Learn how to set up the Smart Receiver's network connection, configure Wi-Fi through the Captive Portal, prepare your firewall, and interpret the LED status indicators.
Before You Start
Make sure you have everything listed below:
A Smart Receiver plugged into a 110V or 220V outlet
The MAC address of the Smart Receiver (visible in the Captive Portal)
Your company's Wi-Fi network credentials (SSID, password, and authentication type)
If your network uses a firewall: administrative access to the router or firewall panel
A phone or laptop to access the Captive Portal
Important: Do not install the Smart Receiver inside metal electrical panels. Metal enclosures block the receiver's signal. Use plastic panels instead.
Connectivity Options
The Smart Receiver supports two connection methods. It prioritizes Wi-Fi when configured and automatically falls back to the mobile network as an alternative.
Mobile Network (Automatic)
The Smart Receiver automatically connects to the best 3G/4G mobile network available in the area. No configuration is required. This is the default behavior when no Wi-Fi network has been set up.
Plug the Smart Receiver into an outlet.
Wait for the LED to turn white (approximately 60 seconds) and then blue (searching for connection).
When the LED turns solid green, the receiver is connected and ready.
Wi-Fi (Manual Setup Required)
If you prefer to use your company's Wi-Fi network — or if mobile coverage is weak at the installation site — set up Wi-Fi through the Captive Portal. Follow the sections below.
Preparing the Firewall for the Smart Receiver
If your company network uses a firewall, you need to authorize the Smart Receiver's communication before setting up Wi-Fi. Without these settings, the firewall may block data transmission between the receiver and Tractian's servers.
Step 1: Authorize the Smart Receiver's MAC Address
Open your router or firewall's admin panel. You typically access it by entering the gateway IP into your browser (for example, 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1).
Navigate to the Access Control, Security, or MAC Filtering settings.
Find the MAC Address Filter, Whitelist, or Device Access Control option.
Add the Smart Receiver's MAC address to the list of authorized devices.
Save and apply the changes.
💡 Tip: You'll find the Smart Receiver's MAC address on the Captive Portal overview page (the MAC Address field).
Step 2: Authorize DNS Communication
The Smart Receiver needs DNS access to resolve the address of Tractian's servers. Allow communication with public DNS servers or with your internal DNS infrastructure.
In the firewall panel, create rules to allow outbound communication with bidirectional traffic to the DNS servers:
Service | Destination | Protocol | Port |
DNS | 8.8.8.8 | UDP/TCP | 53 |
DNS | 1.1.1.1 | UDP/TCP | 53 |
If your organization uses an internal DNS server, confirm that it is reachable by the Smart Receiver and capable of resolving external domain names.
Save and apply the changes.
Step 3: Authorize Communication with the Tractian Server
The Smart Receiver communicates with Tractian's servers using TCP on port 8080. You can authorize this communication by domain name (recommended) or by static IP (alternative).
Option A — Using Domain Name (Recommended):
Service | Destination | Protocol | Port |
Tractian Server | conveyor.tractian.com | TCP | 8080 |
Option B — Using Static IP (if your firewall does not support domain-based rules):
Service | IP Address | Protocol | Port |
Tractian Server | 54.232.169.148 | TCP | 8080 |
Tractian Server | 54.94.101.160 | TCP | 8080 |
Important: These IP addresses are generally stable but may change in the future. We recommend using domain-based rules whenever possible. If you need to use static IPs, check them periodically at: https://www.nslookup.io/domains/conveyor.tractian.com/webservers/
For both options, make sure the rule allows bidirectional traffic for outbound-initiated connections. Save and apply all changes.
Step 4: Verify and Apply
Confirm that the MAC Filtering, DNS, and Tractian server rules are active and allow bidirectional traffic.
Save or apply all settings in the router or firewall panel.
Restart the network equipment if necessary (depends on the manufacturer).
Configuring Wi-Fi Through the Captive Portal
The Captive Portal is a web page built into the Smart Receiver that lets you enter Wi-Fi credentials and network settings.
Accessing the Captive Portal
Plug the Smart Receiver into an outlet.
Wait for the LED to turn white. This indicates that the Captive Portal is active. You have approximately 60 seconds to connect before it expires.
On your phone or laptop, open the Wi-Fi settings and look for a network named TRACTIAN- followed by a unique device ID (for example, TRACTIAN-FLI1D75).
Connect to that network.
On mobile devices: the login page opens automatically, or you'll receive a prompt to log in to the network.
On computers: open a browser and go to http://smart.receiver.tractian/.
After connecting, the Configuration Overview Page appears. This page displays the current Wi-Fi settings and device details: Device ID, MAC Address, Server URL, and Server Port.
💡 Tip: All fields are locked by default to prevent accidental changes. Press Edit to unlock them.
Configuring the Wi-Fi Settings
After pressing Edit, the fields become editable. Follow the steps below:
1. Enter the SSID (network name)
In the SSID field, type the name of your Wi-Fi network or select it from the dropdown list. The list shows each network's name, signal strength (as a percentage), and authentication type (Open, WPA2-Personal, or WPA2-Enterprise).
When you select a network from the list, the authentication type is applied automatically.
2. Enter the password
In the Password field, type your Wi-Fi network password. This field is required for WPA2-Personal networks.
If you leave the password field unchanged (showing "no change"), the previously saved password will be used.
If you need to connect to an Open network (no password), type any character in the password field and then delete it, leaving the field completely empty.
Important: Passwords are never displayed in the portal for security reasons.
3. Choose the IP Mode
Select one of the options in the IP Mode dropdown:
IP Mode | Description | Additional fields required |
DHCP | The network assigns an IP address automatically. This is the most common option. | None |
Static | You manually set the IP address, gateway, subnet mask, and DNS server. | IP, Gateway, Subnet Mask, DNS |
If you select Static, four additional fields appear immediately. Fill them in with the values provided by your IT team. Example:
Field | Example value |
IP | 192.168.1.103 |
Gateway | 192.168.1.1 |
Subnet Mask | 255.255.248.0 |
DNS | 8.8.8.8 |
4. Choose the Authentication Mode
Select the security type used by your Wi-Fi network:
Authentication Mode | Description | Additional fields required |
Open | No authentication. The password field is disabled. | None |
WPA2-Personal | Standard password authentication. Most common in smaller networks. | Password |
WPA2-Enterprise | Certificate- or user-based authentication (EAP). Common in corporate environments. | EAP User, EAP Password |
If you select WPA2-Enterprise, two additional fields appear: EAP User and EAP Password. Enter the credentials provided by your IT team.
💡 Tip: Visual feedback helps identify issues during editing. If you change a field, the background turns light blue. If a value is invalid, the field turns light red.
Setting a PIN for the Captive Portal (Optional)
To prevent unauthorized access to the receiver's configuration page, you can set a PIN. Once enabled, anyone who connects to the Captive Portal will need to enter the PIN before accessing the settings.
Check the Edit PIN box.
Leave the Current PIN field empty (if no PIN was set before) or enter the existing PIN.
In the New PIN field, type a PIN of up to 6 alphanumeric characters or symbols.
Press Save and Exit to save the PIN.
To remove the PIN, follow the same steps but leave the New PIN field empty.
Important: If you forget the PIN, contact Tractian's technical support to recover access to the device. Have the Device ID ready when you reach out.
Testing the Connection
Before saving, verify that the Smart Receiver can communicate with Tractian's servers.
Press the Test Internet button on the Captive Portal.
The receiver runs a sequence of checks. During each step, a gray status message appears:
Step | Status message | What it checks |
1 — Connection | Connecting to AP... | Locates the Wi-Fi network, authenticates, and obtains an IP address |
2 — DNS | Resolving Domain Name... | Resolves conveyor.tractian.com through the DNS server |
3 — Server | Connecting to Server... | Exchanges data with Tractian's servers on port 8080 |
If all steps pass, a green Success message appears. If any step fails, a red error message indicates what went wrong:
Error message | What it means | What to do |
AP not found | The Wi-Fi network name (SSID) was not detected nearby | Verify that the SSID is correct and that you are within range of the access point |
Failed to authenticate | The password or EAP credentials are incorrect | Check the Password, EAP User, and EAP Password fields |
DHCP Error | The network did not assign an IP address | Contact your IT team to verify that the DHCP server is working and has addresses available |
DNS Error | The DNS server could not resolve conveyor.tractian.com | Verify that your firewall allows DNS traffic (see Step 2 of the firewall section) |
Server Unreachable | The receiver cannot reach Tractian's servers | Verify that your firewall allows traffic to conveyor.tractian.com on TCP port 8080 (see Step 3 of the firewall section) |
Saving and Applying the Configuration
After confirming that all settings are correct and the internet test shows Success, press Save and Exit.
The Smart Receiver stores the configuration and starts connecting to the configured Wi-Fi network automatically.
If you want to exit without saving changes, press Exit without saving.
After saving, the Smart Receiver will automatically connect to the configured Wi-Fi network every time it is powered on.
Disconnecting and Switching Networks
To disconnect from the current Wi-Fi network and connect to a different one (or switch back to mobile network):
Unplug the Smart Receiver from the outlet, wait a few seconds, and plug it back in.
Wait for the LED to turn white (approximately 60 seconds).
Connect to the receiver's Captive Portal network (TRACTIAN- followed by the device ID) from your phone or laptop.
Press Edit on the Configuration Overview page.
Clear the SSID and Password fields. To clear the password, type any character and then delete it, leaving the field empty.
Press Save and Exit.
The Smart Receiver will now automatically try to connect to the best available mobile network.
To connect to a different Wi-Fi network, follow the disconnection steps above first, then repeat the Wi-Fi setup process with the new network's credentials.
LED Status Indicator
The Smart Receiver has an LED that provides visual feedback on its current state. Use the table below to identify the meaning of each color and pattern:
LED Color | Pattern | Meaning |
White | Solid | Captive Portal active and ready for setup (~60 seconds after powering on) |
Blue | Blinking | Searching for a connection (tries Wi-Fi first, then falls back to mobile network) |
Green | Solid | Connected to the internet (not transmitting data at the moment) |
Green | Blinking | Connected and actively transmitting or receiving data with Tractian's servers |
Red | Blinking | Failed to connect after trying all available methods (Wi-Fi and mobile). The device is automatically retrying. |
Red | Solid | Possible hardware fault. Contact Tractian support. |
Captive Portal Language
The Captive Portal automatically detects your browser's language and adjusts the interface. The following languages are supported: English (US, default), Spanish (MX), and Portuguese (BR).
If the portal appears in the wrong language, check the language settings of your browser or operating system.
Data Security
The Smart Receiver uses AES-256 encryption over a proprietary protocol to protect data from the device level. Encryption keys are stored in the device's hardware.
All data exchanged with the Tractian platform is encrypted in transit using TLS, and data stored in the cloud is encrypted at rest. Tractian operates on a Single-Tenant architecture, keeping each customer's data fully isolated. The infrastructure is validated by SOC 2 and ISO 27001 certifications.
Troubleshooting
The Captive Portal shows "undefined" in all fields
Cause: The Wi-Fi signal between your phone/laptop and the Smart Receiver is too weak.
Fix: Move closer to the Smart Receiver and refresh the page.
"Failed to Save Configuration" Error
Possible causes (check in order):
A communication issue occurred between your device and the Smart Receiver. Press Save and Exit again.
You are too far from the Smart Receiver. Move closer and try again.
Your phone/laptop disconnected from the Smart Receiver's Wi-Fi. Check your Wi-Fi connection and reconnect.
The Captive Portal expired. The Smart Receiver exits Captive Portal mode after 5 minutes of inactivity. Unplug and plug the receiver back in to restart the portal.
The Smart Receiver was accidentally powered off. Check the power connection.
"Invalid Configuration" Error or Red Fields
Cause: One or more fields contain invalid values. The Captive Portal validates each field:
Field | Validation rule |
All fields | Cannot contain the & character |
SSID | Maximum of 32 characters |
Password | Maximum of 64 characters |
IP addresses (IP, Gateway, Subnet Mask, DNS) | Must follow the xxx.yyy.zzz.aaa format (for example, 192.168.1.1) |
Fix: Correct the highlighted fields (with red background) and try saving again.
Connection to an Open Network Doesn't Work
Cause: The Password field may still contain a previously saved password.
Fix: In the Password field, type any character and then delete it, leaving the field completely empty. Then test the connection again.
If the issue persists after trying all the steps above, contact Tractian's technical support for assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does the Smart Receiver need an internet connection at all times?
Yes. The receiver needs a stable connection (mobile or Wi-Fi) to transmit sensor data to Tractian's servers in real time.
Q: What happens if both Wi-Fi and mobile network are unavailable?
The LED blinks red. The receiver tries to reconnect automatically. Sensor data collected during the outage is stored and transmitted as soon as the connection is restored.
Q: Can I use the Smart Receiver on a hidden Wi-Fi network?
Yes. Type the SSID manually in the SSID field instead of selecting it from the dropdown list. Make sure to also set the correct authentication mode and password.
Q: How long does the Captive Portal stay active?
Approximately 60 seconds after the Smart Receiver is powered on. If you miss the window, unplug the receiver and plug it back in.
Q: What PIN format can I use?
Up to 6 alphanumeric characters or symbols. If you forget the PIN, contact Tractian support with your Device ID to recover access.
Q: Can I check whether my Smart Receiver is connected through the router panel? Yes. Access your router's admin panel (usually at 192.168.1.1), navigate to the list of connected devices, and look for the Smart Receiver's MAC address.