Editing Balto Beacon Loko Hardware Setup

= Balto Beacon: Loko Hardware Setup =

This page walks through configuring your Loko hardware for use with Balto Beacon, from unboxing/charging through confirming everything is reporting correctly. For general app usage after setup, see [[Balto Beacon User Guide]].

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== What You'll Need ==

* 1× Loko Ground unit
* 1× Loko Air unit per dog
* A phone or tablet with Balto Beacon installed and Bluetooth enabled
* Charging cables for the Ground unit and each Air unit

== Step 1: Charge Everything ==

Before first use, fully charge:
# The Loko Ground unit
# Every Loko Air unit you plan to use

{{note|Do this well before deployment — charging takes time, and you don't want to be waiting on a battery during a callout.}}

== Step 2: Mount the Air Unit on the Collar ==

# Attach the Air unit securely to the dog's collar per the hardware's mounting hardware/strap.
# Make sure it's snug and won't spin, catch on brush, or come loose during work.
# Power on the Air unit and confirm it powers up (check for its status light, if equipped).

== Step 3: Power On the Ground Unit ==

# Power on the Loko Ground unit.
# Keep it within Bluetooth range of the phone that will run Balto Beacon (it will typically be carried by the handler or kept at a base station).

== Step 4: Connect the Ground Unit to Balto Beacon ==

# Open Balto Beacon on your phone.
# Make sure Bluetooth is turned on.
# Open the device scan/connect screen in the app.
# Select your Ground unit from the list of nearby devices.
# Confirm the connection.

{{note|The first time you connect a given Ground unit, you'll need to confirm it manually. After that, Balto Beacon will remember it and reconnect automatically on future launches — no need to re-pair.}}

== Step 5: Confirm the Air Unit Is Reporting ==

# Once the Ground unit is connected, check the map screen in Balto Beacon.
# Within a short time, you should see a new tracker appear, corresponding to the Air unit on the dog's collar.
# If it doesn't appear, see [[#Troubleshooting|Troubleshooting]] below.

== Step 6: Name the Tracker ==

# Tap the new tracker's entry in the app.
# Rename it to something clear — typically the dog's call name — so it's easy to identify on the map and in CalTopo.
# Repeat for each additional dog/Air unit.

== Step 7: Enable GNSS Fitness Mode ==

Loko hardware supports a GPS "fitness mode" that reduces position jitter for a moving target, which is the normal case for a working dog. Leave this enabled for field use unless a team lead directs otherwise.

== Step 8: Confirm CalTopo Is Receiving Positions ==

# Ask your team lead which CalTopo map your kit is configured to report to (this is typically set up once per team/kit and shouldn't need to change day to day).
# With the tracker connected and moving, check that its position is updating on the shared CalTopo map.
# If it isn't updating, confirm you have cellular connectivity — Beacon will buffer and backfill automatically once connectivity returns, so a brief gap isn't a problem, but a fully offline phone won't upload until it reconnects.

== Adding a New Dog/Air Unit Later ==

You don't need to redo the whole setup for the whole team — just repeat Steps 1, 2, 5, and 6 for the new dog/Air unit. The Ground unit and phone connection (Steps 3–4) stay the same.

== Troubleshooting ==

{| class="wikitable"
! Symptom !! Likely cause !! What to do
|-
| Ground unit doesn't show up when scanning || Bluetooth off, unit not powered on, or out of range || Enable Bluetooth on your phone; confirm the Ground unit is powered on and nearby
|-
| Ground unit connects but no tracker appears || Air unit not powered on, out of range, or not yet linked to this Ground unit || Confirm the Air unit is powered on; move it closer to the Ground unit; power-cycle the Air unit
|-
| Tracker appears but position seems stale || Weak radio link between Air unit and Ground unit (e.g., terrain, distance) || Move the Ground unit/handler closer to the dog if possible; this should recover on its own as range improves
|-
| CalTopo map isn't updating || No cellular connectivity on the phone, or wrong CalTopo map configured || Check cellular signal; confirm with your team lead which map the kit should be reporting to
|-
| Air unit died mid-assignment || Battery exhausted (current hardware runs roughly 3–4 hours depending on settings) || Swap in a charged spare if available; note the time for the debrief
|}

[[Category:Balto Beacon]]