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Troubleshooting & FAQ

Common questions and answers about SiFi Bridge.

Installation & Setup​

Q: Where can I download SiFi Bridge?​

A: Download the latest executable from the GitHub Releases page. Binaries are available for Linux, macOS, and Windows.

Q: I get "command not found" when running sifibridge. What's wrong?​

A: The executable isn't in your PATH. Either:

  1. Run it with the full path: ./sifibridge
  2. Move it to a PATH location: sudo mv sifibridge /usr/local/bin/
  3. Add current directory to PATH: export PATH=$PATH:.

Q: My device isn't showing up in the scan. What should I do?​

A: Try these steps:

  1. Verify that Bluetooth is enabled on your computer
  2. Tap the device to try waking it up
  3. Power cycle the device by connecting it to USB

Q: Can I connect to multiple devices at once?​

A: Yes, by creating multiple managers or using multiple instances of SiFi Bridge.

Q: What is the maximum distance between my computer and my device?​

A: Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) has a theoretical range of 100+ meters, but we recommend staying within the same room due to the relatively high data throughput of SiFi devices, especially the SiFi Band. Lowering sampling rates or disabling sensors may help with range.

Q: Connection drops frequently. How do I fix it?​

A: BLE dropouts usually come down to antenna quality, interference, or link contention. Try these in order:

  1. Use a BLE dongle, especially on desktops. Internal antennas (particularly on desktop towers) are often the weak point, and a dedicated Bluetooth 5.2+ dongle usually improves reception noticeably. On Windows, you may need to disable the built-in Bluetooth in Device Manager so the two radios don't conflict.
  2. Keep the dongle away from USB 3.0 ports. USB 3.0 emits 2.4 GHz interference that degrades nearby BLE. Plug the dongle into a USB 2.0 port, or use a short USB extension cable to move it away from the machine and other peripherals. This is a common and easily missed cause.
  3. Reducing interference (move away from WiFi routers, microwaves, etc).
  4. Make sure no other BLE device is connected to the same computer. Competing connections are a frequent source of instability.
  5. Move closer to the device to shorten the link.
  6. Check the device battery level (show command). Low battery can cause dropouts.
  7. Restarting both device and computer
  8. Update to latest SiFi Bridge version and device firmware version
  9. Reduce the data load. Higher throughput stresses the link, so if you are running the Full configuration or high EMG sampling rates, try disabling some modalities or lowering the rate to see if drops stop.

Data Collection​

Q: What's the maximum data collection time?​

A: When configured for on-device memory storage, data capacity is typically 15 hours with the default configuration (ECG at 500 Hz, EMG at 2000 Hz, etc.) (BioPoint only). For a more precise answer, try out the Data bandwidth and recording time calculator.

Q: Can I collect from multiple sensors at once?​

A: Yes, all enabled sensors stream simultaneously.

Device Configuration​

Q: How do I optimize battery life?​

A: Try disabling unused sensors, lowering the sampling rates and, if adequate, disabling BLE data sending or on-device data saving, depending on your use-case.

Performance & Troubleshooting​

Q: Data looks noisy or of poor quality. What can I do?​

A: Check these sensor settings:

  • PPG Sensitivity: Adjust for your lighting conditions
  • PPG Current: Increase if signal is weak
  • Filtering: Enable ECG/EDA notch filters

Use the show command to see current configurations.

Q: I lost my data. Is there a way to recover it?​

A: You can try downloading memory from your device.

General​

Q: What devices are supported?​

A: All past and present devices from SiFi Labs are supported by SiFi Bridge.

Q: Is my data private?​

A: Yes, data stays on your computer and device by default. SiFi Bridge doesn't upload data anywhere. You control where data is exported.

Q: Can I use SiFi Bridge offline?​

A: Yes, completely offline. All processing happens locally. Network features (LSL, TCP/UDP) are optional and can also be used in local networks (LAN).

Q: How often are updates released?​

A: There is no fixed update schedule. See CHANGELOG for release history. Subscribe to GitHub releases for notifications.

Q: How do I report a bug?​

A: Open an issue on GitHub Issues with:

  • Your OS and version
  • SiFi Bridge version (sifibridge --version)
  • Device model and firmware version
  • Steps to reproduce
  • Error messages (if any)

Q: Where can I ask questions?​

A: Use GitHub Discussions for questions and general help on SiFi Bridge.