Using the data logger

You interact with the BODAQS data logger using the keypad and OLED display on the device. A handlebar-mounted switch can also be configured for on-bike actions such as marking events, toggling logging, or starting Wi-Fi. Detailed configuration and file transfer are handled through the logger web interface.

Display Overview

The idle/status screen is shown whenever the menu is closed.

• The top row shows the current status. When Wi-Fi is running, it alternates between the network name (or access point name, if the logger WiFi is in access point mode) and IP address.
• The middle rows show the configured sample rate and number of active sensor channels.
• The bottom row shows the current time, GPS state and battery percentage.

GPS state is only shown when a GPS sensor is configured:

• GPS means a fix has been achieved.
• ..... means the GPS is present and acquiring.
• NOGPS means the GPS is absent, in error, or not producing usable data.

The top status line can also temporarily show warnings, such as missing SD card, SD not ready, analog rail fault, low battery, or battery alert.

Short messages appear after actions such as starting a log, stopping a log, marking an event, saving calibration, entering upload mode, or encountering an error.

When logging is active, the idle display blinks periodically to make the recording state visible. If you are using a bar switch with an indicator LED, that LED may also be configured to indicate logging.

The OLED dims after a period of inactivity to save power. Using the controls wakes it back to normal brightness.

Shortcuts from the idle screen

From the idle screen:

• Enter (or a long press on the ‘mark’ button) starts logging.
• Right enters the main menu
• Long-press left puts the logger to sleep
• Long-press down toggles WiFi on or off
• Long-press up toggles upload mode on or off

Menu Navigation

Menu navigation is simple:

• Right from the idle/status screen opens the menu.
• Left from the top-level menu closes the menu.
• Up and down move the highlighted row.
• Enter or right selects the highlighted row.
• Left returns to the previous screen.

The selected row is shown with a leading > marker. If a menu has more rows than fit on the display, the list scrolls as you move through it. The v and ^ markers shows that there are menu items below or above the current scroll window.

The menu closes automatically after a period of inactivity. If that happens, open the menu again from the idle screen.

Logging And Marks

Starting a log

From the idle screen, press the configured select/enter button to start logging. Starting a log gives sampling ownership of the logger: Wi-Fi and the web server are stopped if they are running. Upload mode must be off.

Stopping a log

Press the configured select/enter button again to stop logging. The logger closes the current log file, writes final metadata where applicable, and returns to normal controls.

When logging is active, the mark button writes an event marker into the log stream when pressed. Typical uses include:

• Beginning or ending a test section.
• Marking a trail feature.
• Noting unusual or interesting bike behaviour during a run.

The display shows Marked when a mark is made.

Button bindings are configurable

The shipped configuration normally uses the handlebar switch for marks but, like all the button functionality, it is configurable.

Main Menu

The main menu has the following items:

Item	Purpose
WiFi: ON/OFF/STARTING	Starts or stops the web interface in the selected Wi-Fi mode.
Upload: ON/OFF	Enters or exits upload mode (used by the Import Manager for direct file downloads).
Mute sensors	Mutes or unmutes sensors: muted sensors do not write data into log files.
Sample rate: <rate> Hz	Sets the sample rate from one of the presets.
Calibration	Runs on-device sensor calibration actions.
Sag helper	Shows live suspension sensor values for setup.
Sleep	Puts the logger into low-power ‘sleep’ mode.
Settings	Opens the settings sub-menu: Wi-Fi mode, log format, time, health, restart, and about screens.

Wi-Fi And Web Interface

Selecting the Wi-Fi menu item starts or stops the web interface. The logger supports both Station and Access Point (AP) modes:

• Station mode connects the logger to an existing WiFi network. Up to five networks can be configured.
• Access point mode makes the logger create its own Wi-Fi network to which other devices (phone, tablet, or computer) can connect.

While Wi-Fi is starting, the menu row shows WiFi: STARTING. When the web server is running, it shows WiFi: ON.

When Wi-Fi is running, the idle status line alternates between network/AP name and IP address. Navigate to the IP address in a browser to open the web interface.

Logging has priority

Wi-Fi and logging are interlocked. The logger will not start the web server while logging is active. If Wi-Fi is running when logging starts, it is stopped until logging is complete.

Upload Mode

Upload mode is a protected state used by the BODAQS Import Manager to collect log files. File transfer can occur automatically when, and only when, the logger is in upload mode.

When upload mode is active:

• Logging cannot start.
• Configuration edits are locked.
• Manual upload, create, and delete actions on the Files page are disabled.
• The web/API upload workflow can inspect and transfer completed sessions.

You can enter or exit upload mode from the OLED main menu, from the Files page in the web interface, or from the Import Manager, but it is always a deliberate user action.

When upload mode is active, the idle/status screen shows UPLOAD MODE so it is clear that the logger is in file-transfer mode rather than normal logging mode.

Mute Sensors

The Mute sensors menu opens a list of configured sensors. Each sensor appears by name. Muted sensors show [M] beside the name.

Selecting a sensor toggles it between muted and active. Muted sensors are excluded from active logging output and not appear in Sag Helper.

Sample Rate

The Sample rate menu opens a list of supported sample-rate presets:

• 10 Hz
• 20 Hz
• 50 Hz
• 100 Hz
• 200 Hz
• 500 Hz
• 1000 Hz

The current rate is shown with [*]. Select a rate to apply it.

Practical rate depends on sensors

Sensors with maximum sample rates below the logger’s configured sample rate, or asynchronous sensors, will be sampled in accordance with their own limitations. For boards with external ADCs, maximum total sample rates for all sensors on the same ADC may also apply.

Calibration

The Calibration menu lists configured sensors and shows which on-device calibration actions each sensor supports:

• [Z] means zero calibration is available.
• [R] means range calibration is available.
• [Z|R] means both are available.
• [none] means the sensor does not expose an on-device calibration action.

Select a sensor to open its calibration screen.

Range Calibration

Range calibration captures the sensor’s raw count at the start and finish of the sensor’s travel range. This is mainly for linear displacement sensors such as linear potentiometers.

Typical workflow:

1. Put the sensor at the range start position.
2. Open Calibration.
3. Select the sensor.
4. Select Start RANGE.
5. Move the sensor through its intended travel to the finish position.
6. Select Finish RANGE.
7. Select Save to keep the range, or Cancel to discard it.

While range calibration is active, the display shows live raw counts at the bottom of the screen. This helps confirm that the logger is seeing the sensor move.

Range calibration highly recommended

It is recommended that youy do range calibration for all sensors that support it. This should be a one-time activity under normal circumstances.

Zero Calibration

Zero calibration marks the sensor’s installed zero point.

For simple linear sensors, zero calibration involves:

1. Put the sensor or suspension component at the desired zero/reference position, usually by lifting the bike off the ground. Forks may need to be pulled to full extension.
2. Select Zero.
3. Select Save to keep the captured value, or Cancel to discard it.

For rotary angle sensors, zero calibration has an extra Capture +move step. After the zero point is captured, move the sensor slightly in the positive direction (sit on the bike, say) and capture again. The logger uses this second capture to set the rotation positive direction.

Sag Helper

The Sag helper screen is intended to assist with setting static sag during suspension setup. The Sag Helper shows live output from unmuted suspension sensors , updated once per second.

When the Sag Helper is active, use the up/down buttons to cycle display modes:

• Sag LINEAR: calibrated output units (mm or degrees), for sensors configured for linear output.
• Sag %: sag percentage. Note this is a straight percentage of the sensor’s installed range and does not account for non-linear relationships between suspension movement and wheel movement. It is generally good enough for setting static sag however.
• Sag RAW: raw ADC counts.

Press enter or the mark button to freeze the displayed values. Press again to unfreeze. While frozen, the screen shows HOLD and the values briefly flash off every two seconds.

Settings

The Settings submenu contains:

Item	Purpose
WiFi mode: STA/AP	Select station mode or access-point mode.
Log format	Select BODAQS CSV, syn.bike CSV, or BODAQS compact binary.
Reset time	Force an RTC time sync using station Wi-Fi/NTP.
Health	Show SD, battery, analog rail, and sampling status.
Restart	Restart the firmware.
About	Show firmware/device information.

Wi-Fi Mode

Use WiFi mode to choose between:

• Station: the logger joins a configured Wi-Fi network.
• Access point: the logger creates its own network for direct browser access.

If Wi-Fi is already running and you change mode, the logger restarts Wi-Fi in the new mode.

Log Format

The logger supports:

• BODAQS CSV: the normal logger CSV format.
• syn.bike CSV: a compatibility output for data.syn.bike workflows.
• BODAQS compact binary: compact .bdq logs for compatible downstream tools.

BODAQS compact binary recommended

It is generally recommended that you record your logs in BODAQS compact binary format. The files are smaller and all the metadata is embedded. If you are using the BODAQS Import Manager (which we also recommend), it just makes sense.

If you want to manually inspect your files, then BODAQS CSV also works fine.

syn.bike CSV is offered as an option but we generally think that if you want to visualize your data using syn.bike it’s better to log in a BODAQS native format and have the Import Manager generate syn.bike files, as this method preserves the log metadata.

Reset Time

Reset time forces a time sync using station Wi-Fi. Access-point mode is for direct local browser access and does not normally provide internet/NTP time sync.

Health

Health shows current board/logger health information, including SD state, battery state, analog rail state, RTC state, and effective sample rate.

About

About shows device and firmware information.

Sleep

The Sleep menu item puts the logger into low-power sleep. Use sleep when you want to conserve battery without fully disconnecting power. The logger wakes when the configured wake/select button is pressed.

A long press on the nav-left button from the idle screen may also be configured to put the logger to sleep.

Older Prototype E hardware

Prototype E hardware had an analog-rail power limitation that could drain the battery if left unattended. Proto F and later boards were designed to avoid that issue. Keep this in mind if you are using older hardware.