Balto Beacon birchwoo_baltobeacon https://wiki.birchwoodlimited.com/baltobeacon/index.php/Main_Page MediaWiki 1.46.0 first-letter Media Special Talk User User talk Balto Beacon Balto Beacon talk File File talk MediaWiki MediaWiki talk Template Template talk Help Help talk Category Category talk 0 1 53 44 2026-08-21T18:35:21Z Baltoadmin 2 /* Welcome to Balto Beacon™ */ 53 wikitext text/x-wiki = Welcome to Balto Beacon™ = [[File:Balto Beacon Splash.jpg|center|thumb]] '''Balto Beacon''' is a free cross-platform mobile application published by '''Birchwood Limited''' for search-and-rescue (SAR) K9 teams. It receives live GPS position data from Loko hardware trackers and relays those positions to [https://caltopo.com CalTopo] via its Shared Locations API and Locator objects, allowing incident command and field teams to see live dog and handler positions on a shared map. [[File:Loko Device.png|center|thumb|Loko Ground and Air units]] == Documentation Set == * '''[[Balto Beacon User Guide]]''' — For SAR team members and handlers using the app in the field. * '''[[Balto Beacon Loko Hardware Setup]]''' — Step-by-step guide to configuring your Loko Ground and Air units for use with the app. == At a Glance == {| class="wikitable" ! Item !! Detail |- | Publisher || Birchwood Limited |- | Platforms || iOS, Android, macOS (in development) |- | Hardware supported || Loko Ground unit (Bluetooth), Loko Air unit (radio, worn on collar) |- | Data destination || CalTopo Shared Locations API |- | Status || Field-validated; active development |} == What Balto Beacon Does == * Scans for and connects to Loko Ground station hardware over Bluetooth. * Receives GPS positions relayed from Loko Air units (worn on dog collars) via the Ground unit. * Uploads live positions to a CalTopo map so incident command and other field assets can see dog/handler locations in real time. * Displays a live map with per-unit tracks, battery status, compass heading, and distance-to-tracker. * Buffers and backfills position uploads through CalTopo outages or connectivity gaps so no data is lost. == Related Projects == * '''Balto K9''' — Birchwood Limited's published K9 training log app. Serves as a design reference for maps, gestures, and UI conventions shared with Beacon. * '''Original SAR Hardware''' — A purpose-built collar + ground station system in development, intended to eventually supersede the Loko hardware that Beacon currently talks to. == Where can I buy the Loko product? == [https://www.seeedstudio.com/Loko-GPS-Tracker-p-6261.html Seeed Studio] Note: The Loko product is not manufactured by Birchwood Limited. It is an open-source project and is subject to changes by its creator. == Support / Ownership == Balto Beacon is developed and maintained by Birchwood Limited. For technical issues, see the project's issue tracker (link TBD). [[Category:Balto Beacon]] f5o1umofggs6m4s8con1zlz9lplnzwm