Auto Tracking with the TripLog Drive
TripLog Drive™ has a built-in GPS to capture location data and transfer it to the TripLog mobile app for processing through Bluetooth Low Energy. When tracking in RealTime Mode the TripLog Drive does the GPS work and reduces battery drain and data consumption. If you forget to bring your phone or phone battery dies, TripLog Drive™ will track in Offline Mode and later upload to your device when connected again.
To use TripLog Drive™ with TripLog, you’ll need to purchase a TripLog Drive™.
Simply plug the TripLog Drive™ into your car’s USB port or cigarette lighter adapter and forget about it!
Getting started with TripLog Drive™
The TripLog Drive still requires access to the device's Location and Bluetooth Permission for the TripLog Mobile app and TripLog Drive to function correctly. The port the TripLog Drive gets plugged into should have power when the vehicle is on and no power when the vehicle is off. If possible, the TripLog Drive should be in a location with a view of the sky for best results. If you cannot locate a port, please take a look at the FAQ section below for available options or considerations.
Requirements:
Location Permission: Always Allow
Bluetooth (Nearby Devices): Allowed
example: Android Bluetooth permission pop-up, if you do not see this prompt please go to the troubleshooting section to see the steps to enable. This is required for connecting the drive.
Battery Optimization: Disabled
Background App Refresh: Allowed
Installation Location: Switched Power if possible (best result)
Set up the TripLog Mobile App and TripLog Drive
Power On the TripLog Drive: Plug the TripLog Drive device into your car’s USB port or 12v power adapter and turn on the vehicle, The light should be on indicating the TripLog Drive is powering on. The Flashing light indicates the GPS is connecting. A steady light indicates GPS is connected to the TripLog Drive. GPS lock is not required for set up.
Select TripLog Drive as the Autostart Option: Open the TripLog App Navigate to the AutoStart Settings Main Menu ( ≡ three-line icon ) > Auto Start On > Auto Start Option > Select TripLog Drive™ GPS Device.
Select Your Device: Open the AutoStart Options Menu shown above. Open Select TripLog Drive™ Device > Select the available TripLog Drive > Select the Vehicle to associate with the installed TripLog Drive. The TripLog App will attempt to set up the TripLog Drive automatically for the first connection. You may need to reassociate the correct vehicle if you have multiple. Repeat these steps for any other vehicles and TripLog Drive you may have.
You will not want to use the Bluetooth Settings on your device to attempt to "pair" to the device as it is a Bluetooth low-energy device that needs the app and the Bluetooth Permission to connect.
Speed Threshold: Default 5mph/8kph This is the speed at which the TripLog Drive or the TripLog App will trigger tracking.
Trip Start Detection Window (Timeout): This is a time from initial connection to the TripLog Mobile app (Real Time Tracking) or device Power On (Offline Mode) for the device to monitor for movement.
If the speed threshold is not met in the time set the app and Drive will not track until the Power or Connection is reset (the vehicle is turned off and back on or the TripLog Drive is unplugged and plugged back in). Generally, this time should be longer than the normal operation of turning on the vehicle and begin driving. If you have a port that is always powered on please refer to the FAQ/Troubleshooting section for additional options.
You are all set and ready to start Tracking with the TripLog Drive GPS Device
Tracking with the TripLog Drive GPS Device
Power On: Next time you start the vehicle and are connected, there should be a message on the notification bar that says “TripLog Drive connected. Wait for speed > 5 mph.” This message will be available for the duration of the Trip Start Detection Window
Start driving: Once you reach 5 mph within the default 15-minute TripStart Detection Window, you will hear an alert and another message will appear on the notification bar “Trip auto-started. Park and disconnect to end it.”
Stopping the Trip: When you reach the destination, stop and power off the vehicle. The trip will be stopped within the 3-minute standby. If you turn the vehicle back on the trip will resume.
Lights: Determines the status and Business Activity Assigned to the Trips
White: Default Activity (determined by TripLog App > Main Menu > Auto Tracking settings > Business Hours and related settings)
Blue: Business
Green: Personal
Blinking Light: Acquiring GPS Lock (may use phone GPS during search)
Solid Light: Tracking
Customize your Button Options
You are able to set the behavior of the buttons to use any business activity that you want.
Under AutoStart > Device Button Settings: Select your Button Color and Activity.
Here is an example of changing the options to two different business activities.
How to use the TripLog Drive™ in Offline Mode
The TripLog Drive has the option to run in Offline Only Mode using the TripLog App to download recorded trips. Here is the guide to setting up that mode.
If you do forget your device or someone else needs to use your vehicle then the TripLog Drive will continue to work normally in Offline Mode. When you are able to connect your device again with the TripLog Drive, the app will download those offline trips throughout the day. The more trips there are, the longer it may take but they will be moved to your TripLog App and synced with the Web Dashboard as they are available. Typically, one would expect one minute of download time for each hour of driving records.
Need a TripLog Drive™? You can get one here: TripLog Drive™
TripLog Drive™ Auto Tracking Troubleshooting
Find the Article for Troubleshooting the TripLog Drive here (https://help.triplogmileage.com/en/articles/5485888-triplog-drive-troubleshooting)
Setting up Offline Mode
Setting up Offline Mode
Open the TripLog App
Navigate to Main Menu > Auto Tracking On
Auto Tracking Option: Select “TripLog Drive™ GPS Device”
Tracking Mode: Select “Record offline and download later”
Offline Mileage Tracking with TripLog Drive™
Now you can plug in the TripLog Drive™ device in your car USB port or cigarette lighter and let it record all the trips. While in the offline mode, the device does not connect to your phone, but rather stores the GPS data on its flash storage. As the result, the TripLog app does not stay in the background, therefore, you could turn off Location Permission for the app.
Download Offline Trips from the TripLog Drive™ GPS Device
Open the TripLog App and Click the Green Circle on the Trips screen
Select Download from the popup options
Plug in the Drive to a Reliable power source for at least a few minutes
Select Connect if not already connected
Acknowledge the message and click Start Download
Once complete, click done and review your downloaded trips
You can replace your TripLog Drive in the vehicle once completed to record trips again
FAQ and Troubleshooting
TripLog Drive Installation Location
In Real Time Tracking or when downloading Offline Trips you will want to make sure that the Drive and your mobile device are connected to a reliable power source and in range of each other.
Switched Power and Always On Power
For the regular operation of the Real Time Tracking mode, the power source does need to be switched power and turned on and off with the vehicle. If your vehicle does not have a 12-volt or USB port that can power off with the vehicle when not running then you will need to unplug the device to properly end the trip. If you have exceeded the Trip Start Detection window you can unplug and plug the device back in to restart the timer. It is recommended to update your Trip Start Detection to longer than the time you enter your vehicle and begin driving. Examples are warming or cooling your car prior to beginning driving. The Drive may connect prior to you entering the vehicle if in a powered location.
Downloading Offline Trips
The transfer speed for stored trips will be determined by the number of trips stored on the device. The estimate is that it takes 1 minute to download 1 hour of driving records. So it may take some time if the download has not been completed recently. While the trips will download if using in Real Time Mode in the background during tracking you may not see recent trips until they are downloaded. The Offline Only trips may take longer as they will only download when connected to download them.
My Light Stays On Even when My Drive is not powered.
This may occur occasionally if the capacitor is not able to discharge. Unplug the device overnight or for 8-10 hours to allow the capacitor to fully discharge.
Common Issues
Trips Do Not Start:
Unit is Unplugged:
If the unit is unplugged or is not receiving power, the app will not initiate tracking.
When the vehicle is powered on, the light should be on.
Plug the unit in another port or verify that the port does supply power (ie, can charge a phone)
Port does not have switched power:
If the vehicle plug/port is powered all the time there may be an issue with the device being able to identify when the vehicle in on or off properly. Some OEM/built-in ports will provide charging to devices when the vehicle is off.
The unit stays on when the vehicle is off, unplugging the Drive immediately turns off the light
Move the plug to a different location, The port should be off when the vehicle is off
If there is no option for another plug, the Drive device will need to be unplugged and plugged in for proper function.
TripStart Detection Window (Timeout Setting) Is set too low:
When the Phone and Drive first connect the timer for the TripStart Detection Window begins. If the timer ends without the vehicle exceeding the speed threshold (generally 5mph) the App will no longer monitor for movement and will not restart the timer until the Drive and Phone disconnect and reconnect (usually with a Power Off on the vehicle)
Set the TripStart Detection Window to a Longer Value (default is 15 minutes but something longer will ensure more trips are captured.)
If you know you exceeded the Timeout (if you had to wait longer than normal while warming up the vehicle or had lunch) then unplugging the device and plugging it back in will reset the time to capture the next trip
A New Drive is not Paired:
If you purchased a second Drive or replaced an older device you may need to manually add the Drive device.
Navigate to the Select Triplog Drive Device
If there is no currently connected device click the Add (iOS) or the "+" (Android)
Plug the Drive in and it should sho up on the Add Drive screen
You may need to unplug it and refresh it to show up
Select the new device and link the correct vehicle.
App was force closed, crash or other issue: If the app is closed mid trip there may be a state that a trip is still running and will not allow the autostart to start the trip.
Look for any red “running” trips and click the three dot icon to the right and select End Trip and Save.
If you cannot end the trip, make note of the trip details and delete the trip. You will need to re-enter the deleted trip.
Once the running trip has ended, you will want to start and stop a manual GPS trip. You can immediately save and delete the resulting trip.
Trips Do Not End:
AutoStart was Overridden: If you manually start a trip with the GPS tracking button the autostart is no longer monitoring movement or trip ends. You will need to manually stop the trip. Be aware that you should not need to use the Manual GPS Tracking option, but if you do you will have to manually stop the trip.
App was force closed, crash or other issue:
If the app is closed mid trip there may be a state that a trip is still running and will not allow the autostart to complete the trip or start another.
Find the red “running” trip and select the three dots to the right, and choose Stop Trip.
Start and stop a manual GPS Tracking trip to reset the autostart service
Trips Recording to the Wrong Vehicle
First Time Setup (AutoPair): When setting up the Drive for the first time the app will attempt to automatically set up the Drive and link with a vehicle.
If the vehicle is wrong you can navigate to the autostart settings and link a different vehicle.
Navigate to Main Menu ( ≡ three line icon )
Autostart
Select TripLog Drive Device
Select the connected device to update
Select the vehicle to change it to
Light doesn’t turn off
Unit is plugged into a port that does not turn off with the vehicle: Verify that power does have power and turns off when the vehicle is keyed off.
Device might be getting a low power feed: There may be a state that the Drive can get in that the built in capacitor will not discharge or turn off the device due a low continuous connection, the recommendation is to unplug the device for a period of time (prefereably overnight/ 8hr or more) to allow the capacitor to discharge and the device to reset