Versions Compared

Key

  • This line was added.
  • This line was removed.
  • Formatting was changed.

...

...

...

...

...

...

The OBD II is

...

a small GPS tracking device that

...

plugs directly into the

...

vehicle’s OBD II port and immediately captures data.

...

 

Smartrak’s solution, the telematics data

...

that is collected, can be analysed and reports automatically prepared for a range

...

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:

...

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.


View file
nameOBD II - Getting Started Checklist.pdf


The Device 

Anchor
device
device

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;

  • 4G

GPS tracking unit
  • /5G Teltonika OBDII Unit FMM001/3

  • Micro-SIM

  • OBD

II power cable
  • Extension Cable

Dimensions:

67.2 x 49.6 x 25 mm (L x W x H)

Weight:

63g

Image Added

Image Added

Installing an OBD II Device 

Anchor
install
install

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.

Connecting the device to the vehicle:

  • Find OBD II connector in your vehicle (Figure 10. Most common OBDII connector locations.).
  • Before connecting the device to the OBD II socket, make sure that ≥3A fuse is present on OBD connector power supplyImage Removed

Most common OBDII connector locations

Installing an OBD II Device  AnchorinstallinstallThe 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:

  • Find OBD II connector in your vehicle (

Figure 10.
  • See picture: Most common OBDII connector locations.).

  • Before connecting the device to the OBD II socket, make sure that ≥3A fuse is present on OBD connector power supply

Points on the map Anchorpointspoints

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.

Image Removed

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.

Image Removed

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.

Image Removed

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.

Geofence

After installation please:

  • Call the Smartrak Installer line at +64 7 857 0791 (NZ) or +61 3 9015 7990 (AU) to confirm and test that installation was successful (note you should be with the vehicle when you call. You will be required to identify the OBD-II device either by its serial number or name which will likely correspond to the vehicle’s registration/licence plate)

  • 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.

Image Added

Most common OBDII connector locations

Assigning the Device 

Anchor
activate
activate

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.


To test if the assignment is complete and accurate, based on the permissions assigned to the resource, you should be able to see it on the Smartrak map.

Image Added

Points on the map

Anchor
points
points

The OBD II creates events on the map and polling is determined by which ever of the following happens first;

  • Time - every 15mins

  • Distance - travel 250m

  • Speed - change of speed more than 10kmph

  • Direction - change direction more than 25 degrees 

Events available to view on the map include;

  • Key On

  • Key Off

  • Change of direction

  • Stops

  • Movement 

  • Overspeed

  • Geofence entry/exit

For more information about the map and events go to;

Image Added

Geofence Check In/Out and Geofence Alerts/Emails

Anchor
geofence
geofence

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

create a Geofence with one of the following Geofence classes.

Image Removed
Image Added

Note: Though the class refers to Email, SMS can also be configured for these Geofence events.

Image Removed
Image Added

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.

Image Removed

Low Battery Events/Alerts Anchorbatterybattery

When the device is at approximately 5% battery life, a low battery event will trigger on the map site.

Image Removed

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.

Image Removed

Tamper Anchortampertamper

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.

Image RemovedImage Removed

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.

Image Removed

No change to the Heath Check rate will occur.

Recovery Mode AnchorRecoveryRecoveryRecovery Mode, when activated by an Admin user, will trigger the device to provide updates more readily.

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:

  1. Navigate to the Remote Management menu under Devices.

Image Removed

2. Find/Select the device in the device list and select the Actions button.
Image Removed
Note: You can filter the devices by either the DeviceType, or the FeatureEnabled by selecting the '+'. Otherwise, simply type the device name to filter the list of available device.
Image Removed
3. Select the Activate button.

Image Removed

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.

Image Removed

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.

Image Removed

Events will show on the map stating the Recovery Mode has been activated or deactivated.

Image RemovedImage Removed

Image Added


For more information refer to;

Reporting

Anchor
reporting
reporting

The Smartrak platform has a range of standard reports, the main reports for the OBD II are;

  • Overspeed Period Report: Shows the individual periods when vehicles were speeding. The report includes the date and time of each period, overspeed period duration, location, posted speed limit (for those customers with the Posted Speed Limits feature enabled), and overspeed magnitude.  

  • Overspeed Severity Report: A headline report showing the severity by which each vehicle was speeding (highest overspeed, longest time and distance speeding. Along with the magnitude of over-speeding for those customers with the Posted Speed Limits feature enabled). Vehicles can optionally be grouped into three categories (Most Serious, Moderate and Mild Offences) based on their degree of speeding.

  • Driver Overspeed Severity, Period & Trip Reports: driver-based reports for use with Smartrak Driver Identification types - PoolCar, Smartrak Pool Booking, Assigned Driver, Smartrak Identify App. Driver-Based Reporting **UPDATED**

  • Fleet Utilisation Report: The Fleet Utilisation report reveals opportunities to optimise fleet usage and size.

  • Trip*: Provides an overview of all trips that occurred on a given day by the selected vehicle or group of vehicles. (OBD II device does not generate adequate trip data which means the device should not be used for reliable trip detection)

  • Geofence Report: Calculates distance travelled and time spent within a selected geofence. In conjunction with this report you can run

‘Trip
  • ‘Trips out of Geofence’ which provides details of trips that are outside of the selected geofence.

Image Removed
  •   


To learn how to run or schedule a report go to;

Image Added

Frequently Asked Questions 

Anchor
faq
faq

  • How does the OBD II track a vehicle?
    The OBD II sends a signal via a 4G/5G cellular network to the Smartrak platform, which is viewable on a computer. The Smartrak map displays the position of the vehicle.

  • How often is a vehicle’s location updated on the system?
    Every 15 minutes or every 250m travelled, whichever occurs first.

  • How sensitive is the tracking?
    Changes in direction greater than 25 degrees and changes in speed greater than 10km/h are reported.

  • Can I go back and review a particular vehicle’s journey?
    Yes, the Smartrak map shows vehicle journeys in real time and can be used to review previous journeys. They can be reviewed at any time.

  • What else can I see on the map?

    • Key-on and key-off events

    • Vehicle speeds and overspeed alerts. Issued when vehicles exceed the posted speed limit, or the limit that has been set by company policy.

    • Customised Geofences. To provide alerts when vehicles enter or leave a specific area. This can help you to monitor when work teams are on-site, or to indicate areas of interest.

  • How many vehicles can be included in the system?
    Any number of vehicles can be included.

  • Can I use this device for Fleet Servicing?
    Yes, the virtual odometer will be used for Fleet Servicing 

  • Can I use this device for RUC (including off-road RUC claims)?
    No, the OBD device does not support RUC at this stage

  • Am I limited as to which vehicles the OBD II can be installed in?
    Most modern vehicles have a compatible diagnostics port. * Not recommended for EVs and Hybrids.

  • Can I self-install the OBD II?
    The OBD II plugs directly into the vehicle’s on-board diagnostics port. As long as you are aware of the location of the port you do not need any specialist help.

  • Can I swap the OBD II between vehicles?
    If the OBD II is to be removed from a vehicle and installed in another, Smartrak will need informing so that a reallocation can occur. This ensures accurate and relevant data continues to be reported. There may be an additional cost involved in reallocating the device within the system.

  • Can the OBD II be used with Smartrak’s Keyless Entry?
    Yes.

  • Is there a tampering or unit removal alert?
    Yes.

  • If the OBD II is plugged into the vehicle diagnostics port, can the port still be used for servicing requirements?
    Yes,

the installation utilises a Y-harness (Splitter cable). 
  • there is an additional option for a T Cable. Picture below.

Image Added

Self Help | Service Desk | Service Desk Help | Knowledge Base | Trouble shooting | Smartrak Portfolios