EquiAlertDroid

What is EquiAlertDroid

EquiAlertDroid is an app, which turns any smartphone running Android 4.4.x or higher in a basic foaling alarm which will alert you with SMS ans calls (or telegram messages in latest version) wherever you are when your mare is lying flat on her side, thus adopting the normal foaling position:

You need: 

• An Android Smartphone, running Android 4.4.x or higher. Basically that means an android smartphone released since 2013 or later. This smartphone must be in sufficiently good working order to : 

  • be able to receive and send calls and texts or connect to internet through wifi if you'd rather use telegram,

  • have a correct battery, enough to hold on for at least 48h or more,

  • be able to install a pretty simple and light app.

And that's more or less it. 

This phone can have a broken screen, destroyed case, no working camera, lag like a struggling windows 3.11 computer trying to run youtube, it doesn't matter. Most of us have obsolete phones in our drawers: the first one of a child, a used one we discarded because of a broken screen, or because it didn't do 4g : as long as this phone checks the pretty short checklist above, it will be able to run EquiAlertDroid.  And if you don't have one, you should be able to find one with correct features by asking to friends or family, or for 50$ or less on ebay or your local ads website.

• an active simcard with the cheapest mobile plan you can find : the app doesn't need data, or 4g, just calls and texts ability. Of course, choose a provider relevant for the place where your mare will be stationed for foaling.  OR strong reliable rocksolid wifi coverage in the barn, for use with the latest version (in such a case, no simcard necessary). Both modes can now run simultaneously so the app will cope with having GSM coverage only when the mare is in pasture on day hours, and wifi coverage when the mare is in the barn during night for example.

• Something to convert into a pouch to attach the phone to the throatlatch of the mare's halter : some DIY in order here, with main ideas being to convert a jogger armband, or a smartphone belt, or something (a long sock, attached to the halter with a cohesive band should do the job pretty simply). Remember it has to be mareproof, so strong enough to resist to head motions (you don't want your alarm to fly away when the mare tries to fight flies !), and to protect the phone against shocks, falls, dust and rain. And that you will have to open the pouch regularly to charge the phone, so go easy on the adhesive at least in the strategic place.

• and... that's it.

Download the installation package (see down there), install it on the phone, a few settings and here you go, your discarded smartphone previously abandoned in a drawer just turned into a brand new fancy (and efficient !) foaling alarm !

EquiAlertDroid :

• will monitor the position of the mare and alert you when she lies in foaling position,

• includes a sleep mode to limit the false alarms on mares who still lie to sleep when they are on watch,

• doesn't need 3g, 4g, 5g, only the ability to call and send texts, OR doesn't even need a simcard if wifi is available in the barn,

• can be armed, disarmed, snoozed distantly,

• peut transmit its gps position on demand (in case the mare lost the phone... or the breeder lost the mare ??)

• can call you on demand for you to hear the barn's noises

• can take photos of the situation in the barn and transmit them through MMS (if the mobile plan allows it) or telegram (in that case, don't forget to make a hole in the pouch !)

EquiAlertDroid is totally free for 7 days, so that you can try it and check whether it's ok for you. Yes, free to download, free to install and use, with no limited features.

After that trial period, the price starts at 12€ for a month, 72€ for a year, and 150€ for illimited use (illimited time and illimited mares !)

The video presentation (for now, still in french only , but Youtube will provide some automatic subtitles, which may be a bit imaginative sometimes...)

The user manual 

The installation files to download and install on your phone : Version 1.136 is the current stable release, requires simcard. Version 2.0j is beta with wifi and simcard abilities. The app is free to download and test 7 days. Price from 12€ for a month, 72€ for a year, 120€ illimited. 

A list of smartphones known to run correctly the app : 

• Samsung Galaxy XCover 3 is our recommended choice. It's a relatively compact, rugged 4g smartphone, with water-  dust- and shockproof features. The well known brand means even if this model is now discontinued you will find plenty of used models on second hand markets, and still new accessories such as batteries, cases, and so on. In my part of the world it's easy to find at around 40€. The 4g module means it won't be outdated too early, and may be able to be of use for other things.

• Samsung Galaxy A5

• Wiko Rainbow Lite 4g

• Samsung Galaxy Core Prime (SM-G361F)

• Cubot J10

• Samsung Galaxy J10  (SM-J600FN)

• etc.

Older smartphones may actually be simpler to configure to run the app smoothly than newer. Plus older smartphones are frequently smaller, lighter, with detachable batteries which will allow you to run continuously by simply swapping a depleted battery for a full one, charged at home with a battery external charger.

So if you have the choice, a 5 year old, Android 7 or 8 is actually better for you than a 2 year old android 12 phone.  Plus it's cheaper if you have to buy it !