Bluetooth Tag S18-3 - FAQ

How can I power my Bluetooth Tag S18-3 on/off?

By default the Bluetooth Tag S18-3 is shipped powered on. If you want to switch it off, hold down the button for at least 5 seconds. If the LED lights up slowly, the tag is turning off and no more packets will be broadcasted.
When your Bluetooth Tag S18-3 is not broadcasting, hold down the button for at least 5 seconds. If the LED flashes on quickly few times, the tag is powering on.

How does the button work?

There are two different features included with the button: additional Kontakt.io Telemetry packet data and a new ibeacon_button packet.

Telemetry packet data

Telemetry packet includes two kinds of data: a standard telemetry packet and a button data packet. The button-related data indicates time since the button was last clicked (in seconds).

For example: lastSingleClick=300 this means it has been 300 seconds since the button was clicked. When the button is clicked again, it will start counting from 0.
NOTE: To activate the telemetry button data packet, just enable standard telemetry packet.

iBeacon_button packet

When the button is clicked, an additional iBeacon packet (ibeacon_button) will also be broadcasted. The ibeacon_button packet has the same Major and Minor as the standard iBeacon packet, you can find the packet numbers in Kontakt.io Panel. The given packet is broadcast for 10 seconds.
NOTE: The ibeacon_button is enabled for all S18-3 tags by default and is not configurable.

Also, note that proximity will be increased by 1.
For example:
Standard iBeacon packet: Major: 1, Minor: 2, Proximity: 3274b3e8-eca3-4f82-bdcb-9b32722daa05

Ibeacon_button packet triggered by button : Major: 1, Minor: 2, Proximity: 3274b3e8-eca3-4f82-bdcb-9b32722daa06

How to activate button to broadcast additional packets?

If you want to use telemetry button data, just enable telemetry packet for your tag through the Kontakt.io Administration App (iOS) or Kontakt.io (Android).

By default all tags have the additional button packet (ibeacon_button) enabled, so you won’t need any additional configuration.
Just click button once (for at least 50ms) and the packet(s) will be broadcasted.
Note: You will need active Location Engin subscription and at least one Gateway.

How do I know ibeacon_button packet is being broadcast?

The LED will flash fast for 5 seconds when button will be clicked. (LED is a confirmation that a packet was broadcasted).

For how long is ibeacon_button packet broadcasted?

The packet is broadcasted for 10 seconds.

How is the accelerometer configured?

By default accelerometer detects movement events.
For specific accelerometer configuration, check the developer documentation.

What telemetry data does the Bluetooth Tag S18-3 broadcast?

Battery level, temperature, seconds from last movement/free fall event, UTC timestamp, time since last button click (in seconds).

Does the Bluetooth Tag S18-3 support the power saving feature?

Yes. Like Beacon Pro, this tag has RTC power saving. When power saving is enabled, only the Kontakt packet is broadcasted.
Please note that ibeacon_button packet will also be broadcasted when power saving is on.

What are the default settings for the Bluetooth Tag S18-3?

By default: interval 350s, txPower 3, packets: ibeacon_button, Kontakt_packet, ibeacon.

What is the temperature range possible to read with temperature sensor in S18-3?

-40°C to +85°C. Device operating temperature is -20°C to to + 65°C

Can the Bluetooth Tag S18-3 be cleaned using products containing alcohol, chlorine, and/or hydrogen peroxide?

Yes, it will not affect the casing, however keep in mind the printed logo may be affected.

Where can I see data collected from the button?

Via Websocket and MQTT protocols: stream/{uniqueId}/button. This is enabled for users with Gateway and active Location Engine subscription.

What is current firmware version for Tag S18-3?

Current version is 1.2 (20.02.2018).

Is Tag S18-3 waterproof?

Yes, Bluetooth Tag S18-3 is IP65.

What is the battery lifetime?

Battery lifetime with standard settings (interval 350 ms and txPower 3) is 12 months, the battery in S18-3 is easily replaceable.
Keep in mind, that exposing tag to low temperature will shorten battery life.
For more details, please refer to battery vendor.

How does the button press influence battery lifetime? (on default settings)

A single click consumes about 7 minutes of battery power. That means 205 clicks will reduce total tag lifetime by approximately 1 day.

What is the minimum interval between clicks?

5 seconds. A successful button press is indicated by the LED diode blinking rapidly for 5 seconds. After this time, the button can be pressed again.