In this article you'll learn how to setup and install a Portal Beam. A Portal Beam is a multi-function room sensor that delivers occupancy measurements, environmental monitoring, built-in IR transmitter sends room ID for precise location of people and thing, and the infrastructure to support mobile indoor navigation.
A Portal Beam can be set to one of of its four modes, that being either IR for room-level tracking solutions, room occupancy, seat-level occupancy, or people footfall traffic. To learn more about the modes, see Portal Beam modes and capabilities. After a Portal Beam is installed, you can change its mode from the Kio Setup Manager app.
In this article:
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You have a Kio Cloud account along with your username and password.
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Portal Beam has been added to your Kio Cloud account.
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Kio Cloud Smart Location is setup; the mapping of the physical indoor environment.
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Infrastructure BLE to Wi-Fi gateway devices are deployed and installed; either Kontakt.io Portal Lights or third-party compatible Access Points, such as the Cisco Catalyst Access Points.
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Portal Beam in Footfall Traffic mode: requires an external power supply (battery power is for backup use only).
Power adapter: 110-220VAC to 12VDC power supply, DC jack 5.5mm.
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Tape measure; required to provide the ceiling height of the Portal Beam mounting location.
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Smartphone or tablet with Wi-Fi and internet connectivity, and Bluetooth enabled (on).
The following provides Portal Beam placement and coverage area guidelines.
In some cases, obstructions or other conditions may require a Beam to be mounted outside these guidelines.
When there is a deviation from these guidelines, consult with your Kontakt.io representative or submit a request to our support team for additional recommendations.
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Ceiling mount only, facing downwards. Do not mount to a side wall or in the corner of a room or space.
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Mount in the center of the room or space being monitored.
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For optimal coverage and accuracy, mount at its maximum height of 10.6 ft (3.25 m) and do not mount below its minimum install height of 8.2 ft (2.5 m). Mounting above or below this range will affect the its coverage area and accuracy.
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Must have an unobstructed view of the spaces. Do not mount where tall cabinets, hanging light fixtures, or other large stationary objects would obstruct its coverage area.
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Place at least 4 to 6 ft (1.2 to 1.8 m) away from heat sources, including supply vents, lighting or large stationary fixtures, windows, and other electronic stationary devices.
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Avoid mounting in the direct path of HVAC airflow ducts/vents or other heat sources.
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Avoid mounting directly above an area where the sun heats the floor, near glass doors, or in the path of direct sunlight.
The Portal Beam is equipped with a far-infrared wide-angle thermal camera that detects people by the thermal heat image captured within its coverage area. To accurately count people, the Portal Beam coverage area must contain the areas being measured and monitored for occupancy and be mounted at the correct ceiling location.
The following table provides the Portal Beam coverage area specifications. The ceiling height of the mounting location impacts the coverage area.
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Ceiling Height (H)* |
Coverage Area** |
Square Size (X) |
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8.2 ft (2.5 m) |
257 ft2 (24 m2) |
16 ft x 16 ft (4.9 m x 4.9 m) |
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9.0 ft (2.75 m) |
298 ft2 (28 m2) |
17.3 ft x 17.3 ft (5.3 m x 5.3 m) |
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9.8 ft (3 m) |
342 ft2 (32 m2) |
18.5 ft x 18.5 ft (5.6 m x 5.6 m) |
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10.6 ft (3.25 m) |
527 ft2 (49 m2) |
23 ft x 23 ft (7 m x 7 m) |
* do not mount below the minimum install height of 8.2 ft (2.5 m) or above the allowed maximum height of 10.6 ft (3.25 m).
** coverage area may increase up to 15% when people are seated, but this cannot be guaranteed.
Important
For large open areas or spaces that require more than one Portal Beam for coverage, contact your Kontakt.io sales representative or reach out to our support team.
The below images illustrate the coverage area of a Portal Beam.
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In footfall traffic mode a Portal Beam counts people entering and exiting a defined space.
The mounting placement guidelines vary by the two types of footfall traffic:
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Doorway traffic - counts people as they enter and exit a room
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Corridor traffic - counts people as they only pass through a space
To maintain an accurate count of people entering and exiting through a doorway:
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Center the Portal Beam horizontally so that its thermal camera eye faces the doorway to ensure people are detected within its coverage area.
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Mount on the non-door swing of the doorway to avoid the door obstructing its crossing line pathway and reducing its coverage area.
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Mount as close to the doorway as possible, so that people are counted as they pass through the crossing line.
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Do not mount where it would be obstructed by opening or closing the door or could risk being dismounted by opening or closing the door.
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If a door is higher than a standard 6.8 feet (2 meters) and the interior door and opens to the inside of the room, place it closer to the doorway and verify that people are visible as they open or close the door.
To maintain an accurate count of people passing through a corridor pathway:
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Center the Portal Beam above the corridor pathway entryway to ensure alignment with its crossing line. People are counted as they cross this invisible barrier.
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Do not place near doorways or where two corridor entryways intersect.
The following provides the details on how to ceiling mount a Portal Beam by each available method.
A Portal Beam is supplied with 3M double-sided mounting tape, T-Bar ceiling mounting kit, mounting screws and anchors, and pre-installed batteries.
Optional accessories (sold separately): AC power adapter (110-220VAC to 12VDC power supply, DC jack 5.5mm)
Portal Beam is mounted to the ceiling using the supplied screws, anchors, and mounting plate.
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Drill two mounting holes into the ceiling and insert supplied anchors.
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Place the mounting plate against the ceiling and fasten it to the ceiling with the supplied screws.
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Place Portal Beam into the mounting plate and rotate gently to lock it.
Portal Beam is mounted with a t-rail mount to a suspended ceiling.
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Put all kit elements together.
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Lock the t-rail to the suspended ceiling bar.
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Screw standard mount to t-rail mount.
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Place Portal Beam into the standard mount and rotate gently to lock it.
Warning
Recommended for use if the plate mount or T-bar ceiling mount cannot be performed or for use during a short-term mounting placement.
Portal Beam is mounted directly to the ceiling using the supplied 3M double-sided mounting tape.
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Peel one side of mounting tape and affix it to the backside of the mounting plate.
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Peel the other side of the mounting tape and affix it to the ceiling surface.
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Align the mounting plate tape to the ceiling tape and press to secure.
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Place Portal Beam into the mounting plate and rotate gently to lock it.
To install Kontakt.io Infrastructure devices - those that remain in a fixed, stationary position - the app is required and guides you through the install steps. If you already have the app, be sure you have the latest version.
To download the app, go to the App Store or Google Play. Search for Kio Setup Manager .
App requirements: Apple iPhone or iPad: iOS version 15 or later | Android phone or tablet: version 5.0 or later | Bluetooth enabled (on) | Internet connection
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Turn on the Portal Beam battery power. From its underside, move the battery switch towards the Reset button.
Portal Beam in Footfall Traffic mode: requires an external power supply (battery power is for backup use only).
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From your mobile device, open the Kio Setup Manager app
> sign in with your Kio Cloud user name and password.
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Tap Install Devices > Beam > Portal Beam.
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Tap the Portal Beam mode.
IR: for room-level RTLS solutions. For example, asset tracking and people safety and workflow solutions.
Room Occupancy: measures the number of people in a room.
Specific Seats (Seat-Level Occupancy): measures the count of workstation seats that are occupied and not occupied. Up to six stand-alone seats can be measured by a single Portal Beam.
Traffic (Footfall Traffic Counting): counts people traffic in floors or entire buildings. When in Traffic Mode, a Portal Beam detects movement and counts people entering and exiting a space defined by its adjustable threshold line.
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The app guides you step-by-step for the mode selected.
In summary, you will:
Scan its QR code or enter its MAC address/Unique ID, assign its install location (campus, building, floor, and room), apply Reconfiguration changes when prompted, complete the tests, mount to ceiling and enter the ceiling height, capture an image, and complete all guided steps that can vary by its mode.
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From the Install Complete notification, tap Portal Beam and install the next Portal Beam.
During this step, you'll place the Portal Beam at its exact mounting location within its installed room in Kio Cloud Smart Location. When you assigned its location from the Kio Setup Manager app, the Portal Beam is automatically placed in the center of its assigned room location.
Note
If the Portal Beam is installed at the center of the room, you can skip this step.
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Sign in to Kio Cloud > from the Launchpad, select Smart Location.
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Go to the Floor where the Portal Beam is installed and assigned to > from the upper-right corner, select CONFIGURE FLOOR > select the Beacons tab.
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From the list, select the Portal Beam > select the edit (pencil) icon > from the floor plan, move the Portal Beam icon to its mounting location within its assigned room > select SAVE.
After a Portal Beam is installed, you can view its real-time data. This real-time data is viewable from its assigned floor location in Kio Cloud Smart Location.
Sign in to your Kio Cloud account > select Smart Location > navigate to the floor where the Portal Beam is installed. To display Portal Beams on the floor plan, select the filter icon .
The room occupancy count is displayed within a Portal Beam's assigned room install location. From the digital floor plan, the icon (A) within a room displays its current occupancy count. The count s also available within the room's Telemetry tab (A).
In addition, from the floor plan room location, you can select the Portal Beam to view its details (B).
Click on image to view in full screen.
When a Portal Beam is set to seat-level mode, its real-time data is the count of seats occupied and not occupied (A). Visually from the floor plan, a green seat indicates it is not occupied and a red seat indicates it is occupied.
Click on image to view in full screen.
Footfall measurements are available from the room assigned to the Traffic Portal Beam within the Footfall tab (A). As people enter and exit the footfall location being monitored, the occupancy measurement count continuously updates.
Click on image to view in full screen.