The hardware layer
that puts location on the map.
Every RTLS deployment needs a physical layer on-site. Pole Star's is built from three complementary components - tags worn or attached to tracked objects, NAO® BlueSpot beacons that emit calibrated reference signals, and NAO® BlueListener gateways that capture all signals and relay them to the engine.
The RTLS infrastructure is the on-site hardware that makes indoor location possible. In the NAO® Suite: tags are worn by staff or attached to assets (the tracked element); NAO® BlueSpot is a programmable BLE beacon (the emitter); and NAO® BlueListener is a BLE gateway (the sensor) that forwards all signals to NAO® Track for real-time position computation.
One is tracked, one emits, one listens
Every indoor location deployment is built from three complementary hardware roles. Tags are the tracked element - worn by staff or attached to assets. NAO® BlueSpot broadcasts calibrated reference signals. NAO® BlueListener captures everything and hands it to the engine. Together they turn any building into a real-time location infrastructure.
Tag
Badge, wristband or asset tag
Worn by staff, patients or residents - or attached to equipment. Broadcasts a continuous BLE signal that the infrastructure reads to compute its real-time indoor position.
- Form factors: badge clip · wristband · adhesive asset tag
- Optional duress button - single press panic alert
- Remote config via NAO® Logger · OTA
NAO® BlueSpot
Programmable BLE beacon (V5)
Broadcasts a stable, calibrated BLE signal that anchors the positioning grid - accurate to within one meter, even in high radio-density environments.
- Emits iBeacon™, Eddystone™ or NAO® frames
- Range up to 100 m, adjustable transmission power
- Battery life up to 10 years, IP65 rugged
- V4 Rugged variant: IP67 · IK07 for demanding sites
NAO® BlueListener
BLE gateway - the sensing layer
A passive BLE scanner that continuously listens to signals from tags and beacons, then forwards the measurements to the positioning engine.
- Listens to iBeacon™, Eddystone™ & NAO® frames
- Relays RSSI to NAO® Track via Ethernet or Wi-Fi
- Streams over MQTT, cloud or on-premise
- Industrial-grade, 24/7 continuous operation
NAO® BlueSpot V5
A programmable BLE beacon that provides stable, consistent and calibrated Bluetooth Low Energy transmission - ensuring accurate, reliable location tracking, even in complex, high radio-density environments.
Stable, calibrated signal
Signal stability ensures continuity of service for critical uses - no position drift or performance degradation over time.
Adjustable power & range
Configurable range up to 100 m and adjustable transmission power - adaptable to positioning, counting, navigation or asset tracking.
Rugged & long-lasting
IP65 construction for indoor and outdoor use, with battery life up to 10 years depending on emission profile.
Sensors & telemetry
Can carry environmental sensors (temperature, battery, movement) and transmit telemetry to enrich analyses via NAO® Analytics.
Remote management
Configuration and maintenance remotely via NAO® Logger or a BLE provisioning app, with Over-The-Air firmware updates.
Secure by design
Designed with Bluetooth 5.2 and secure BLE communication, combined with GDPR-compliant data management through NAO® Cloud.
Transmits multiple frame formats
NAO® BlueSpot V4 Rugged
Built for constrained and high-risk environments - from industrial warehouses to hospital logistics zones - the V4 Rugged brings the same reliable BLE positioning to sites where standard beacons cannot survive. Based on 8+ years of field deployments across more than 350 active international sites and 130,000 operating beacons.
IP67 - dust-tight & waterproof
Fully sealed against dust and protected against water immersion up to 1 m depth. Thick polycarbonate casing resists impact and daily wear in industrial settings.
IK07 impact-rated
Survives a 2 m drop and resists vandalism thanks to Torx-screw casing assembly - standard beacons cannot match this level of physical protection.
Flexible mounting
Compatible with cable ties up to 11 mm, usable horizontally or vertically - for poles, cable trays, pipes. Also supports 3M VHB® adhesive and screw mounting.
Same reliable signal
Transmits iBeacon™, Eddystone™ and NAO® proprietary frames. Replaces SAFT LS14500 cells (field-replaceable), ensuring continuous operation without beacon replacement.
NAO® BlueListener
A Bluetooth Low Energy gateway that detects, collects and transmits BLE signals. As the sensing layer of the RTLS architecture, it acquires frames from tags, beacons and devices and forwards the measurements to the NAO® platform.
Passive BLE scanning
Continuously listens to Bluetooth advertising frames from nearby devices - a passive scanner with broad interoperability.
RSSI → NAO® Track
Forwards signal data including RSSI in real time. Separating capture from calculation keeps deployments scalable and consistent.
Coverage that scales
Deploy one or more NAO® BlueListener gateways to provide the coverage required across single or multi-building sites.
Central supervision & diagnostics
Monitored via NAO® Cloud or NAO® Server - device status, signal quality and coverage - with built-in diagnostics to optimize BLE coverage.
Secure & always-on
Built for 24/7 operation in critical environments, with encrypted SSL/TLS channels, authenticated access and GDPR compliance.
Over-the-air updates
Supports OTA updates for remote maintenance and software updates without service interruption.
Detects standard BLE frame formats
Tags - BLE tracking devices
Tags are the tracked element in any RTLS deployment. Compact, lightweight and built for long autonomous operation, they attach to assets or are worn by staff - and broadcast a continuous BLE signal read by the existing infrastructure. One tag per tracked object or person, no pairing, no configuration at the point of use.
Asset Tag
Compact adhesive or clip-mount tag for medical equipment, trolleys and shared devices. Designed for invisible deployment - attaches under equipment without interfering with use.
Badge Tag
Worn on a lanyard or existing ID badge clip. Enables indoor staff location and duress alerting for workers who do not carry a smartphone - one-button panic trigger integrated.
NAO® BlueSpot vs NAO® BlueListener
They're not alternatives - they're two halves of the same job. One broadcasts the signal, the other captures it. Here's how they differ.
| Criterion | NAO® BlueSpot | NAO® BlueListener |
|---|---|---|
| Type | BLE beacon (V5) | BLE gateway |
| Role | Emits a calibrated BLE signal | Listens to BLE signals (sensing layer) |
| Direction | Transmitter | Receiver / scanner |
| Frame formats | iBeacon™, Eddystone™, NAO®, Eddystone-TLM | Detects iBeacon™, Eddystone™, Pole Star frames |
| Connectivity | BLE (to gateways / BLE-enabled APs) | Ethernet or Wi-Fi → NAO® platform (MQTT) |
| Key figures | ~1 to 3 m accuracy · up to 100 m range · up to 10-yr battery · IP65 | Passive scanner · 24/7 industrial-grade · SSL/TLS |
| Powered | Battery (up to 10 years) | Fixed gateway, continuous operation |
| Use it to… | Create reference points or tag assets/people | Capture BLE signals and forward measurements to NAO® Track |
| Feeds | Both feed NAO® Track, which computes the position · supervised via NAO® Cloud / NAO® Server · work on Cisco / Aruba / Fortinet / Extreme networks | |
From a broadcast to a position on the map
The infrastructure captures signals; NAO® Track turns them into positions; and NAO® Viewer and NAO® Flow make them useful. The capture layer relies on NAO® BlueListener gateways, which collect BLE signals and forward them to NAO® Track for position calculation.
Emit
NAO® BlueSpot beacons & BLE tags broadcast advertising frames.
Capture
NAO® BlueListener gateways collect BLE signals (RSSI) and forward them to NAO® Track.
Compute
NAO® Track calculates the position, in cloud or on-premise.
Use
NAO® Viewer & NAO® Flow supervise and analyze.
Built to drop into what you already run
Both devices share the same engineering principles - so the infrastructure deploys fast, scales cleanly and stays maintainable across large, critical sites.
Works on existing networks
Compatible with Cisco, Aruba, Fortinet and Extreme Networks - leverage your current investment, no architecture overhaul.
Standard BLE frames
Interoperable with iBeacon™ and Eddystone™ plus Pole Star formats - broad compatibility with existing tags and devices.
Over-the-air updates
Both support OTA firmware updates, keeping the infrastructure secure and current without on-site intervention.
Secure & GDPR-compliant
Encrypted communications and authenticated access, GDPR-compliant when used with NAO® Cloud or NAO® Server.
Central management
Configure, monitor and update remotely via NAO® Cloud or NAO® Server - fewer field interventions, better continuity.
Scales across sites
Deploy gradually and extend RTLS coverage across multiple buildings or sites - limiting cost and implementation time.
RTLS infrastructure, answered
What's the difference between NAO® BlueSpot and NAO® BlueListener?
Why are both NAO® BlueSpot and NAO® BlueListener required?
What accuracy and range does NAO® BlueSpot offer?
How long does the NAO® BlueSpot battery last, and is it rugged?
Which BLE frame formats are supported?
Which network infrastructures are compatible?
How does NAO® BlueListener send data to the positioning engine?
Can the infrastructure be deployed in the cloud or on-premise?
Are firmware updates and maintenance performed remotely?
Is the infrastructure secure and suitable for mission-critical environments?
What is the role of a BLE tag in an RTLS deployment?
What tag form factors does Pole Star offer?
Do tags require pairing or configuration at the point of use?
Lay the foundation for indoor location.
Tell us about your site and network, and our team will size the right mix of NAO® BlueSpot beacons, NAO® BlueListener gateways and tags - deployed on the infrastructure you already have.