Quick start guide

Quick start guide

• Plug in the module
• Configure the module
• Testing the module

Pre-requires

The following things are needed to setup your bGeigieCast for first time use

• Fully working bGeigieNano kit
• bGeigieCast module
• A mobile phone or laptop that can connect to a WiFi access point
• A Safecast API Key
  • Get your API key from api.safecast.org
  • (Login -> Dashboard -> Retrieve your API key)

Plug in the module

The module is designed to be plug and play, so simply plug on the module on the XBee socket on the bGeigieNano. If you use a BLEBee bluetooth module, the bGeigieCast module will replace this.

(Image: bGeigieCast plugged on the bGeigieNano)

Configure the module

The following steps will guide you through the configuration process

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Step 1: Turn on the bGeigieNano

Now with the module on the bGeigieNano, switch on the device. This will also start up the bGeigieCast. The LED will blink as red-blue-green multi-color to show the module is initializing.

Note: make sure the module is also powered on.

(Image: bGeigieCast red-blue-green LED, blinking when initializing)

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Step 2: Go into config mode

Once the LED stops blinking (solid red-blue-green color), press the button to enter configuration mode. There is a 3 seconds time window to do this. After pressing the button, the LED should change to a solid purple (red-blue) color.

(Image: bGeigieCast purple LED, now in configuration mode)

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Step 3: Connect to the module

When the bGeigieCast is in configuration mode, you can connect to it and change configurations.

Open your mobile phone or laptop and go to the list of available WiFi networks. In here, a new network will show up with the name bgeigie1346 (where 1346 is your unique bGeigie ID). Connect to this network, the default password is safecast.

Note: by connecting to this endpoint, internet connection will no longer be available on your phone / laptop while connected to the bGeigieCast.

(Image: List of available WiFi networks, the bGeigieCast network marked with red)

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Step 4: Configure the module for fixed mode

Open your browser and connect directly to 192.168.5.1. This page will show a landing page. From here, go to Configure -> Connection settings. Then fill in the following settings required for fixed mode:

• WiFi network name
  • Your home WiFi network
• WiFi password
  • Your home WiFi network password
• API Key
  • API key for the Safecast API

!! Important !!

After configuring the WiFi credentials and restarting the bGeigieCast, connecting to the configuration server will be a bit different. The bGeigieCast will try to connect to the wifi network before starting its own access point. If the connection is made, you can no longer connect through 192.168.5.1, but instead you can use http://bgeigie1346.local/ (where 1346 is your bGeigieNano ID).

(Image: The connection settings page)

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Step 5: Other configurations (optional)

For more information about the settings and their description, see the User manual - available settings.

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Step 6: Exit configuration mode and use the module

To exit the configuration mode (when the LED color is red-blue / purple-ish), simply press the button once. The bGeigieCast will now enter its "active" mode, displaying either a blue LED (in mobile mode) or a greed-red (yellow) LED: the initial phase in fixed mode. For more details on the different modes, check out the User manual - using the module

Testing the module

Optional

Set up the device for testing fixed mode

To test the WiFi connection, the API key and publishing the measurements to the API, follow these steps:

1. Start the bGeigieCast and go into configuration mode
2. Connect to your bGeigieCast and go to the connection settings page
   1. Set Safecast server to Development
   2. Set send frequency to 30 seconds (this is optional, but faster for testing)
3. Enter fixed mode
   1. Press the button to leave configuration mode, this will bring you to your last used mode (default mobile mode, blue LED)
   2. If in mobile mode, press the button to go to fixed mode (Yellow-ish LED)
4. The LED should turn green after 5 minutes (or 30 seconds if you changed the frequency)

Please check the following:

• bGeigieCast LED is Green:
  • All good! You can now checkout Grafana for your measurements! (see below)
• bGeigieCast LED is Yellow-ish, the device is still gathering valid data
  • Make sure the device has a GPS lock
  • Make sure the sensor data looks valid (on the bGeigieNano display)
• bGeigieCast LED is RED
  • Make sure you have entered a valid API key
  • Make sure your WiFi has connection to the internet
  • If all should be good, the Safecast server might be down...

Grafana graphs

1. Go to Safecast Grafana
2. On the top left it should say "DRE". If not, open the dashboard menu and select General -> DRE.
3. Enter your device ID in the device input field. Your bGeigieCast ID is 6 + your bGeigieNano ID
   1. So bGeigie id 1346 would be 61346 as a fixed sensor!
4. On the top-left, select "last 30 minutes". You should see your measurements in a graph now!
5. Everything is working! You can change the configuration back to Production

(Image: Grafana)

Prepare for long time fixed sensor

This section will be updated in the future, when there is a full manual on how to connect wireless charging to your device. Basically: You need a wireless charging dock, a wireless charging receiver attached to your device and configure the settings for fixed mode production environment.