Fringe Signal

Fringe Signal

Support

Stuck on something, found a bug, or have an idea? Email contact@keegangaffney.com. Fringe Signal is made by one person, and every message gets read and answered personally.

Most questions are answered below.

1Contact

Write to contact@keegangaffney.com. The details below make a problem much faster to track down:

  • The app version, shown under the title in Settings
  • Your iPhone or iPad model and iOS version
  • What you were doing, what you expected, and what happened instead
  • A screenshot of any error message

Saved maps are never attached automatically. If a map would help, export it with Share mapand attach it yourself. The privacy policy explains how support email is handled.

2Wi-Fi readings and the Shortcut

iOS doesn’t let App Store apps read Wi-Fi signal strength. Apple’s Shortcuts app can, so the freeFringe Signal Shortcut reads it and hands it to the app while you scan. Setup on first launch adds the Shortcut and runs a 10-second test. You can alsoget the Shortcut from iCloud directly.

The test says “The shortcut didn’t start”

The Shortcut isn’t added, or it has been renamed. The app looks for a Shortcut named exactlyFringe Signal. Add it again from Measurement shortcut, or check the name inSettingsHelp & privacyShortcut name & Action Button. If you tapped Don’t Allow on the first prompt, run the test again and tapAllow.

The test says “Shortcuts answered, but sent no signal”

The Wi-Fi permission prompt got Don’t Allow, and iOS won’t ask again until you reset it. In the Shortcuts app, touch and hold Fringe Signal, then go toDetailsPrivacyReset Privacy. Run the test again and tap Always Allow each time iOS asks. It often asks a few times in a row.Allow Once means it will keep asking in the middle of a scan.

“Shortcuts didn’t open”

The Shortcuts app may have been removed. It’s free from Apple in the App Store. Install it, then try again.

Readings stop or show “Wi-Fi delayed” during a scan

Make sure you’re connected to Wi-Fi. The app measures the network you’re connected to. Shortcuts flashes open for a second when a scan starts, which is expected. After that, stay in Fringe Signal, because leaving ends the scan (what you’ve captured is kept). If readings stop, finish and save, then continue in a new session. A single session can take readings for up to 30 minutes.

If you see “Update the Fringe Signal shortcut,” reinstall it from Measurement shortcut.

3Scanning and measuring

Which devices can scan?

Scanning and measuring need the LiDAR scanner on iPhone 12 Pro and later Pro models and iPad Pro (2020 and later), running iOS 26 or later. Other iPhones and iPads can open spaces synced through iCloud, share maps, and use the Connection tab.

Getting a good scan

  • Turn the lights on. Tracking needs a well-lit, textured view, so blank walls and dark rooms are harder.
  • Move slowly and pan each wall corner to corner, floor to ceiling, until it’s outlined.
  • Walk the room like you’re mowing a lawn, and cross the middle, not just the edges. Signal is only measured where you walk, so spots you skip stay blank.
  • Hold the phone at a steady chest height so readings are comparable.

More tips are in SettingsHelp & privacyScanning tips.

“Recovering position” or “Look around to recognize the room”

The camera has lost track of where you are. Return to an area you already scanned, face a well-lit, detailed surface, and move slowly. If tracking doesn’t come back, finish and save. Your saved floor and readings are safe, and you can continue with manual alignment.

A scan was interrupted

A call, a crash, or leaving the app can interrupt a scan. Go toSettingsHelp & privacySaved data and look underInterrupted scans. Recover saved copy turns the last checkpoint into a new saved space. Review the map before continuing, because you may need to realign the camera.

Comparing before and after

After you move a router or add a mesh node, open the floor and choose Measure again. This starts a new run and keeps the old one, so you can switch between runs to compare them.Add readings fills gaps in the current run instead.

4iCloud sync

Saved spaces sync through your private iCloud account automatically when iCloud is available. Check the status in SettingsYour spacesiCloud sync, where you can also turn sync off or tap Sync now.

A space doesn’t appear on my other device

  • Check that both devices are signed in to the same Apple Account and have iCloud sync turned on.
  • On the device that made the scan, open iCloud sync and wait until the space showsSynced. If it says an upload needs attention, open the details and tapSync now.
  • Open the app on the other device while connected to the internet. Camera data downloads when it’s needed, so a large space can take a moment to appear in full.
  • Unfinished drafts stay on the device that made them and don’t sync.

If you switch iCloud accounts, sync pauses. Local spaces stay on the device but aren’t moved to the new account.

5Internet speed test

The speed test in the Connection tab measures download, upload, latency, and jitter against Cloudflare. It doesn’t need LiDAR or the Shortcut.

  • It tests whatever connection you’re using now: Wi-Fi, cellular, or a VPN. Turn off a VPN to test your Wi-Fi alone.
  • A test can use about 275 MB of data, so watch out if you’re on a cellular plan.
  • Leaving the tab or switching apps stops the test. If you see “Incomplete test,” run it again for a full result.
  • Wi-Fi link rates describe the connection between your device and the router, not your internet speed, so the two numbers often differ.
  • Results won’t exactly match Cloudflare’s browser test or other services. The upload figure is a conservative estimate.

6Floors, exports, and saved data

More than one floor

Open a saved space and tap the + beside the floor names to add a floor when you move upstairs or downstairs. To extend a floor you’ve already scanned, useMoreContinue floor scan.

Exporting a map

Open a space and tap Share map. Save image saves a PNG to Photos. Turn onInclude all floors to save a PDF with one floor per page. If saving fails, allow Fringe Signal to add photos in iOS Settings, or use Share… to send the file somewhere else.

Renaming and deleting

In a space, open More to rename or delete it. Deleting a space removes it from all your synced devices. Exported images and PDFs aren’t affected.

7Subscriptions and refunds

Apple handles all billing for Fringe Signal subscriptions, so changes, cancellations, and refunds go through your Apple Account.

Cancel or change
On your iPhone or iPad, open Settingsyour nameSubscriptions. Cancel at least 24 hours before renewal to avoid the next charge. Deleting the app doesn’t cancel a subscription. Apple’s guide
Request a refund
Refunds are granted by Apple, not by us. Request one at reportaproblem.apple.com.Apple’s guide
New device
Sign in with the Apple Account you subscribed with. If your subscription doesn’t show up, email us.