# Spark Core Credential Transmission Method

**URL:** <https://community.particle.io/t/spark-core-credential-transmission-method/4566>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [May 23, 2014, 10:13pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/spark-core-credential-transmission-method/4566 "2014-05-23T22:13:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![arca1n](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/arca1n/32/1373_2.png) [@arca1n](https://community.particle.io/u/arca1n)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 10:13pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/spark-core-credential-transmission-method/4566/1 "2014-05-23T22:13:45Z")

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I just booted up my spark core and used the app to provide it the network credentials. How does it work under the hood?  
When I think about it, my phone was on a wifi network and the spark was not, but it still received the credentials. I am just curious to know.

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**Author:** ![bko](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/bko/32/20704_2.png) [@bko](https://community.particle.io/u/bko)\
**Post date:** [May 23, 2014, 10:26pm UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/spark-core-credential-transmission-method/4566/2 "2014-05-23T22:26:06Z")

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Hi @arca1n

Another forum member wrote up a nice description of how it works over here:

> **[Smart Config - the missing manual now available :)](https://community.particle.io/t/smart-config-the-missing-manual-now-available/442)**
>
> I’ve cross posted this to the Adafruit forums as well, so sorry for duplicating. After mentioning before that I’d been looking into Smart Config in detail I’ve finally written it all up and I thought you guys (particularly @zachary, @BDub, @zach...

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**Author:** ![wgbartley](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex026/user_avatar/community.particle.io/wgbartley/32/1910_2.png) [@wgbartley](https://community.particle.io/u/wgbartley)\
**Post date:** [May 24, 2014, 3:34am UTC](https://community.particle.io/t/spark-core-credential-transmission-method/4566/3 "2014-05-24T03:34:16Z")

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**TL;DR** The Spark listens to wifi for a sequence of UDP packets. Encrypted or not, it’s looking for patterns in the actual pulse very much like Morse code. That’s how your phone is able to transmit wifi credentials over wifi without the Spark actually associated with any wifi network.

Even shorter - :spark: magic :spark:.