Device Requirements
Section titled “Device Requirements”The necessary equipment for using NAHPU will depend on your specific field site and budget constraints. We provide a list of common devices and accessories that are typically required, tailored to various field budgets. These recommendations stem from our hands-on experience in remote tropical field sites with limited access to electricity. Please note that you may need to customize this list to better fit your unique field conditions.
Devices Used in the Field
Section titled “Devices Used in the Field”Below is a list of devices that team member has used in the fields to record specimen data using NAHPU (work in progress).
| Field location | Site type | Days | Specimens | Type | Model | Operating system | Accesories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Java, Indonesia | Tropical mountain | 33 | 196 | Tablet | Lenovo Tab P11 Pro | Android | Logitech K380 keyboard, ProCase for Lenovo Tab P11 Pro 11.2", 2 x 25k mAH power bank |
| Sumatra, Indonesia | Tropical mountain | 115 | 644 | Tablet | iPad Mini 6 | iPadOS | Logitech K380 keyboard, Zugu Case for iPad Mini 6, 2 x 25k mAH power bank |
| Sumatra, Indonesia | Tropical mountain | 115 | ? | Tablet | iPad Mini 6 | iPadOS | Otterbox iPad Mini 6 case |
Other devices using NAHPU in the field:
- iPhone 13 mini used in Mexico field expeditions
Deep Dive
Section titled “Deep Dive”Low-budget Option
Section titled “Low-budget Option”A smartphone. You can start by using your own smartphone. The NAHPU UI is designed to adapt to small screens.
Data Backup Solution. You can use a 16 Gb flash for data backup. It should be sufficient for multiple backups. Our four-month fieldwork experience demonstrated that a database containing 230 high-resolution images used approximately 820 Mb of storage space.
A power bank. Depending on the length of the fieldwork and your access to electricity, you may need a power bank to re-charge the device. Our experience using iPad Mini 6, a single charge can last at least for five days with limited camera usage and screen brightness, and was strictly used for data collection.
A usb-c or lightning to usb adapter. You can use this adapter to connect your flash drive to your smartphone. Some flash drives have a usb-c connector. If you are using a recent Android or iPhone, you may not need this adapter.
Medium-budget to High-budget Option
Section titled “Medium-budget to High-budget Option”A tablet. We recommend using an iPad Mini. You can also get a bigger iPad. Keep in mind that the iPad Mini tends to have smaller battery capacity than a bigger iPad, while still having the same battery life. It allows more recharge for the same power bank capacity.
An external wireless keyboard. It helps you to type faster and avoid touching the screen with dirty hands.
A usb-c flash drive. Get a high quality flash drives with USB-C connector. Some of these flash drives are waterproof.
A power bank. We recommend using a 20,000 to 25,000 mAH power bank. It is usually airline approved. The weight to capacity ratio is also good. It is also good to have a power bank with a USB-C connector. It often allows to fast charging the devices. It also allows you to charge the power bank faster. For example, at the Esseltyn's lab, in fieldwork in remote mountains in Indonesia, we sometimes have guides that can bring the power bank to the nearest village to charge it. A 25,000 mAH power bank with USB-C connector can be charged to full in 4 hours, while a 20,000 mAH power bank with micro-USB connector can take 8 hours or more to charge to full.
Multi-output wall charger. It allows you to charge multiple devices at once. We recommend at least 65W chargers. Some brands has travel compatible, featuring switchable plugs.
Power Bank Capacity and Number of Charges
Section titled “Power Bank Capacity and Number of Charges”Power Bank Capacity (mAh)
Section titled “Power Bank Capacity (mAh)”The capacity of a power bank is measured in milliampere-hours (mAh). It represents the amount of charge the power bank can store. Essentially, the higher the mAh rating, the more energy the power bank can hold.
Calculating Number of Charges
Section titled “Calculating Number of Charges”To estimate the number of charges you can obtain from a power bank:
Identify Your Device’s Battery Capacity
Section titled “Identify Your Device’s Battery Capacity”First, determine your device’s battery capacity. This information is usually specified in milliampere-hours (mAh). For example, the iPad Mini 6 has a battery capacity of 5,124 mAh.
Factor in Efficiency
Section titled “Factor in Efficiency”Power banks are not 100% efficient; some energy is lost during the charging process. INUI power banks, for example, recommend industry standard efficiency of 60% (check out FAQ on the Inui Amazon Page). Other power banks may have different efficiency ratings.
The number of charges can be calculated using the following formula:
Number of charges = (Power Bank Capacity (mAh) × Efficiency) ÷ Device Battery Capacity (mAh)For example, to calculate the number of charges for a 25,000 mAh power bank with 60% efficiency charging an iPad Mini 6 with a 5,124 mAh battery:
Number of charges = (25,000 mAh × 0.6) ÷ 5,124 mAh = 2.9 chargesLearn more about power bank efficiency and how to calculate it from RavPower.