You need to configure your Android phone to work with MaxMon. Below is a step-by-step guide to configuring Android v2.3.*, the Android version often used on low-cost phones. It should be straightforward to also apply these instructions to later versions of Android.
- Settings
- Version
- Android updates
- Date & time
- Wi-Fi
- Mobile data
- Connected?
- Text (SMS)
- Google account
- Gmail
- App auto-update
- Location
- Bluetooth
- USB
![]() This is what the home screen looks like (on a typical Android 2.3.* phone). You can get here from any other screen on the phone by pressing the HOME button - which is generally positioned low and central on the face of the phone. |
![]() SettingsTo access Android settings press the MENU button on the phone (Q: Where is the MENU button?) to bring up a context-sensitive menu for the home screen. Then click the "Settings" icon (highlighted). Alternatively, you could run the Android "Settings" app. |
![]() Android settings are grouped by category, e.g. "Wireless & networks". In future, if we ask you to go to "Settings>Wireless & networks" screen we mean navigate from the home screen to the appropriate settings category using the MENU button. |
![]() VersionBefore configuring the phone it's useful to look up the version of Android it's running, since this helps find the right Android documentation on Google Support . Scroll down until you find the "About phone" settings category and select it. |
![]() Scroll down the resulting screen until you find the Android version. On some phones this is under "Firmware version" but on most it is called "Android version". There is also a release family codename, which applies to a series of Android versions that are sufficiently similar that they can share the same Google documentation. In this example the phone is running Android 2.3.6 (GINGERBREAD). |
![]() Android updatesGiven that you may be leaving the Android phone unattended for long periods of time you should disable automatic Android updates, in case the update is incompatible with MaxMon - see Q: Which versions of Android do you support? On the "About phone" screen select the "Software update" or "System update" setting. |
You will also want to disable app auto-updates, as they can rapidly leave your phone with insufficient storage (and you won't be using them anyway - see below for details). |
![]() Date & timeUse the phone's BACK key (usually a hard or soft button low right on the face of the phone) to return to the list of settings categories and select "Date & time". Optimal settings for MaxMon are:
NOTE: If the phone time is inaccurate the phone may be unable to communicate over the network or use remote control (as it cannot validate time-stamped security certificates). |
![]() Wi-FiIf you have Wi-Fi at your remote property you will want to enable Wi-Fi on your phone. Go to "Settings>Wireless & network" and enable Wi-Fi by configuring the settings found under "Wi-Fi" and "Wi-Fi settings". The phone will list discovered Wi-Fi networks (so you need to be at your remote property to do this!) and prompt you for a password when you attempt to connect - if security is enabled. |
![]() Mobile dataIf you want MaxMon to use the mobile (cellular) data network to send you reports and alerts the phone will need a monthly contract or pay-as-you-go SIM installed. Here we assume the SIM is already installed. Go to "Settings>Wireless & network" and select the "Mobile networks" category. |
![]() Check the "Mobile network" settings:
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![]() Connected?To test whether Wi-Fi and/or mobile data is working on the phone return to the home screen and launch a web browser app. Try and access a public Internet web site such as Google. If you can access it your phone is on the network! Test both Wi-Fi and mobile data by disabling one and testing the other. Note that leaving mobile data enabled, with a zero-credit PAYG SIM left in the phone, provides a very useful fallback in case Wi-Fi fails at your remote property. Just top up the pay-as-you-go SIM to resume service! |
![]() Text messagingMaxMon can send summary reports and alerts via text (SMS) messages, if the Android phone has a monthly contract or pay-as-you-go SIM installed. If such a SIM is installed there is nothing else to do to in Android enable text messaging, but it's still a good idea to test it by sending yourself a text using the "Messaging" app on the home screen. |
![]() Google accountEvery Android phone requires a Google account. This is used to install the MaxMon app and to send email reports and alerts. To create this new account (don't use an existing account) follow the detailed instructions at Q: How do I create a new Google account for MaxMon? then return here. Note that while it is very easy to create Gmail accounts the MaxMon app requires some special account settings (so please do follow these instructions). Back on the phone:
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![]() If prompted for Google location settings ... it doesn't matter what you enter here, but we usually disable them. |
![]() If prompted for "Backup and restore" settings ... this is a useful feature of Android, where your phone can automatically backup your apps, settings, Wi-Fi passwords, etc. to the Internet. So if you replace your phone you can immediately restore your Android settings from this screen. If you have just created your new Google account then disable "Restore from my Google account ..." and enable "Keep this device backed up with my Google Account". |
![]() When you're done associating a new Google account with the phone you will be returned to this screen (where you should see see the new Google account). |
![]() Check GmailIt's important to check your new Google account works. Connect the phone to the Internet via Wi-Fi or mobile data (as described ealier), open the Gmail app from the home screen and send an email to your personal email account. Check you receive it. REMEMBER: the new Google account is only meant to be used on the phone left behind at your remote property, to send MaxMon reports and alerts to your regular personal email address. |
![]() App auto-updateIn order to prevent your MaxMon phone from running low on storage while at some remote monitored location it is very important to disable the auto-updating of unused apps, which can gobble up storage. See Q: How do I stop my MaxMon phone running out of memory? then return to this page. |
![]() LocationIf you want to use MaxMon track location go to "Settings>Location" and enable the phone's location sensors. Android phones get location from two sources:
If you are interested in location you should usually enable both sources. Android phones often have additional settings (like EPO or A-GPS) which speed up GPS acquisition and usually require an Internet connection. Consult your phone documentation and experiment. |
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Your phone should now be ready to install the MaxMon app.