Fragmentation has sometimes been a challenge on Android, with hardware from different manufacturers.  There are two steps in the Bluetooth transmissions.  First, the Android device needs to detect your Wind Instrument.  This only needs to be done once, and after that the Wind Instrument remembers your Wind Instrument (usually takes around 30 seconds or less).  The second step is the Bluetooth connection (time varies by phone, but could take 1-2 minutes). It is often simplest to open the API and set down the phone while getting the boat ready.  When Version 2 of the SailTimer API went into the Play Store, the connections became much more consistent and fast across a range of Android devices.  If needed on certain devices, shutting the phone/tablet off and on again should (a) allow the API to connect faster, and/or (b) display values for the icons such as battery level and send data to the Wind Gauge app.

If you see dots where your userid should be entered, there is a simple solution. Delete the API, get it again from the Play Store (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.windinstrument.api) and log back in.  Then do not log out.  There is no reason to log out;  the API is designed so that you log in once, and just stay logged in.  Then you don’t need to worry about having a password or an internet connection when you are out in the boat.

In Android 6 (Marshmallow), Location Services needs to be turned on in Settings -> Location in order to use Bluetooth 4/LE.   Then when you open the API and scan for the Wind Instrument, it should be detected.

“Battery optimization” in Settings may be disconnecting background apps to save battery power.  Try turning that off, by selecting “don’t optimize”.