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The OBD II is a
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small GPS tracking device that
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plugs directly into the
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vehicle’s OBD II port and immediately captures data.
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Smartrak’s solution, the telematics data
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that is collected, can be analysed and reports automatically prepared for a range
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of actions. This includes vehicle usage to identify cost savings and efficiencies and speeding data to manage driver behaviour.
This guide outlines the following functionality:
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NB. After installation please: Call the Smartrak Installer line to confirm and test that the installation was successful.
Alternatively, you can check each install on the Smartrak map to ensure the device has been installed correctly and is sending data to the server.
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The Device
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The OBD II device will be delivered from Smartrak to a designated contact within your organisation. All devices are individually boxed with a label indicating the vehicle registration is has been setup against. The OBD II comes fully assembled and includes;
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Dimensions: 67.2 x 49.6 x 25 mm (L x W x H) Weight: 63g |  |
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Installing an OBD II | |
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Device
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The OBD II plugs directly into the vehicle’s on-board diagnostics port. A Smartrak authorised installer is not required to do this, however we do recommend that someone suitably familiar with the vehicle’s diagnostic system carries out the installation. Depending on the location of the port, the device can be used by directly plugging the device into the OBD port. The device needs to be secure, and unobtrusive so there is no chance of accidentally knocking the device. Properly securing the device is important to avoid the device accidentally falling under the brake pedal which may cause an accident. Please note that securing the device is the customer's responsibility. The best way to install and secure the device is vehicle specific and it's hard to define a best way for every model/year. Generally speaking, the device should be placed out of the way so it cannot be accidentally knocked out of place by the driver or passenger. For that end, we can supply extension cables so the device can be placed away from the driver and hidden from view. Where the device is ultimately placed, it must be secured, and not in close proximity to any electrical cables. The use of cable ties and tape is recommended - the device needs to be rigid with the car body, not floating on any moving part. Connecting the device to the vehicle:
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The Remora has two modes of operation, stationary and trip mode. When in stationary mode the Remora will send a position update to the map once every 12 hours. When the asset moves for a distance greater than 250 metres the Remora will automatically switch to trip mode. In trip mode the Remora will establish its location every 2 minutes and update the map with these position updates at the following times:
- Every 30 minutes during a trip
- At an end of trip (signalled by being stationary for 5 minutes)
The start of trip will not be shown until one of those two updates occurs.
Remora Trip
When the Remora is stationary for a period of 5 minutes it will return to stationary mode and resume position updates every 12 hours.
Health Check event - Known Location
If no GPS signal is available during a position update (described as a Health Check on the map) then an unknown location icon is displayed with the last recorded position. This can occur when the device is moved, but within the 250 metres meaning the device won't process the movement as a trip.
For Example: The device is attached to an asset that is moved into a shed overnight. The move is not shown on the map site (as it less than 250 metres), and the next time there is a position update, no GPS signal can be found from within the shed so provides its previous location with NO GPS location.
Health Check event - Unknown Location
Note: Figures in italics can be altered - speak with your Customer Success Manager if these settings aren't right for the usage of a device.
After installation please:
|  Most common OBDII connector locations | ||||||
Assigning the Device
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In order for the resource (vehicle & device) to be seen on the map it needs to be allocated to a User and have permissions and groups (if applicable) assigned to the resource. A Map User will not be able to see a resource until it has been assigned to them via Permissions. Groups can also be used to help organisations with larger numbers of vehicles for easy viewing and assigning to users.
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Points on the map
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The OBD II creates events on the map and polling is determined by which ever of the following happens first;
Events available to view on the map include;
For more information about the map and events go to; |  | ||||||
Geofence Check In/Out and Geofence Alerts/Emails
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The device can trigger Geofence Check In and Out for Smartrak Pool Booking and PoolCar solutions - See this page here for more information - Automated Check In/Out with Geofences The device can trigger Smartrak Geofence enter and exit emails (and/or SMS messages) when a GPS location update is detected inside or outside of a configured Geofence. To enable this functionality, first | |||||||
create a Geofence with one of the following Geofence classes. |
 Note: Though the class refers to Email, SMS can also be configured for these Geofence events. |
 Using the 'Alerts' Geofences class will enable on-screen alerts on the Smartrak map site - both Emails and SMS can be configured for these alerts also. Instructions for setting up recipients with Email and/or SMS notifications via Smartrak Admin can be found here |
Note: With a low poll rate, there is potential that a device could pass through a geofence without a GPS update triggering a geofence event. This would not cause a GPS enter or exit alert.
If you cannot see Geofence Enter/Exit classes on your map or the Alert type in Smartrak Admin, please make a request through the customer service portal for Geofence alerting. |
When the device is at approximately 5% battery life, a low battery event will trigger on the map site.
Alert emails/SMS can be configured when this event occurs. Follow the same instructions as per setting up Geofence alerts here
If you cannot see the Low Battery alert type in Admin, please make a request through the customer service portal for Low Battery alerting.
Devices fitted with a Tamper switch are mounted with a magnet in place on the casing that is wedged between the device and the mounting point. If the device is removed and the magnet is displaced this is registered as a Tamper.
A Tamper shows on the map as a new Tamper Activated event immediately (outside of the standard Health Check update). When the magnet is replaced a Tamper Deactivated event is triggered. Both of these events will include a location update.
Alert emails/SMS can be configured when this event occurs. Follow the same instructions as per setting up Geofence alerts here
If you cannot see the Device Tamper alert type in Admin, please make a request through the customer service portal for Device Tamper alerting.
No change to the Heath Check rate will occur.
When enabled, the device will increase its location update rate the next time the device connects as part of its stationary health check or trip related upload.
When in Recover Mode the Health Check location updates will increase to every 30 minutes when stationary, or 30 seconds when moving. If there is no GPS reception in a trip then the location update will be 60 seconds.
When in recovery mode, a trip can be initiated through movement, this is instead of the standard in trip detection movement of 250 metres to trigger the start of a trip.
The recovery mode location update will override any normal polling frequency (for stationary or in a trip).
Note: Figures in italics can be altered - speak with your Customer Success Manager if these settings aren't right for the usage of a device.
To enable Recovery mode in Smartrak Admin:
- Navigate to the Remote Management menu under Devices.
The device will show Activation is pending. The device will be required to do a position update before it can activate its Recovery Mode. Before then, the recovery mode Activation can be cancelled from its pending state.
When the device receives the message, the Recovery Mode status will become Active (requires a refresh of the Actions dialogue). The Recovery Mode can be deactivated by selecting the Deactivate button.
Events will show on the map stating the Recovery Mode has been activated or deactivated.
Many of the generic Smartrak reports will work with the Remora. However, there is a limitation that the Remora does not currently capture distance travelled.
Two new reports have been developed with the Remora in mind.
- Location Report
A report showing the last known location with the time stamp of that location update. This report is useful for managers to schedule to see that the assets are where they are supposed to be. - Battery Status Report
Shows a list of devices and their current % of battery. This can help asset managers determine when to replace the batteries.
These reports are can be run on demand only or scheduled to be run.
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Reporting
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The Smartrak platform has a range of standard reports, the main reports for the OBD II are;
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Frequently Asked Questions
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The Remora tracking unit uses 4 x “C” cell replaceable batteries. The circuitry is designed to handle battery cell voltages from 1.5V to 3.6V. This allows the Remora to operate off a range of primary cells including low cost Alkaline batteries and top of the range Lithium-Thionyl-Chloride batteries for longer battery life and operations in extreme temperatures.Predicting the battery life is quite difficult, due to the wide range of operating conditions.
The battery life is affected by:
- The type and quality of batteries used
- The average GPS signal strength available when installed
- The cellular signal strength
- The average temperature of operation
- The operating mode (periodic, GPS based tracking, accelerator based tracking)
- The particular configuration of that mode
- The level of asset activity (trip quantity and length, loading / unloading jostling)
Typical usage scenario include:
Domestic Vehicle Tracking
We wish to track a vehicle that makes 12 trips per week, of approximately 30 minutes each. If we set the logging period to 60 seconds, and the upload period to 300 seconds, what kind
of battery life can be expected? We will assume an average GPS on-time of 15 seconds, and 7 Ah Alkaline batteries 67 weeks
The tracking performance in Recovery Mode is excellent, but the battery will run down more quickly in this mode. A full battery should last 40 to 100 hours in-trip, or more than a month out-of-trip.
What happens if it loses GPS signal?
If there is no GPS location when the Remora attempts to update the server, it will provide its last known location. This will display on the map with an unknown location event.
What happens if it loses cellular reception?
If a Remora has not reported when it should have, it is likely experiencing loss of mobile signal. Because the Remora is designed to maximise battery life, retries are kept to a minimum. If there is a network glitch or the device is out of coverage, it will only try to upload for 3 minutes. If it times out, it will go to sleep and only retry on the next scheduled upload.
This may be on the health check (typically 12 or 24 hours) or on the start of the next trip.
Why does the Heath Check location update show in a new location?
There are two possible reasons the Remora will show a new location with out showing actual trip movement.
Only if a device is detected moving 250 metres from its last stopped location would the Remora update its location in near real time, otherwise it would update at the next Health Check showing the new location.
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