When recording a mobile session around the neighborhood with AirBeam3, you can separate the AirBeam3 from your smart device and continue recording, geolocating, and timestamping your measurements.
Important Note
Smart devices with OS equivalent to iPhone 8 or higher or Android 8 or higher and Bluetooth 5 is required to utilitze the Standalone Mode.
Step 1
Make sure your smart device is connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network and that Bluetooth and GPS/location finder are enabled.
Step 2
Download and install the AirCasting app (iOS | Android) via Wi-Fi or cellular connection.Open the app when installation is complete.
Step 3
Follow the prompts on screen to create an AirCasting account and sign in. If you already have an AirCasting profile, sign in. If you prefer to start with an anonymous account, sign in using LAPL’s generic user login credentials found in the instructions packet in the kit.
Step 4
Tap Record new session or the plus (+) icon at the bottom of the Dashboard screen.
Step 5
On the Let’s begin screen, tap Mobile session.
Step 6
If the message Use your location appears on the screen, tap Okay.
Step 7
Tap Allow, Allow All the Time, or Allow While Using App then tap Continue to Turn on location services to allow the AirCasting app to access your smart device’s location.
Important Note
Data recording sessions without geolocations (i.e., GPS or location finder is off) cannot be synced to the AirCasting website.
Step 8
Tap Bluetooth device on screen.
Step 9
If the message AirCasting would like to use Bluetooth appears on screen, tap OK, then tap Continue to Turn on Bluetooth to enable your smart device to pair with the AirBeam3 air sensor.
Step 10
Power on the AirBeam3. See the figure below to locate the power button.
Important Notes
- After turning on the AirBeam3, you will hear a fan humming on the inside and the Connection Indicator light will first turn white then green.
- If you are unsure if the AirBeam3 unit is on or off, you can listen to hear if the fan is running (humming sound). When the AirBeam3 is off, the fan will not run.
- If the AirBeam3 does not turn on, it may need to be charged. To charge the AirBeam3, use the USB-C charging cord and charger included in the kit.
- The Battery Charging light will turn green when the AirBeam3 is charging and turns off when it is either fully charged or unplugged.
Step 11
When the AirBeam3 sensor’s connection indicator light turns to solid Green, tap Continue on screen.
Step 12
On the “Choose the device you’d like to record with” screen, scroll to find and tap the AirBeam3 with a serial number that matches the label on the back of your air sensor and then tap Connect. When the screen reads AirBeam connected tap Continue.
Troubleshooting Tip
Don’t see the device with your serial number? Tap the “Don’t see the device? Refresh scanning” to refresh the list.
Important Note
Once the smart device and AirBeam3 are paired via Bluetooth, the Connection Indicator light on the bottom of the AirBeam3 will turn solid blue. Note that the blue light on the bottom of the AirBeam3 will eventually turn off. This is normal and does not mean your AirBeam3 is off.
Step 13
Enter a descriptive and appropriate session name and tags and tap Continue. Note: Session name will be publicly viewable on the AirCasting website. Tags can help you find your AirCasting session on the website.
Step 14
Make sure your starting location is accurate on the map, then tap Start recording and begin your walk around the neighborhood.
Important Note
When the sensor starts recording and sending data, the indicator light will turn solid white for 120 seconds, then blink white once every ten seconds to show the Bluetooth is connected and transmitting data.
Step 15
Keep the AirBeam3 and your smart device within 10-20 feet of each other, so Bluetooth will work.
Step 16
Tapping the three horizontal ellipses (···), then tap “Enter standalone mode."
Step 17
After entering standalone mode, the connection indicator will blink yellow when you don’t have a GPS fix, and blink orange when you do have a GPS fix.
When you don’t have a GPS/location finder fix, your measurements will be pinned to your last known location. To get a GPS/location finder fix, move outside to a location with a clear view of the sky. In some instances, it can take 5-10 minutes before the AirBeam3 gets a GPS/location finder fix.
Troubleshooting Tip
Whenever your AirBeam3 is recording a mobile or fixed session, it will log data to its SD card. If when recording a mobile session in standalone mode, or when recording a fixed session the Wi-Fi connection is interrupted, you can sync the AirBeam3's SD card to retrieve your data by:
- Tap the “finish recording & sync” button on your mobile session screen; or
- Tap the “+” button at the bottom of the screen then tap “Sync data from AirBeam3” and follow the on screen instructions.
Step 18
To stop recording air quality data, tap the three horizontal ellipses (···), then tap Finish recording session. Confirm to stop recording the session by tapping the Finish recording button again. The Connection Indicator Light will blink yellow to show Bluetooth is disconnected.
Important Note
When you finish recording a session, it will be moved to the Mobile dormant tab of the Dashboard screen in the app and you will not be able to add new measurements to it. You can check by tapping the Mobile dormant tab on screen to see if your last recorded session is on the list.
Step 19
Power off the AirBeam3 air quality sensor.
Step 20
After you are finished recording your session, Connect your smart device to a Wi-Fi or cellular network to sync the session(s) you just recorded. The syncing process may take up to 20 minutes depending on your Wi-Fi strength. Note: As a reminder, all data, including any notes you took with the app during your session, will automatically be transmitted to the AirCasting Map website.
Step 21
To start a new data recording session, tap Record mobile session button or the plus (+) icon or at the bottom of the Dashboard screen and repeat Steps 4-19.
Step 22
When you are ready to return the Monitoring Air Quality with AirBeam3 kit to the library, please complete the survey (if included).
Step 23
Before returning the kit, make sure that the AirBeam3 air quality sensor and the WiFi digital microscope are turned off, and all accessories (e.g., the charging cable, carabiner clip, observation journal, magnifier, etc.) are in the clear messenger bag they came in.