Troubleshooting - Grillo Pulse

This guide covers common issues and solutions for the Grillo Pulse sensor.

Monitoring deployed sensors

The status LEDs on the Grillo Pulse PCB are not visible through the standard IP67 enclosure. For deployed sensors, use the Grillo Cloud dashboard to monitor sensor status, connectivity, and data streaming. The LED reference below is useful for debugging and testing before final assembly, or if using a custom enclosure with a transparent lid.

Checking sensor status via dashboard

For deployed sensors, the Grillo Cloud dashboard is your primary tool for monitoring:

1. Log in to cloud.grillo.io
2. Navigate to your network and sensor
3. Check status indicators:
   • Online - Sensor is connected and streaming data
   • Offline - Sensor is not currently connected
   • Pending - Sensor is registered but hasn't connected yet
4. View details for connection type (WiFi/Cellular), signal strength, and last data received

LED status reference (debugging/testing only)

The Grillo Pulse has two RGB status LEDs on the PCB:

Network LED

Color	Meaning	Action
Blue pulsing	Connecting or provisioning mode	Wait, or configure WiFi/APN
Green	Connected to network	Normal operation
Red	Connection failed	Check network setup

Sensor LED

Color	Meaning	Action
Green	Sensors operational	Normal operation
Yellow	Sensor degraded	Check sensor status in dashboard
Red	Sensor failed	Contact support

Both LEDs

Color	Meaning	Action
Purple blinking	OTA firmware update in progress	Wait for update to complete
Off	No power	Check power connection

Common issues

Sensor won't power on

Symptoms: No LED activity, device appears dead

Solutions:

1. Verify power adapter is connected properly
2. Check weatherproof connector is fully seated
3. Try a different power outlet
4. Check power adapter cable for damage
5. Verify battery isn't completely depleted
6. Contact support if issue persists

Can't connect to WiFi

Symptoms: Sensor won't connect to wireless network

Solutions:

1. Verify 2.4 GHz network

   • Grillo Pulse only supports 2.4 GHz
   • 5 GHz networks will not work

2. Check signal strength

   • Move sensor closer to router temporarily
   • Use a WiFi extender for permanent solution

3. Verify credentials

   • Re-enter WiFi password carefully
   • Check for special characters

4. Factory reset and retry

   • Reset sensor to factory defaults
   • Reconfigure from scratch

Cellular not connecting

Symptoms: Sensor has power but cellular won't connect

Solutions:

1. Check SIM card

   • Verify SIM is properly seated
   • Ensure SIM is activated with carrier
   • Try SIM in a phone to verify it works

2. Check antenna

   • Verify antenna is connected securely
   • Try repositioning antenna
   • Check antenna cable for damage

3. Check coverage

   • Verify cellular coverage at location
   • Check carrier's coverage map
   • Try moving sensor to different position

4. Verify APN settings

   • Confirm APN matches carrier requirements
   • Check username/password if required

5. Contact carrier

   • Verify account is active
   • Check for network outages
   • Confirm M2M/IoT service is enabled

Sensor shows "Offline" in dashboard

Symptoms: Sensor was working but now shows offline

Solutions:

1. Check physical setup

   • Verify power connection
   • Check LED status on device
   • Verify antenna connection (cellular)

2. Check network

   • For WiFi: verify network is working
   • For cellular: check carrier status

3. Check environment

   • Power outage at site?
   • Weather damage?
   • Antenna displaced?

4. Restart sensor

   • Disconnect power for 30 seconds
   • Reconnect and wait 5 minutes

5. Check data plan

   • For cellular: verify data plan is active
   • Check for usage limits exceeded

Poor cellular signal

Symptoms: Intermittent connectivity, slow data

Solutions:

1. Reposition antenna

   • Move to higher location
   • Point away from obstructions
   • Try different orientations

2. Check for interference

   • Move away from metal structures
   • Distance from power lines
   • Check for RF interference sources

3. Consider external antenna

   • Higher gain antenna may help
   • Directional antenna if tower location known

4. Contact carrier

   • Check for network issues
   • Verify coverage at exact location

Battery draining quickly

Symptoms: Battery backup doesn't last as expected

Solutions:

1. Check cellular usage

   • Cellular uses more power than WiFi
   • Poor signal increases power consumption

2. Check configuration

   • Higher sample rates use more power
   • Reduce reporting frequency if possible

3. Verify AC power

   • Ensure primary power is connected
   • Check for loose connections

4. Battery age

   • Batteries degrade over time
   • May need replacement after several years

Data quality issues

Symptoms: Noisy data, false triggers

Solutions:

1. Check mounting

   • Verify sensor is level
   • Ensure stable mounting
   • Tighten all hardware

2. Evaluate location

   • Distance from vibration sources
   • Check for wind exposure
   • Verify ground stability

3. Check enclosure

   • Ensure properly sealed
   • Look for water ingress
   • Verify nothing loose inside

Weather-related issues

Symptoms: Problems after rain, temperature changes

Solutions:

1. Check seals

   • Verify enclosure is properly sealed
   • Check cable gland tightness
   • Look for visible damage

2. Check for water

   • If water suspected, open and dry
   • Do not power on until dry
   • Replace desiccant if present

3. Temperature extremes

   • Verify operating within spec
   • Consider shade/shelter
   • Check battery performance in cold

Factory reset

To completely reset your Grillo Pulse:

1. Power off the sensor
2. Open the enclosure
3. Locate the reset button on the board
4. Press and hold for 10 seconds
5. Release when LED pattern changes
6. Close and seal enclosure
7. Sensor will restart in setup mode

warning

Factory reset clears all settings including WiFi configuration, cellular APN, and provisioning. You'll need to set up the sensor from scratch.

Firmware updates (OTA)

The Grillo Pulse supports over-the-air firmware updates:

• Update indicator - Both LEDs blink purple during update
• Automatic rollback - If update fails verification, device automatically reverts to previous firmware
• Do not power off - Wait for update to complete (LEDs return to normal)
• Checksum verification - Updates are verified before applying

Automatic recovery

The Grillo Pulse has built-in recovery mechanisms:

Situation	Automatic Response
Invalid WiFi credentials	Auto-clears credentials, restarts into provisioning mode
Network dropout	Retries connection automatically
Bad firmware update	Auto-rollback to previous working version
Sensor error	Reports degraded status to dashboard

Diagnostic information

The device automatically reports status to Grillo Cloud every 30 seconds, including:

• Connection type and signal strength
• Battery voltage and charging status
• Memory usage and uptime
• Time synchronization status
• GPS location (if available)
• Temperature

When contacting support, gather this information:

1. Device ID - Found on PCB label or packaging
2. LED status - Current light pattern and color
3. Connection type - WiFi or cellular (LTE/3G/2G)
4. Signal strength - If available
5. Installation details - Location type, mounting method
6. Environmental conditions - Weather, temperature
7. Power source - Solar panel voltage, battery status
8. Recent changes - Any changes to setup or environment
9. Error messages - Screenshots from dashboard

Contact support

If you've tried the above solutions without success:

1. Visit Support Contact
2. Include diagnostic information listed above
3. Describe the issue and steps already tried
4. Include photos if relevant (installation, LED status, etc.)

Related guides

• Physical Installation
• Network Setup
• SIM Card Setup
• Provisioning