Feedback Tally

Manual

3/2/25

Overview

Welcome to the Companion Buddy Feedback Tally. A tally light that updates based on the background color of a companion button.

Device Setup

  1. Power on Device with USB-C power Cable.

  2. Press the small button on the bottom of the Tally Light using a paperclip or sim-card tool (Lights will change to spinning green).

  3. On a Computer or Phone, connect to WiFi “Companion Buddy Setup”.

  4. Use Password “12345678” to connect.

  5. Go to "http://setup.companionbuddy.io” (Make sure you use http:// not https://).

  6. Set your WiFi SSID/Name.

  7. Set your WiFi password.

  8. Set your Companion IP address (Companion will need to be set to an GUI interface that devices on the Network can see).

  9. Set your Companion Satellite Listening Port (Default is 16622 and can be changed in the Companion Settings).

  10. Hit save.

Once the spinning indicator lights stop you should be connected to both WiFi and Companion. If you still see spinning lights, go to Trouble Shooting to see what the spinning color means.

Indicator LEDs Setup

(BETA V1.1.2) After deciding which LED indicators you want to turn OFF, follow these steps.

  1. Uncheck the box next to the indicator you want to turn off.

  2. Hit save (Can be at the same time as device setup)

Companion Setup

Once connected to WiFi and Companion, everything else is set inside the Companion GUI.

Settings can be changed under the Surfaces page in the Companion GUI.

The surface ID will follow the format of “Buddy:ColonelSneakyRobotJacket3463” and the type will be “Buddy Feedback Tally”

Set Button Location

After choosing the button you want to show the background color of (ex. button 2/0/5 ) follow these steps.

  1. Under Surfaces, Click Settings

  2. Set the Current Page (2/0/5)

  3. Set Horizontal Offset (2/0/5)

  4. Set Vertical Offset (2/0/5)

Set Brightness

  1. Under Surfaces, Click Settings

  2. Change Brightness to desired brightness

Warning: If you have the brightness on max and white set as the color, the device can OVERHEAT if not in a temperature-controlled environment. It is suggested to set brightness to 50% or less in non-temperature-controlled environments.

Warning: LED brightness levels are not linear so you will see more changes on the lower end of the brightness scale.

Trouble Shooting

Color Indicators

  1. Blue - Connecting to WiFi

  2. Red - Connecting to Companion

  3. Green - Started Web Server for Config

Factory Reset

Factory resetting will remove all settings and give the Feedback Tally a new ID under surfaces in Bitfocus Companion.

  1. Press the small button on the bottom of the Tally Light using a paperclip or sim-card tool (Lights will change to spinning green).

  2. Release button.

  3. Press the button again and hold for 5 - 7 seconds until the light turns white.

  4. Release once the lights turn white.

The Feedback Tally will automatically reboot and be factory reset.

Firmware Upgrade

WARNING: If you disconnect power from the Tally Light before uploading/upgrading is finished, IT CAN BREAK OTA UPDATING! If this happens, you may have to flash the firmware using a USB to Serial adapter and some free online tool. Please wait for the Tally light to reboot on its own to avoid messing it up.

  1. Download the firmware version you want to upgrade to. (This will be a Vx.x.x.bin file)

  2. Press the small button on the bottom of the Tally Light using a paperclip or sim-card tool (Lights will change to spinning green).

  3. On a Computer or Phone, connect to WiFi “Companion Buddy Setup”.

  4. Use Password “12345678” to connect.

  5. Go to "http://setup.companionbuddy.io” (Make sure you use http:// not https://).

  6. Scroll down to Update Firmware

  7. Click Choose File and select the Vx.x.x.bin from step 1. (Make sure the file name appears to the right of the button)

  8. Click Upload Firmware

  9. It will ask you if you are OK and ready to update, and if you are, then hit OK.

  10. WAIT FOR THE TALLY TO REBOOT (go back to spinning blue) BEFORE MESSING WITH IT!

Latest Firmware

BETA V1.1.3

3/2/25

  1. Fixed the socket connection bug from V1.1.2

If you have experienced the V1.1.2 bug and V1.1.3 works for your setup. If you could please email support@companionbuddy.io with any details on your setup and how to replicate the bug, that would be greatly appreciated.

V1.1.3 had been tested and proven in private testing and now has moved to BETA public testing. If everything works with no bugs, V1.1.3 will be pushed out in production Feedback Tally lights starting 4/1/25.

BETA V1.1.2

1/17/25

  1. Added ability to turn off indicator LEDS for different states.

  2. Fixed bug that turns LED indicators Red when WiFi times-out.

  3. Added infrastructure for firmware version jumping without breaking.

WARNING: After sending out Feedback Tallies with V1.1.2 in production, we found cases in certain networks that break the connection to Companion making the Feedback Tally stuck in the blue indicator or making the connection very slow and adding a lot of delay.

If you experience either symptom, downgrading to V1.1.1 should fix this issue. If you could please email support@companionbuddy.io with any details about how to replicate this bug, that would be greatly appreciated.

We are very sorry for any inconvenience this may bring and are actively trying to fix this bug.

V1.1.1

12/29/24

  1. Patched certain factory resets that don’t actually reset.

V1.1.0

12/01/24

  1. Fixed brightness to not overheat the device.

  2. Fixed boot loop when disconnecting from Companion.

  3. Made LED indicators brighter.