Wow. What a year. This week I’ve had an interesting device show up on my desk: The TROVA GO, a smart-enabled lockbox that can be opened with your Phone or Tablet, using a PIN or Biometrics. The folks at TROVA designed it as a self-controlled travel lockbox for your most precious jewelry or other valuables. Let’s take a closer look.
In the Box
The TROVA GO arrived in a lovely little retail box that held the TROVA GO, a USB C charging cable, and the necessary instructions. You will have to download the app from either the Apple Store or Google Play Store to use the device. Like every USB charged item I immediately plugged it into a power source to get a full charge while setting up the app.
The TROVA GO is a lightweight smart storage solution intended to conveniently keep your valuables out of sight while traveling. It’s got a magnetic strip to hold any rings, comes with a smaller plastic box which has two compartments and can hold necklaces and similar, and can be opened using the app with a numerical code, or the biometrics in your phone can be utilized. The TROVA GO is silicone sealed to contain odors but it is not waterproof, nor fireproof. At one end is the USB C power port and the other end has a Multifunction button lit with an LED which changes color depending on use. More on that later. The box itself is about the size of a USB power pack. It’s basic black with a soft silicone interior and can contain a handful of small items, or cash. My major complaint about the box: the artistic design includes a matching angle on top and bottom but not a flat base so when I’ve tried to open the box when the lock has released I’ve more than once accidentally pushed it shut again. That is because the box tilts and rocks a bit when on a flat surface. Let’s look deeper:
Need An App
Once you’ve charged your TROVA GO Security box and installed the app you are ready to pair the device to your phone. First, hold the MFB for 5 seconds to turn on the TROVA GO. Push the Multifunction button (MFB) and the LED will light with a white pulse. Make sure your Bluetooth is on and you can easily pair your TROVA GO with your Apple or Android Phone. The LED will light Green when you are paired. If you see the LED pulsing in white, you probably got too far away from your phone and they are trying to reconnect. It’s ok: The TROVA GO utilizes your phone’s location software to find the box. You will also get an app notification on your phone when the TROVA GO is disconnected from your phone. Open the app then choose “Locate” it will open in Google maps. When you zoom in you can actually walk around your house to find the item. I had my 5-year-old hide it for an hour and I could find it every time. The TROVA GO is for sale at TROVA or Amazon for around $200 USD as of the article’s date. . The MFB/LED also alerts you to your battery level indicating Green when ample power remains, yellow LED is a low battery, and Red requires charging. Finally: White/Orange flashing LED means forced disconnection/authentication error. You can also rename your TROVA GO using the App menu. There is a pinhole reset button next to the MFB which is not described in the Instruction book. According to the company owner: “Once the TROVA GO has been paired that reset button only restarts the firmware on the computer chip that powers the functionality of the TROVA. Sometimes the firmware will jam up so to speak and this gives us a way to restart it. It does not reset it to factory settings and each TROVA GO or GO PLUS can only be paired to one phone. Once it is paired to that phone it cannot be paired to another phone unless the initial user clears the device from their account and “frees” it to be paired to a new phone. Or the paired user can use their email and password to set up the TROVA APP on a new phone and it will bring up their paired devices and repair quickly on that new phone.”
Final Thoughts:
For the person always on the road, who has a need to secure their jewelry, watch cash, or other important items like medical supplies in a securely locked box with biometric or a PIN to open: The TROVA GO is an upscale version of the old school Travel safe. Out of the box, it was easy to find and load the Application and then quickly set up my numerical PIN and/or biometrics on my phone to operate the TROVA Go lockbox. I preferred using fingerprint scans which allowed the box to open really quickly and responsively every time. The TROVA GO can hold a handful of your valuables on the road, and it’s easy to conceal or just leave out since it looks almost like a USB power source. I give the TROVA GO 8 out of 10 for a very interesting and useful device with one minor style issue. Thanks to TROVA for bringing us some original technology which is form and function. I can’t wait to see what the New Year will bring to POCNETWORK.NET and all of you!
Our Rating | Average * $199.00 | ||
*Average price is based on the time this article was published
Specifications:
- Constructed of strong Aluminum Alloy to safely secure your belongings
- High-quality precise premium CNC finish
- Exterior Dimensions 6.1” (155mm) X 3″ (76.3mm) X 1.2” (25mm)
- Interior dimension Bottom Tray 5.2″ (132mm) X 2.2″ (55.7mm) Top Lid 5.5″ (139mm) X 2.5″ (62.5mm) X Total interior height .75″ (19mm)
- Wirelessly connected via Bluetooth technology to the TROVA app and accessible through your phones native biometric verification
- Designed for multi-function use, the internal strap is sized to hold credit cards, cash, vape pen, and more
- Sealed to conceal odor and made in aluminum alloy
- The upper lid strap is designed to conveniently hold rings via a magnetic closure
- Designed to easily fit in a jacket pocket, back pocket, or be carried in hand with your phone
- Crafted leather sleeve sold separately to protect the Alu from scratching
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