AR Locate & Sonar

S01E08 — "Hot or cold. But make it science."

TL;DR AR Locate uses your camera + RSSI to visually guide you toward a device. Sonar mode plays a proximity-modulated ping — stronger signal, faster pings. Both modes help you physically locate a device you know is nearby.

AR Locate

Open a device's detail page → tap AR Locate.

Your camera view appears with an RSSI ring overlay. Walk around — the ring's size reflects signal strength. Move toward the device and the ring grows. Move away and it shrinks.

Not GPS navigation. Not precise triangulation. Think of it as a hot/cold game powered by actual radio physics.

Best for: Finding a device you know is within 10 metres — a drone in tall grass, earbuds under a couch cushion, a tracker someone hid in your bag.

Sonar Mode

Open a device's detail page → tap Sonar.

Your screen goes dark. A submarine-style sonar ping plays — synthesised at 720 Hz with a second harmonic and exponential decay. The ping rate increases as signal strength increases.

Slow pings = far. Fast pings = close. Silence = you lost it.

Best for: Searching in the dark, in a bag, or eyes-up situations where you can't stare at the screen.

TIP

Sonar plays under your media volume. Turn it up before you start.