This guide provides a detailed breakdown of each light indicator, beginning with the initial power-on light sequence that confirms the unit is booting correctly. It then explains the specific patterns for the primary functions: GNSS for data accuracy, WiFi for local network connectivity, and LTE for cellular communication. By familiarizing yourself with these light patterns, you can quickly diagnose the unit's health and verify the quality of your installation.
To operate the DirtMate, press the Power button on the control panel.
Power light
The power light is the upper left LED on a DirtMate when looking at the LED panel. This LED provides information about its charging and operating status. Allow the DirtMate to fully boot up for about 30 seconds to review the status of the rest of the LEDs.
When you first power on a DirtMate, the Power LED turns solid Blue while it boots. Once booting is complete, the LED changes to reflect the unit's operating state, and the remaining LEDs update shortly after.
Power LED | ||
| Status | LED Color | GF (blinking)? |
| Unit is off | Off | No |
| Unit is booting | Blue | No |
| Unit is running | White | No |
| Battery is charging | Green | Yes |
| Battery is fully charged | Green | No |
| Battery is low | Red | No |
| Unit has experienced a fault | Red | Yes |
If the Power LED is solid red shortly after boot, try to restart the device by powering off and then rebooting after a 10-second pause.
GNSS light
The accuracy of Dirtmate data relies on high-quality GNSS. This LED should be reviewed during installation and/or operation to verify that the desired mounting location meets the needs for high-accuracy GNSS.
There are 2 states for the GNSS: High Quality & Low Quality. If the sky view is not obstructed, the GNSS quality should likely be good. If a DirtMate is placed near something that sits taller than the unit (obscuring sky view), chances are the GNSS quality will be bad due to blocking a large portion of the sky and reducing the count of visible satellites.
GNSS | ||
| State | Color | Blinking or Solid |
| Off | Off | Off |
| On - low data quality | Red | Solid |
| On - good data quality | Green | Solid |
| Broadcast - RTK Low Quality | Red | Blinking |
| Broadcast- RTK Good Quality | Green | Blinking |
| RTK Float | Magenta | Solid |
| RTK Fix | Blue | Solid |
Wi-Fi light
DirtMates can connect to an existing wireless or ethernet network on site, or broadcast a Wi-Fi network when equipped with an LTE SIM card or ethernet connection. When broadcasting, the DirtMate acts as an Access Point, sharing its internet connection with nearby DirtMates.
| ℹ️ Note: Please note that the Dirtmate can't simultaneously be an Access Point (Broadcast) and Client (Receive). |
Wi-Fi | ||
| State | Color | Blinking or Solid |
| Off | Off | |
| Scanning for network | White | Blinking |
| Connected to network | Green | Solid |
| Active | Green | Blinking |
| Connected (Halow) | Blue | Solid |
| Active (Halow) | Blue | Blinking |
| Broadcasting as Access Point (any band: 2.4GHz, 5GHz, HaLow, or HaLow + WiFi) | Magenta | Solid |
| ℹ️ Note: The Magenta LED means the DirtMate is operating as an Access Point, sharing its connection with other nearby DirtMates. This applies regardless of the selected broadcast frequency (2.4GHz, 5GHz, HaLow, or a combination). To check which band is active, open the DirtMate's Network setting in the DirtMate Management. |
LTE light
DirtMates have two SIM slots located on the bottom of the unit. When either or both are equipped with a SIM card, your Dirtmate can connect to local LTE services. Some sites may not have LTE coverage, so this LED's state may not be critical for all users or sites.
LTE | ||
| State | Color | Blinking or Solid |
| Off | Off | Off |
| No sim in selected slot | Black | Solid |
| Cannot connect or no sim | Red | Blinking |
| Scanning | White | Blinking |
| Connected | Green | Solid |
| Active | Green | Blinking |
I still can't do it!
We wrote these articles to equip you with everything you need to get the job done on your own, but we understand that sometimes this isn't sufficient.
If you're stuck, the Propeller hardware support team may be able to help. You can contact them by emailing hardwaresupport@propelleraero.com.au.
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