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Home > Products > DigidownGo > FAQs

DigidownGo FAQs

Download and install the DigidownGo app

Get it on Google Play

Connect the DigidownGo cable to the phone and run the DigidownGo app.

Please note only Android™ phones running OS version 4.0.3 or later are compatible.

Android, Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google Inc.

To download your tachograph, first make sure the DigidownGo app is installed in the mobile phone. Also check the phone is charged. The downloading of data from a VU can take a considerable length of time, potentially in excess of 30 minutes depending on the options selected.

Then, insert your Company card (Workshop or Control cards may replace this in certain situations) into the tachograph(VU), in either card slot. For some VUs, the ignition must also be switched on.

Connect your DigidownGo cable to the phone and to the 6 pin connector on the front of the VU - this may be behind a small cover or in the printer drawer. The app will indicate it is ready to download by blinking each of its LEDs in turn. Press the button for the required download.

During the download, the LED by the selected button will flash repeatedly about twice a second. Successful completion of the download is indicated by the LED blinking briefly about once every second. The downloading of data from a VU can take a considerable length of time, potentially in excess of 30 minutes depending on the options selected. Using 'Latest VU' can reduce the download time considerably.

Please do not disconnect the DigidownGo during a download.

The DigidownGo app has three buttons:

  • All VU - pressing this causes the DigidownGo to download all the data stored in the VU.
  • Latest VU - pressing this causes the DigidownGo to download only the latest data within the VU.
  • Card - pressing this causes the DigidownGo to download the data from the driver card (if any) inserted into the VU.

For fleet operators, 'Latest VU' typically downloads data recorded by the VU during the previous 2 to 3 months. For drivers' hours enforcement purposes, 'Latest VU' typically downloads data relating to the last 8 or 28 days. For accident analysis, 'Latest VU' perhaps downloads the detailed speed data.

In order to program the 'Latest VU' button, press the button for 2 seconds. the programming menu will appear.

To download a driver card you will need to insert the driver card into one slot of your tachograph and your company card into the other.

Connect your DigidownGo cable to the phone and to the 6 pin connector on the front of the VU - this may be behind a small cover or in the printer drawer. The DigidownGo app will indicate it is ready by blinking each of its LEDs in turn. Press the 'card' button.

During the download, the LED by the selected button will flash repeatedly about twice a second. Successful completion of the download is indicated by the LED blinking briefly about once every second. The downloading of a driver card will usually take only a few minutes to complete.

Please do not disconnect the DigidownGo during a download.

EU regulations require you to download the data from your digital tachographs every 90 days. Driver cards must be downloaded at least every 28 days. If data is not downloaded on a regular basis, the stored data may be overwritten and lost.

You can access the files using a file explorer app, an email client app or by connecting the phone to a PC via a USB cable.

The downloaded data appears in the 'Digidown' folder under 'VU' for tachograph files and 'Card' for driver card files. The files in these folders can be copied to an appropriate location on your computer for analysis and storage.

In order to view and analyse your files, you will need appropriate tachograph analysis software. Please talk to your dealer for more information.

Files downloaded by the DigidownGo are in the precise format specified in EU regulation 3821/85 Annex 1B Appendix 7 and thus should be readable by any drivers' hours software package which is otherwise capable of handling data from digital tachographs.

Each time a DigidownGo saves a tachograph data file that file is given a name. The format of this name is not specified in any EU tachograph regulations. The authorities in France and Spain have defined file name formats which must be used in those countries. Elsewhere there is no specific requirement for any particular name format but there are several commonly used name formats.

To change the name format of your downloaded files, please see our configuration app.

Your download has not failed and should continue as normal.

When using any download device with a VDO digital tachograph, the message 'Download Fault 12' may occasionally be shown on the display. This is a feature of the VDO tachograph. It does not indicate any problem with the download process or the downloaded data. It indicates that the tachograph has not stored any data for one or more of the days within the download period, probably due to the power supply to the tachograph being disconnected.

When using a download device with the Stoneridge digital tachograph an equivalent message 'Data Integrity Error' may be shown.

In either case, users should allow the download to finish normally and then press the 'OK' button on the tachograph to clear the error message.

There are four different types of tachograph smart card:

  • Driver card: Carried by all drivers, must be inserted into the tachograph when the driver is working
  • Company card: Used by the company to lock tachograph data and authorise downloads
  • Workshop card: Used by workshops for tachograph calibration and programming
  • Control card: Used by enforcement agencies to check for infringements

EU legislation requires that the information from the tachograph and driver card is recorded and stored at regular intervals. Read more about tachograph downloading regulations.