naming

Devices cannot be named at this time. They are identified out of the box as "V.ALRT" followed by partial device id, e.g. "V.ALRT C9:17:F4".

Battery Usage

Use of the V.ALRT does cause a small amount of battery drain on SafeZone mobile device but this should not be significant.

The V.ALRT itself requires a battery replacement every so often depending on usage, battery level is shown within the SafeZone App.

Note: from version 3.42+, SafeZone includes V.ALRT connection monitoring, signal strength indicator and battery life indicator

Out of range warning for V.ALRT

If you walk away from your V.ALRT device (more than 10 metres approximately) the SafeZone App will display connection messages as shown:

iOS:

Android:

The button will also beep once and then continuously flash red to alert you that the V.ALRT has been disconnected from the phone.

Important: While the button is disconnected from the SafeZone App, the app will continuously try to reconnect with the button. This can result in additional drain on the battery.

Battery replacement

Once the battery has been depleted it is possible to get it changed at shops that offer watch battery replacements. The V.ALRT uses a standard Lithium CR2032 battery. To ensure that the device remains watertight it is recommended that the battery is replaced at a watch store or by following the steps below.

For anyone considering changing the battery themselves, the following guide will help:

The V.ALRT device has two covers:

• The front-cover where the button is situated
• The back-cover which displays the V.ALRT logo
• The covers are affixed in a bayonet-style rather than a screw-style.

To change the V.ALRT battery:

1. Place the V.ALRT button in your left palm with the V.ALRT logo face-down.
2. Place your right palm on top of the V.ALRT button, pressing down on the button and applying a little pressure.
3. Twist your right palm counterclockwise. This will unscrew the front cover from the back.
4. Using your fingers, pull the front and back covers apart to reveal the battery.
5. The battery sits positive-side (face-side) up in the battery well. Remove the old battery and discard it.
6. Inside the battery well is a triangle marker which points to a triangle-shaped notch on the front cover. This triangle-shaped notch is used to align the back cover when re-attaching the covers together. The triangle-shaped notch also points to a notch in the rim of the back cover.
7. Insert the new battery positive-side up into the battery well.
8. On the back cover, there are 6 notches around the rim. One of these notches is in the shape of a triangle. Use this triangle marker to align with the triangle-shaped notch on the front cover.
9. Once you have aligned the covers, place the V.ALRT button in your left palm with the V.ALRT logo face-down.
10. Place your right palm on top of the V.ALRT button, pressing down on the button applying a little pressure.
11. Twist your right palm clockwise. This will attach the front cover to the back cover.
12. To confirm you have done this correctly, use your fingers to try and pull the covers apart. If the covers do not come apart, you are successful.