What is Guard Mode?
Guard Mode is a suite of safety features designed to provide peace of mind while your boat is at anchor. In its initial implementation, Guard Mode acts as an "Anchor Watch," enabling you to monitor your boat's position and receive alerts if it drifts outside a designated safety area.
Whether you're relaxing onboard or exploring ashore, Guard Mode ensures you can keep track of your boat's location with precision and ease.
Who is Guard Mode useful for?
Guard Mode is ideal for anyone seeking peace of mind while anchored or moored. Common scenarios include:
For safety: When you’re onboard—whether sleeping overnight or relaxing during the day—and want to be notified if your boat moves a certain distance from its anchor point.
For security: When you’re away from your boat and want to ensure it stays secure and in the same location where you left it.
How does Guard Mode work?
Guard Mode monitors your boat's location relative to a designated Safety Area. If your boat exits this area, Guard Mode sends alerts to your connected Orca devices.
There are three scenarios for using Guard Mode:
1. Full Remote - Connected Core
The Orca Core is connected to the Internet via Wi-Fi or a mobile hotspot. The Orca Core monitors the boat and broadcasts its position to the Orca Cloud.
All devices with the Orca App installed and Internet access will receive Guard Zone notifications if an event occurs.
2. Partially Remote - Orca App as a Proxy
If your Orca Core lacks Internet access, you can use your mobile device or tablet as a proxy to send the Core's data to the Cloud.
Open the Orca App on your device, connect it to the Orca Core, and keep the app running with the screen unlocked.
The Orca Core will monitor the boat's location and send data to the Orca Cloud via the Orca App. All devices with the Orca App installed and Internet access will receive notifications if an event occurs.
3. Local Connection - No Internet Access
If neither the Orca Core nor your mobile device has Internet access, you can still activate Guard Mode locally.
The Orca Core will monitor the boat’s location and send data directly to the Orca App. Only the device where Guard Mode was activated will receive notifications if an event occurs.
How do I activate Guard Mode?
To activate Guard Mode:
Navigate to the "My Boat" section in the Orca App and select "Set Guard Mode".
A map centered on your boat's location will appear, along with two widgets:
Wind Widget: Displays the maximum wind speed and direction for the next 12 hours. Tap the widget for more weather details.
Depth Widget: Shows the current depth at your boat's location.
Pan the map to your desired location and press "Draw Safety Area".
Use your finger to draw the safety area by tapping and holding while outlining the zone. Clear and redraw if needed.
Press "Activate Guard Mode" to start monitoring. The safety zone will sync across all your devices.
What type of alerts do I get?
Once activated, Guard Mode monitors your boat's position and triggers alerts if it exits the safety zone:
Visual and Audio Alerts: The safety zone boundary turns red, a warning sound plays, and a local notification appears in the app.
Escalated Alert: If the boat remains outside the safety zone for more than 30 seconds, a louder alert will sound.
Push Notifications: All registered devices receive push notifications if the boat exits the safety zone or if the Cloud does not receive location data from the boat for more than 15 minutes.
What do I need to use Guard Mode?
To activate Guard Mode, you’ll need an Orca Core. For remote use while offboard, ensure the Orca Core remains powered and connected to the Internet.
Guard Mode is available through two subscription tiers:
Free: Local Guard Mode functionality.
Smart Navigation: Full Guard Mode experience with partial and full remote support.