Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)¶

VitalSensor & placement¶

Where exactly should the VitalSensor be placed?¶

Vertically, vents up, in the top corner of the central frame in the brood box (in the cluster). You fix it with two cable ties from the kit. Only in the brood chamber, never in a honey super. Steps and video: Mount the VitalSensor in the hive.

Can I move VitalSensors up/down when adding boxes?¶

Yes, within the nest. Always add a note about such an action in the app (preferably along with a photo). Apart from that, do not move the VitalSensor between frames, and keep its frame in the same position in the middle of the nest.

Can VitalSensors be installed on non-standard frames?¶

Yes, using zip ties. Please add a note (and preferably a photo) of the VitalSensor after installation.

Can VitalSensors be used in nucs (and other smaller hives) and then moved to bigger ones later?¶

It is recommended to wait with VitalSensor installation until the hive is in its final size (unless you want to use a small size, e.g. mini plus, through the whole season; in such case contact us first).

When should I put a VitalSensor into the hive?¶

During the season. Do not open the hive in winter just to put in a VitalSensor: wait for spring.

Which diseases does Apisense detect?¶

The VitalSensor together with our system detects the risk of varroosis, nosemosis, American foulbrood and chalkbrood. Details: Disease detection.

How do I replace the batteries in the VitalSensor?¶

The VitalSensor runs on two AA alkaline batteries. Steps and video: Replacing the VitalSensor batteries. What next: What to do after replacing the batteries.

How do I clean the VitalSensor?¶

Cleaning the VitalSensor is a usual part of a hive inspection, as is the removal of excess propolis and wax from the frames.

At each inspection, check that the bees did not close the openings in the cover with propolis or wax. Keep the openings open.
When you have a spare cover: install it, and put the dirty cover in the freezer. Break the frozen propolis off.
When you do not have a spare cover: open the openings with a toothpick, a wire or a hive tool.
You can wipe the outer surface of the VitalSensor with a cloth that is moist with water.
Remove the remaining wax from the cover with 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA) or 70% ethanol. Put a small quantity on a cloth and wipe the cover. Do not put the cover into alcohol.
Do not wash the cover in hot water: it can lose its shape. Do not use caustic soda or other alkaline agents, solvents or compressed air.
Do not put the VitalSensor into water and do not wash it under water. There are batteries and electronics inside.

Steps: How to clean the VitalSensor from propolis and wax.

What should I not do with the VitalSensor?¶

Do not install more than one VitalSensor in one hive.
Disinfect the VitalSensor before you move it, or its frame, to another hive. A VitalSensor can carry pathogens to another colony. See Can the VitalSensor be moved….
Before taking a frame out for honey harvest, storage or transport, remove the VitalSensor from it first. Do not put a frame with a VitalSensor in a honey extractor.
Do not expose the VitalSensor to open flame.
Do not disassemble, unscrew or modify the VitalSensor (except taking off the lid to replace batteries or clean it).
Report any damage right away to bee@apisense.ai.

Hub & connectivity¶

Can the Hub be installed indoors or under a roof?¶

No. It must be outdoors for GPS and proper connectivity.

Can I power the Hub permanently via electricity?¶

Yes, you can power it via USB-C, as long as it remains outdoors and is uncovered.

Does the Hub need a battery replacement?¶

No. The Hub has a built-in Li-ion battery that charges from a solar panel (PV). If sunlight is insufficient, you can top it up via USB-C.

Does the Hub need Wi-Fi or its own SIM card?¶

No. The Hub connects only through the LTE cellular network. The SIM card is inside the Hub. Data transfer is included in the subscription: you do not buy a separate data package. The Hub does not connect through Wi-Fi. The mounting site needs cellular coverage.

What is the best way to charge the Hub?¶

From the sun, in the apiary. If you set the kit up at home and the Hub has been lying unused for a long time, charge it via USB-C (a power bank works).

Do I need to restart the Hub after it has discharged?¶

No. When you connect the Hub to charging or put it in the sun, it resumes work by itself once it has enough charge and connects to the system and the devices. Do not hold down the Hub's button.

The Hub isn't charging despite full sun. Why?¶

This is correct behaviour: a battery safety protection has kicked in. The Hub only charges when the temperature inside the device stays below 50°C. With a south-facing installation during hot weather, the internal temperature can reach about 70°C, so charging is suspended for safety. Paradoxically, the all-day full sun is the reason charging stops here. The device is working correctly. Once the temperature drops, charging resumes automatically.

How far can the Hub be from the hives?¶

Up to 35 metres.

The Hub is not appearing in the app. What should I do?¶

The Hub usually connects in under an hour. A discharged Hub on a cloudy day has to charge first and needs more time. What you can do:

Check orientation (logo readable, antennas pointing vertically upwards).
Leave it outdoors for ~15 minutes.
Try USB-C charging.

If it still does not work, contact bee@apisense.ai.

A VitalSensor or Scale won't connect to the Hub. What should I do?¶

Devices reach the server through the Hub (VitalSensor/Scale → Bluetooth → Hub → LTE → server), so the order matters:

The Hub must connect first. No VitalSensor or Scale can connect until the Hub is online. The Hub usually connects in under an hour. It is solar-powered, so a discharged Hub on a cloudy day needs more time. Connect it to a charger then to speed it up. The apiary tile shows the countdown Estimated time until the Hub connects. The countdown starts by itself after you save the apiary.
Once the Hub is connected, each VitalSensor and Scale has its own first-connection countdown. The hive tile shows Connecting to the Hub, estimated time. This is normal, please wait.
When the countdown ends, the app shows Connecting is taking longer than usual; it can take a few hours. This is not an error yet.
If the device still does not connect and the Hub is online, the app shows VitalSensor still has not connected to the Hub. (or Scale still has not connected to the Hub.). The Hub cannot see the device over Bluetooth. Most common causes: the device is too far from the Hub, or an issue with the device itself (e.g. batteries). Tap See what to check.

If some devices connect and others don't (e.g. one VitalSensor works, the rest don't), the problem is with those specific devices, not the Hub.

If the problem persists, contact bee@apisense.ai.

The device still does not connect after the countdown. What do I do?¶

The countdown on the hive tile is the estimated time for the device's first connection. It is an estimate, not a guarantee. If the device does not connect in that time, the app shows Connecting is taking longer than usual; it can take a few hours. and then VitalSensor still has not connected to the Hub. (or Scale still has not connected to the Hub.). Do not remove the device and do not add it again.

Check that the Hub is online.
Move the device closer to the Hub (up to about 35 m).
Wait for the next Hub synchronisation. The device connects by itself.

If there is still no connection after a few hours, write to bee@apisense.ai and give the device's serial number.

Recommendation: set the kit up at home

Do the steps from power-up to connection near your house: put the Hub outdoors (in the sun or connected to a charger) and lay the VitalSensor and Scale close to it. Take the devices to the apiary only when the app shows all of them as connected.

Scale¶

Does the Scale need batteries or charging?¶

Yes. The Scale is powered by 2× AA alkaline batteries. Once installed and added to the app (QR code) it works automatically. You only replace the batteries when they run out.

How do I replace the batteries in the Scale?¶

You need to take the Scale out from under the hive, plus a 4 mm Allen key and a Torx T6 screwdriver (tools not included). Steps, photos and video: Replacing the Scale batteries. What next: What to do after replacing the batteries.

The screws will not come undone. What can I do?¶

The screws are tightened firmly and secured with glue so that they do not work loose in transport. Undoing them takes a lot of force.

Check the tool: the black housing has Torx T6 screws, the Scale's aluminium angle brackets take a 4 mm Allen (hex) key. The key must sit fully in the socket, without play.
Put the device steadily on a table, press the key down firmly and only then turn it anticlockwise. A screwdriver with a large handle works best.
One short, decisive turn works better than slow turning.
If the bit slips, lay a piece of a wide rubber band over the screw head and press the key through it. The rubber improves the grip.
If the screw socket starts to strip, stop and write to us: we assess every such case individually. Do not drill and do not heat the housing: the batteries are inside.

Which hive should be on the Scale?¶

Any VitalSensor-equipped hive. Trends matter more than the exact weight of a particular hive.

After battery replacement¶

What should I do after replacing the batteries in a Scale or VitalSensor?¶

Put the device back in its place, within range of the Hub (up to approx. 35 m).
Wait for the next synchronisation. Data comes back by itself, usually within a few hours, if the Hub is online.

You do not need to re-pair the device, remove it from the hive and add it again, remove the hive, or restart the Hub.

In Hive settings → Devices section you can tap I replaced the batteries on the device card. It is not required, but it brings the data back sooner. The apiary owner sees this button.

Data entry & Apisense app usage¶

Do notes have to be added in the field?¶

No. You can add them later with the correct date.

Can multiple people access the same app data?¶

Yes. The apiary owner can share the apiary with other people who have an Apisense account and choose the access level: Restricted, Standard or Full. The invitation comes only in the app: as a push notification, an entry in Alerts and a banner on the Apiaries screen. The invited person does not get an e-mail. The owner's plan decides which device and disease data the apiary has. To see them, the invited person also needs the Pro AI plan. Details: How to share an apiary.

The app shows implausible readings. What does that mean?¶

If a device shows values that are impossible in a hive (for example humidity above 100 % or a temperature that does not occur in nature) and they do not return to normal after a few hours, the sensor is broken. Write to bee@apisense.ai and give the device's serial number: we will arrange a replacement. Do not replace the batteries hoping it helps.

The app shows an "Update required" screen. What do I do?¶

Your app version is no longer supported. Update the Apisense app from the store (App Store or Google Play) and open it again.

How many apiaries and hives can I add?¶

During the trial, the number of apiaries and hives is limited. When you reach the limit, the app shows a message. Hives with a ColonyLink do not count towards the hive limit.
One apiary can hold up to 100 hives.

Beekeeping practices¶

Can I use oxalic or formic acid treatments?¶

Yes. Please add a note in the app once doing so.

The colony lost its queen or the hive is empty. What do I do with the VitalSensor?¶

Colony without a queen but alive: keep the VitalSensor in the hive. Its data still shows whether the colony recovers.
Colony died or the hive is empty: take the VitalSensor out and disinfect it. Then move it in the app to another hive: How do I move a device to another hive?. You do not need to contact Apisense. In an empty hive the VitalSensor data are of no use, and the VitalSensor still uses batteries.

Can VitalSensors be moved if a colony dies or is lost?¶

Yes. You move it yourself in the app. You do not need to contact Apisense.

Take the VitalSensor out of the hive.
Disinfect the VitalSensor before you install it in another colony. A VitalSensor can carry diseases to another colony.
In the app, move the VitalSensor to the new hive: How do I move a device to another hive?.

The measurement history stays in the old hive.

I'm moving a VitalSensor to another colony (e.g. after a colony died). How do I reflect this in the app?¶

A new colony = a new hive in the app.

Create a new hive in the app. The old hive stays unchanged.
Move the devices from the old hive to the new one with the Move button (after you disinfect the VitalSensor). Steps: How do I move a device to another hive?.
From now on new measurements go to the new hive.

Measurement history is not transferred between hives. It was a different colony, so the old hive's data do not describe the new one. The old hive's data stay in the old hive. The new hive's charts start from the moment of the move. You do not need to tell us.

What about splitting colonies or adding/removing supers?¶

Always add a note on such activities: it supports correct data interpretation.

What if I transport my hives?¶

Transport all hives + Hub + Scale together and add a note in the app. If the hives go to a different apiary in the app, move each of them: How to move a hive to another apiary.

Moving devices between hives and apiaries¶

This section tells you what to do in the app when a VitalSensor or a Scale changes hive. For example: the frame with the VitalSensor went into another hive, the colony moved to another apiary site, or Hubs swapped places.

Only the apiary owner manages devices. All actions are on the device card: Hive settings → Devices section.

How do I move a device to another hive?¶

Use the Move button. You do not scan a QR code.

Open the hive that has the device.
Tap ⋮ → Settings → Devices section.
On the VitalSensor or Scale card, tap Move.
Select the target hive from the list. The list shows your hives grouped by apiary.
Check the Move {device}? window and tap Move.
The app shows {device} is now in hive “{hive}”.

A target hive is greyed out when:

it already has a device of this type (Already has a VitalSensor. Disconnect it first.),
its apiary has no Hub (Apiary without a Hub: the device will not measure.).

If you scan the QR code of a device that is in another hive, the app shows: VitalSensor is already assigned to hive X. Disconnect the device from hive X or scan a QR code from another VitalSensor. Do not scan. Use Move in hive X.

How do I move a hive to an apiary that has no Hub?¶

You can move a hive with a VitalSensor or a Scale only to an apiary with a Hub. In the hive move sheet, an apiary without a Hub is greyed out: This apiary has no Hub. To move the hive here, disconnect its Scale and VitalSensor or add a Hub to the apiary. You have two options:

disconnect the Scale and the VitalSensor from the hive (Hive settings → Devices section → Disconnect), then move the hive,
add a Hub to the target apiary, then move the hive.

Steps to move a hive: How to move a hive to another apiary.

The basic rule: a device belongs to a hive, a Hub belongs to an apiary¶

VitalSensors and Scales are assigned to a hive, not to a Hub. The Hub only passes the data from the devices of its apiary to the system.
A device always sends data through the Hub of the apiary its hive is in. When you move a device to a hive in another apiary, the system assigns it to that apiary's Hub by itself. You do not scan the Hub's QR code.
So a VitalSensor does not have to stay with its first Hub.
Measurement history is stored under the device's serial number. Each hive shows the measurements from the time the device was in that hive.
Range is required. VitalSensors and Scales send data over Bluetooth to the Hub of their apiary. They must be physically close to it, up to about 35 m. A device moved to a hive in another apiary sends no measurements until it is within range of that apiary's Hub.
The ColonyLink stays with the hive. When you move a VitalSensor or a Scale, you do not touch the ColonyLink.

How do I scan a device's QR code from a specific hive?¶

You scan a QR code when you add a new device or a device that you disconnected before. To move a device between hives, use Move (steps above).

Open the hive the device must go to.
Tap ⋮ → Settings → Devices section.
An empty slot shows Not in this hive. Tap Add VitalSensor (or Add Scale).
Scan the QR code on the device. The QR code holds the serial number and the confirmation code. You do not type anything.

Points to note:

The action works at once. You do not need to save anything.
To replace the device in a hive with another one, tap Replace on the device card and scan the new device. The old device is disconnected from the hive and from your account. Its measurements stay in the hive history.
If the apiary has no Hub, the Devices section shows only the ColonyLink.
In an apiary that someone shared with you, only the apiary owner manages devices.

How to add the devices in the app: How to install and add the devices.

I moved the VitalSensor into another hive in the same apiary (same Hub). What do I do?¶

Move the VitalSensor in the app with the Move button in the old hive: How do I move a device to another hive?. If the target hive does not exist in the app yet, create it first (without a VitalSensor), then move the VitalSensor to it.

You do not touch the Hub. Its configuration refreshes by itself.

I moved the VitalSensor into a hive in a different apiary (different Hub). Can I register it with that Hub?¶

Yes. The VitalSensor is not "tied" to the Hub it was first used with. Move it with the Move button to a hive in the target apiary. The system assigns it to that apiary's Hub by itself. The first measurement can take up to several tens of minutes.

Conditions:

the target apiary must have its own Hub. Without a Hub, the hives of that apiary are greyed out in the list;
the VitalSensor must be physically within range of that Hub, up to about 35 m. Without that, no data comes through.

Exception: the whole colony moved together with its hive

If you transport the same hive with the same colony to another apiary site, do not create a new hive and do not move the devices. Move the whole hive: Hive settings → Move hive to another apiary (apiary owner only). The hive goes to the new apiary with its devices and its full history. The devices must be within range of the new apiary's Hub. Steps: How to move a hive to another apiary.

The device was not assigned to any hive. What do I do?¶

Scan the device's QR code. You have two options:

New hive: create the hive and scan the VitalSensor in the Add hive wizard. See How to add a hive.
Existing hive: in Hive settings → Devices section, tap Add VitalSensor and scan the code (steps above).

You do not type the serial number or the confirmation code. Both are in the QR code.

What happens to the data in the old hive?¶

Everything stays in the old hive: notes, inspections, tasks, examinations, samples, queen data and answers to disease questionnaires.

The measurement history stays too. The old hive still shows the measurements from the time the device was in that hive. This applies to Move, Disconnect and Replace. You cannot delete the history when you disconnect a device.

Do not delete the old hive just to tidy up

You cannot undo a hive deletion. Its notes, inspections, tasks and charts are lost. A hive without devices costs nothing and does no harm. Keep it as the record of that colony's history.

What happens to the data in the new hive?¶

Charts start from the moment of the move or the add. The measurements from the previous hive stay in the previous hive.
Hive in another apiary: the device connects to the Hub of the new apiary. The first measurement can take up to several tens of minutes. The Hub must be online.
The colony health assessment starts from zero. For about 3 days the app shows Collecting health data from the hive. This may take up to 3 days. Details: What a disease alert means and where it comes from.
Scale: a move resets the tare. Tare the Scale again in the new hive. See How to tare the Scale.

What to watch out for: risks¶

Risk of spreading disease. The VitalSensor travels between colonies with its frame. Disinfect the VitalSensor before you install it in the next colony.
Use Move, do not scan again. A scan of a device that is in another hive ends with a conflict message.
Do not create a new hive if it is the same colony that moved together with its hive. Move the whole hive in the app (Hive settings → Move hive to another apiary). The history stays with the hive.
Check the range. The device must be within about 35 m of the Hub of its new apiary. If not, the hive tile shows No connection.
Short history in the new hive. Disease alerts and trends become reliable only after a few days.

I swapped the Hubs between apiaries. What do I do in the app?¶

What happens to the data: nothing is lost. The Hub only passes data on, and the measurement history is stored under the device's serial number. Swapping or replacing a Hub does not cut the charts and does not delete the tare.

What happens to connectivity: each Hub has a list of the devices of its apiary. After a physical swap, a Hub stands next to hives that are not on its list. Those hives stop sending data and after some time show No connection, although the batteries are good.

What to do (the simple way): swap the Hubs back, each to its own apiary site. The devices come back at the next synchronisation. You change nothing in the app.

If the Hubs stay swapped: open Apiary settings → Hub section → Replace and scan the QR code of the Hub that now stands in this apiary. A "cross" swap between two of your apiaries does not work in the app. The app shows: Hub is already assigned to apiary X. Disconnect the device from apiary X or scan a QR code from another Hub. The app has no button to disconnect a Hub. Write to bee@apisense.ai. We will reassign the Hubs on our side.

After a Hub replacement, the devices stay in their hives with their history and tare. They connect again from the start, so for a short time the hive tiles show Awaiting connection.