AR5 Maintenance Guide

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Maintaining your acoustic gear is vital to ensure it continues to work year after year in tough conditions. Monitors hang outside for months in wet and humid conditions. Almost every field failure comes back to moisture, a flat RTC battery, or a card formatting problem. This guide aims to help you keep your monitors in top condition for the long term.

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BEFORE — Deployment

  1. Format the SD card. Doing this on the device is recommended. On a computer use FAT32 or exFAT. Up to 2 TB; SanDisk Ultra recommended.

  2. Fit 4 × AA as a matched set. NiMH recommended.

  3. Add a fresh silica gel pack. Either 0.5 or 1.0 g.

  4. Configure it in the Alato Configurator app, tapping the phone to the NFC point under the SD card. Save settings as a template to configure multiple devices easily.

  5. Check the date and time. Wrong or reset may mean a flat RTC battery.

  6. Run the Hardware Test and confirm everything passes (page 2).

AFTER — Retrieval

  1. Take the AA batteries out.

  2. Save the data and check everything recorded as expected. Review the log file if there are any issues.

  3. Air-dry the unit indoors with the tube off for at least a day.

  4. Inspect for damage. Case, threads, locking ring, screen, buttons and microphone foam.

  5. Clean with isopropyl on a lint-free cloth or cotton bud. Clear any debris or insect nests from the foam.

  6. Store with the tube unlocked, somewhere cool, dry and stable. Sealed storage traps damp air and takes a permanent set out of the O-ring.

YEARLY — Off-season service (About 30 minutes a unit)

  1. Replace the RTC battery (CR1220) — on schedule, not on failure. Small clip at the top left of the LCD.

  2. Replace the O-ring, or sooner for cracks, flat spots, a chalky surface or grit. Clean the ring and groove, and use silicone grease only.

  3. Clear any corrosion — white or green powder on the AA terminals, clip, card slot or threads. Isopropyl on a cotton bud, dry fully.

  4. Re-waterproof the microphone foam. When completely dry, spray it in place with Alato waterproofing spray from about 20 cm — several light passes, never one heavy coat.

  5. Update the firmware Firmware v1.74 for AR5 - NEW

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