Frequently Asked Questions

Our hubs do not need power cords! Our hubs and sensors are powered by standard AA batteries designed to last more than a year with average use. Access to electricity is not necessary.

No. Hubs and Kiwis connect using cellular network signals. Sensors connect to hubs using our proprietary RF technology. No passwords or complex pairing process is required. Our servers handle data security.

We recommend using Energizer Ultimate Lithium batteries, which are supplied with the unit. Expected lifetime is 1-2 years with approximately 2,000 alerts. The batteries are user replaceable.  

The devices are weather-resistant. We recommend avoiding long-term direct water exposure of the hubs.

The device is designed so that it can be placed almost anywhere. An accessory pack is provided with a variety of attachment options and even a standard zip tie can be used to hold the unit in place. The device is very versatile.

At a high sensitivity level, the accelerometer is very sensitive and can be set off by rain, thunder, or even loud sounds. The sensitivity level should be set depending on the application. Various techniques can be used to eliminate false alerts, including reducing the sensitivity through the app. The magnet displacement reed switch can be set up to give 100% certainty in many applications. Recurring alerts, such as those from the movement of live-trapped caged animals, can be used to differentiate between actual capture and spurious events.

Although the Kiwi , Hub, and sensors do not have location technology built in(due to battery life constraints), the Skyhawk App has location tracking built in. When you deploy any Skyhawk device, you can assign the location deployment from your phone's location services. You can also take and store a picture of the deployment. It is important to emphasize that location setting must be done during deployment. 

The app will display the signal strength for each sensor. To find this, you can select your specific unit and go to its status tab, where you will see a tile named "Sensor RSSI," or Received Signal Strength Indicator. It will display the signal strength, and it is strongly advised to keep the device at a signal of -95 or higher.(meaning -85 is good(high) and -105 is bad(low).) The minimum connect signal is about -100, but a signal of -95 or lower is more likely to drop out based on changes in the environment

It is most important to test the sensor after it has been deployed in its final location. Connection to the hub can be confirmed by green flashing lights on the sensor after a connection is initiated through an event like a power cycle. The signal can also be confirmed through the app within about 30 seconds.

Signal strength is impacted by many factors: including the type of buildings, metal objects and thick walls inside the buildings, other obstructions, and even people moving in between the signal from the hub. Some variation in RSSI over time due to changing environmental (temp and humidity) conditions would not be unexpected.

Most deployments will benefit from placing the hub off the ground at a height of about 6-10 ft. One centrally located hub can cover a large open building of over 100,000 sq. ft. connectivity is generally not limited by the size of the building. Thick walls, metal walls, and building contents are usually more important factors.

In outdoor open areas, coverage can exceed thousands of feet, especially if the sensor and hub are placed off the ground. Conversely, coverage distance can be significantly reduced if both the sensor and hub are placed on the ground.

Additional hubs can be deployed, if necessary, without causing interference. One hub can support hundreds or even thousands of sensors.