Troubleshooting

Dealing with Snow Scope Probe issues

if you are having issues with the app, see the app troubleshooting page here.

Probe not functioning

My probe isn't turning on

Sometimes, the probe doesn't turn on when you remove the cover. in those cases, rub your finger over the window - this should "wake the probe up" and turn it on. Learn more here

If that doesn't work, fully reset the probe (unscrew the connector fully then screw it back in)

If your scope still does not wake check your batteries and replace them if necessary

My probe seems frozen/other weird things are happening

If general weird behavior starts to occur, we recommend the following steps

1. Disconnect/reconnect from the app (in the app, go to the main menu/snow scope probe, and hit "connect" again to reset the connection)

2. Fully close the app and reopen it (you may need to reconnect manually again)

3. Fully reset the probe (unscrew the connector fully then screw it back in)

My Scope’s status LED is red all the time

First try hard resetting your probe (unscrew the connector fully then screw it back in) and updating firmware.

If that does not solve your issues, this means that the scope has failed its built-in electrical tests. Unfortunately, this means that the scope likely needs service to correct the issue. Contact Propagations Labs for next steps.

Profiles not transferring correctly

My profiles do not have location

1. Make sure your phone is connected to your probe before taking profiles. You will know it is if the Blue LED is on. Profiles collected without a phone connection will not have location.

2. Make sure location permissions are enabled on your phone app

   1. On iPhone: Settings -> Snow Scope -> Location -> Always

   2. On Android: Settings -> Hold Snow Scope app icon -> App info -> Permissions -> Locations -> Allowed all the time

3. If your phone is low on battery, or if you have too many active apps running, your phone may close the Scope app while it is in the background. If this happens, you will not get location in a profile. Reopen the Scope app, and try to close any other unnecessary apps on your phone.

4. You can manually add a location to profiles using the “edit detailed data” option from the profile view in the app.

My probe is not transferring profiles

There could be a few causes for this issue. Check the following in this order:

1. Is your probe connected? Blue light on probe should be on, and on the app you should see a probe status when you open the main menu.

2. Make sure your phone app and firmware are both updated to the latest version!

3. Is the LED showing blinking red after collecting a profile? this means that you have gotten a probing error and a profile will not be sent over. If you get this repeatedly, see I'm consistently getting profile errors.

My Probe is not transferring data or location when running in the background

Your phone permissions for location and bluetooth are likely not enabled correctly. You will need to go into your phone settings menu and enable “Location Always” permission - this is an additional step beyond clicking “accept” on the in app prompt. If you do not do this, it will seriously compromise how your phone stays connected to your probe.

• On iPhone: Settings -> Snow Scope -> Location -> Always

• On Android: Settings -> Hold Snow Scope app icon -> App info -> Permissions -> Locations -> Allowed all the time

NOTE: Allowing our app to always access location and bluetooth will allow the Scope App to run in the background. With the app in the background you can collect time and location tagged profiles all while keeping your hands warm when you are out on snow. On Android, Bluetooth will not function if Location is not allowed all the time!

Profile Data doesn't look right

My profiles do not look like the expected snow structure

• Check to see if the sensors are dirty. Clean the tip from any mud/ice buildup. Make sure the optical window is free of debris and not excessively scratched.

• Try probing more smoothly and with a constant speed.

• Make sure the tip sensor is out of the snow before probing.

• Make sure the sensor window is pressed into the side of the snow upon entering the snowpack. (this is likely the culprit if profiles appear too short or top soft new snow is not showing).

• Take a couple more profiles - the Scope picks up very small variations in the snowpack and a single profile may not be characteristic of the general snowpac

My profiles appear "blocky"

You are likely probing too quickly. While probing relatively quickly is good, there is a limit. Here is an example of a blocky profile:

When your profiles appear blocky, it means that the sensors cannot sample quickly enough to produce 1 hardness point per mm of depth, and thus are blending the same hardness data across multiple depth points. (Although the hardness measurements should still be valid)

Watch the video here to see an appropriate probing speed.

My Profiles are consistently too short or too long

If you are consistently seeing this with good probing technique, your probe’s depth calibration may have drifted. Please reach out to Propagation Labs for help

Bluetooth Connection Issues

My Scope Probe keeps disconnecting from my phone

Bluetooth is not perfect, it occasionally disconnects. Follow these practices for the best results:

• remove the scope quickly after probing since bluetooth has a hard time transmitting through snow

• Make sure to check your app periodically. Letting the app run in the background for long periods of time will reduce it’s priority to use bluetooth resources on your phone’s OS.

• Keep the phone and the device close together. If taking snow profiles with multiple people make sure the scope and the connected phone stay within a few meters of each other.

• Check to make sure you have the proper permissions enabled on your phone. You need Bluetooth, Location, and "Nearby Devices" on Android.

  • On iPhone: Settings -> Snow Scope -> Location -> Always

  • On Android: Settings -> Hold Snow Scope app icon -> App info -> Permissions -> Locations -> Allowed all the time

• If none of these work to reestablish the connection, try closing the app fully and reopening, and then trying to reconnect to the Scope. If that still doesn’t work, try removing the batteries and reinstalling them (a “hard reset”) on the Scope.

My Probe isn't auto-connecting to my phone

First make sure you are following the instructions here

The most common issue is because the background bluetooth on your phone went to "sleep" - on some phones you can fix this by just squeezing the lock button of the phone in your pocket. On other phones, you may have to pull your phone out and open the app.

This can be mitigated on some phones by making sure your battery is full and not too many other apps are running. If your phone is having to work to hard to keep multiple apps running or manage low battery, it will kill your bluetooth connection.

Additionally, you might need to occasionally fully close and reopen the app. Letting the app run in the background for long periods of time will reduce it’s priority to use bluetooth resources on your phone’s OS, which could prevent autoconnection.

Profile Errors

I'm consistently getting profile errors

• The app has helpful feedback and suggestions for most probing errors. Make sure that you are practicing probing best practices outlined in Probing Tips and Tricks and Measuring Profiles.

• Force Calibration Error: you may have an issue with your force sensor. Make sure the sensor tip is free of debris and ice. Gently cycle the tip by pressing and releasing it with your thumb. This resets the mechanical alignment and may help with certain calibration issues. Also make sure you are starting the profile with the tip ABOVE the snow and not resting on it.

Other issues

My Batteries are dying really quickly

To get the longest battery life possible, make sure to always store your probe with the cover on (this will put the probe in a deep sleep mode).

Learn more about batteries here

Most other issues can be solved by simply restarting the device. The fastest way to do this is by completely removing the batteries to do a hard restart on the device. Fully closing and reopening the app can also help.