QUICK HELP QUIDE

Getting Started With Your Sutro

This guide will walk you through the complete setup of your Sutro Smart Monitor. If you're looking for help with a particular part, you can jump ahead using the overview below.

Setup Overview

  1. Balancing Your Spa
  2. Sutro Hub set up
  3. Connecting the Hub and Monitor
  4. Installing Your Test Cartridge
  5. Putting the Monitor in your Spa

1. Balance Your Spa

The Sutro is used to maintain your chemistry. For the best results, we highly recommend balancing your spa before putting the Sutro in.

2. Sutro Set Up

Before we begin:

  • Confirm you have the latest version of the Sutro app installed on your phone.
  • Have your home WiFi network name and password handy (better if it's written down).
  • Familiarize yourself with each component of your Sutro.
  • Monitor

    Monitor

  • Hub

    Hub

  • Batteries

    Batteries

  • Power Cord

    Power Cord

  • Cartidge

    Cartidge

Plug in Hub Within Eyesight of Spa

Confirm that the hub is within 50 ft line of sight from your spa.

Some notes:

  • The Hub should be in your house (not outside).
  • It should be placed where it won't be moved (for a while).
  • Do not disconnect the hub during set up, or for at least two hours after.

Charge your battery

Plug in Hub Within Eyesight of Spa

Confirm that the hub is within 50 ft line of sight from your spa.

Some notes:

  • The Hub should be in your house (not outside).
  • It should be placed where it won't be moved (for a while).
  • Do not disconnect the hub during set up, or for at least two hours after.

Charge Your Battery

Before installing your Sutro, charge one of the included batteries for at least 24 hours.

Sutro Battery Install

Before installing your Sutro, charge one of the included batteries for at least 24 hours.

If the hub light is red or green, remove the battery from the hub.

If the light is solid and not blinking, try reseting the hub:

  1. Unplug the hub, wait two seconds, and plug it back in.
  2. Hold down the reset button for three seconds. The reset button is located at the bottom of the hub near the power cord.
  3. The small light on the hub should now be blinking white (this means you're ready to connect to WiFi).

If you're setting up your Sutro for the first time, continue to follow the instructions in the app again.

If you're changing your WiFi, go to Settings in the app menu and continue to follow the steps.

Confirm that your phone's WiFi is on

The Sutro hub will connect to your WiFi to transmit data from the monitor to the cloud. Check the settings on your phone to make sure that your WiFi is turned on.

Connect to Sutro network

  1. In the Sutro app, click Open Settings; this will open your phone's WiFi settings.
  2. Click on the Sutro network to connect to the hub; it will show up as "SUTROxxxxx" (the x's replaced by numbers and letters).
  3. Once connected, go back to the Sutro app. The app should now display a screen to select your WiFi network.

Reset the hub:

  1. Unplug the hub, wait two seconds, and plug it back in.
  2. Hold down the reset button for three seconds. The reset button is located at the bottom of the hub near the power cord.
  3. The small light on the hub should now be blinking white (this means you're ready to connect to WiFi).

If you're setting up your Sutro for the first time, continue to follow the instructions in the app again.

If you're changing your WiFi, go to Settings in the app menu and continue to follow the steps.

In your phones WiFi settings:

  • iPhone: Tap the i icon to the right of the Sutro network. Tap Renew Lease OR Forget Network (whichever is available).
  • Android: Tap the Sutro network. Tap Forget in the pop-up window.

After completing one of the above, reset the hub and try again.

Make sure your home WiFi has internet connectivity.

Make sure phone is not set to auto-switch to cellular data.

  • iPhone: Open settings, and tap on Cellular. Scroll down (below list of apps), and disable WiFi Assist.
  • Android: Open WiFi settings and tap the 3-dot icon at the top-right corner. Click Advanced and disable Switch to mobile data OR click WiFi+ and turn it off (depending on phone).

Forget home network - Open WiFi settings:

  • iPhone: Tap the i icon to the right of your home WiFi. Tap Renew Lease OR Forget Network (whichever is available).
  • Android: Tap your home WiFi network. Tap Forget in the pop-up window.

Android Users:

When connecting to the Sutro network, you may see a notification that says tap for options. The pop-up will say the Sutro network has limited or no connectivity. Click stay connected.

If the above doesn't work, it may be your home networks firewall or router settings causing issues.
Contact our Customer Care team at customerservice@hottubstore.ca.

Connect to WiFi

You're on the last step to set up your hub!

Select your network from the drop-down menu and enter your password. Make sure to click on the eyeball next to your password to confirm it's typed in correctly.

The Sutro hub can't connect to 5 GHz WiFi (often name ending in _5G). Make sure the WiFi you're trying to connect to is 2.4 GHz (often ending in _2G).


Mesh router - Although the hub is able to connect to most mesh routers, if you have one and are having issues, contact Sutro Support.

Make sure phone is not set to auto-switch to cellular data.

  • iPhone: Open settings, and tap on Cellular. Scroll down (below list of apps), and disable WiFi Assist.
  • Android: Open WiFi settings and tap the 3-dot icon at the top-right corner. Click Advanced and disable Switch to mobile data OR click WiFi+ and turn it off (depending on phone).

Forget home network - Open WiFi settings:

  • iPhone: Tap the i icon to the right of your home WiFi. Tap Renew Lease OR Forget Network (whichever is available).
  • Android: Tap your home WiFi network. Tap Forget in the pop-up window.

Android Users:

When connecting to the Sutro network, you may see a notification that says tap for options. The pop-up will say the Sutro network has limited or no connectivity. Click stay connected.

3. Connecting the Hub and Monitor

Open the monitor

Twist the lid and pull up until the monitor clicks in place.  It should be able to stand up like shown.  Note that there are two sides of the monitor.  One side is for the battery, and the other side is for the cartridge.

Install the battery in the Monitor

Make sure that the battery has been charging for at least 24 hours. 

Insert the battery into the monitor as shown.  Make sure that the gold lines match up, then insert the battery bottom first.  The battery should click into place.  You will see a blue LED light on the monitor, just above where the battery was placed.

Inserting Battery into Sutro Monitor

Locate the pairing buttons

There are two pairing buttons: one on the hub and one on the monitor.  Both pairing buttons will have a pairing icon.  Locate both pairing buttons, but do not press them yet. 

Hub Pairing Button: Open the hub by pressing down on the dent on the top of the hub (the same way you opened it to charge the battery).  You will see the pairing button right below the battery insert.

Sutro Hub Pairing Button

Monitor Pairing Button:The monitor pairing button will be located right above where the battery is placed, near the LED.

Sutro Monitor Pairing Button Close-up

Pair Hub and Monitor

Now that you've found both pairing buttons, hold down both buttons at the same time until they both rapidly blink, then let go.  Both LED lights will turn solid blue.

If one or more LED lights are not blue, make sure there is not a battery charging in the hub and try re-pairing both devices by holding down the pairing buttons again.

4. Installing Your Test Cartidge

If you're looking to replace your cartridge, instead of installing it for the first time, check out this article on how toreplace a cartridge and battery.

Install the cartridge

Insert the cartridge in the monitor bottom first. You should hear a click.  Make sure it's secure in the device.

Inserting Cartridge into Sutro Monitor

Close the Monitor

Push down on the lid of the monitor.  Then twist the lid until you hear it click once.  It should sound like a gas cap.

Sutro Hub Pairing Button

Once the lid is closed, go back to your app. You should see the below screen.

If the app has not moved to the next screen, open the monitor.  Make sure both the battery and cartridge are secured in place, then close the monitor.

Sutro Monitor Pairing Button Close-up

5. Putting the Monitor in your Spa

There are two things that happen now:

  • Security checks on your Sutro Monitor
  • Calibration

Security checks

The Sutro Monitor will perform a self-security check, and make sure that your Monitor is well prepared to go into the water.

It checks:

  1. Is the cartridge properly installed
  2. The lid is properly tightened and pushed all the way down and
  3. The core is secure (which is the part that ejects out of the Monitor).

The screen looks like this - there is nothing for you to do, except wait. 

Sutro Monitor Pairing Button Close-up

Calibration

Once that screen has progressed - the Sutro Monitor is ready to be put in your spa. You can put it into the water, and it should take about 20 - 30 minutes to come back with your first reading. We will initially calibrate the device against your water chemistry, and make sure all systems are 'go', and shoot over the chemistry reading to you. 

MAKE SURE YOUR DEVICE IS IN THE WATER BEFORE CONTINUING

Sutro Monitor Pairing Button Close-up

6. Setting up your spa profile

The Sutro system utilizes your spa (or pool) type, gallonage, sanitizer type, and optional sanitizers to better give you recommendations that are meant for you and your water. Filling out your profile helps the device better understand this. 

Sutro asks you for: 

  • Whether you have a spa or pool
  • How many gallons are contained
  • If you don't know - there's a nifty calculator to help you figure it out
  • If you have chlorine or bromine
  • If you have a saltwater generator *banned by Health Canada*
  • If you have an ozone, UV, or mineral system

Your Sutro Monitor should now be set up!

Below are answers to a few common questions. If you have any additional questions or need assistance with any of the above steps, contact support@mysutro.com or call 1-415-480-3663.

The Sutro System is a pretty complex piece of machinery. It's basically a small laboratory in your spa.

The short answer is, it takes about 30 minutes before the chemistry readings are sent to your phone.

Once onboarding is complete, the Sutro will immediately take a reading, which could take up to one hour.

After that, the Sutro takes three readings per day scheduled at 11am, 7pm, and 3am EST.

If you're on the premium subscription plan, this can be customized by following this guide