Configuration
Configuration & Settings
Click Settings in the navigation bar to configure the device. Settings are organized into tabs: Network, Measurement, Device, and Email. An additional ⚠ Dev tab is available in Developer Mode.
Main Controls
- Start: Opens a startup dialog to begin a new measurement session. The dialog shows initialization progress with step indicators as the pump primes and the optical chamber stabilizes. If auto-start logging is enabled, a countdown timer appears allowing you to cancel before measurement begins automatically. When GPS is available, a Mobile measurement checkbox enables per-sample GPS coordinate recording.
- Stop: Ends the session and saves the file.
- Log Files: Opens the file manager showing all stored sessions (see Data Management).
Network Tab
Manages wireless connectivity. This is the default view when opening Settings.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| WiFi | Scan for available networks, select a network, and enter a password. Use "Forget Network" to clear stored credentials and switch back to hotspot mode. |
| Hotspot Mode | Forces the device to create its own WiFi network, even if a known network is available. |
| Protect hotspot with WPA2 key | When enabled, secures the bcMeter hotspot with a custom password (minimum 8 characters) instead of the default. |
The WiFi key field includes a show/hide toggle for password visibility. When connecting, a real-time connection log shows the progress including SSID association, IP assignment, and any errors.
Measurement Tab
Controls how the device takes measurements. When Auto Flow Control (AFC) is active, an informational banner summarizes the current AFC configuration.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Time between samples | Default: 300s (5 min). Adjustable from 30s to 1 hour. Ambient monitoring: 180–600s. Emission monitoring: 10–30s. Shorter intervals can increase noise. |
| Airflow per minute | Default: 300 mL/min. Adjustable 50–750 mL/min. Higher flow improves signal but loads the filter faster. Disabled when Auto Flow Control is active. |
| Auto-adjust airflow | Automatically adjusts airflow based on measured BC concentration. When BC is high, flow is reduced to extend filter life; when BC is low, flow is increased for better signal. |
| Target filter lifetime | Default: 7 days. Target lifetime used by Auto Flow Control when calculating the airflow setpoint. |
| Auto-start logging | Automatically begins measurement after device boot. Requires prior calibration. Power-loss recovery: If the device loses power during a measurement, it will automatically resume on next boot — regardless of this setting. |
| Mobile measurement mode | Logs location information per sample when GPS or another location source is available. Intended for moving measurements. |
| Outdoor measurement | Marks the session as outdoor ambient monitoring. Disable for indoor or direct emission measurements. |
| Pressure correction | Corrects BC values for ambient pressure when a BME280 pressure sensor is installed. |
| Location | Controls geographic coordinates: Automatic (GPS/cell tower/IP lookup), Manual (enter lat/lon), or Off (no location stored). |
An Airflow Reference table is shown below the settings, giving estimated filter lifetime (in days) at different BC concentrations and airflow rates.
Device Tab
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Timezone | Select the device timezone for accurate log file timestamps. |
| Warm-up time | Default: 10 min. Duration for the optical chamber to stabilize before data recording begins. Set to 0 to disable. |
| Disable status LED | Deactivates the blinking status LED on the device. |
| Device Name | Network hostname (e.g., bcmeter-0340). Sets the mDNS name, so the device becomes reachable as name.local after renaming and rebooting.
|
Email Tab (Notifications)
The bcMeter can send automated email notifications including periodic log delivery and filter status alerts. Some DIY or development devices may require an email service password from the bcMeter team; on provisioned devices this is already configured. The password itself is treated as a technical/system parameter and is documented in Developer Mode.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Periodic log sending | Master switch for automatic, timed email delivery of CSV logs. |
| Send logs every | Adjustable from 3 hours to 7 days. Default: 24 hours. |
| Recipient addresses | Destination email addresses (comma-separated). |
| Filter status mail | Sends alert when filter loading exceeds 70%. Alerts repeat every 12 hours and include device name and location. |
| Detailed diagnostic emails | Adds extra diagnostic information to automated emails. Useful when support asks for more device context. |
| Share data with bcMeter team | Optionally share measurement data with the bcMeter project for research. |