# What does downgraded mean on the graph?

**URL:** <https://community.purpleair.com/t/what-does-downgraded-mean-on-the-graph/821>\
**Category:** Real-Time Map\
**Created:** [June 3, 2022, 4:29pm UTC](https://community.purpleair.com/t/what-does-downgraded-mean-on-the-graph/821 "2022-06-03T16:29:44Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![PurpleAir](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/community.purpleair.com/purpleair/32/176_2.png) [@PurpleAir](https://community.purpleair.com/u/PurpleAir)\
**Post date:** [June 3, 2022, 4:29pm UTC](https://community.purpleair.com/t/what-does-downgraded-mean-on-the-graph/821/1 "2022-06-03T16:29:44Z")

</div>

PurpleAir PA-II and PA-II-SD sensors contain two laser particle counters that measure real-time particulate matter and [report as Channel A and Channel B](https://community.purpleair.com/t/what-are-channel-a-and-channel-b/3643).

If one of the channels appears to be reading improperly, it can be _downgraded_. This is either done automatically by our systems or manually by PurpleAir staff. A downgraded channel will not be used in its sensor’s data average and will lower its sensor’s [confidence score.](https://community.purpleair.com/t/the-confidence-score/5193)

You can tell which channel is downgraded by clicking on a sensor’s map marker.

 ![Screenshot 2024-11-07 at 5.59.32 PM](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/purpleair/original/2X/d/d452d3fddbd6f2e82dcdf388c0bde111757214b0.png)

If a channel on your sensor appears to be incorrectly downgraded, send an email to [contact@purpleair.com](mailto:contact@purpleair.com) for assistance.

Learn more about channels [reporting high, not working, or spikes erratically.](https://community.purpleair.com/t/q-what-do-i-do-if-one-of-my-channels-is-downgraded-reporting-high-not-working-or-spikes-erratically/842)  
Learn more about [sensor maintenance](https://community.purpleair.com/t/sensor-maintenance/1531).