Introduction

A Flex tracker provides real-time asset / container tracking with data logging, GPS location, and data communication. Fleet managers have complete transparency of location, speed and battery level percentage. Rules, such as a low battery rule, can be set to send a notification to the fleet manager.

Flex Trackers are expandable to allow other capabilities such as Tire pressure monitoring , Temperature monitoring and Tractor power detection . For example: A Temperature probe can be connected to a Flex Tracker to monitor Reefer Temperature . 

Adding Flex Tracker to the database :

A Flex tracker can be identified by serial number, Flex units always start with “CY” . Please follow the below steps to Add a Flex device to the database :

1. Login to the customer database 
2. Go to Vehicles > Add > Add device
3. Add serial number > Click Ok

Flex Tracker installation guide : 

Step 1: Expose the device to sunlight and remove the solar panel film cover ( shown in image below ).

Prior to installation, bring the device outside to an area with an unobstructed view of the sky and with good cellular coverage. Turn on the device by removing the adhesive cover and exposing the solar panel to sunlight. 

Alternatively, you may also hold the power button for 2-4 seconds until the LED illuminates. 

You can see the device progress through a series of start-up steps, indicated by different LED colors. 

For more information on the LED startup sequence, please refer to the Getting Started/Product Guide. 

This process typically takes two minutes but can take up to 20 minutes on first power-up.

Step 2: Verify that the device is communicating.

Using a PC or smartphone, navigate to installmygps.com. Fill in your name, company, and the device serial number and click Log Install. You will now see a screen that displays the status of the device. If the device is communicating correctly, you will see Current Status as “Device Communicating” in GREEN lettering. If the text appears in RED, the device is unable to communicate and you must follow the steps in the troubleshooting guide and verify the device is functional before installing.

Please refer to the below guide to install external Temperature Trackers:

Temperature Sensor Install Guide

External door sensor Installation Guide:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1IH2sOeB1CJEzutv-2bbvJNuNllkC0hcL/view

Note : The Flex tracker device is designed to be used on the outside of a trailer. Using this device inside of a box, inside of a vehicle is not how the device is designed to be used and this causes issues with these devices. When the device is inside of this equipment and the vehicle, it is not able to get good reception from either the satellites or cellular network and this will cause the devices to not report location.

Even when using external power, the device needs to have a clear line of sight to the sky to acquire satellite reception to determine its location. Additionally, the cellular connection will be severely limited if the tracker is stored inside of the vehicle.  These devices are designed to be installed outside where they are free from obstructions.

Flex FAQ’s : 

Some commonly asked questions and solutions can be found HERE 

GPS data reporting Frequency :

- Once installed and turned on,  reporting frequency depends on whether it is moving or stopped. 

- While moving:  it will collect GPS locations every 1 minute and report them every 10 minutes.  

- While stopped, the device reports its location once per day. 

- If sunlight conditions are poor for an extended period and the battery gets low: the device reduces collection and reporting frequency dynamically. 

How to charge a Flex Tracker 

- Flex TT600 does not have a port for external communication/charging so it can only be charged by placing it directly under the sun. 

- Flex TT603 can be charged using the M8 cable that needs to be purchased separately. 

( M8 Cable Manual can be found HERE )

- The device can be plugged into most bench-top supplies/wall adapters rated at 12V. 

Additional notes for charging : TT60x needs 6-12 days (40-80 hours at 7 hours per day) of full sunlight to go from 0% to 100% battery charge. The device battery level needs to be at least 20% to get a once-daily report, and at least 30% to get 4 minute GPS collection when moving, which can take 2-5 days of full sun exposure to reach.

If conditions are overcast or partly cloudy, charge rate can reduce to only 5% to 20% of full sunlight which means it could take over 40 days at worst case overcast for the device to reach 30% charge from 0%.

If the device is kept in the sun but behind the window, it may not charge through the window as some windows filter usable sunlight, and since the device is fully drained it will take a while for the batteries to charge. For best results, devices should be in the open air and not behind the window.

Do not place the device in direct sunlight in an enclosed space such on the dashboard of an unattended vehicle. Not only will the device not be able to charge in high heat, temperatures in such spaces will exceed the operating range of the device and will shorten the device battery life."

Refer to the image below for the wiring diagram. 

Checking the Battery Level in Mygeotab database :

Please follow the below steps to check the battery level for a Flex Tracker

1. Go to Engine & Maintenance > Engine and Device... > Measurements 
2. Choose the desired date range
3. Select the vehicle
4. Search for battery level in Diagnostics 
5. Select Battery level
6. Click on apply Changes

Download the Report for Battery level 

Follow the above mentioned steps to check battery level 

1. Click Report
2. Click Advanced to download Report 

Check the Temperature if Temperature Probe is installed 

Please follow the below steps to check the Temperature  for a Flex Tracker

1. Go to Engine & Maintenance > Engine and Device... > Measurements 
2. Choose the desired date range
3. Select the vehicle
4. Search for Temperature in Diagnostics 
5. Select Temperature
6. Click on apply Changes

Download the Temperature Report

Follow the above mentioned steps to check battery level 

3. Click Report
4. Click Advanced to download Report 

Troubleshooting the Tracker : 

If the Tracker is not communicating or updating the location , Ask the customer to perform below steps to identify the problem: 

 Powering on the Device  

1. Remove the solar panel film cover.  
2. With exposure to sufficient sunlight, the device will automatically power on.  
3. You can also manually power on the device by holding down the multi-function button for 2-4s.  4. A red LED will illuminate when the system starts. The device will initiate a set of start-up activities (see start-up  sequence LED behavior below). 

Once the device is on, proceed to troubleshooting.

Error Codes and Troubleshooting  

When the device is running, you can check the system status via the multi-function button and LED. The following  steps explain how:  

1. Press and hold the multi-function button for 2-4s; release when the blue LED illuminates. 
2. If there are any errors, the red, green, or blue LED will flash a certain number of times, followed by a 3s pause. It  will then flash the next error (if any). Look up the error in the LED table below.  
3. Repeat the process from step 1 to see the errors again.  

If the unit does not work once troubleshooting is complete , ask for installation pictures and contact Geotab support .