As more users have interacted with Androids and the app, we have identified various strategies for maximizing performance, battery, and accuracy of the Android components and the mWater Surveyor. The following steps should be completed for any new tablet (or smartphone) to ensure optimum functionality with the mWater Surveyor.
Important! Base installations in these devices vary, so some of these steps may not be necessary.
This setup tutorial is based on the Moto E Smartphone, implementing Android Kitkat. The setup may differ for other models and brands. Click here to see setup instructions for Nexus 7 tablets.
Important Information
These setup instructions require that the user already knows how to use the Android operating system. If you require training in this, begin with the Android Basics Guide.
The setup process requires a heavy bandwidth pull, it is highly recommended to complete this on a wifi network. Not doing so will quickly drain the data package.
You should setup each device for an enumeration in one sitting with reliable power and wifi. You should do this before beginning a training and/or deployment.
Important! for Android Lollipop (5.0) users: you must go to the Play Store and update an app called Android System Webview (it will already be installed on your device). There was a serious bug in the initial 5.0 release that affected many apps, including mWater Surveyor. Performing a system update to the Android software does not update this app.
Setting up a new device from box
Turn on the phone
Press ‘Start’
Join a wifi network (important: do not setup on your mobile data network) -> Click ‘Accept and continue’ on “About your privacy”
“Got google?” -> Click Yes, then sign in using a google account:
Wait for signing in to complete
Click grey arrows to get through “Google services”, uncheck Communication if presented with that option
Skip “Set up payment info” -> Click Not Now (bottom left)
Wait until “Restoring” is complete
“You’re all set, what’s next” -> Click Maybe Later
You should now be at the home screen, “updating …” messages may appear at the top
Settings for used and new devices
Drag your finger down from the top of the home screen to see the notification pane
Check if there is a system update available. If so, click Download. Wait for it to download then click Installnow
Open Settings (drag down and press on gear in Android Kitkat, in Android Lollipop, drag down twice to get to Settings
-> Click Location (from Display, go back one settings screen to see this)
Change GPS accuracy by clicking Mode -> choose High accuracy (Note: This setting auto switches back to low accuracy on some devices when the battery gets low. Repeat this step if you experience low GPS accuracy in the app.
System Updates:
Go to the Google Play Store (from home screen)
Note: some phones have an issue such that when you open the app store, you see a grey screen stating that the phone could not connect to the App Store. If this happens, go to Settings -> Accounts -> [the google account setup in the device], then Menu button -> remove account. Then add the same account again from the same screen. This should fix the problem.
Click on the Menu button (top left) -> Choose My apps
Click Update All
Continue to click Accept on the notices that appear until downloading begins
When finished, all installed apps should be in the “Recently updated” category
Google Maps Test:
The most common reason mobile devices' GPS malfunctions is that Google Maps' GPS is not configured correctly at the Android base level. Conducting this test is an important first step in setup to avoid finding problems with data and GPS when deployed in the field.
Click the Home button, then click the Apps button. Located in the center, above the home button.
Drag the Maps app to home screen by touch, hold then dragging
Click to open Maps
If this is your first time to open this app, select Accept and continue
Touch the target icon (the one that finds your current position on map) repeatedly until all popups have been answered (popups will only display if this is your first time to use the app)
Click Accept (if asked)
Click Settings (if asked)
Select “Turn it back on for all google apps?” -> Click Yes (if asked)
Verify that the blue dot is on your correct position (in other words, the dot on the map should map your geographic location)
Drag the map to one side, click the Target icon and verify that you (the blue dot) are brought back to current location with the blue dot in the center
If all of these steps occur as expected, Google Maps is functioning. If the blue dot does not match your location or if your location cannot be found, you need to troubleshoot whether GPS is on (see above setup step). You may need to update the Google Maps app in the Google Play Store (see above)
Installing the mWater Surveyor
If your google account already has a mWater Surveyor installed from use on another device, the app should have already been installed during the System Updates. If not, go to Play Store, search for mWater Surveyor, and install.
In the Android device, click Home and select the Apps button
Drag the app icon to the home screen (download if the app is not on phone)
Open the app (click on the Surveyor icon)
Wait at least 1 - 2 minutes for “A new version is available. Restart app?” to appear and click OK.
Login with your mWater user account. (Create an account if this is your first login ever on any mWater app or website)
Test App Functionality
Click on Maps and click the Target icon in the lower left hand corner. Verify that the blue dot appears at your current location
Drag around on the map and zoom out, click the Target icon again and verify you are returned to your correct location
Drag around the map until you see a site marker and click Open to open a site page.
Go back to Map and scroll through the List. Click on a site and verify that the site page opens.
Go to Home, click the + Add button and select Start a Survey. Verify that the list of surveys you should have access to appears
Finishing up: If you are setting up devices in a large batch and this device will not be used by you, click on the Settings gear button and select Log out.
Training note: upon handing out devices to their users, please instruct them to set their own gmail accounts as the user account for each device. If all your devices remain registered to the setup email, they will all sync to each other. This means each photo taken and app downloaded by each user will sync to every other user, and the end result is a rapid draining of all devices’ data minutes.
