The Half Decent Scale (HDS) menu options, explained

This document explains all of the menu points in the "HDS Setup" section of your Half Decent Scale (HDS).

How to access HDS Setup

  • Hold both the O and the ▢ buttons at the same time until "HDS Setup" appears on the screen.
  • Use the O button to navigate between the menu points.
  • Press the ▢ button to choose a menu point.


  • Menu options

    1. Navigation & system

  • Exit: Closes the settings menu and returns to the main weighing screen.
  • About: Displays system information including the current firmware version, compilation time, and unique compilation ID.
  • Show logo: Displays the boot logo on the screen (ideal for product photography).

  • 2. Device settings & customization

  • Calibration: Recalibrates the scale accuracy. Requires a single reference weight of either 50g, 100g, 200g, 500g, or 1000g.
  • Flip screen (on/off): Rotates the screen display 180° for alternative physical positioning.
  • Timer on top / weight on top: Toggles the layout preference to display either the timer or the weight on the top row of the screen.

  • 3. Connectivity & Bluetooth (BLE)

  • Button with BLE (enable/disable):
  • Enable: Keeps physical buttons active during a wireless connection.
  • Disable: Locks physical buttons while connected to prevent accidental inputs.
  • Heart beat (on/off):
  • On: Automatically disconnects the scale if the app loses connection, allowing for faster reconnection.
  • Off: Mandatory for legacy, third-party apps that do not support the heartbeat signal to prevent accidental disconnections.

  • 4. WiFi settings

  • WiFi on/off: Enables or disables wireless networking.

  • Note: Requires a power cycle (off/on) after activating to broadcast the local hotspot and display the WiFi icon.

  • WiFi Status: Displays current network diagnostics, including status, SSID name, and assigned IP address.
  • Reset WiFi: Clears existing network configurations and resets the WiFi status.

  • 5. Power & performance

  • Auto sleep (on/off):
  • On: Shuts down the scale after 15 minutes of inactivity (only when disconnected from BLE) to preserve battery.
  • Off: Keeps the scale powered indefinitely until manually turned off or the battery dies.

  • Quick boot (on/off):
  • On: Boots the scale instantly with a brief touch of any button.
  • Off: Requires a long press to power on, preventing accidental activation inside travel bags or on crowded countertops.

  • Drift Comp (Off / 0.05g / 0.75g / 0.1g / 0.2g): Corrects minor weight fluctuations caused by rising electronic temperatures or environmental heat.
  • Recommended: 0.05g or 0.075g for general espresso use.
  • Pour-over: 0.1g or 0.2g to counteract ambient heat drift from large carafes of hot water.


  • Half Decent Scale Manual: table of contents

    #halfdecentscale #HDS #documentation #menu




    mirjam created 2026/05/29, mirjam updated 2026/06/02