What is TraiLink?

TraiLink puts your whole crew on one live map, with no cell service, no satellites, and no subscription required. Each device is a node in a mesh network: TraiLink devices relay position updates from rider to rider, so the group stays connected even when the furthest rider is beyond direct radio range.

Clip your TraiLink to your jacket or pack, or mount it on your snowmobile, SxS, ATV, or dirt bike. Power it on, and you are part of the network.

Key features

• Long range. 15 km+ line of sight on open terrain, typically 1–3 km in hills and forest. Terrain dependent.
• Mesh coverage. Updates hop across group members, so the network reaches farther than any single link.
• Built for the cold. A 3500 mAh battery designed for freezing temperatures: 48 hours or more of riding with GPS on, 120 hours or more with GPS off.
• Live group map. See every rider's position, speed, and heading in the TraiLink app.
• Breadcrumb trails. Retrace your route, or follow the path a rider took before dropping off the map.
• Messages and alerts. Stay in touch with your group without cell coverage.
• Glanceable status. The optional LED Display shows member status and alerts without your phone leaving your pocket.

How to read this manual

Bold text marks a button or label you will see in the app. Safety messages use three signal words: WARNING for risks of serious injury, CAUTION for risks of minor injury, and NOTICE for risks to the device or your gear. Dotted-underlined terms are defined in the glossary.

Riding

Use TraiLink as a supplement to safe riding practices, not a substitute for them. Keep visual awareness of your group and your surroundings at all times.

Battery and charging

• Charge only from a standard USB power source that meets the specified requirements (5 V, 0.5 A).
• Never charge near flammable materials, or while the device is wet.
• Make sure the charging port is completely dry before plugging in.

Heat and fuel

Water and weather

Alerts are not a rescue service

Before you ride

• Mount your TraiLink securely so it cannot shake loose on the trail.
• Charge fully before heading out.
• Check that the ports are dry and clean.
• Set up your group before you leave cell coverage, and download offline maps for the area.
• Check the app only while stopped.
• After the ride, dry the device and store it somewhere cool.

• TraiLink Go
• USB-C charging cable
• Quick start guide

Bundles add their configured extras to the box: LED Displays, strap or handle bar mounts, and stainless mounting hardware. Confirm the exact single-unit box contents (the card above shows the 3-pack)

More mounts are available separately, in five styles from handlebar clamps to MOLLE locks. See Chapter 13, Mounting.

1. 1Charging port (USB-C). Charges the device at 5 V, 0.5 A. Keep it dry.
2. 2The button. Powers your TraiLink on and off, and sends alerts to your group with a press and hold. See Group alerts.
3. 3Multifunction port (USB-C). Connects the LED Display, and can charge your phone in a pinch. See Charging your phone in a pinch.
4. 4Mount points. Two M4 threaded inserts, plus a carabiner loop.
5. 5Multifunction LED. Device status and group activity.
6. 6Battery LED. Charge state at a glance.

Your colour on the map, on the LEDs, and on the LED Display is the colour you pick in the app. The shell colour of the device itself is purely cosmetic.

Turning it on and off

1. 1Turn on: hold the button for 1 second. The multifunction LED glows amber while the device boots, which takes about 10 seconds.
2. 2Turn off: hold the button for 10 seconds. Both LEDs turn off when the device powers down. You can turn the device off any time after the battery LED first lights up, about 20 seconds after power-on.

What the lights mean

Multifunction LED

Battery LED

1. 1

   Charge fully

   Plug the included USB-C cable into the charging port and any USB power brick. The battery LED shows purple while charging and light blue when full. A full charge takes about 5 hours.

2. 2

   Power on

   Hold the button for 1 second. The multifunction LED glows amber while it boots (about 10 seconds), then turns blue: ready to pair.

3. 3

   Get the app

   Download the free TraiLink app for iOS or Android, or scan a code below.

   

   App Store

   

   Google Play

4. 4

   Pair with the app

   Open the app and follow the setup prompts. Choose your TraiLink when it appears, and enter the pairing code 123456 if asked. When the multifunction LED changes to your colour, you're connected. Pairing is a one-time step; from now on it connects automatically.

   

   

   

5. 5

   Ride together

   Create a group and share it with your crew, or join theirs. Everyone appears on one live map. See Chapter 6, Groups.

Create a group

1. 1Pull open the menu sheet in the app.
2. 2Tap Create a new group (Figure 9).
3. 3Name the group and pick the group type (Figure 10). The name is visible only to people in the group and while you share it. Names max out at 15 characters. You can also adjust your own rider name here.
4. 4Tap create. Your new group appears at the top of the menu sheet (Figure 11).

Share and join

Groups spread rider to rider, right on the trailhead:

1. 1The rider who has the group taps Share in the Current Group section of the menu sheet (Figure 12).
2. 2The Group Sharing sheet opens (Figure 13). Keep it open until everyone has joined.
3. 3Joining riders stay within a couple hundred feet, open their own menu sheet, and pick the group under Join Nearby Group.
4. 4Once everyone is in, close the sharing sheet. New members appear in the Current Group list (Figure 14).

Confirm status of Online groups: the current app menu already shows "Join Online Group" with a group ID field. Document it here once it ships

Location sharing

Once your TraiLink is connected and you're in a group, the app shares your live location with the group automatically. Every rider shows up as an icon in their colour, with their name, position, speed, and heading.

By default your position goes out every 5 seconds. You can change the update frequency in the settings menu (Figure 15): 2, 5, 10, 20, 30, 45, or 90 seconds. Faster feels more live; slower stretches battery and leaves more airtime for a big group.

Map views

The map has three orientation modes, plus a layer toggle (Figure 16):

• North up. Locked on your location, with north at the top.
• Heading up. Locked on your location, rotated to your direction of travel.
• Group view. The map zooms and pans by itself to keep the whole crew on screen.

Toggle between satellite imagery and road/topographic maps with the layers button.

Offline maps

Cell coverage dies at the trailhead; your map shouldn't. Before you leave, tap the offline maps button and drag the selector over your riding area to download it (Figure 17). The map then renders from your phone, no signal needed.

Breadcrumbs

Every rider leaves a breadcrumbs trail on the map. Use it to retrace your own route, or to follow the exact path a rider took before they dropped out of range. Turn the trails on or off with Show group breadcrumbs in the app settings.

Messages

Send messages to your group through the app, over the mesh, with zero cell coverage. Confirm messaging UI location and any length/type limits, then expand this section

Lost rider notifications

If a group member moves beyond the mesh's reach, the app tells you. How quickly is up to you: the lost detection duration sets how long a rider must be out of range before they count as lost, from 20 seconds to 10 minutes (Figure 18).

• The rider's icon freezes at their last known location, with their last speed and direction (Figure 19).
• A notification appears on your phone, so you know the moment someone drops off.
• When they come back into range, the app reconnects them automatically. Nothing to reset.

Group alerts

Three alerts cover the moments that matter. Send one from the app, or straight from the hardware: press and hold the button on your TraiLink (or the face of the LED Display) and release at the level you want.

Alerts carry your colour, so the crew knows who sent one at a glance: your colour lights up on their multifunction LEDs and LED Displays, and the app shows who needs what. Confirm how the device signals hold progress (does the multifunction LED step through levels while holding?)

Tuning notifications

Every notification type can be switched off individually in the app settings (Figure 18). Keep the ones you want; silence the rest.

The LED Display plugs into your TraiLink's multifunction port over USB-C. Its LEDs are bright enough to read in daylight and shine through snow.

The home screen

At a glance, the display shows your group's state (Figure 21):

• Your colour sits at the top.
• Up to four group members appear below, each as a pair of lights: their colour, next to a status light. Green means connected; red means out of range (based on your lost detection duration).

Alerts on the display

When a group member sends an alert, the display lights up in their colour with a distinct pattern per alert type, so one glance tells you who and what.

Sending alerts from the display

The whole display face doubles as a button. Press and hold, and release at the level you want:

Your alert goes out in your colour to the whole group.

Display power

• Off: press and hold the display for 10 seconds.
• On: press the display for 1 second.

Mounting the display

The display ships with an action-camera style mount and fastens with M4 bolts, so it drops onto most bar setups. Confirm included mount hardware wording (action-cam mount + custom M4 27 mm bolts?) and the display's water rating (IP65?)

Charging your TraiLink

1. 1Plug the included USB-C cable into the charging port.
2. 2Connect it to any USB power adaptor. Your TraiLink charges at 5 V, 0.5 A, so any USB brick will do.
3. 3Watch the battery LED: purple while charging, light blue once full.
4. 4A full charge takes about 5 hours. Charge fully before your first ride.

Reading the battery

The battery LED gives you the broad strokes (see What the lights mean); the app shows the exact percentage. Two quirks worth knowing:

• After power-on, the battery LED takes about 20 seconds to light up.
• While charging a phone from the multifunction port, the reading shows lower than reality. While the TraiLink itself is charging, it reads slightly higher.

Passthrough power

With a charger connected, your TraiLink is always on, and its multifunction port stays live. That's passthrough power: wire the device to your machine's USB and it runs the LED Display indefinitely, no battery math required.

Charging your phone in a pinch

The multifunction port can send power the other way and top up a phone in an emergency, typically enough for 20 to 40% of a phone battery. Confirm the typical phone top-up figure (20 to 40%?)

With standalone mode enabled, your TraiLink tracks and broadcasts your position using its own built-in GPS. Close the app mid-ride, leave the phone in the truck, or run the battery flat: your crew still sees you on their maps.

1. 1Turn on standalone mode in the app. Confirm the exact toggle name and location in the app settings
2. 2Ride. Your device keeps transmitting on its own; the phone is optional from here.

How the GPS handoff works

While the app is connected, it hands positioning over to the TraiLink's own GPS as soon as the device has a sharp fix (a DOP below 2.0). Your phone's GPS then switches off, which is why a day of TraiLink tracking barely dents your phone's battery.

1. 1Connect your TraiLink to the app as usual.
2. 2Open the app settings and check for a firmware update. Confirm the exact menu path and button label for firmware updates
3. 3Keep the phone near the device until the update finishes.

Release notes for every firmware, iOS, and Android version live on the support page at trailink.ca.

Your TraiLink has two mounting systems built in:

• Two M4 threaded inserts on the back, for bolt-on mounts. Confirm max thread depth for M4 bolts
• A carabiner loop, for clipping to a jacket, pack, or tow loop.

Purpose-built mounts are available separately at trailink.ca:

• Strap mount, cinches to bars and roll cages.
• Handle bar mount, a fixed clamp for a permanent spot.
• Adhesive mount, for smooth surfaces like a tunnel or fender.
• MOLLE lock mount, for webbing on packs and racks.
• 1" ball mount, drops into RAM-style arms you may already run.

The 30-Day Trail-Test Guarantee

Don't baby it. Take your TraiLink out and test it in real conditions. If it's not for you within 30 days of delivery, send it back, normal signs of testing and all:

• 30 days from the day it arrives.
• Real-world use is expected and accepted.
• Free prepaid return labels for Canadian customers.
• Refunds land 5 to 10 business days after processing.

Full details at trailink.ca.

Hardware warranty

Confirm the hardware warranty term and coverage (e.g. 1 year against manufacturing defects) and any exclusions

Support

Email support@trailink.ca and a human will get back to you, usually within one business day. Guides, firmware release notes, and this manual live at trailink.ca.

TraiLink is a product of Ratio Motorsports Inc., Bradford, Ontario, Canada.

This chapter holds standard placeholder statements. Replace the bracketed IDs with the real certification numbers before publishing, or remove statements that don't apply.

United States (FCC)

FCC ID: [FCC ID]

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and (2) this device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.

Canada (ISED)

IC: [IC certification number] · CAN ICES-3(B)/NMB-3(B)

This device contains licence-exempt transmitter(s)/receiver(s) that comply with Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada's licence-exempt RSS(s). Operation is subject to the following two conditions: (1) this device may not cause interference; (2) this device must accept any interference, including interference that may cause undesired operation of the device.

L'émetteur/récepteur exempt de licence contenu dans le présent appareil est conforme aux CNR d'Innovation, Sciences et Développement économique Canada applicables aux appareils radio exempts de licence. L'exploitation est autorisée aux deux conditions suivantes : (1) l'appareil ne doit pas produire de brouillage; (2) l'appareil doit accepter tout brouillage radioélectrique subi, même si le brouillage est susceptible d'en compromettre le fonctionnement.

RF exposure

This equipment complies with RF exposure limits set forth for an uncontrolled environment. Confirm the applicable RF exposure statement for the certified configuration

Battery disposal

Your TraiLink contains a lithium battery. Don't put it in household garbage or recycling. Drop it at a battery recycling point; in Canada, call2recycle.ca lists locations near you.

© Ratio Motorsports Inc. All rights reserved. TraiLink and the TraiLink logo are trademarks of Ratio Motorsports Inc.

mesh network

A network where every device relays data for the others. Your position can hop through riders in the middle of the pack to reach someone beyond your direct radio range.

line of sight

A clear, unobstructed path between two devices. Open water and open fields give the longest range; hills, dense trees, and buildings shorten it.

breadcrumbs

The trail of past positions each rider leaves on the map. Use it to retrace your route or see the path a rider took before dropping out of range.

standalone mode

Lets your TraiLink track and broadcast your position using its built-in GPS, with no phone connected.

passthrough power

While a charger is connected, the device stays powered on and its multifunction port stays live, so a connected LED Display keeps running.

update frequency

How often your position is sent to the group. Faster updates feel more live; slower updates use less battery and less airtime for everyone.

lost detection duration

How long a rider must be out of mesh range before the app marks them lost and notifies the group.

pairing

The one-time Bluetooth handshake that links your TraiLink to your phone. A paired device connects automatically on later rides.

offline maps

Map areas downloaded to your phone in advance, so the map keeps rendering with zero cell coverage.

group view

A map mode that automatically zooms and pans to keep every group member on screen at once.

multifunction LED

The top status light. It shows boot, pairing, connection, and incoming alerts.

battery LED

The lower status light. It shows charge state at a glance; the exact percentage lives in the app.

LED Display

The optional bar-mounted display accessory. It shows group status at a glance and doubles as an alert button.

DOP

Dilution of precision, a measure of GPS fix quality. Lower is better; below 2.0 is a sharp fix.

carabiner loop

The reinforced opening on the device body sized for a standard carabiner or lanyard.