Table of Contents
TetherBox States
Your TetherBox displays different states throughout its lifecycle - from activation through normal operation to updates and troubleshooting. Understanding these states helps you know what's happening and when action is needed.
Check your TetherBox state at Admin → TetherBoxes or view notifications in the platform interface.
Starting
Your TetherBox is booting up and initialising services. This normally takes 1-2 minutes to complete.
Tip: During startup, the TetherBox connects to the cloud, synchronises time, checks for updates, and begins camera detection. You'll receive a notification once it's fully online.
Extended startup times:
If your unit has been offline but remained powered on and recording locally, startup takes significantly longer:
- Days offline: 15-30 minutes to catch up
- Weeks offline: 1-2 hours to process backlog
- Month+ offline: Up to 4 hours for full synchronisation
Warning: Extended startup is normal after long offline periods. The TetherBox must process thousands of locally stored recordings to generate visual Events and synchronise with the cloud.
Restarting or Stopping
Your TetherBox is performing a controlled restart. Allow 1-2 minutes for the process to complete.
Common restart triggers:
- Manual restart requested via platform
- Configuration changes requiring reboot
- Automatic recovery from detected issues
Warning: If the unit keeps restarting repeatedly (boot loop), there's likely a network or hardware issue. Contact support immediately - continuous restarts prevent recording and may indicate failing hardware.
Updating
Your TetherBox is downloading and installing a software update. Updates happen automatically to ensure security and feature improvements.
Expected update duration:
- Fast connection (100Mbps+): 5-15 minutes
- Standard connection (10-50Mbps): 15-30 minutes
- Slow connection (<10Mbps): 30-60 minutes
- Older units with large updates: Up to 60 minutes
Tip: Updates include security patches, new features, camera compatibility improvements, and performance enhancements. Your TetherBox continues recording during updates - only cloud connectivity is briefly interrupted.
Warning: Don't power off the TetherBox during updates. Interrupting an update may require manual recovery or factory reset.
Stopped
Your TetherBox has stopped unexpectedly. This indicates a software crash, hardware failure, or critical error.
Immediate actions:
- Check the TetherBox status page for error details
- Try manually restarting via the platform interface
- If remote restart fails, power cycle the unit on-site
Warning: A stopped state means recording has ceased. Contact support immediately with the TetherBox serial number and any error messages displayed.
Activated
Your TetherBox was just activated and is completing initial setup. Allow 5-15 minutes for the first boot, update, and configuration.
First-time setup process:
- Unit connects to cloud and verifies activation
- Downloads latest software updates
- Configures system settings
- Begins camera auto-detection
Tip: If your unit has been in stock for a long time or your connection is very slow, initial activation may take 30-60 minutes. This is normal - the TetherBox is downloading months of updates.
Unactivated
This TetherBox is awaiting activation. The unit is registered but not yet commissioned for use.
To activate:
- Visit the TetherX activation page
- Enter the TetherBox serial number (printed on the unit)
- Assign to your company account
- Configure initial settings (timezone, location, etc.)
Warning: Unactivated TetherBoxes won't record or connect to Cameras. Ensure Internet connectivity before activating - the unit needs cloud access to complete activation.
Troubleshooting
State stuck for extended period:
- Check Internet connectivity - most state transitions require cloud access
- Verify the TetherBox has power and network LEDs are active
- Check firewall isn't blocking port 443 (required for cloud connection)
State changes rapidly:
- Indicates unstable network connection or hardware issue
- Check network cables and switch ports
- Review TetherBox status page for specific error messages
Unknown or missing state:
- TetherBox may be completely offline
- See TetherBox Went Offline for diagnosis steps