Why you don’t need cellular with the SpotOn System
How GPS, Cellular, & Bluetooth Work Together
We’ve packed a lot of technology into the SpotOn collar, so here’s how it all works together. GPS powers containment, while Bluetooth® and cellular each serve different communication purposes, depending on what you're doing with your collar.
GPS determines your dog’s location and manages containment. Bluetooth and cellular don’t create or maintain fences–they simply help your collar communicate with your smartphone in different ways.
Three Technologies. Three Different Jobs.
Every connection in the SpotOn System has a unique purpose. Here's a brief summary of how they work together to keep your dog secure and your collar connected.
GPS
Creates and maintains your dog’s fences.
Cellular
The only connection that lets your collar send alerts to your phone, share your dog's location, and power connected features*
Bluetooth
Connects your phone to the collar for nearby setup, settings, and manual firmware updates.
WiFi (Nova Edition Only)
Automatically updates your collar's firmware while charging./p>
*Requires an optional cellular subscription and adequate cellular coverage. Read on to learn more.
How it all works
GPS
GPS controls containment—allowing you to create and maintain GPS dog fences. SpotOn is a GPS-based system, so there’s no need for buried wires, base stations, or professional installation. Once your SpotOn collar has its GPS fix, you can create a custom fence.
Because SpotOn uses free, always-available GPS satellite signals–not cellular networks–to power containment, your fence continues to work without cell service.
The bottom line: SpotOn's containment system relies on GPS—not cellular or WiFi—so your fence continues working even when those connections aren't available. .
Cellular
Cellular is the only technology that allows your SpotOn collar and the SpotOn app to communicate over long distances. Once you activate an optional cellular subscription, your collar can send information to your phone—like escape and low battery notifications—and your phone can communicate back to the collar for features like Recall and Manual Feedback. It also allows you to see your dog's location in real time when you're away from them.
You do NOT need cell service or an optional cellular subscription to create fences or contain your dog. However, you DO need an optional cellular subscription to:
- View your dog's location in real time.
- Receive escape and low battery notifications.
- Track your dog if it leaves its boundaries.
- Recall your dog from the SpotOn app.
- Send Manual Feedback to your dog's collar.
- View Activity Heatmaps.
Think of your SpotOn collar as a smartphone for your dog and the subscription as its cellular plan. Just like Find My Friends allows two phones to share their locations over the cellular network, your SpotOn collar uses its cellular connection to securely share your dog's location with the SpotOn app. It also sends important alerts—like escape and low battery notifications—directly to your phone. As long as both your smartphone and your collar have cellular service, you can view your dog's location and stay connected wherever your adventures take you.
Think of your SpotOn collar as a smartphone for your dog and the subscription as its cellular plan. Just like Find My Friends allows two phones to share their locations over the cellular network, your SpotOn collar uses its cellular connection to securely share your dog's location with the SpotOn app. It also sends important alerts—like escape and low battery notifications—directly to your phone. As long as both your smartphone and your collar have cellular service, you can view your dog's location and stay connected.
Remember: Subscription features rely on your collar's ability to connect to a cellular network. If your property has limited or unreliable cellular coverage, connected features may not perform as expected. Take our Cellular Coverage Quiz to see whether a subscription is a good fit for your property. Subscriptions are optional, and we offer flexible plans that you can cancel risk-free anytime.
Wondering if SpotOn’s subscription is right for you?
SpotOn's optional plans offer tracking, recall, and more! Not sure whether to add a subscription plan? Take our quick, 2-minute quiz to help you decide.
>> START QUIZ
WiFi (Nova Edition Only)
SpotOn Nova Edition collars can also connect to your home's WiFi network. Unlike Bluetooth and cellular, WiFi is only used for automatic collar firmware updates while the collar is charging.
Once your Nova collar is connected to WiFi, firmware updates can be installed automatically—no phone required. WiFi updates are also significantly faster than Bluetooth updates.
Adding a WiFi network is completely optional. If you choose not to connect your Nova collar to WiFi, you can still install collar firmware updates manually using Bluetooth. WiFi simply provides a faster, more convenient way to keep your collar up to date.
For more information about adding a WiFi network, view our support article.
Bluetooth®
Bluetooth is a short range communication tool for when your collar is right next to your phone, providing a direct link between two devices.
Use Bluetooth to configure collar settings and manually install collar firmware updates as needed.
Bluetooth has no effect on containment or correction while your dog is using a fence. However, because the collar can only use one communication protocol at a time, you'll need to deactivate any active fences before connecting via Bluetooth. This allows you to safely configure settings and test training tones. While connected to Bluetooth, the collar cannot use cellular for tracking (and vice versa). For detailed instructions, visit our helpdesk article.
Connecting to Bluetooth is a little different than connecting to a mobile speaker, smartwatch, or your car. Bluetooth may disconnect after a period of inactivity, or if you move more than 30 feet away from the collar. If that happens, the SpotOn app will automatically reconnect when possible, or you can reconnect manually by bringing the collar back within a few feet of your phone.
Ready to live life unleashed?
The SpotOn System is designed so each technology does what it does best. GPS powers your dog's fence, WiFi (Nova Edition only) delivers automatic firmware updates, Bluetooth manages nearby communication, and optional cellular connectivity unlocks tracking and other connected features. Together, they create a smarter, more flexible way to keep your dog safe.
Order SpotOn today and enjoy a lifetime of freedom for you and your dog.