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= 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]]