How does the CareHub connect to the internet?

The CareHub needs an internet connection to do almost everything — calls, messages, photos, reminders, and emergency alerts all travel over the internet rather than a phone line. It does not need a landline. There are three ways it can connect, and it will fall back between them so a single network failure doesn't take the device offline.

The three connection types

• Wi-Fi — the usual choice in a private home. The CareHub joins your existing home network.
• Ethernet (including Power over Ethernet) — a physical network cable. Common in villages and new developments, where it's the most reliable option and is often planned in at the design stage.
• 4G/LTE mobile data — a SIM inside the device. Normally a fallback for when the primary connection drops. Most households run on Wi-Fi with mobile data as backup. If you have a choice, a cable beats Wi-Fi for call quality every time.

Joining a Wi-Fi network

1. Make sure the CareHub is on and plugged in.
2. Press and hold the power button on the back until three options appear — Power Off, Reboot, and Settings.
3. Tap Settings.
4. Tap the blue Internet Connection button.
5. A list of nearby Wi-Fi networks appears. Tap the name of yours.
6. Tap the password field and type your Wi-Fi password using the on-screen keyboard.
7. Tap Connect.
8. When it works, you'll see Connected underneath your network's name.
9. Tap Home at the top left to return to the main screen. If you'd rather not do this yourself, call Lumin Support and we'll walk you through it, or in many cases handle it for you.

What if there's no internet at the address?

That's a common situation and it isn't a barrier. Lumin can supply the CareHub with its own mobile data connection for an additional monthly fee, so the device works without any home network at all. If you're arranging this, tell us which mobile carrier has the best coverage where you live — coverage varies a lot between carriers, particularly in regional and rural areas, and choosing the right one up front avoids a lot of trouble later.

Do I need a landline?

No. The CareHub has its own phone number and makes ordinary phone calls over the internet, so a landline isn't required and you don't need to keep one on account of Lumin.

How much internet does it use?

Everyday use — messages, photos, reminders — is very light. Video calls use the most. If the household is on a metered or capped connection and video calls are frequent, that's worth factoring in.

If the connection drops

The CareHub will try to fall back to another connection type where one is available. Lumin's monitoring sees connection health continuously, so we're usually aware of an offline device before anyone tells us, and we'll often be in touch first. If the CareHub is offline and the household's internet is otherwise working, see the separate article on the CareHub being offline — that covers the troubleshooting steps.