What is the M!nder?
How do I use it?
Do I need to adjust its sensitivity?
Can I use it in rain or freezing cold?
What is the warranty?
How often do I need to recharge the batteries?
Is there a tracker/GPS/app?
Can I use it without locking the bike?
Can I use this on a motorcycle/motorbike/ATV?
Can I mount it permanently on my bike?
Can I hang it from my bike when riding?
Why are sales subject to approval?
Why is there no password-recovery mechanism?
I returned to my parked bike, and found the M!nder unresponsive!
Updated: Friday 14 April 2023.
What is the M!nder?
The M!nder is a theft-deterrent, comprising electronics, a hefty siren and highly intelligent, embedded firmware analyzing every motion. Its responses are measured, according to the threats and the entirety of the parking-session till that point.
How do I use it?
When you arrive at your parking spot:
- attach the M!nder to your bicycle’s D-lock/U-lock, or to your motorcycle, ensuring that it hangs freely;
- power it on;
- type-in your password to activate it.
When you return:
- type-in your password to de-activate it;
- detach. Place it in your pack.
Get a padlock suitable for attaching the M!nder to your D-lock/U-lock, or to your motorcycle/ATV. The more freely the M!nder hangs, the better. (An ideal spot would be the mid-point of each half of a handlebar; but, it’d be hard to find a padlock that’d fit that.)
Do I need to adjust its sensitivity?
You don’t! That’s what the firmware is for. The system makes decisions independently, based upon motion analysis. The entire parking-session is watched. The only thing you’ll need to change is the password.
Can I use it in rain or freezing cold?
Temperatures near, or below, 0 C will defeat the Lithium battery and, so, shut down the M!nder.
Use under average rainfall should be fine, but the device has not been tested for prolonged exposure to heavy rain.
The Hanging Plates must be protected against rust.
What is the warranty?
One year for manufacturing defects; see Terms of Sale. There is no warranty, expressed or implied, that your property will not be stolen or damaged; this applies to both the M!nder and any object to which it is attached.
Prolonged exposure to rain or moisture is untested, and may damage the device.
The maximum liability is limited to the purchase-price paid for the M!nder. The device will be either replaced, or repaired, or its purchase-price refunded, as decided by its vendor.
How often do I need to recharge the batteries?
Every 10 hours of usage–though the more disturbances to your bike, the more power the system uses.
Thus, the less safe your parking, the more frequent the recharging.
If you’re a bike commuter, you will likely recharge it every night.
Of course, the capacity and rechargeability of lithium batteries decrease with time and storage-conditions. If you haven’t used the device in a long time, or use it in sub-zero temperatures, or under prolonged rain, or charge it too often, then any and all of the problems common to lithium batteries may be experienced.
Is there a tracker/GPS/app?
No. The M!nder focuses on the moment of theft, aiming to discourage the thief from stealing the bike at all!
No SIM card, or monthly payments, are thus required.
No phone is needed.
No Internet connection is needed.
No app installation, OS-support or updates.
Even if this product or business discontinues, your minder can continue to work.
Can I use it without locking the bike?
No!
There are various scenarios in which a M!nder won’t be able to do anything. For instance, a single, massive blow on a M!nder that is resting against an immovable bike will swiftly disable, if not smash, it–which is one reason why it must always hang freely!
If the M!nder is not freely hanging, and is instead mounted at a point on the bike that keeps it steady, then, in theory, and given frequent, lengthy pauses (e.g. over five minutes?), might it be possible to gently roll away the bike? Highly unlikely; but then, overnight, in a quiet farm, on soft soil, and a very patient thief, who knows!
Note: In some countries, passers-by do not even take photos when suspecting a theft! They look away, and walk on.
There are numerous attack scenarios which are untested: large, electrical current; liquids of various viscosity, conductivity, etc; thick blankets, clay, glue, silicone, or other things to muffle sound with; anything else that people’s minds will come up with!
Note: Stealing bikes from underground parking is very easy, particularly from apartment/condominium buildings. Even a lock+M!nder won’t help.
Can I use this on a motorcycle/motorbike/ATV?
The system assumes that it is on a bicycle, so it looks for both gentle and violent movements. The movements of, and threats to, a motorcycle or ATV are different. If properly hung, the system will detect attempts at moving the motorcycle/ATV; but, unlike with a bicycle, subtler attacks (e.g. unscrewing a part to steal it) can be missed! It has been tested on only a bicycle, not on motorcycles, ATVs, or the like.
There are lots of ATV thefts on farms. Hanging a M!nder from the ATV will sound its siren when the ATV is moved. But, ensure that you padlock the minder to where it will allow the minder to hang freely, and its sound waves to propagate out. It’ll have to hang freely, remain fully audible, and preferably be hard to find.
Can I mount it permanently on my bike?
No. Never do that!
You’ll be defeating the system.
The M!nder must be as free-hanging as possible, as high above the sidewalk as possible.
Can I hang it from my bike when riding?
No. Never do that!
It’ll break!
Use a backpack/rucksack, basket, pannier, or whatever other means you can use to protect it when not used.
Why are sales subject to approval?
The M!nder was invented by a single engineer who also takes care of manufacturing, sales, inventory, shipping, customer service, promotion, accounting, web site, ongoing design/engineering, purchasing, etc.
While the payment processor does check for financial fraud, I ensure that there is a real person/cyclist making the purchase, and that he/she/per understands that this is early in the product life, far from a mature product.
When an order is placed by credit card, the purchase amount is only authorized not withdrawn. The customer is then contacted via email. If all is well, the amount will then be withdrawn to finalize the sale. Otherwise, the order will be cancelled.
Why is there no password-recovery mechanism?
Because this is a theft deterrent for bicycles, with a purposely limited interface (e.g. no connectivity), and it is expected to be destroyed during an attack.
For obvious reasons, access to password-change is highly controlled. And even that short a window requires access to the existing password.
I returned to my parked bike, and found the M!nder unresponsive!
If typing your password produces no feedback sounds, and moving the M!nder does not result in warning sounds, then the battery has run out.
Ensure that the device is recharged after every 10 hours of usage.
