Hardware Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How do I get started with Ribbiot trackers?

Follow the steps outlined here: Ribbiot - getting started.

You can also scan the QR code found on the product packaging to access this same link.

How do I scan the Ribbiot Trackers?

Ribbiot Trackers use NFC so you can pull up asset information by tapping your phone to the tracker. NFC requires the phone be very close to the tracker so it is easiest to just physically touch or tap your phone on the tracker. Where you should tap your phone depends on what phone type you have:

iOS

Android

How do I know if my Ribbiot trackers are working?

After a tracker is paired to an asset - you can scan it anytime to bring up the asset details. You do not need the Ribbiot app open - after the scan it will open the Ribbiot app and then load the asset details.

• Make sure the tracker is paired to an asset -

  • Scan the tracker it should pull up the asset information

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  • If after you scan the tracker (and it is paired to an asset) you only see the tracker details please reach out to Ribbiot for assistance
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  • You can also check to see that there is a tracker ID listed on the asset details

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You can also NFC scan the hardware and it will turn on its lights briefly to indicate its status -

• Green = Good battery and connectivity 

• Red = Low battery

• Blue/Yellow blinking = Poor connectivity (Portal ONLY)

Why is the Pod not scanning?

There are a few reasons why Pods may not be scan very easily - they are listed below:

1. Your phone might be busy with other tasks (i.e. on a phone call) so try to quit all unnecessary applications (potentially even restarting your phone can help with this)

2. Your phone case may be blocking the NFC scan - try removing the case

3. You may not be scanning in the right location for your phone - try slowly moving your phone around while touching the top of the pod. You may need to consult your phone user manual to find where the NFC coil is located

4. Your phone may not have NFC or it may be disabled - consult your user manual.

5. The Pod or Portal may have a dead battery - if this is the case you can either replace (Pod) or recharge (Portal) the battery and try again.

   1. You may want to try scanning other pod/portal devices first however to make sure your system is capable of NFC scanning first

6. The Pod or Portal may be damaged - If you remove the battery and wait 1min and then put in a new battery the LEDs should blink indicating power ON. If you don’t see the LEDs blink and/or you don’t see the asset listed nearby the pod could be damaged.

How to replace the battery in a Ribbiot Pod?

To replace the battery in a Ribbiot Pod you need to:

1. Remove the Pod from the case if applicable

2. Twist the top portion counter-clock wise about 1/4 turn*

3. Pull the bottom battery door off (may require a thin pry tool)

4. Remove the battery and re-insert a new battery in the same orientation.

   • It is critical to use a CR2477X coin cell battery for the same battery life and industrial temperature range performance.

5. Re-install the bottom battery door, and twist it back closed.

*An opening tool is available to help open the pods as needed.

NOTE: The o-ring on the side of the Pod provides the water tight seal, please ensure it is clean and correctly placed in the groove before re-installing the battery door.

How do Ribbiot trackers work?

Ribbiot offers a few different types of trackers, each designed for specific types of equipment and use cases. Here’s a simple overview of how they work:

• Ribbiot Pods – For Small, Unpowered Equipment

  • Ribbiot Pods are small trackers designed for small and/or unpowered machinery. They don’t have GPS or cellular connectivity. Instead, they work by broadcasting a Bluetooth signal every second.

  • Any nearby Ribbiot-compatible device—like a phone with the Ribbiot app or a Ribbiot Portal—can pick up this signal. That device then logs the Pod’s signal along with its own location and sends that data to Ribbiot’s cloud servers.

• Ribbiot Portals – For Larger, Powered Assets

  • Portals are more advanced trackers built for vehicles, trailers, or other large equipment. They do everything a Pod does—and more:

    • They have built-in GPS, so they can figure out where they are.

    • They include LTE (cellular connectivity), so they can send their location directly to Ribbiot servers.

    • They also act as scanners, listening for signals from nearby Ribbiot Pods. If a Portal detects a Pod, it sends that Pod’s ID along with its location to the cloud—helping locate the equipment around it.

• Ribbiot App - For Mobile Devices

  • If you’re using the Ribbiot app on your smartphone (and the app is open), your phone acts just like a Portal:

    • It listens for nearby Ribbiot Pods using Bluetooth.

    • It records their location based on your phone’s GPS.

    • It sends that information to Ribbiot servers automatically.

For more details please see the How Ribbiot Trackers Work page.

How do I install Ribbiot Trackers?

There are multiple ways to install Ribbiot trackers, and various accessories are available to improve performance or simplify installation. Please review the installation manual for your specific tracker below for guidance on selecting the best mount and installation method.

• Pod Installation Manual

• Portal Installation Manual

What do I do if I need to remove a tracker or replace it?

Please reach out to customer service if you need help removing trackers or you need to replace a tracker.

Where can I install Ribbiot Trackers?

Ribbiot Pods

Pods can be installed in almost any orientation or location on an asset, but for optimal performance, keep the following in mind:

• Avoid placing the Pod in areas surrounded by metal or thick materials (over 5mm), as this can reduce the range of the Ribbiot Mesh signal.

• The Pod is designed to mount on its bottom flat surface, with the frog logo (top) pointing away from the asset.

• Make sure the Pod is accessible for scanning by a phone for ease of use in the future.

• Ideally, leave 3–4 inches of free space around the sides and top of the Pod for best performance.

Ribbiot Portals

Portals require a clear view of the sky for proper GPS and LTE connectivity. To ensure this:

• Install the Portal so that the frog logo faces the sky.

• It’s fine to place the device behind glass, wood, or plastic, but do not install it inside metal enclosures or behind dense wiring or metal structures, as these can interfere with GPS and LTE signals.

• The Portal should not be installed facing the ground.

See this page for a list of typical applications.

If you have an asset that you cannot find a good install location on or need a specific mount please reach out to Ribbiot for assistance.

For more information or help with installation please see the Pod Installation Manual or Portal Installation Manual

How far away will Ribbiot Trackers be detected?

• Ribbiot Pods

  • Ribbiot Mesh (BLE) has a range of about 250ft (~76m)

  • Precision Location (UWB) has a range of about 50ft (~15m)

• Ribbiot Portals

  • Ribbiot Mesh (BLE) has a range of about 250ft (~76m)

  • Precision Location (UWB) has a range of about 50ft (~15m)

  • GPS - global coverage

  • LTE - US and Canada Coverage currently

The range of the Ribbiot Mesh will be impacted by nearby metals, large objects, walls or other obstructions. For example if the Pod is installed on an asset that is put inside a Conex box or warehouse the signal would be very weak on the outside of the box/building.

Why has my asset not reported in a while?

There are several reasons a Ribbiot tracker may stop updating its location. In general, location updates only appear on the map if a Portal or mobile device has a GPS fix and detects the tracker on the Ribbiot Mesh. Ribbiot Pods do not have GPS and cannot report their own location directly.

Pods

• No Portal or Mobile Device in Range

  • Pods require either a Portal or a mobile device (with the Ribbiot app running) to relay their signal to the cloud. If a Pod hasn't reported in a while, it's likely that no device has been nearby to pick up its signal.

• Portal or Mobile Device Has No Connectivity

  • Even if a Portal or phone is in range of the Pod, it must also have both a GPS signal and an internet connection. Without both, location data cannot be sent to the Ribbiot cloud.

• Pod is Damaged or Battery is Dead

  • If the Pod’s battery has died, it can be replaced with a CR2477X coin cell battery. If the Pod is damaged, consider using a more robust mounting solution—such as welding on the stainless steel case—for better durability, etc.

Portals

• Poor GPS Signal

  • Portals need a clear GPS signal to determine their location and to locate any nearby Pods. GPS issues can result from:

    • Poor placement (e.g., covered by metal, pointing down)

    • Obstructions to the sky

    • Indoor locations

• Poor LTE Signal

  • Portals use cellular connectivity to communicate with Ribbiot servers. Weak LTE signal may be due to:

    • Environmental interference (similar to poor mobile phone reception)

    • Blocked placement (e.g., inside metal enclosures)

    • Carrier issues

• Depleted Battery

  • Portals use a rechargeable industrial-grade Li-Ion battery. While it's safe for extreme temperatures, cold environments can still reduce battery life over time.

Mobile devices

• Ribbiot App Not Running

  • If a phone is near Pods or Portals but location updates aren't appearing, the Ribbiot app may not be running. The app must be active to detect trackers:

    • Foreground: Updates occur every ~1 minute

    • Background: Updates occur roughly every ~15 minutes (not guaranteed)

• Permissions Not Set

  • For the app to function properly, the following permissions must be enabled:

    • Location: Ideally set to “Always”

    • Bluetooth (BLE): Required to detect trackers on the Mesh

    • Cellular Data or Wi-Fi: Required to upload tracker location data to Ribbiot servers

For more details please see the How Ribbiot Trackers Work page.

How often do Ribbiot Trackers check in?

Pods

• Typically send out a message every 1.3 seconds.

• However, if the device remains stationary for an extended period, the check-in frequency may decrease to conserve battery life.

Portals

• Also send out a message every 1.3 seconds, similar to Pods.

• In addition, Portals check in with the Ribbiot backend via LTE.

  • This LTE update interval is configurable, but the default settings are below:

    • Battery-powered: Attempts to check in every 15 minutes

    • Externally powered: Attempts to check in every 3 minutes

Why can’t the Pods check-in by themselves?

In order to keep costs low, physical size compact, and battery life long, the Pods were designed with fewer radios. This allows the Pod to be installed on assets that would normally be too small for typical GPS trackers, or just cost prohibitive to add expensive tracking to. We designed the Pods to easily interact with your phone - this way your equipment locations are updated automatically in the background as you use the app on your phone.

Why is the location on the map not exactly right?

Ribbiot trackers use GPS data from either a mobile device or a Portal to determine an asset’s location. To conserve your phone’s battery, the app takes a quick GPS snapshot and estimates the tracker’s distance based on Bluetooth signal strength. This method introduces some error, but helps keep the system lightweight and energy-efficient.

GPS itself isn’t always perfectly accurate—especially in areas with tall buildings or other obstructions. It also doesn’t work indoors, meaning Portals can’t get a GPS lock inside. In those cases, Portals must have a fixed location set manually in the app. Additionally, phones often provide inconsistent location data indoors, which can lead to misplaced asset locations if this occurs.

How can I improve the location accuracy?

Location accuracy improves with more data. You can enhance precision by having more phones with the Ribbiot app or more Portals nearby. For specific use cases, installing a Portal in a fixed location—such as in your yard—and assigning it an exact position in the app can significantly improve accuracy for Pods in that area.

How do I reset Ribbiot Trackers?

In the rare event you want to reset a tracker you will need to either remove and replace the battery to reset a Pod, or to use a strong magnet to reset a Portal.

• Pod - remove the battery, wait at least 1min, replace the battery (or install a fresh battery). The lights should blink indicating it rebooted.

  • If you do not wait at least 1min the device may have not fully shutdown. Since we only need a small amount of power to operate it takes awhile to discharge all the power stored in the system.

• Portal - place a strong magnet just above the 'R' on the Ribbiot logo. Wait 10s and then remove the magnet. You should see the lights blink indicating it rebooted.

How do I wire in the Portal?

The Portal was designed with a trailer color code in mind, however it can be connected to any DC power source that can supply ~8W of power and has a voltage anywhere from 6-33V. A 12V 1A power supply is recommended for wall powered applications.

The optional Brown and Black wires are analog inputs. The Brown wire is setup by default to record engine hours if it is connected to the ignition.