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What is Guide-ID?

2 min read Updated Jun 2026 10 steps

Guide-ID is a complete audio tour system for museums, heritage sites, zoos, and visitor attractions. It combines purpose-built hardware with an online platform to deliver multilingual audio experiences.

A Guide-ID audio tour consists of three parts:

  1. Podcatcher Pro — a handheld audio device that visitors carry. It plays audio clips in the visitor’s language, triggered by beacons placed throughout the venue.

  2. Beacons — small wireless transmitters installed at points of interest. When a visitor with a Podcatcher Pro approaches a beacon, the correct audio clip plays automatically.

  3. Platform — the online management system at platform.guide-id.com where you create tours, manage content, monitor hardware, and view visitor analytics.

  1. The visitor picks up a Podcatcher Pro at the entrance and selects their language.
  2. As they walk through the venue, beacons trigger audio clips automatically — no buttons to press, no numbers to enter.
  3. The Podcatcher Pro can also play audio via the built-in speaker, a 3.5 mm headphone jack, or paired Bluetooth headphones.
  4. At the end of the visit, the visitor returns the Podcatcher Pro to the Basecamp for charging and content sync.
ComponentWhat it does
Podcatcher ProHandheld audio guide device
BasecampCharging and syncing station (up to 25 devices)
Beacon ProRechargeable beacon with Bluetooth + UWB triggering
Beacon LiteBattery-powered beacon with Bluetooth triggering
BrainboxBridge device for AV-sync and interactive installations
PlatformOnline system for tour creation, content, and analytics

Guide-ID supports two ways to trigger audio:

  • Bluetooth scanning — the Podcatcher Pro scans for nearby Beacon Pro or Beacon Lite devices. Most common method.
  • UWB (Ultra-Wideband) — automatic zone-based triggering with precise distance measurement. Available on Beacon Pro.

If you’re new to Guide-ID, follow the onboarding steps:

  1. Account Setup and First Login — log in and configure your site
  2. Quick Start Guide — connect hardware and create your first tour
  3. Go Live Checklist — verify everything before launch
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