Lisle Digidown User manual

ARRR ®
Digital Tachograph 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 Tachograph 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, 2 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 end of the device. A suitable ready-formatted SD card is supplied with
the unit. 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.
Insertion and removal of the SD card
When in use a suitable SD card must be inserted into the slot in the bottom of the
Digidown. To insert the card, push it into the slot in the end 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 out for easy removal. DO NOT try to remove the latched memory card by
pulling on the end of the card.
1
Please contact your dealer to discuss the options available.

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 and 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. 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.
Reading the SD card
The SD card can be read via the USB port on the Digidown. Once connected to a
PC via the USB port, the Digidown will appear as a standard removable disk
drive
1
.
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.
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 performing download
Single LED blinking briefly about once every second
Indicates successful completion of download
‘All VU’ and ‘Card’ LEDs on
Indicates Digidown is in USB mode.
1
The required driver software is included within Windows 2000, XP, Vista, 7 and 8. For use with Windows
98 a driver software file is required. Please contact your dealer for more details.

Error Conditions:
Each of the LEDs stepping smoothly from one to the next
Indicates that there is no SD card present.
With units prior to serial No. 13000, SD card errors are also reported by each of
the LEDs stepping smoothly from one to the next.
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)
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.
‘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 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.
2Gbyte memory cards are supplied as standard by Lisle Design (although lower
memory capacities are entirely adequate for this application). Larger capacity
memory cards are not suitable for use with the Digidown Plus.

SD Card Formatting
For any SD memory card to work with the Digidown 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. All LEDs will be
off while the folders are being created.
Downloaded Data
The downloaded data appears on the SD card in the ‘\digidown\vu’ or
‘\digidown\card’ directory depending on download type. The Digidown unit
creates filenames in the standard EU format for each download:
VU file: M_YYYYMMDD_HHMM_AA12BBB_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.DDD
M denotes a VU file. The next 2 sections are the date and time of the download.
This is followed by the vehicle registration (AA12BBB) and identification numbers
(xxxx...).
Card file: C_YYYYMMDD_HHMM_A_SMITH_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.DDD
C denotes a card file. The next 2 sections are the date and time of the download.
This is followed by the driver name and number.
Alternatively the Digidown can be programmed to use short file name formats or
alternative long file name formats. Whatever the file names, the contents of the
downloaded files are exactly according to the digital tachograph regulations.
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. Contact your dealer for details.
© Lisle Design Ltd 2017
Subject to change without notice
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
For more
information please
contact
Digidown Operating Instructions V2.0