Network-based use
Using Casambi is network-based, meaning that in addition to downloading the Casambi app, a Casambi network needs to be created to control the Casambi enabled units. Even if only one Casambi device is to be used it must be paired to its own network. One device can only be part of one network.
The mobile device connects to the first node it "sees", usually the one with the best signal or the closest one. The mobile device always has only one Bluetooth connection to one of the network nodes and uses this to communicate with the remaining network nodes. Thus, all devices in the network form a wireless mesh link to other nearby Casambi devices in the same network.
When creating a network, the network is set to 'Not Shared' by default. To be able to use the same network with multiple mobile devices, the network must be shared. To share a network, navigate to the 'More' tab > 'Network setup > tap on 'Sharing settings' and then 'Sharing'.
Inside the Casambi app
There are four tabs in the Casambi app: 'Luminaires', 'Gallery', 'Scenes' and 'More'.
Luminaires that are paired to the network will be displayed in the 'Luminaires' tab. All luminaires can be controlled individually or in groups from the 'Luminaire's tab. Luminaires that are online and powered on will show a dimming bar indicating the current brightness level and light colour.
The 'Gallery' tab is an intuitive way of controlling the luminaires. You can place luminaire control icons in a picture to enable simple visual control of the luminaires in the image.
The 'Scenes' tab allows you to create Scenes for different lighting situations. A scene is a set of preset light levels, colours and colour temperatures assigned to multiple lamps to create different lightings and ambiences. For example you can create a scene with the relevant lighting for watching a movie or for dining.
There are three types of scenes: Basic scene, Animation scene and Time based scene. Basic scenes must first be created before Animations or Time based scenes can be used correctly. Scenes can be activated manually, or by a sensor or a timer.
The 'More' tab contains other network elements, such as 'Timers', 'Switches', and 'Sensors'. This tab also provides access to 'Network setup', 'Nearby devices', and 'Change network'. Here you can also access the 'App settings' and find the 'FAQ' section.
Firmware and app version
The latest version of the Casambi app can be found in the App Store and Google Play Store.
You can see the latest firmware version in the 'Nearby Devices' tab by clicking the three dots at the top of the screen. Firmware updates are not security updates, but enable new features. It is not necessary to update the firmware if all the desired features work as they should. It is also important that all units in the network have the same firmware version.