Troubleshooting¶

FAQs¶

Which microSD card should I use?¶

There is no specific type of microSD card required, but we recommend using higher quality products from known brands (e.g., SanDisk) for best reliability.

How large should the microSD card be?¶

Continuous recording of MP3 compressed data (default behaviour) produces ~1.2GB audio per day.

For online deployments, the microSD only serves as a temporary backup in between recording and transmitting of files, or as a backup if connectivity drops temporarily. Therefore, a 16GB microSD is normally sufficient.

For offline deployments, card size should be calculated based on expected time between visits to retrieve data. Buggs running offline with 256GB microSD cards have been extensively tested, but larger options should work too.

The timestamp of recorded files is incorrect¶

If there is a consistent offset in the time, please note Bugg uses UTC regardless of where the device is deployed. Timestamps of files must be manually adjusted after data is transmitted/retrieved from the microSD card to apply local timezone shifts.

If all files are displaying timestamps from the same day, this indicates the real-time clock battery has run out. If offline deployments are required, follow instructions to replace the battery.

The mobile internet doesn't work¶

The first thing to do is to confirm that the nano SIM card provides a functioning internet connection when put into a mobile phone at the same location, and that the signal is strong enough to browse the internet comfortably.

Then try loading a few different APN settings in the configuration file. Often when searching online, it is possible to find different settings for the same provider depending on the website being used.

Finally, if all else fails, try a different SIM card from another provider or using a different data plan.

Buggs have been successfully deployed with internet connections in UK, Norway, Mexico, Taiwan, and beyond, so whilst speeds and connectivity strength may vary locally, devices should be able to connect to mobile networks globally.

The device stops recording/transmiting data during certain hours of the day¶

This is common when using solar panels which are not receiving enough power to fully recharge the battery. Overnight, once the battery reserve is depleted, Bugg will stop receiving power and shutdown. Recording will only resume once there is sufficient sunlight in the morning to power up the device.

One potential solution is to make sure the solar panels are oriented in the direction that receives the most direct sunlight possible throughout the day. There are plenty of online resources which can advise on optimal orientation.

Also ensure that your battery is large enough to last a day and that it is a deep-cycle battery. When using batteries that are not designed for deep-cycle usage (e.g., car batteries) with solar power setups, the effective capacity of the battery can be severely reduced.

A final option is to install a larger solar panel to capture more energy during daylight hours. This is normally neccessary when the panel is deployed in an area which doesn't receive much direct sunlight (e.g., under a forest canopy, or on a shaded mountain side).

Advanced troubleshooting¶

For those comfortable with embedded systems development using Raspberry Pis, you can try to debug the device from the Pi's command line using the USB serial interface.