Figure 7: Ion Kids Handheld Base Unit, Front

This is the handheld base unit. About the size of a regular television remote, the base unit can simultaneously track up to four Wristags.

Figure 8: Handheld Base Unit, Back

The special tool needed to open the Wristag's clasp is stored in the base of the handheld unit, shown above.

Figure 9: Handheld Base Unit, Top

Wristags are linked to a handheld base unit by "Activating" the Wristag -- a process of entering the activation menu and touching the red dot on the top of the base unit with the red dot on the face of the Wristag. More on this later in the review.

Figure 10: Handheld Base Unit, Right Side

The right side of the Base Unit is home to the following:

1. Charging Port
2. Software Update Port
3. Up and Down Arrow Keys
4. Select/Menu Key

Figure 11: Handheld Base Unit, Left Side

1. Power
2. Activate
3. Cancel

Figure 12: Handheld Base Unit, Flipped Open

Flipping open the clamshell Base Unit reveals the large, red Find button, as shown above in figure 12.

Figure 13: Handheld Base Unit, Bottom

The lip on the bottom of the Base Unit's flip-top is awkwardly located on the bottom of the rather than the sides, making it almost impossible to open the Base Unit using one hand. Given that the target customer for Ion Kids is busy parents on the go, the company should have designed the base unit for easy one-handed operation.

Figure 14: AC Adapter

Included AC adapter

Figure 15: Octopus Charger

Ion Kids has an unusual charger, but it makes sense once you realize that a single charger can power up to four bracelets as well as the handheld unit. The Octopus Charger, shown above, plugs into the Handheld Base Unit, and the AC Adapter connects to any of the available 5 ports on the Octopus Charger.

Figure 16: Wristag Charger

The Wristag charger connects to the Octopus Charger, and acts as a docking cradle for the bracelet (aka "Wristag").

Figure 17: Ion Kids Charging Setup

Fully assembled, the AC Adapter, Octopus Charger, and Wristag Charger should look something like figure 17, above. The Handheld Base Unit plugs into the Octopus Charger directly. Three additional ports are available on the Octopus Charger and can be used for additional Wristag units.

It's a lot of wires, and somewhat confusing the first time you set it up. But if you have more than one Wristag, this system does provide a way to charge up to 4 Wristags and one Handheld Base Unit using just one wall outlet.

Figure 18: Charging the Wristag

When charging the Wristag, it is important to make sure the metal contacts on the back of the Wristag line-up with the contacts on the charger.