The counter with pulse output has a cable of 2 wires.

• Make sure that the ends of these two wires are free of insulation for a length of 7-10mm.
• The aTick has two channels A and B and signatures on the body with contact numbers 1,2,3 and 4.
  • To connect to channel A, you need to use contacts 1 and 2.
  • To connect to channel B, you need to use contacts 3 and 4.
• Polarity does not matter.
• You need to press the latch, insert the wire free of insulation and release the latch. Make sure that you have not inserted the wire too deep, have not pressed the insulation and that the wire is securely held.
• If possible, it is better to shorten the wires coming from the meter to minimize interference and pickup.

It is important to understand that in order to save energy, aTick is quite "slow" to establish a connection. It has a reduced signal power and a low frequency of sending information into the air. Therefore, in the worst cases, the process of connecting to it can take several tens of seconds. It also depends on the distance between the module and the smartphone and the number and power of other signals that can clog the air (other Bluetooth devices or Wi-Fi).
Try the following steps:

• Restart your smartphone. On some Androids, this helps to revive Bluetooth.
• Make sure you have the latest version of your phone's firmware. Sometimes, after updating the system, everything works fine.
• Make sure you have the latest version of the aTick app. It's best to get it from our website.
• Completely uninstall the application - removes all settings and internal data. Uninstall and reinstall the application.
• Perhaps the application does not have enough rights. You need to find the "Applications"-aTick item in the system settings and there find the "Permissions" item and grant rights to everything that the application requests. Usually, when you first start it and each time it requests rights, you need to select the top (first) item.
• When requesting geolocation accuracy, you must select "Precise position".
• You may have a Family Link app or something similar installed for parental or corporate control. It may restrict permissions even if you clicked "allow". You need to contact the Family Link admin and ask them for permissions.
• The aTick app menu items include a Bluetooth BLE compatibility check. Check your phone.
• Test the module by pressing the # button once. aTick should respond with a double flash.
• Try changing the filters of the displayed list - this is the icon of three horizontal lines of different lengths on the top right. There, select to show "Hidden" and "Unknown"
• Perhaps you accidentally selected "hide" in the device settings and now it is ignored - the previous point should help.

The aTick module does not support WiFi connection. The module uses the Bluetooth BLE wireless interface (4.2 and higher). This allows the device to operate for a long time on batteries. The aTick mobile application allows you to check whether your phone supports the required version of the Bluetooth interface.

Our logic was as follows:

• It is not always convenient to build hidden hatches in the bathroom or kitchen and open them for the sake of taking readings. Especially in an apartment. If you have your own house with a spacious boiler room, then of course it is a different matter.
• Placing the meter itself in a prominent place in the middle of a beautifully covered gypsum fiber board and tiled bathroom or kitchen may not be to everyone's liking either.
• Some people might not want to spend money on a full-fledged "smart home". This requires a lot of thought, provision for wiring for power and signals, etc. Usually, this will be done by a techie or someone who has enough money to hire someone. We wanted to make it convenient and accessible for non-specialists.
• We just wanted to be able to get readings on phone by getting 3-4 meters closer.

We looked for something similar ready-made, but at that time we didn’t find anything that suited us, so we made it ourselves.

The aTick module is designed to work with reed and namur type pulse counters. For more information on these types, see the separate questions below.
Each pulse is an increase in the meter readings by a fixed value. This is usually 0.01 cubic meters (10 liters), but in the application you can specify any value for the pulse.

The aTick module contains up-to-date information at any given time and will provide it when you connect to it through the application.

No, the Internet is not needed. We do not use any web services or "clouds". You do not depend on us or any other IT infrastructure after purchasing the module and installing the application. Everything will work for you without us and without the Internet.

The aTick module filters random impulse noise. During our tests over the course of a year, the module showed no differences in its readings from the meter dial.

The aTick module is designed to conserve the charge of its AAA batteries as much as possible. The operating time from one set depends on several factors:

• Type of counter.
• Intensity of incoming pulses (flow rate).
• Random factor of the current long-term state of the counter. With closed pulse contacts, the power consumption of aTick is slightly higher and this will reduce the operating time.
• Quality, date of manufacture and capacity of the AAA batteries used. It is clear that the module will work 2 times longer with 1000mAh batteries than with 500mAh batteries.

In our test samples, when used in a typical apartment and with water consumption for a family of 3-5 people, the module worked without replacing batteries for at least 18 months.

Yes, the module and the application provide information about the current battery charge. In the "old" versions of the aTick module, sold before 01-July-2024, there is no battery charge control.

No. The aTick module stores data in flash memory and the accumulated readings will not be lost. Another thing is that when the batteries are discharged, the module will stop counting new pulses from the counters.

Our device is intended for domestic use. Industrial moisture-proof design of the case was not planned. For an ordinary apartment in a bathroom box, the device works without problems. In case of high humidity or condensation, you can place the module in a small ZIP-LOCK transparent bag.
If the module is flooded with water, it is enough to throw away the batteries, wash the device and dry it. There are no high voltages or high currents. It should work with new batteries.
When designing the case, we were more interested in originality, recognition and simplicity. Maybe in the future, if there is demand, we will make another case.

Yes. Otherwise, the user will not be able to come up and read the readings at any time. But the mode of sending information over the air is configured in such a way as to save batteries as much as possible. This is due to a delay of several seconds when reading the readings by the smartphone.

These are features of the ill-conceived architecture of the Android operating system. Without this permission, Android does not allow the application to work fully with the interface and Bluetooth devices. The aTick application does not use your geolocation in any way and does not collect such information.

If you use a high-quality cable with low resistance (copper core), then a length of several additional meters will not be a problem for registering pulses from counters in the aTick module. But you need to understand that the module is low-voltage and with increasing length, the probability of interference on the cable from nearby equipment increases. Grounding the 1st contact will increase reliability. In reviews from real users, there is information about successful use with increased wire length.

We are often asked about such use of the module. It is difficult for us to guarantee 100% operability. According to temperature characteristics, aTick will work in such conditions. But the device's body is not water-resistant, so it's best to place it in a ZIP-LOCK plastic bag or something similarly transparent to the Bluetooth signal. Feedbacks from real users contain information about successful use in wells, but sometimes the opposite is true.
There is probably a dependence on the depth of the counter and module. Perhaps it makes sense to increase length of the contact wires of the connected counter to raise the aTick module itself higher to the surface for a more stable connection with the mobile application.
In any case, take your time, try all the options. If you are not satisfied with the module, contact us and we will refund your money without any problems.

We believe that the price of aTick is low. The price is less than the cost of filling a tank of gas, one concert ticket or an average check from a supermarket. And you will use the module for many years. Also, despite its compact size, the aTick module is a high-tech device with a modern microcontroller and, quite complex, software for different platforms.

The REED SWITCH meter simply closes and opens an electrical connection for some unit of counting during consumption (usually every 0.01 cubic meters). When closed, the REED SWITCH has a minimum resistance of 0 Ohm, when opened, a maximum infinite resistance.
The NAMUR counter has four states: when closed, the resistance will be approximately 1.5 kOhm, when opened, 5.6 kOhm. The other two states are needed to determine the break or short circuit of the counter in highly reliable systems.

We tried to make the module universal to support both types of meters. But it is better and more reliable if you choose REED SWITCH (gercon) type. Problems with NAMUR meters rarely arise, since the aTick module is a low-voltage device and the exact determination of the resistance difference depends on various unpredictable factors: the length and quality of the wires, temperature, electrical interference from surrounding equipment, etc.

If there is no documentation from the meter manufacturer, then you will need a multimeter with resistance measurement. Measure the resistance between the two wires of the meter:

• If the multimeter shows almost zero or infinite resistance, then it is a reed meter.
• If the resistance is approximately 1.5 kOhm or 5.6 kOhm, then it is a NAMUR counter.

Yes, you can. Channels A and B allow you to connect different types of meters independently of each other.