We know that reliable communication is critical—especially in environments where connectivity can be unpredictable. That’s where Offline Mode on the Walt Smart Radio comes in - a feature designed to keep communication flowing when connectivity is lost.
Offline Mode ensures your team can continue communicating, even if the device temporarily loses connection. When activated, users can still send and receive voice messages locally within range.
In this article, we’ll cover how Offline Mode works, when it activates, and what your team can expect when using it.
When Does Offline Mode Activate?
Offline Mode will automatically activate when a Walt Smart Radio has not had a connection for 3 consecutive minutes. During this window, the device will display a “No Connection” banner as a warning before entering Offline Mode.
Once Offline Mode is enabled, users will see a dedicated Offline Mode screen. While in this mode, they can continue to communicate using voice messages within short range, as the device switches to a local Family Radio Services (FRS) channel to maintain line-of-sight communication.
This ensures teams can stay in contact if your site loses connectivity temporarily or the network is down.
Pro Tip - Make sure Walt Smart Radios have their antenna attached to them for Offline mode to activate. The offline mode screen will still activate if the antenna is not installed, but Offline mode will not work.
What if I already have Dedicated Radio Channels?
If you already have a Dedicated Radio Channel (DRC) configured in the Weavix Console—for example, for emergencies or specific operations like crane work—you will still be able to access those channels during Offline Mode if you are signed into the Walt Smart radio.
However, if you're actively using a DRC when Offline Mode activates, Walt will not automatically switch you to the Main Channel. Users with access to DRCs will need to manually switch to the Main Channel in order to communicate with others onsite via Offline Mode.
This ensures that all users are aligned on the same frequency for short-range communication when connectivity is lost.
What do I have access to during Offline Mode?
While in Offline Mode, the Walt Smart Radio has limited functionality, but still supports key features to keep your team connected and safe. Users will have access to:
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Short-range voice messages using local FRS channel communication
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Scan Network QR (available in Settings) to assist with Wi-Fi connection
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Set Up Wi-Fi, allowing users to manually enter Wi-Fi credentials
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SOS Button Siren will sound on the user's device (note: SOS workflows will not trigger during Offline Mode)
- Pre-existing Dedicated Radio Channels
These core tools ensure users can still communicate and initiate key safety actions, even without full connectivity
What’s Not Available in Offline Mode?
While Offline Mode allows basic communication and safety features, several platform functions require a network connection and will be unavailable until the device reconnects. These include:
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SOS Workflow Triggers (notifications and alert routing will not activate)
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Radio Scan across multiple channels
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Transcription of voice messages
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Translation features
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Sending or Receiving Media (photos, videos, or text messages)
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Long-Range Communication beyond short-range FRS limits
- Logging in to the Walt Smart Radio
To regain access to these features, the Walt must reconnect to a Wi-Fi or cellular signal.
Can I use Offline Mode when I am not signed into a Walt?
Yes! Offline Mode is available on any Walt Smart Radio whenever the device is without connectivity.
You can grab any Walt from a Wrangler station, and if it doesn’t detect a network connection, it will automatically enter Offline Mode after a short period. There’s no setup required—just pick up a device and go.
When will Walt return online?
While in Offline Mode, the Walt Smart Radio will be constantly checking to determine whether the device has regained connectivity and can return to full online functionality.
When connectivity is detected, users will see a banner on the Offline Mode screen with the option to return to Online Mode immediately. The banner includes a countdown timer of 90 seconds showing when the device will automatically switch back to online channels.
User-Controlled Transition:
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Users can tap the banner at any time to switch back to Online Mode.
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During the 90-second countdown, users should:
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Finish the conversation
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Notify others which online channel they’ll switch to
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This approach ensures a smooth and flexible handoff between offline and online communication without disrupting ongoing conversations.
Initiating Offline Mode in the Console
In the event of a significant network disruption (such as a complete loss of cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity), Global Admins and Site Admins have the ability to initiate a site-wide outage by enabling Offline Mode via the Weavix Console.
When Offline mode is enabled, all Walts assigned to the site can communicate on a single public radio channel.
To initiate a site-wide outage, navigate to your Sites tab and select the site where you would like to initiate the outage.
Under the general tab, you will see the option for "Offline Mode"
Select the red "Enter Offline Mode" option. To avoid accidentally initiating an outage, you will be asked to manually type "OFFLINE" into the text field and click confirm.
All Walts assigned to the site under device management will then switch to Offline Mode.
Once your network has been restored, you can indicate that Walts at the site to return to normal operations by clicking the "Restore to Normal" option and typing "RESTORE" before confirming.
All Walts will be prompted with a green banner and a 90-second timer. Users can initiate normal operations sooner by selecting the "Connect" option on their walt device.
Pro Tip! To ensure that the radios will receive the offline mode notification, make sure you have the following domain whitelisted by your internal IT team.
weavixstatusprodsa.blob.core.windows.net
Conclusion
Offline Mode on the Walt Smart Radio is built with reliability in mind—ensuring your team stays connected when network coverage is limited or completely unavailable. Whether automatically triggered by loss of connectivity or manually initiated via the Weavix Console, Offline Mode empowers your workforce to continue communicating through short-range radio channels until connectivity is restored.
With support for key features like local voice messaging, access to Dedicated Radio Channels, and manual reconnection tools, your team can maintain critical operations and safety protocols—without skipping a beat.
Be sure to keep device antennas attached and firewall domains whitelisted to ensure seamless activation and management of Offline Mode across your site.
When connectivity returns, transitioning back to Online Mode is smooth and user-controlled—keeping communication uninterrupted and effortless.