Downloading the tachograph (Bluetooth)

The latest generation (G2v2) tachographs have built-in Bluetooth: by connecting your phone directly to the tachograph you can download the tachograph data, as well as the data from the driver card inserted in the tachograph — without a separate download device. (For supported tachographs and minimum software versions, see the What you need page.)

Preparation

  • the ignition must be in the ON position;
  • Bluetooth must be enabled on the tachograph;
  • for a tachograph download, the company card must be in the tachograph;
  • for a driver card download, the card must be in the first card slot, and remote access (ITS) must be enabled for that card.

Pairing

If the tachograph has not yet been paired, you can start the process by pressing the Pair button. Pairing is initiated from the tachograph:

  1. find the Bluetooth menu item in the tachograph menu and start pairing;
  2. then press the confirmation button in the app.

Some tachographs (e.g. VDO) store only a single paired device: if a pairing is already stored, it must be deleted first — this is only possible with the card that was in the tachograph at the time of the original pairing. For some tachographs (e.g. Stoneridge), pairing can also be initiated from the phone's Bluetooth settings.

Pairing always applies to the cards (and card slots) that were in the tachograph at the time of pairing — after a card change (whether a driver card or a company card), re-pairing is required. On VDO, accept the pairing on the tachograph under the menu branch of the slot holding the card (e.g. entry → 1st driver if the card is in slot 1), not under the entry → vehicle branch. After a card change, wait until the tachograph menu becomes accessible again — only then pair or download.

Download steps

To download a driver card, select the Via Bluetooth-capable tachograph option. For a tachograph download, you can specify which data blocks to download:

  • Overview (downloaded mandatorily),
  • Activities (the number of days to download retrospectively is configurable),
  • Events and faults,
  • Detailed speed,
  • Technical data.

On a successful download, the data is saved to the Archive and the list of available reports appears immediately. If automatic email sending after download is enabled, the list of available reports does not appear.

The amount of data to be downloaded cannot be determined precisely in advance, so during the download you see the number of bytes downloaded so far. This is usually 67kB or 123kB for a driver card, and 120kB — but possibly up to 600kB — for a tachograph.

You can read useful information about the file created when downloading a driver card in the Downloading the driver card (USB) section. Note that some card download settings do not apply to downloads over a Bluetooth connection.

If it fails

On a failed download (Download failed!) the app lists possible causes — e.g. remote access (ITS) is not enabled, no card in the tachograph, ignition is not in ON position, weak or interfered signal, or the company card is missing. The button takes you back to the download start screen so you can try again. Detailed help: Troubleshooting (Bluetooth).

Minimum software versions required for stable operation: VDO DTCO 4.1b v4141 (04.01.41), Stoneridge SE5000-8.1 v1619. Do not attempt with older versions — take the tachograph in for a software update.