Balto Beacon Loko Hardware Setup - Revision history

Baltoadmin: /* Step 1: Initial Setup */

2026-08-22T19:55:47Z

Step 1: Initial Setup

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:55, 22 August 2026
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	{{note\|IMPORTANT: You MUST set the frequency to 915 MHz to operate legally in the US and 868 MHz in Europe.		{{note\|IMPORTANT: You MUST set the frequency to 915 MHz to operate legally in the US and 868 MHz in Europe.
	(For the Ground unit, that's 915000000 and 868000000)}}		(For the Ground unit, that's 915000000 and 868000000)}}
	[[File:Loko Air Config.jpg\|center\|thumb\|~~568x568px~~]]		{\| class="wikitable"
			\|+
			![[File:Loko Air Config.jpg\|center\|thumb\|454x454px]]
			![[File:Loko Ground Config.jpg\|center\|thumb\|400x400px]]
			\|}
	The devices have ID numbers that you should specify particularly if you have multiple Ground and Air units.		The devices have ID numbers that you should specify particularly if you have multiple Ground and Air units.
	The Air unit broadcasts its own ID number (which is ID1) and the ID of the Ground unit it wants to listen to it (which is ID2).		The Air unit broadcasts its own ID number (which is ID1) and the ID of the Ground unit it wants to listen to it (which is ID2).

Baltoadmin: /* Step 1: Initial Setup */

2026-08-22T19:53:00Z

Step 1: Initial Setup

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:53, 22 August 2026
Line 35:		Line 35:
	{{note\|IMPORTANT: You MUST set the frequency to 915 MHz to operate legally in the US and 868 MHz in Europe.		{{note\|IMPORTANT: You MUST set the frequency to 915 MHz to operate legally in the US and 868 MHz in Europe.
	(For the Ground unit, that's 915000000 and 868000000)}}		(For the Ground unit, that's 915000000 and 868000000)}}
			[[File:Loko Air Config.jpg\|center\|thumb\|568x568px]]

	The devices have ID numbers that you should specify particularly if you have multiple Ground and Air units.		The devices have ID numbers that you should specify particularly if you have multiple Ground and Air units.

Baltoadmin: /* What You'll Need */

2026-08-21T18:32:22Z

What You'll Need

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:32, 21 August 2026
Line 57:		Line 57:
	You MUST set the frequency to 915 MHz to operate legally in the US and 868 MHz in Europe.		You MUST set the frequency to 915 MHz to operate legally in the US and 868 MHz in Europe.
	(For the Ground unit, that's 915000000 and 868000000)		(For the Ground unit, that's 915000000 and 868000000)

			Tx Power at 8 dBM can give you quite a lot of range depending on terrain and vegetation. In tests, we've seen 1 km or more. Increasing the power can help with signal dropouts. But you also reduce the battery time.

	If you want the position information to be encrypted, you can enable P2P Encryption and enter a key. Both Air and Ground units need to use the same key.		If you want the position information to be encrypted, you can enable P2P Encryption and enter a key. Both Air and Ground units need to use the same key.

Baltoadmin: /* Step 4: Connect the Ground Unit to Balto Beacon */

2026-08-21T18:26:38Z

Step 4: Connect the Ground Unit to Balto Beacon

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:26, 21 August 2026
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	# To turn the Ground unit off, press and hold the power button for several seconds. The LED will switch between magenta and red. Then release the power button.		# To turn the Ground unit off, press and hold the power button for several seconds. The LED will switch between magenta and red. Then release the power button.

	{{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~~.}}		{{note\|When you connect a given Ground unit, you'll need to confirm it manually. If your phone loses Bluetooth connection, it will automatically reconnect as long as the Beacon app is still running. Bluetooth range is about 50 meters.}}

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

Baltoadmin: /* Step 1: Initial Setup */

2026-08-21T18:23:14Z

Step 1: Initial Setup

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:23, 21 August 2026
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	Perform the firmware updates on both Ground and Air units before proceeding.		Perform the firmware updates on both Ground and Air units before proceeding.

	IMPORTANT: You MUST set the frequency to 915 MHz to operate legally in the US and 868 MHz in Europe.		{{note\|IMPORTANT: You MUST set the frequency to 915 MHz to operate legally in the US and 868 MHz in Europe.
	(For the Ground unit, that's 915000000 and 868000000)		(For the Ground unit, that's 915000000 and 868000000)}}

	The devices have ID numbers that you should specify particularly if you have multiple Ground and Air units.		The devices have ID numbers that you should specify particularly if you have multiple Ground and Air units.

Baltoadmin: /* Step 1: Initial Setup */

2026-08-21T18:22:27Z

Step 1: Initial Setup

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:22, 21 August 2026
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	[https://www.wch-ic.com/downloads/CH341SER_MAC_ZIP.html MacOS Driver]		[https://www.wch-ic.com/downloads/CH341SER_MAC_ZIP.html MacOS Driver]

			Driver installation may require enabling and permissions to your OS. (It does on a Mac)

			Here's the link to the Nolilabs Loko configuration page:
			[https://www.nolilab.com/loko-config-tool/]

			Perform the firmware updates on both Ground and Air units before proceeding.

			IMPORTANT: You MUST set the frequency to 915 MHz to operate legally in the US and 868 MHz in Europe.
			(For the Ground unit, that's 915000000 and 868000000)

			The devices have ID numbers that you should specify particularly if you have multiple Ground and Air units.
			The Air unit broadcasts its own ID number (which is ID1) and the ID of the Ground unit it wants to listen to it (which is ID2).

			The choice of these ID numbers matters for a SAR team with multiple dogs. Each dog should have a specific number for ID1. If you have several Ground stations, they could all use the same ID2 number and each person would be seeing all of the Air units. Or you could give each handler with a Ground unit a different ID2 number so they only see their own dog.

			What you need to avoid is more than one Air unit with the same ID1 number. Ground units won't be able to tell them apart and if it worked at all, there would be a lot of conflicting position data.

			The Wake-up period is how often the GPS position is reported. The smaller that time is, the more detail you get in the resulting track but the faster the battery gets used. 5 seconds gets you about 3 hours of battery time.

			Send Mult should be set to 1.

			Save Mult is the interval for how often GPS positions are stored on the Air unit's internal memory. So even if the wireless link fails, the track can be saved and downloaded in GPX format later.

			There are several GNSS modes. Normal and Fitness are the useful ones. Normal tends to capture a lot of extra movement when you're standing around due to the way GPS signals work. Fitness mode can filter out a lot of that noise but it might not capture more subtle movement of the dog.

			You'll want to leave the Daily Sleep Window off.

			Transmit Mode must be on P2P (point-to-point). LoRaWAN Mode is not supported by Balto Beacon.

			You MUST set the frequency to 915 MHz to operate legally in the US and 868 MHz in Europe.
			(For the Ground unit, that's 915000000 and 868000000)

			If you want the position information to be encrypted, you can enable P2P Encryption and enter a key. Both Air and Ground units need to use the same key.

			You can also include Velocity and Altitude in the data. CalTopo can capture the Altitude.

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

Baltoadmin: /* Step 1: Initial Setup */

2026-08-21T17:53:41Z

Step 1: Initial Setup

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:53, 21 August 2026
Line 24:		Line 24:
	[https://www.wch-ic.com/downloads/CH341SER_ZIP.html Windows CH340/341 Driver]		[https://www.wch-ic.com/downloads/CH341SER_ZIP.html Windows CH340/341 Driver]

	MacOS Driver		[https://www.wch-ic.com/downloads/CH341SER_MAC_ZIP.html MacOS Driver]

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

Baltoadmin: /* Step 1: Initial Setup */

2026-08-21T17:52:47Z

Step 1: Initial Setup

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:52, 21 August 2026
Line 22:		Line 22:
	You will probably need to update the firmware in the Loko devices. This can be done on a Mac or Windows computer. You will need Google Chrome installed. Firefox and Safari do not support USB devices. You may also need to install the USB driver.		You will probably need to update the firmware in the Loko devices. This can be done on a Mac or Windows computer. You will need Google Chrome installed. Firefox and Safari do not support USB devices. You may also need to install the USB driver.

	Windows CH340/341 Driver		[https://www.wch-ic.com/downloads/CH341SER_ZIP.html Windows CH340/341 Driver]

	MacOS Driver		MacOS Driver

Baltoadmin: /* Step 1: Initial Setup */

2026-08-21T17:52:23Z

Step 1: Initial Setup

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:52, 21 August 2026
Line 19:		Line 19:

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

			You will probably need to update the firmware in the Loko devices. This can be done on a Mac or Windows computer. You will need Google Chrome installed. Firefox and Safari do not support USB devices. You may also need to install the USB driver.

			Windows CH340/341 Driver

			MacOS Driver

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

Baltoadmin: /* What You'll Need */

2026-08-21T17:45:54Z

What You'll Need

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:45, 21 August 2026
Line 7:		Line 7:
	== What You'll Need ==		== What You'll Need ==

	* 1× Loko Ground unit		* 1× Loko Ground unit Note: the Ground unit needs an 18650 battery which isn't included. You can get these from Amazon.
	* 1× Loko Air unit per dog		* 1× Loko Air unit per dog
	* A phone or tablet with Balto Beacon installed and Bluetooth enabled		* A phone or tablet with Balto Beacon installed and Bluetooth enabled
	* ~~Charging~~ cables for the Ground unit and each Air unit		* USB-C cables for the Ground unit and each Air unit

	== Step 1: ~~Charge Everything~~ ==		== Step 1: Initial Setup ==

	Before first use, fully charge:		Before first use, fully charge: