What is KIP?
KIP is the rugged personal geolocation and emergency-alert beacon at the heart of the Alpik ecosystem. If you own a KIP device, this page explains what it is, how it connects, and how it now fits into Alpik Pro.
The device
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 7 × 1.2 × 11.5 cm |
| Weight | 120 g |
| Water resistance | IP65 |
| Operating range | -20°C to 60°C |
| Battery | Rechargeable lithium, 30+ hours in activity mode |
| Radio output | 25 mW |
The serial number is printed on the sticker on the back of the device — you'll need it in case of emergency (see In Case of Emergency).
How KIP connects
KIP combines several radio technologies so it stays reachable in as many situations as possible:
| Network | Role |
|---|---|
| LoRaWAN | Long-range, low-power transmission used for routine tracking |
| Sigfox | Secondary long-range network for redundancy |
| Bluetooth (BLE) | Local pairing with the Alpik Forwarder app on your phone. The phone's mobile connection relays KIP's live tracking |
On top of these, KIP includes FINDR, a direction-finding technology that lets rescue teams detect a beacon from several kilometres away — even in areas with no network coverage.
If you want to verify Radio network coverage, please check our coverage map. Nevertheless, if possible, use ALPIK Forwarder application on your phone. It won't drain your phone's battery but will complete network coverage with your cellular provider's one.
From the KIP app to Alpik Pro
KIP beacons used to pair with a dedicated KIP mobile app. That app has now been superseded: the beacon's BLE data is picked up by the Alpik Forwarder app and forwarded to the Alpik backend, where it becomes available in Alpik Pro — Alpik's professional web console.
Moving to Alpik Pro brings benefits that the original single-device KIP app didn't offer:
- Easy to use — Your loved ones don't need to install any application. Send them a link using your prefered communication means. In case of emergency, they will receive an SMS.
- No brainer — Once your position shared, you don't have to use any more our portal, until you don't want to change the share link.
- History — you trace is kept for review during 15 days.
- EU-hosted, GDPR-compliant infrastructure — data is hosted in EU by an EU company : Scaleway.
If you're moving from a personal KIP setup to Alpik Pro, see the Quickstart for former KIP customers.
Get the Alpik Forwarder app
The Alpik Forwarder is what listens for your KIP's BLE beacon and forwards it to Alpik Pro. See the Alpik Forwarder documentation for what it does, and the Installation guide for the App Store and Google Play links.