Pair your Itron Mobile Radio (IMR) using Bluetooth

The Field Tools app running on your mobile device communicates with Itron meters and ERTs through an Itron Mobile Radio (IMR). Your IMR connects to your mobile device through a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) pairing. BLE operates like regular Bluetooth, however, BLE remains in sleep mode constantly until a connection is initiated. BLE is used for applications that do not need to exchange large amounts of data, and can therefore run on battery power for years longer that classic Bluetooth devices.

The Bluetooth connection between your mobile device and IMR is used for performing all commands except for the Extract Core Files command. If you need to use the Extract Core Files command, a USB connection between your mobile device and the IMR is required (in addition to other minimum requirements).

Tip: After you successfully pair your mobile device with the IMR, perform at least one command on an endpoint to engage the IMR's radio. Doing so causes the IMR to return the battery level to Field Tools. Tap the main menu and look to the lower-left, near your user name and business unit. For more information, see Get familiar.
Screenshot: the Menu open with the IMR Battery's current status at ten percent.

BLE Pairing works best when the mobile device and IMR have an unobstructed view between them.

Note: An Itron Bluetooth pairing tool is available and should be used with Windows systems.

Note: These images show an Android device. Your experience and the way your screen looks may differ slightly depending on what device you are using.

  1. Ensure your mobile device and IMR are close to one another.

  2. Double-check that your mobile device's Location setting is on (for more information, see View and Set Field Tools App Permissions, below).

    Screenshot: the app is requesting to allow Field Tools to access the device's location with three options: 1. While using the app. 2. Only this time. or 3. Deny.

  3. (Android mobile devices only) Double-check that your mobile device's Nearby Devices permission is set to Allow for the Field Tools app (for more information, see View and Set Field Tools App Permissions, below).

  4. Double-check that your mobile device's Bluetooth setting is on.

    Screenshot: the mobile device's standard operating system Bluetooth on-off selector.

  5. In Field Tools, open "" (Settings).

    Field Tools automatically scans for BLE devices. Available IMRs are listed.

  6. In the list of available radios, tap the IMR you want to use. You may need to scroll to see all available devices and locate the one you want.

    Screenshot: the Settings screen with the Comms Server, Comms Server Port field completed, the Save endpoint information selector set to On, and an IMR radio selected.

  7. With your preferred IMR highlighted, tap Save.

    The Settings screen closes. If you want to double-check that your preferred radio setting is changed, just open the menu and tap (Settings).

These instructions are for an Android device. Your experience will differ depending on the type of mobile device you are using.

  1. Open "" (Settings).

  2. Go to Apps > Field Tools > Permissions.

    For Field Tools to pair and operate successfully with the IMR over Bluetooth, the following access permissions must be set to Allow:

    • Location

    • (Android mobile devices only) Nearby devices

  3. To give the Field Tools app permissions for either of these, tap the permission and select Allow (or a variation of Allow).

    Screenshot: Mobile device operating system's standard app permissions settings, open to the Field Tools app's Nearby devices permission and Location permission.

Refer to the documentation, such as the Itron Mobile Radio User Guide or the IMR Quick Reference Card that came with your IMR.