Discover the features of the Bobber App in this post. Find out the difference between Bobber App and Helium App to see which is better for Bobcat 300.
Bobcat introduced the “Bobber App” earlier in the year for their helium miners (if you are unfamiliar with helium mining, start here!). This was made public not long after Helium’s initial announcement, stating that hotspot developers would no longer need to onboard and manage miners through the Helium App, but rather their own apps. Therefore, what distinguishes Bobber App from Helium App, what are its features, and which one should you use with your Bobcat Miner 300? Let’s dive in!
Read more: Getting Started With the Bobber Hotspot App for Bobcat Miner 300
Table of Contents
Features of Bobber App
Users can securely manage their miners without disclosing their seed phrase by using the Bobber App, which onboards and manages Bobcat hotspots and gateways via deep linking with the Helium Wallet App and/or the Helium App. The Bobber app, which has improved diagnostic capabilities, includes a built-in web dashboard feature for remote access to miners and in-app notifications to inform users of significant status changes to their hotspots. Users can chat with other hotspot owners using the Bobchat feature of the Bobber app.
Also read: Basic Troubleshooting of Bobber App
Pre-onboarding Bluetooth Diagnostics
Before joining the blockchain, users can use Bobber App to learn more about their hotspot, including its firmware version and IP address. Before joining the blockchain, this information will make it easier for users to access their hotspot’s diagnostic data and the local Bobcat Diagnoser.
Home Screen with Added Functionalities
One-click link or unlink among multiple Helium wallets
Add a hotspot from the top left corner
Access the settings page from the top right corner
Bobchat Messaging
Helium hotspot owners can securely chat online using the Bobber App. In order to use BobChat you only need two things:
– Have the Bobber App installed
– From your Bobber App, deep link with your Helium wallet
The Bobber App now supports using Bobchat to send and receive tokens and hotspots! You can now do so quickly and easily from within the Bobber App, whether you’re exchanging tokens with a friend, selling a hotspot to a stranger, or paying a hotspot host their monthly token share
With a few quick taps, you can quickly finish your transaction by starting a chat by looking for a hotspot or entering the name of your wallet. The receiving party will be able to see the details of the transaction even if they are offline when it is sent because both parties will see them in the Bobchat window.
Differences Between Bobber App and Helium App
The functionality of the original Helium App has recently been limited to only managing Original Helium Hotspots (OG Helium). As mentioned in this official Helium announcement from 2/17/2022, Nova Labs has also launched a new app called the Helium Wallet that will enable users to manage their HNT and other tokens.
These actions have been taken in advance of Helium’s impending migration to the Solana blockchain. The migration caused all Hotspot management—including onboarding, updating location and antenna information, and monitoring—to be transferred from the Helium Hotspot app to maker apps like the Bobber App.
Read more: Bobber App Reset/Forgot Password
Bobber App Vs Helium App: Which One to Choose for Bobcat 300
Since all Hotspot management (onboarding, updating location and antenna details, and monitoring) has been transferred from the Helium Hotspot app to the Bobber App as a result of the migration, it is recommended that you select the Bobber App for your Bobcat 300. Additionally, the Bobcat team is constantly improving and updating the Bobber App to make mining helium simpler.
FAQs
Does the Bobber App Offer Remote Troubleshooting Features?
Remote Reboot and Reset Bobcat 300 capabilities, as well as Web Dashboard monitoring, are provided by the Bobber App. After creating an account and logging in, users can access these features either directly from within the app or through bobber.cloud using a web browser. However, if the Hotspot’s status on the dashboard is offline, remote features will not function. See our article on remote support commands for more details on this.
Will I Lose Access to the Helium Hotspot/Wallet App If I Register and Link My Helium Account to the Bobber App?
No, the Bobber App never directly sees your seed phrase; instead, it just links to the Helium App to access your wallet. The Helium Hotspot app will eventually be discontinued, but the Helium Wallet app will remain available and be necessary for the Bobber App to have access to your wallets.
What Happens to My Helium Account/Wallet If I Delete My Bobber App Account?
The Bobber app links to your account via a deeplink so deleting your Your account/wallet on the Helium app will not be impacted by your Bobber account.
Can I Onboard a Bobcat Miner 300 Directly on the Bobber App?
Yes, the Bobber App is now necessary to onboard your Bobber Miner hotspots due to the Helium Hotspot app’s feature sunsetting. Keeping your Helium Wallet and Bobber App apps updated will help ensure you have a seamless experience. Keep in mind that the Bobber app depends on the blockchain and the Helium API to successfully onboard hotspots to the network.
Can I Register Multiple Emails and Link Them to the Same Helium Account, Via the Bobber App?
No, the last email that was linked to your Bobber App account will continue to be active.
Do I Still Need the Helium Wallet App?
Yes, this app will be used to sign transactions for any Maker app (including the Bobber App), meaning those Maker apps won’t need to know your seed phrase.
Do My 12 Seed Words from the Helium Hotspot App Work on the Helium Wallet App?
The same 12 words from the Helium Hotspot app are usable on the Helium Wallet app, so the answer is yes. Your private key’s representation in that seed phrase will continue to be used to identify your HNT, Hotspots, Validators, and Data Credits on the Helium Network. You will be prompted to move your 12 word seed phrase to the new Helium Wallet app when you use the Helium Hotspot app.
Will I Need to Provide My 12 Word Seed Phrase in Order to Access the Bobber App?
No, the Bobber app will use a deeplink to the Adding a Hotspot, updating location, antenna, and elevation, and transferring a Hotspot are all transactions that can be signed using the Helium Wallet app. This means users only have to enter their seed phrase in the Helium Wallet app. Keep in mind that your seed phrase is your entire wallet’s private key, including HNT, Hotspots, and Validators, and that it should be kept secure.
