4. Using The ion Kids Tracking System

Ion Kids doesn't use GPS. Instead, it relies on Radio Frequency (RF), arguably a better solution for short distances indoors. For example, a GPS might be able to report that your child is at a shopping center, or movie theater, but it won't be able to tell you which store they're in, or which seat they are sitting in at the movie theater. For close range indoors, RF is a better solution for quickly finding kinds that have strayed outside your field of vision.

Figure 19: Activation Menu

When you first power on the Ion Kids Handheld Base Unit, the Activation Menu appears, as shown above.

Figure 20: Linking a Wristag with the Handheld Base Unit

Before you can track a bracelet, or Wristag, each Wristag must be paired with the Handheld Base Unit. Press and hold down the Activate button on the base unit, and at the same time touch the red dot on the Base Unit with the red dot on the faceplate of the Wristag.

Once the Wristag is activated, the Wristag's green light will flash and a series of ascending chirps are played through the speaker. The Wristag's green LED will continue to flash green as long as it is activated with the Base Unit.

Figure 21: Assigning a Name

After activating the Wristag, the Base Unit gives you the option of assigning a name to the Wristag. This is especially handy if you are tracking more than one child; instead of seeing TAG1, TAG2, and TAG3 on the display, you can see each child's name next to their distance from the Base Unit.

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Figure 22: Spelling A New Name

The Base Unit allows you to choose a previously stored name, or enter a new name using the on-screen keyboard, shown above. Using the arrow keys on the right side of the Base Unit, you can scroll through the alphabet to spell out the desired name.

You also have the option of entering a name and saving it for future use. That way you can have the name stored and available to assign whenever you need it. For example, you might want to enter names for multiple family members, and re-assign the Wristag to whomever is currently using it.

Figure 23: Monitoring Mode

When using the Ion Kids system, you'll spend most of your time looking at the Monitoring Mode, shown above. This screen displays the following information:

1. Comfort Zone - Indicates the relative distance a child must be before triggering an alarm. This virtual fence can be made shorter or further by using the up and down arrow keys on the right side of the Base Unit.
2. Child Icon - displays the distance between you and your child. As the child wanders further away from the base unit, the Child Icon moves closer to the top of the display. If the child crosses the "Comfort Zone" line, the alarm sounds.
3. Name - displays the name assigned to a Wristag
4. Find Button - Pressing the large red button on the Base Unit puts the device into Find Mode
5. Battery Gauge - displays the amount of charge remaining on the Base Unit

Figure 24: Find Mode

To find a child, flip open the Base Unit's cover and press the large red "Find" button. This launches the Find menu, shown above. This screen displays the following information:

1. Directional Slice - Indicates the direction of your child
2. Empty Slice - As you turn, the slices will become active if your child is in that direction. The check mark indicates an area has not yet been swept. Keep sweeping the unit back and forth to get the entire radius covered
3. Cancel Find - Cancels a find
4. Distance Indicator - displays how far away the child is

To find a child, fully open the Base Unit and press the red Find button. Ion Kids says to keep the Base Unit parallel to the ground and to set the open unit in the palm of your hand, rotating in place slowly a full 360 degrees until the slice locks on a direction. Once the unit locks on to a Wristag and displays the active slice, walk in that direction. As you get closer to the child, the distance indicator will show you moving close and the slice indicator will adjust to keep you walking towards the child.

Figure 25: Return To Base

A "Return to Base" command can be issued from the Base Unit to one or all Wristags. Once sent, the Return to Base command causes the wristag(s) to chirp and the LED to flash red, letting your child or children know it is time to return to base.

"Base" can mean a pre-determined meeting place, such as a store or landmark, or "come inside for dinner", or "stay where you are", depending what you have instructed your children to do in the event of a "Return to Base" alert.

5. Configuring Options

Figure 26: Adding and Deleting Names

Names can be add or deleted from the main menu, shown above.

Figure 27: Vibrate Mode

There may be times when loud audible alerts aren't ideal. If you prefer a silent vibrate alarm instead, enabling Vibrate disables the audio alarms. Oddly, the unit still vibrates (and emits audible alerts) when Vibrate is set to Disabled.

Figure 28: Tamper Setting

By default the Tamper setting is enabled. In my testing I quickly had the need to disable it. When enabled, the Wristag will emit an audio and visual alarm if it sense tampering or if it removed from a child's wrist while still activated. The Tamper Mode alert can be disabled by scrolling to the Tamper menu and setting this option to Disabled.