DOOR Hub overview

The DOOR Hub is the gateway that connects every DOOR Smart Home device at a property to the internet and to the DOOR App. Unlike many smart home systems where each device joins WiFi on its own, DOOR Smart Home devices — sensors, the DOOR Thermostat, the DOOR Dimmer Switch, and the DOOR Power Switch — communicate only with the Hub. The Hub then carries that traffic to the internet, the DOOR cloud, and the DOOR App. Without a Hub on site, the smart home devices have nothing to connect through.

On the device label and in some materials the Hub is called the Field Station (or Cellular Field Station). It is the same product.

What the DOOR Hub is

A gateway / bridge between DOOR Smart Home devices and the internet. Devices talk to the Hub over a private DOOR wireless network; the Hub talks to the internet.
A continuously powered, always-on appliance. It needs power and a working internet path at all times for devices to report data and receive updates.
An indoor-only device, designed for clean, dry environments.
Equipped with a built-in cellular SIM (4G LTE, with 3G/2G fallback) that provides internet access for the Hub only — the SIM cannot be removed or used in another device. Cellular is one of three connection paths, alongside Ethernet and WiFi.

How devices connect through the Hub

DOOR Smart Home devices do not join your WiFi individually. They form a private DOOR wireless network centered on the Hub, then the Hub reaches the internet over one of three paths:

DOOR Smart Home devices (sensors, Thermostat, Dimmer, Power Switch)
        ↓ private DOOR wireless network
     DOOR Hub
        ↓ Ethernet → WiFi → Cellular (in that priority order)
   Internet → DOOR cloud → DOOR App

When more than one path is available, the Hub prioritizes Ethernet first, then WiFi, then Cellular.

Connectivity

Ethernet — the recommended "plug and play" path; fastest and most reliable setup.
WiFi — 2.4 GHz band only. The Hub cannot use the 5 GHz band. On mesh or WiFi 6 routers (for example Google Nest, TP-Link mesh, Eero) you may need to temporarily disable the 5 GHz band while connecting the Hub.
Cellular — automatic fallback over the built-in SIM (4G LTE, with 3G/2G) when Ethernet and WiFi are unavailable.
The Hub does not support multi-step authentication networks (the kind found in hotels or airports).

The connection method is chosen during activation. When you add the Hub in the DOOR App you select how it connects — Ethernet, WiFi, or Cellular — and this choice cannot be changed in the app afterward. Decide the internet path before you activate the Hub.

Wireless range

The DOOR wireless network has an open-air range of more than 300 meters (about a quarter mile). For large buildings or properties, or when devices sit far from the Hub, you can add more Hubs to extend coverage — there is no limit on how many a property can use.

Power and backup battery

The Hub runs on its included 5V/2A AC power adapter and needs a dedicated outlet. It also has a built-in rechargeable backup battery (18650 Li-Ion, 3.6V, ~2550mAh) that keeps it running for about 4 hours during a power outage, switching over automatically. To preserve battery health, the Hub automatically discharges the battery for two hours every 30 days.

Placement

Install the Hub indoors, somewhere clean and dry. Keep it away from heat sources and direct sunlight, and avoid metal surfaces or sources of radio interference. Do not place it directly on top of or underneath your WiFi router or other RF equipment.

What the DOOR App shows for the Hub

In the DOOR App, the Hub's page shows its online/offline status, the time it last reported, its location (property), connectivity details (IP address, gateway), power status (whether it is on AC and the backup battery state), and technical details such as model, serial number, Device EUI, and firmware version. See Using your DOOR Hub for the resident-facing walkthrough.

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