Meet The Beacons: The Little Traffic Controllers of Your Exhibition

This magical link between your location and the audio narration is made possible thanks to beacons. Maybe you’ve heard the term before, or maybe this is the first time. Either way, let’s get everyone on the same page.

In today’s chapter of our audio guide series, we’re diving into Beacons. Nope, not bacons (sorry if we made you hungry) we’re talking about the tech kind. So, what exactly are these little devices, and how are museums using them?

Beacons are small wireless gadgets that send out a Bluetooth signal. Imagine them as little lighthouses, but instead of shining light, they send out a digital “ping” that nearby devices can pick up. In this case, the audio guide device: the Podcatcher Pro. When the Podcatcher “hears” that ping, it can trigger something, like playing an audio track about an exhibit, starting a video, or even pairing a language if you are offering multilingual audio guides.

Meet our Beacons
Now that you’ve got the basics, let’s explore the types of beacons we work with. Depending on your exhibition, you’ll quickly see which one suits you best:

- Beacon Lite – Tap and Listen
Activated by pointing at it to trigger the audio at a tour stop. It uses Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology to transmit a signal that our Podcatchers detect.

- Beacon Pro
When the Podcatcher detects it, it automatically triggers a specific audio tour or story related to the nearby point of interest. The Podcatcher communicates with the Beacons within a short range of about 15 cm and an extended range of up to 8 meters.

- Beacon Pro Waterproof
This one is basically the twin brother of the Beacon Pro, but as its name suggests, this water resistant. Which makes it the perfect ally for outdoor exhibitions or tours, like at gardens or zoos.

How Does This Automatic Triggering Work?
Automatic triggering means the audio starts or stops as a visitor enters or leaves a room and can even adjust the volume based on their position.

Oh, and when you sync audio with video? Be sure that your tour will instantly go to the next level.

Our AV sync feature lets audio play in perfect sync with videos on screens. Visitors hear the narration through the Podcatcher Pro while watching the video. This prevents audio from overlapping or disturbing others — especially if you’ve got multiple screens in one space. Plus, all visitors can enjoy the same video in their preferred language, with no delays or sync issues. And the cherry on top? There’s no limit to how many people can use it at the same time.

So, no more half-seen videos. Now you can catch exactly what’s happening, even if you walk in halfway through.


A World Full of Possibilities
When we grab technology and use it smartly, the possibilities are endless. Our clients prove this every day, and we’re proud to share how they’ve integrated beacons into their exhibitions:

- Museum of Lost Tales, Zagreb (Croatia)
They’re using 145 beacons (yes, you read that right!). A big part of their exhibition is dedicated to storytelling tied to the details and decoration of the space. With thousands of pieces complementing the narrative, you can easily spend more than 4 hours enjoying the audio experience.

- CODA Museum, Apeldoorn (The Netherlands)
As part of their Paper Art exhibition, they created a dedicated tour for blind and vision-impaired visitors. Using automatic triggering from Beacons Pro, guests can walk through the exhibition without needing to scan anything — the narration activates automatically as they move through the rooms, guiding them at their own pace.

- Grote Kerk, Naarden (The Netherlands)
In collaboration with XPEX, Big Orange, Coat 14 and Guide-ID. Together, they created the “Hemel op aarde” (Heaven on Earth) tour. Coat 14 designed custom furniture with Guide-ID’s Beacon Pros hidden inside. For example, when visitors sit on a bench, the automatic trigger comes in and the audio starts to play. A great way to create an immersive seamless experience on the tour.

Whether it’s audio, video, outdoor or indoor installations, the possibilities are endless. Beacons opens the possibility to a fresh, creative layer of interaction and professionalism to any exhibition.

And no worries, Bluetooth signals between the beacons don’t mess with our health and definitely don’t cause headaches (internal joke intended).


Wrapping It Up
We hope this article sparked your curiosity, cleared any doubts about how this Bluetooth signal exchange works and made you feel more confident in using this wireless system in your exhibition.

Want to learn more about integrating it into your space? We’re just a call or email away, don’t be shy! We’d love to help bring your next project to life. Contact Guide-ID, Audio Tour Guide Services