Balloon Live app
How to register to a competition
1 Change mode in menu
Open the menu by selecting the icon and select "Change mode"
2 Select Competition
Select the competition option
3 Enter your personal competition token
Enter your personal token given to you by the competition organiser or officials.
Note: This token may have been sent to you by email or you can log in to watchmefly.net and navigate to the "competition data" section on your profile page. There you will find your personal token for each competition you are registered in.
Select Submit to continue register to the event and enter competition mode.
How to record a competition flight
1 Select Competition mode
Select competition mode and enter your personal token as shown in previous guide.
2 Synchronise active flight data
This synchronisation should be made during the task briefing or when instructed by the director. An internet connection is required.
Pull down the red label.
Synchronise the active flight data from the watchmefly-server by selecting the cloud/sync symbol.
The indicator f:n next to the label indicates how long ago the last flight data sync was made.
3 Start flight
To start the flight, pull down the red label and select Start flight.
Note: If you start your flight while being offline, the flight definition sync must not be older than 5 hours.
4 Recording during flight
All track, marker drop and declaration data is recorded during the flight in the app.
If internet connectivity is available, the app will continuously upload the data to the server. The number next to the top right upload icon indicates how many track points have not yet been sent to the server.
If no internet connectivity is available (or lost during flight), the app will continue to record all data on the device and resume upload as soon as connectivity is available.
5 Drop marker
To drop a marker during a flight, simply hit the Drop marker button on the main screen.
Select the marker number you wish to drop.
Wait until the moment you wish to release the marker and hit Drop.
6 Make a declaration
To make a declaration during a flight, simply hit the Declare button on the main screen.
Select the goal number you wish to declare.
Enter the coordinates and altitude if needed.
Hit the Declare button to finalise your goal declaration.
7 Stop flight
To stop the flight, pull down the green label and select Stop flight.
NOTE: Please make sure that all track points have been transmitted to watchmefly.net.
You can verify if all track data has been transmitted to the server by checking the number of unsent track points next to the upload icon at the top right. Once you stop the flight, all remaining unsent track data will be transmitted to the server as soon as internet connectivity is re-established. This can be minutes or hours after you stopped the flight. If internet connectivity is available, just start up the app and the upload will resume. The upload is done at a rate of approx. 500 track points per 10s.
The track file with all marker drop and declaration data is also stored in the app and can be shared by selection Share flights in the menu.
Watchmefly.net
How to retrieve your competition token
1 Log in to watchmefly.net
Go to watchmefly.net and log in using your credentials.
If you don't have an account yet, please register. During account setup, you will normally be asked to link your account to the name already known by watchmefly.
Note: Watchmefly has stored many results of previous competitions or the competition officials may have entered your name in the pilot list.
2 Navigate to your profile page
Select your My profile page under the account menu at the top right.
3 Select and copy the registration token
Switch to Your competition data section at the top.
You will then find a list of all your competitions with:
- the name of the event and your registration token in the header
- the list of all recorded flights and the possibility for each flight to download the IGC/OZI file or display it on a Google map.
How to download you competition track data
1 Log in to watchmefly.net
Go to watchmefly.net and log in using your credentials.
If you don't have an account yet, please register. During account setup, you will normally be asked to link your account to the name already known by watchmefly.
Note: Watchmefly has stored many results of previous competitions or the competition officials may have entered your name in the pilot list.
2 Navigate to your profile page
Select your My profile page under the account menu at the top right.
3 Download tracks of your competition
Switch to Your competition data section at the top.
You will then find a list of all your competitions with:
- the name of the event and your registration token in the header
- the list of all recorded flights and the possibility for each flight to download the IGC/OZI file or display it on a Google map.
How to create and share your live tracker link
1 Log in to watchmefly.net and navigate to your event in the competition center
Go to watchmefly.net and log in using your credentials.
If you don't have an account yet, please register. During account setup, you will normally be asked to link your account to the name already known by watchmefly.
Note: Watchmefly has stored many results of previous competitions or the competition officials may have entered your name in the pilot list.
2 Navigate to the tracker setup
You can select the tracker setup in the profile section on the main page.
You can also select My profile in the top right profile dropdown menu. Once on your profile page, you will find the tracker setup at the top right under the settings icon dropdown menu.
3 Generate the tracker link
Read the information and conditions of use on the tracker page before generating the tracker link.
The watchmefly.net tracker will always show the track that was started last in time.
Balloon Live Sensor (BLS)
General questions
Can the sensor be used as external GPS for other apps (mobile or laptop)?
Yes. It has bluetooth connectivity (BLE) to the Balloon Live app (phone or tablet) and a separate bluetooth connectivity (Bluetooth SPP profile with NMEA) to up to 2 devices (laptop) to be used for mapping applications. All these connections can be used at the same time.
Will FAI Ballooning Commission create a pool of devices event organisers can rent?
No. Unlike with the previous FAI Balloon loggers, FAI Ballooning Commission will not create a pool of devices that can be rented by event organisers. In upcoming events using Balloon Live, the pilot will be required to bring his own Balloon Live Sensor to make sure the quality of the position recorded for scoring is the same for all pilots.
What events will use Balloon Live in the future?
The event organisers usually decide what logger system they want to use. 2020 has shown that many event organisers are interested in using the Balloon Live app with the Balloon Live sensor in the future as this is meant to replace the FAI Logger used so far. Among these are organisers of regional and national championships as well as larger events. There is no decision made on the next Europeans and Worlds yet, but as soon as we know, we will post the information here.
Where can I buy the Balloon Live Sensor?
The initial order was made through a special purchase event which was held in November 2020. Over 500 devices were ordered by pilots from around the world. Another sale event will not be schedule before the end of 2021.
If you missed the sale event and I you wish to purchase a device sooner, please contact your Flytec Balloon dealer for an individual purchase.
Where is the recorded track stored?
The recorded track is stored in up to 3 locations:
- The Balloon Live app stores a recorded track and it can be shared as IGC file through the normal sharing possibilities on the device.
- The Balloon Live Sensor additionally stores the track in IGC format on its SD card.
- If you use Watchmefly.net for the competition, the track is also transferred to watchmefly.net once the phone/tablet is online.
What's in the box with the Balloon Live Sensor?
Technical details
How can I switch the BLS on?
To turn the BLS on, simply press the On/Off button on the top edge of the device. First the screen will ask for confirmation to turn the device on. You have to confirm this within 5 seconds with the OK/mode/config button on the left. After confirmation the device serial number and the currently installed firmware (software) version will be shown.
How do I charge the BLS?
How long does the BLS run with one battery charge?
How do I turn off the BLS?

What connection options does the BLS have?
The BLS uses a micro USB socket for charging the internal battery and for mass storage operations to access files on the SD card.
In addition to physical connecting the device via the micro USB cable the BLS offers multiple parallel Bluetooth connections. The Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) connection is used to connect with the Balloon Live app on your mobile device. Up to three additional devices can be paired through Bluetooth Serial connections to receive the GPS information.
Can I change the battery of my BLS?
IMPORTANT: If the device is opened by unauthorized personnel it will render the BLS unusable because it will erase the device specific encryption key which is used to authenticate the data provided by the device. Once the device has been opened, it has to be sent in to the next service station for repair.
How do I pair the BLS with the Balloon Live app?
The pairing of the BLS is done entirely within the Balloon Live app. You only need to turn the BLS device on so that it can be found. The pairing of the Balloon Live app and the BLS is done in two major steps:
- Select the type of GPS device to be used by the app
- Select the desired BLS device from a list of nearby devices
These steps are described in detail in the next sections.
How do I select the GPS device type to be used by the Balloon Live App?
In the main screen of the Balloon Live app select the three bar menu on the top left of the screen.
This will show the main menu where you need to go into Configuration and then into the GPS configuration. At the top of the GPS configuration screen you will see the currently selected GPS device. This should be set to Internal if the GPS configuration is done for the first time. Tap on the displayed GPS device which will open a selection menu with the following options:
Internal / Balloon Live Sensor / Balloon Live Sensor (Internal fallback).
You would usually select the last option Balloon Live Sensor (Internal fallback) which will try to connect to a BLS device but will use the internal GPS of the mobile device as a backup if the BLS device can not be contacted. This will ensure a continued track recording if the BLS connection should fail. The track recording will contain information which sections of the track were recorded from a BLS device and which sections were recorded from the internal GPS of the mobile device.
When selecting the option Balloon Live Sensor then the Balloon Live app will only use a connected BLS device as the source for GPS positions and will not be able to record any position if the connection should fail. This option may be enforced during Cat. 1 competitions to ensure that only track points from the BLS are used for scoring purposes.
How do I select a specific BLS to connect to?
In the GPS Configuration screen tap on Select GPS Device which will open a search screen that will display all nearby BLS devices that are turned on. The devices can be identified by their serial number. Compare the serial numbers to the serial number which is printed on the back side of the device and marked with S/N. The search screen will list all nearby devices with their full device names, which are made up of the text “BLS” and the 5 digit serial number.
When you have located your BLS device and tap on it a new menu will open offering the choices Connect and Bookmark. Complete the pairing by pressing Connect. This will return to the GPS configuration screen and show that the device has been connected.
From there you can return to the main screen by pressing the back button multiple times.
Do I have to pair the BLS every time I turn it on?
No, the Balloon Live app will remember the BLS device that it was connected to last time. When the app is used again, it will attempt to connect to the same device that was used previously. Simply turn on the BLS and the Balloon Live app will connect to it automatically.
Can I pair a different BLS with the Balloon Live app?
Yes, the Balloon Live app can connect to any other BLS, e.g. if the previous BLS is not available. Simply follow the pairing instructions above to select a different GPS device from the GPS configuration screen.
How do I pair the BLS with my PC using Bluetooth?
In addition to the connection with the Balloon Live App it is possible to pair the BLS with up to 3 Bluetooth devices at the same time to transmit the GPS data via a serial connection. A BLS device is ready for pairing for approximately 10 minutes after it was turned on. On your computer you simply start the search for a new Bluetooth device. You need to look for the device called “Balloon Live Sensor xxxxx” where xxxxx stands for the 5 digit serial number of the BLS. Do not pair with the “BLS xxxxx” device since that is the channel which is used by the Balloon Live app and uses a private protocol.
For Windows 10 the pairing process needs to follow the following steps:
- Open the Windows Settings control panel and click on Devices.
- After opening Devices, Bluetooth & other devices should be preselected. Make sure that Bluetooth is activated.
- Click on Add Bluetooth or other device, and on the following dialog select Bluetooth.
- The next panel will show nearby Bluetooth devices. As mentioned above, select the “Balloon Live Sensor xxxxx” device which matches the serial number of your BLS.
- After clicking on the desired “Balloon Live Sensor”, Windows will start connecting to the BLS. The connection does not require a PIN code but will connect the device with the computer without any further interaction.
- Next you need to identify the COM port that is assigned to the newly added Bluetooth device. This can be quickly found from the Bluetooth & other devices dialog. Scroll down to find the option More Bluetooth options. This will open the Bluetooth Settings dialog where you need to switch to the COM ports tab. In that tab you should see the “Balloon Live Sensor” connection that was just added. We need to remember the serial port associated with the “Balloon Live Sensor xxxxx ‘Serial Port’”, in that example it would be COM5.
This COM port can then be used for your navigation software that reads GPS NMEA sentences. The port supports connection speeds up to 115,200 bit/s.
For other operating systems the pairing process should follow similar steps.
I have been asked to upgrade the firmware on my BLS, how can I do this?
If you have to upgrade the firmware of the BLS, you will have received a file called “sensbox.upg”. This file has to be copied to the SD card into the “system” folder and the filename needs to be exactly “sensbox.upg”. If there is a firmware file from a previous upgrade, you need to erase it before copying the new file.
Once the new firmware file has been copied to the SD card and the SD card is inserted into the BLS, the BLS first needs to be turned off. Now first press and hold the OK/mode/config button and then turn the BLS on using the On/Off button. This will start the BLS in upgrade mode and if a new firmware is found on the SD card, the upgrade will be performed. Progress of the upgrade will be indicated by a moving segment in the value display while the left side contains the word “UPG”. When the upgrade has completed, the BLS turns itself off automatically. The new firmware will be active when the BLS is turned on the next time.
How do I modify the volume of the audible variometer?
The BLS device supports an audible variometer with 4 different volume settings (100%, 66%, 33%, and off). Unless the volume is turned off a variable sound will indicate ascend or fast descend rates.
To adjust the volume use the OK/mode/config button to navigate to the Audio menu. Within the Audio menu you can use the Selection Up and Selection Down buttons to increase or decrease the volume. The setting will be accepted immediately, it does not have to be confirmed.
Facing problems?
I can’t turn my BLS on, what can I do now?
Why does the altitude displayed on the BLS not match the altitude in the Balloon Live app?
As the firmware for the BLS is still under development, there are still some mismatches in what is being displayed. Currently the BLS only displays the barometric altitude, while the Balloon Live app can be set to either use barometric altitude or GPS altitude. When the Balloon Live app is set to use GPS altitude then the values shown in the app and on the device will differ.
This behavior will be fixed with a future firmware and app release. The Balloon Live app will then send the selected altitude mode to the BLS so that the same values are displayed on the mobile device and on the BLS.
Why does the altitude displayed on my PC not match the altitude in the Balloon Live app?
As the firmware for the BLS is still under development, there are still some mismatches in what is being displayed. If you have connected your PC to the BLS via Bluetooth to receive NMEA data, you may see a different altitude in the Balloon Live app and your navigation software. This is because the BLS currently always transmits the NMEA sentences with barometric altitude. When the Balloon Live app is set to use GPS altitude then those values will differ.
This behavior will be fixed with a future firmware and app release. The Balloon Live app will then send the selected altitude mode to the BLS so that the same values are sent via the NMEA sentences as they are displayed on the BLS.
My BLS shows an incorrect time, how do I change it?
Use the OK/mode/config button to activate the Clock mode. Now press and hold the OK/mode/config button for 3 seconds to enter the clock set mode. In the clock set mode the time will begin to flash and you can change the time zone back and forth using the Selection Up and Selection Down buttons. The BLS will cycle through all available time zones, including those that are not on full hours. When the clock shows the correct local time you can confirm the time zone by pressing the OK/mode/config button.
I want to turn off the BLS but get a message “Sd Err”, what does it mean?

Other problem?
If you couldn't find an answer to your problem, please contact the Balloon Live support team.