Lisle Digidown plus User manual

Digital Tachograph Combined Download Device
Operating Instructions

Introduction
The Digidown device downloads data from digital tachograph vehicle
units (VUs) from all current tachograph manufacturers. Data
downloaded from the VU is stored in a Secure Digital memory card,
normally known as an SD card.
Three types of download are available:
ALL VU Downloads all contents from the VU
LATEST VU Programmable
1
. Options include the last 1 or 3 months
of data plus a selection from events & faults, detailed
speed and technical information.
CARD Downloads a Driver Card inserted into the VU
If required, ‘Latest VU’ can also be programmed to include download of
a Driver card inserted in the VU.
Pressing the relevant button starts the Download. Download status is
indicated by the 3 LEDs positioned by the buttons.
Initial Set Up
In order to operate successfully, the Digidown requires an SD card to be
inserted into the slot in the side of the device. A suitable ready-
formatted SD card is supplied with the unit
2
.When a suitable memory
card has been inserted into a Digidown and the Digidown is connected
to a VU it checks the card format and then indicates that it is ready for
use.
In order to read tachograph cards direct into the unit a pair of AA-size
batteries is required (supplied with the unit). Please observe the correct
polarity when inserting the batteries.
Insertion and removal of the SD card
When in use, a suitable SD card must be inserted into the slot in the
side of the Digidown. To insert the card, push it into the slot in the side
of the Digidown until it latches in place. To remove the SD card from
the Digidown (for instance in order to read it using a different memory
card reader) the protruding end of the memory card should be pushed
back into the Digidown. This will release the SD card and it will spring
1
Please contact your dealer to discuss the options available.
2
Whilst the Digidown will work correctly with most types of SD memory card (provided that they are
formatted FAT16), Lisle Design can only guarantee operation with those memory cards supplied by Lisle
Design.

out for easy removal. DO NOT try to remove the latched memory card
by pulling on the end of the card.
VU Download Process
Please note that for any download from a digital tachograph VU to work,
a Company, Workshop or Control card must first be inserted in the VU.
In the case of some VUs the vehicle ignition must be switched on.
Connect the Digidown to the 6-pin Download connector on the front of
the VU. Please note that Digidown should NOT be connected to an
analogue (chart-recording) tachograph.
On connection, the Digidown will check the presence and format of the
SD card and then indicate that it is ready for operation by blinking
briefly each of the LEDs in turn. Pressing any of the buttons will initiate
the download indicated by the button’s label.
During download, the LED by the button pressed will flash repeatedly
about twice each second. Successful completion will be indicated by the
LED blinking briefly about once every second. Please note that the
download of data from a VU can take a considerable time, potentially in
excess of 30 minutes. Downloading using ‘Latest VU’ can reduce the
download time considerably.
NOTE: DO NOT disconnect the Digidown or remove the SD card during a
download. Doing so may cause file errors on the SD card.
Driver Card Download Process
Driver cards can be downloaded via a VU. In this case the relevant
driver card must be inserted into one slot of a VU and a Company,
Workshop or Control card must be inserted into the other slot. Once
again the Digidown should be connected to the 6-pin download
connector on the front of the VU.
Once the Digidown is connected and indicating that it is ready to
download, press the ‘Card’ button on the Digidown to start downloading
of the driver card in the VU.
During download, the LED by the button pressed will flash repeatedly
about twice each second. Successful completion will be indicated by the
LED blinking briefly about once every second. Download of data from a
driver card in a VU generally takes a small number of minutes to
complete.
The Digidown Plus provides the facility for driver and workshop cards to
be read direct into the unit. Although less commonly required, company
and control cards can also be downloaded direct into the Digidown Plus.
With the Digidown disconnected from other equipment, insert the card

to be downloaded (chip down) into the smart card slot in the side of the
unit. The unit will first check that the SD card is satisfactory and will
then download the tachograph card.
During card download direct into the unit, the LED by the ‘Card’ button
will flash repeatedly about twice each second. Successful completion
will be indicated by the LED blinking briefly about once every second.
Download of data from a driver card direct into the Digidown Plus takes
in the region of 1 minute (depending on the tachograph card).
Reading the SD card
The SD card can be read via the USB port on Digidown
3
. Once
connected to a PC via the USB port, the Digidown will appear as a
standard removable disk drive.
Alternatively data on the SD card can be read and/or copied by
removing the SD card from the Digidown and plugging it into a separate
SD card reader available from Lisle Design or from major computer or
camera shops.
Driver Card Download with USB connection
A driver card (or any other type of tachograph card) may be
downloaded into the Digidown Plus and into its SD card whilst the unit is
connected to a PC’s USB port. In this case the required power is taken
from the USB connection. If the Digidown Plus is always connected to a
USB port when downloading tachograph cards then the internal
batteries are not required.
Fixing Bracket
The Digidown Plus may be supplied with a bracket allowing the unit to
be fixed down to a counter or other horizontal surface. A second
(smaller) bracket is supplied to cover the memory card slot.
When installing the standard mounting bracket, the smaller bracket
should first be attached to the larger bracket using the small (M3 x
6mm) countersunk screws. The bracket should then be attached to the
selected surface, e.g. counter, shelf etc. with appropriate screws (not
supplied). The Digidown plus unit can then be attached to the main
bracket using the supplied pan head screws (M3 x 8mm). Note that the
memory card cover may be omitted if access is required to the memory
card whilst the unit is attached to the bracket.
If a USB cable is to be attached permanently to the Digidown Plus whilst
attached to a mounting bracket, then the cable may be passed through
3
The required drivers are included as standard in Windows 2000, XP and Vista. For use with Windows
98 a driver software file is required. Please contact your dealer for more details.

one of the holes in the bracket before the unit is attached to the
bracket.
‘Download Fault 12’ When downloading data from some
SiemensVDO digital tachographs the message ‘Download Fault 12’ may
occasionally be shown on the tachograph display. This can safely be
ignored. Allow the download to finish and then press ‘OK’ to cancel the
error message.
Choice of SD Memory Card
The Digidown Plus will work successfully with most types of SD memory
card provided that they are formatted FAT16 (which Windows calls
‘FAT’). A few SD card types are unfortunately not suitable as they do
not conform fully to the SD card specification. Cards supplied by Lisle
Design are to be preferred as they have been selected for optimum
performance in this application.
Although 64Mbyte memory cards are supplied as standard by Lisle
Design (and this memory capacity is entirely adequate for this
application) larger capacity memory cards can also be used provided
that they are formatted FAT16.
SD Card Formatting
For any SD memory card to work with the Digidown Plus it must be
formatted FAT16 (which Windows calls ‘FAT’).
When a newly formatted SD card is inserted into a Digidown or
Digidown Plus and the unit is connected to a VU, the format of the
memory card is first checked. The Digidown then creates a directory
structure on the card.
Two top-level directories are created:
‘DIGIDOWN’ and
‘UPDATES’
‘Digidown’ has 2 sub-directories:
‘VU’ where VU downloads are stored and
‘CARD’ where driver card downloads are stored.
This process is automatic and generally takes just a few seconds.
SD Card directory structure
The downloaded data appears on the SD card in the ‘\digidown\vu’ or
‘\digidown\card’ directory depending on download type. Each download
is labelled vuxxxxxx.esm or cdxxxxxx.crd where xxxxxx is a number

starting at 000001 and increasing by 1 for each download recorded on
the SD card.
LED status / Error indication
The LEDs are used to show the status of the download and any error.
The patterns used are:
Normal Operation:
Each of the LEDs blinking briefly in turn
Indicates power is on and Digidown is ready
Single LED flashing about twice per second
Indicates Digidown is busy downloading data
Single LED blinking briefly about once every second
Indicates successful completion of download
Single LED double-blinking about once every second
Indicates successful download of a tachograph card into
the unit and that the batteries will shortly need
replacing.
‘All VU’ and ‘Card’ LEDs on
Indicates Digidown is in USB mode.
Error Conditions:
Each of the LEDs stepping smoothly from one to the next
Indicates that there is no SD card present or that the
batteries in the unit need replacing.
All three LEDs flashing together
Indicates that there is a problem with the SD card
Single LED permanently on
Indicates download failure
Single LED on briefly (approx 3s)
Indicates button press while Digidown is busy
Suggested Actions on Error Condition
SD Card Error: Check card is correctly inserted
Check card Lock Switch is in the unlocked position
Check card is not full
Check card is formatted as FAT16
(Windows refers to this format as FAT)
Low battery Replace the two batteries in the unit.
Download Failure: Ensure that a Company, Control or Workshop card
is inserted in the VU and that vehicle ignition is
switched on.
Retry download

Button Press Error: No action required - original download will
continue.
The Digidown Plus can also be programmed to name the files
vuxxxxxx.ddd and cdxxxxxx.ddd for use with software which only
accepts ddd files. Whatever the file names, the contents of the
downloaded files are exactly according to the digital tachograph
regulations.
Choice of Batteries
Two AA-size batteries are needed to power the unit when downloading
tachograph cards direct into the unit. When downloading data from a
VU or reading the SD card via the USB port then the internal battery is
disconnected and power is taken from the VU/USB port.
The Digidown Plus is designed to be used with alkaline batteries. A pair
of cells will generally be good for downloading tachograph cards some
2000 times before needing replacing.
Other battery types may be used provided that they supply in the region
of 1.5V per cell. The Digidown Plus takes a very small current whilst
operating. There is therefore little merit in using alkaline cells designed
for high-current applications.
Rechargeable cells may also be used, e.g. nickel cadmium (Ni-Cd) or
nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH), but users need to be aware that many
types of rechargeable battery do not perform well in low current
applications and may self-discharge in a few weeks. There are also
potential difficulties when they have been used a few times as the
capacity of one cell can end up quite different from the capacity of the
other. This will result in the battery life being much shorter than
expected.
Upgrade of the Digidown
The software within the Digidown can be upgraded when appropriate
without the need to return it to a dealer.
Similarly the programming of the ‘Latest VU’ button can be updated
without the need to return the Digidown to a dealer.
For more
information
please contact
Lisle Design Ltd, New Technology Centre,
North Haugh, St. Andrews KY16 9SR, Scotland
Tel. [phone] Fax [phone]
E-mail [e-mail] Web www.lisledesign.com
Digidown Plus Operating Instructions V1.1 (c) Lisle Design Ltd 2007
Subject to change without notice