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What You’ll Need

Before you begin, gather these essentials:
  • Duck device - PapaDuck (gateway) or MamaDuck (sensor node)
  • USB cable - For connecting device to your computer
  • Chrome or Edge browser - Required for Web Serial API support
  • OWL DMS account - Contact your administrator for access
  • WiFi credentials - For PapaDuck devices (2.4GHz only)

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Step 1: Log In to OWL DMS

  1. Navigate to your OWL DMS platform URL
  2. Enter your email and password
  3. Click Sign In
If this is your first time logging in, check your email for the registration link sent by your administrator.

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Step 2: Add Your Device

Before flashing firmware, register your device in the system:
  1. Go to Network in the navigation
  2. Click Add Device
  3. Enter a device name (3-8 characters, letters and numbers only)
  4. Click Create
Device Types:
  • PapaDuck: Gateway device that connects to WiFi and uploads data to the cloud
  • MamaDuck: Sensor node that collects data and relays messages through the mesh network

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Step 3: Flash Firmware

Navigate to Add Device in the navigation to access the firmware flashing wizard.

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Connect Your Device

  1. Click Connect to Device
  2. Select your device from the browser popup
  3. Wait for the connection confirmation

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Configure Firmware

  1. Select device type: PapaDuck or MamaDuck
  2. Enter WiFi credentials (PapaDuck only):
    • SSID (network name)
    • Password
    • WiFi must be 2.4GHz - 5GHz networks are not supported
  3. Choose sensors (MamaDuck only):
    • GPS, BMP180/390, DHT11, or LED control
    • Set sensor intervals (30 seconds to 60 minutes)

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Flash & Monitor

  1. Review your configuration
  2. Click Flash Firmware
  3. Monitor the serial output for progress
  4. Wait for “Flash complete” confirmation
Do not disconnect the device during flashing. The process takes 1-2 minutes.

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Step 4: Deploy Your Device

Once flashing is complete: For PapaDuck:
  1. Disconnect from computer
  2. Connect to power source (USB or wall adapter)
  3. Device will automatically connect to WiFi and start uploading data
For MamaDuck:
  1. Disconnect from computer
  2. Power with battery or USB
  3. Device will connect to the nearest PapaDuck in range

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Step 5: Monitor Your Network

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Check Device Status

  1. Go to Network page
  2. Verify your device appears in the list
  3. Devices are online if a message was received within the last 5 minutes

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View Real-Time Data

  1. Go to Dashboard to see message statistics and charts
  2. Go to Map View to see GPS locations (if GPS sensor is enabled)
  3. Click on devices to view battery status and recent messages
Messages appear in real-time. If your device shows offline, check WiFi connection (PapaDuck) or verify it’s within range of a PapaDuck (MamaDuck).

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Next Steps

Dashboard

Monitor messages and device activity

Map View

Visualize device locations

Network Management

Manage devices and assignments

Data Export

Export message data to CSV

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Troubleshooting

  • Make sure you’re using Chrome or Edge browser
  • Try a different USB cable or port
  • Check that the device is powered on
  • Verify you’re using a 2.4GHz network (5GHz not supported)
  • Double-check SSID and password for typos
  • Ensure the network doesn’t require captive portal login
  • Wait 5 minutes - devices are marked offline after 5 minutes without messages
  • For PapaDuck: check WiFi connection and power
  • For MamaDuck: verify it’s within range of a PapaDuck
  • GPS data only displays if received within the last 24 hours
  • Ensure device has clear view of sky for GPS satellite lock
  • Check that GPS sensor was enabled during firmware flashing
Need help? Contact [email protected]