Programming and controls · Rolling Shutter Guide
Can I control my rolling shutters from my phone?
Yes, if the shutter has a radio (remote-control) motor. A small Wi-Fi bridge learns the remote's signal and lets a phone app or voice assistant run the shutter. Roll-A-Shield's standard bridge, the Bond Bridge, covers about 2,500 sq ft and up to 30 devices and works with Gaposa and Somfy radio motors, not OZRoll battery or wall-switch motors.
Key facts
- One standard Bond Bridge covers about 2,500 sq ft and up to 30 devices; the Bond Bridge Pro covers about 3,500 sq ft and up to 50. Roll-A-Shield data
- The Bond Bridge works with Roll-A-Shield's Gaposa and Somfy remote-control (RTS) motors, but not with OZRoll battery motors, which have no radio receiver. Roll-A-Shield data
- Pair the bridge within about 10 to 15 ft of the shutter, then move it to its final spot; thick walls and cameras interfere with the signal. Roll-A-Shield data
- Gaposa's own Wi-Fi hub, used with its RollApp app, controls up to 32 Gaposa motors and runs up to 10 schedules.
Applies to: Rolling shutters with Gaposa or Somfy radio (RTS) motors, including Gaposa solar motors with the Gaposa hub; Bond Bridge, Bond Bridge Pro, Gaposa Hub (RollApp) and Somfy TaHoma. Not wall-switch motors or OZRoll battery motors.
What do I need to run a shutter from my phone?
You need three things: a radio (remote-control) motor in the shutter, a Wi-Fi bridge or hub, and the app that goes with it. The bridge sits between your Wi-Fi router and the shutter motors. It reads the radio signal your remote sends, remembers it, and sends the same signal when you tap the app or ask a voice assistant.
That is why phone control is an add-on, not a different motor. If your shutter already has a Gaposa or Somfy remote, it can almost always be put on a phone. If it is run by a wall switch, a strap or crank, or an OZRoll battery motor, it cannot, because there is no radio receiver for the bridge to talk to. A switch-operated shutter can be converted; see turning a switch-operated shutter into a remote-controlled one.
Your remotes keep working without Wi-Fi. They talk to the motor directly, so a router outage only takes away the app.
Which bridge or hub should I use?
On most Roll-A-Shield shutters the answer is the Bond Bridge, because it works with both motor brands.
| Device | Works with | How many | Coverage | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bond Bridge | Gaposa and Somfy RTS motors | up to 30 devices | about 2,500 sq ft | Roll-A-Shield's standard bridge; Wi-Fi only; 1-year maker's warranty |
| Bond Bridge Pro | Gaposa and Somfy RTS motors | up to 50 devices | about 3,500 sq ft | For very large homes; Wi-Fi or wired Ethernet; 3-year maker's warranty |
| Gaposa Hub with RollApp | Gaposa radio motors only | up to 32 motors | not stated | Can pair motors and set limits without a remote; up to 10 schedules |
| Somfy TaHoma | Somfy RTS motors only | up to 32 shutters | not stated | Phone app with schedules and control from away |
The Bond Bridge can also learn infrared remotes; the Pro is radio only. That does not matter for shutters, but it means a home that already runs ceiling fans or fireplaces from a Bond Bridge can add its shutters to the same bridge, up to its 30-device limit.
Gaposa solar motors are remote-controlled too: Roll-A-Shield's solar-motor video says any Gaposa remote or the Gaposa smartphone app will run them.
How do I set up a Bond Bridge?
Setup takes a phone, your Wi-Fi password and the remote for each shutter. Bond's own guide gives five steps to get the bridge on Wi-Fi:
- Plug the bridge in and wait while its light ring is white (starting up).
- When the ring flashes green, it is ready to set up.
- Open the Bond Home app and sign in, then go to Settings, select Wi-Fi and join the "Bond Config" network.
- In the app, choose your home network and enter its password.
- When the ring turns blue, the bridge is on your network and you can add the shutters.
You then add each shutter in the app, using that shutter's remote so the bridge can learn its signal. Do this with the bridge close to the shutter, as below.
Where should the bridge go?
Put it near the middle of the shutters it runs, not at the far end of the house next to the router. Pair each shutter with the bridge within about 10 to 15 ft of it, then move the bridge to its permanent place; thick walls and security cameras interfere with the signal. In Roll-A-Shield's experience a bridge that is not central to the motors can drop a shutter even when it is only 10 to 15 ft away, and moving the bridge closer usually fixes it.
If shutters at one end of the house still drop out, the options are a Bond Bridge Pro, which reaches farther, or a second bridge for that area. Troubleshooting is on the app or bridge keeps losing the shutter.
Do I still need a remote?
Yes. Keep at least one working remote for each shutter. On Gaposa and Somfy radio motors, adding a new remote and adjusting a limit are done from a remote that is already paired, and the Bond Bridge learns each shutter from its remote. The Gaposa hub is the exception: its app can pair a motor and set its limits without a remote.
The remote is also your control if the Wi-Fi, the bridge or the app is down, and, on a radio motor with a manual override, the crank is your control if the power is down. See what to do when the power is out.
What else can the app do?
Beyond up, stop and down, the Gaposa hub's app groups shutters into rooms, sends them to a saved preset position, and runs schedules by time of day or by sunrise and sunset. The Bond Bridge and the Gaposa hub both connect to Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control. Schedules are covered on timers and schedules for rolling shutters, and Alexa, Google and whole-home systems on Control4, Lutron, Crestron, Alexa and Google.
For a bridge on a new order, or to check whether your existing shutters can go on a phone, call (480) 921-0200.
Frequently asked questions
Do remote-controlled shutters need Wi-Fi?
No. A remote talks to the motor directly by radio, with no Wi-Fi involved. Wi-Fi matters only if you add a bridge or hub for phone or voice control.
Does each shutter need its own Bond Bridge?
No. One Bond Bridge handles up to 30 devices within about 2,500 sq ft, so one bridge usually serves a whole house. A very large home, or a separate building, may need a Bond Bridge Pro or a second bridge.
Does the Bond Bridge work with Somfy motors as well as Gaposa?
Yes. It works with both brands' remote-control (RTS) motors. It does not work with OZRoll battery motors or with wall-switch motors, because those have no radio receiver.
The app says my bridge is registered to someone else. What do I do?
This can happen after buying a house that already has shutters. Call Roll-A-Shield on (480) 921-0200 and we will walk you through it; do not reset the motors until we have talked.
Parts and next step
Need a part or a hand?
Replacement motors, remotes, straps, slats and hardware ship from our Tempe, Arizona factory. Phoenix-area owners can book a service visit; everywhere else, our technicians help by phone. Call (480) 921-0200; the factory answers technical questions for any rolling shutter, not only ours.