TripLog App AutoStart Options
Part 2 - TripLog Beacon and TripLog Drive
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Show video transcript
In our last video, we covered some of the built-in autostart options available in the TripLog app. In this video, we'll cover the available TripLog hardware options. In addition to our app's built-in autostarts, we also offer additional hardware devices that will give you more control over your mileage tracking.
TripLog Beacon:
The TripLog Beacon will let you automatically track mileage by activating when the vehicle is turned on. When the app connects to the beacon, it will automatically begin tracking mileage until the vehicle is turned off. With additional features enabled by Bluetooth Low Energy technology, the TripLog Beacon has the ability to wake the app even if it was closed in the background. If you need to suspend tracking outside of work hours or for driving not related to work, simply disconnect the Beacon. If you have multiple beacons, you can configure each one to identify which vehicle it's connected to. When the app connects to the different beacons that are powered on, it will activate tracking and assign the mileage to the correct vehicle.
Beacon Setup:
When installing the beacon in the vehicle, make sure to connect it to a port or charger that turns on and off with the vehicle. If a port like that isn't available and the outlet has power at all times, you may not get good results and may need to physically disconnect the beacon to start and end tracking.
Beacon Configuration:
When you select AutoStart Beacon, it will automatically add and configure the first beacon it detects and link it to your default vehicle.
Adding Another Beacon:
To add another beacon, connect the beacon to power, and then you'll need to manually add the additional beacons in the app under the Select TripLog Beacon Devices menu. In the Link TripLog Beacon Devices to Vehicles menu, pair the newly added beacon with the correct vehicle.
Note:
Make sure not to try pairing it the traditional way through the Bluetooth menu. If you don't see your beacon in the TripLog app, try restarting the app and toggling Bluetooth off and on. If you still don't see it, try a different USB port or power source.
TripLog Drive:
The TripLog Drive is our most advanced device, expanding on the functionality of our TripLog Beacon. In addition to the ability to activate tracking on the assigned vehicle and open the app if it was closed in the background, we've added built-in GPS and storage. When tracking trips in real-time mode, the phone will hand off GPS functionality to the TripLog Drive. If there's an issue connecting to the phone, or if the phone is left behind, trips will be tracked on the TripLog Drive and uploaded once it's able to connect later.
Drive Setup:
Just like the TripLog Beacon, the preferred way to install the TripLog Drive is to find a port that turns on and off with the vehicle. Because the GPS function is on the device, the better positioned it is with a clear view of the sky, the faster the GPS lock will occur.
First-Time TripLog Drive Setup:
When you connect the Drive to power and open the TripLog app, it will set up the first Drive device it detects on the default vehicle, similar to the TripLog Beacon.
If you need to change the vehicle, you can do so by clicking the device selection and then the options button to the right of the Drive listing. You can unlink or update the vehicle selection from the menu.
Adding Another TripLog Drive:
To add another Drive, connect the Drive to power, and then you'll need to manually add the additional beacons in the app under the Select TripLog Drive Devices menu. Click the More or Add button to open the add device menu. Allow the new drive to appear, then select it and select the vehicle to link. The Drive has a button that lets you toggle the tracking mode. With three options, you can let the Drive use the default setting based on work hours, or override to Blue for Business or Green for Personal
Offline Mode:
The TripLog Drive offers an offline mode that allows the Drive to log trips on the device itself and download them later. While this doesn't eliminate the need for the app, since it will use the connection to the phone simply to download the trips. Once downloaded, you can view them in the app, and they'll then sync to the web. In offline mode, to download the trips you can go to the green Start Trip button and select the download option. Select the Connect to TripLog Drive option to connect. Choose Start Download to begin downloading the stored trips. The download process may vary depending on the number of trips available on the drive. If for any reason you don't want to track mileage on the vehicle with the TripLog Drive, simply disconnect the device and it will no longer activate tracking or track offline. Be sure to remember to reconnect it.
NOTE: These hardware options may not be available for your organization. Contact your administrator for more information.
TripLog Beacon
TripLog Beacon Explained
TripLog Beacon is a low-energy Bluetooth USB device that activates tracking with the TripLog app. When enabled, the unique Bluetooth address will be associated with the vehicle it is assigned to. When the port receives power and the Beacon connects with the app, it will put the app into Ready to Track mode, waiting for movement above the SPEED THRESHOLD. The TIMEOUT setting comes into play, since it will stop waiting for movement after the speed threshold. Once tracking begins, the trip will continue to be tracked until the Beacon loses power when the vehicle is turned off. If you have multiple vehicles configured with multiple beacons, it will assign the mileage to the configured vehicle. One note about installing the TripLog Beacon is that the device should be installed in a port with switched power that turns on and off with the vehicle to ensure the best performance. If it is not, you may need to physically disconnect the beacon to end the trip. The TripLog Beacon does not need to be "paired" in the Bluetooth menu and does not take up the Bluetooth connection that your hands-free device needs.
TripLog Beacon Steps (How It Works)
Turn on the vehicle and the TripLog Beacon receives power (connects to the phone)
The TripLog Beacon wakes the app if it isn't open in the background
The TripLog Beacon tracks on standby (waiting the timeout period for movement)
Start driving (exceed the speed threshold within the timeout period) = Start Point
Driving (as long as the TripLog Beacon has power, tracking continues) = Driving Route
Stop and turn off the vehicle (the Beacon disconnects) = End Point
No power to the Beacon (grace period exceeded) = Save Trip
Requirements and Setup
Required Permissions
All app permissions included, as explained in the Permissions course
Location = Allow Always / Allow All the Time For the TripLog Beacon AutoStart to work correctly, the location permission must be set to Allow Always or Allow All the Time. The operating system will occasionally remind you that the app is using your location. Make sure to keep selecting Allow Always or All the Time
Nearby Devices or Bluetooth access is required to be able to monitor the Bluetooth connection for connecting to previously configured devices. This may be requested at first, but it should also be available in the device settings.
Background access and battery saver/optimizations Background access and battery optimizations must be allowed so the app can continue running in the background.
TripLog Beacon Setup
First-time setup message you may see when selecting AutoStart Beacon
TripLog Beacon Settings Menu
Android | iOS |
 |  |
TripLog Beacon Default Settings and Descriptions
Setting | Default | Description |
Select TripLog Beacon Device | The first connected Beacon will be configured automatically | List of connected and previously connected TripLog Beacon devices |
Link Bluetooth Devices to Vehicles (Android only) | Automatically link the default vehicle to the first beacon | Links the vehicle configured in TripLog to determine where mileage will be associated when captured automatically. Linking vehicles is combined on iOS under Select Devices |
Speed Threshold | 5 mph | Speed threshold to activate tracking. During the timeout period, the app will monitor movement and start tracking if it's exceeded. Android only: there is a Start Immediately setting that will allow tracking to begin regardless of the speed threshold and with the Bluetooth connection. |
Timeout Minutes | 5 | Duration of the timer from the initial Beacon connection until the end of movement monitoring. In most cases, more time is better. If there is no movement during the timeout, movement monitoring will end. You'll need to reset the connection to restart it. You can reset this by toggling Bluetooth off/on or by disconnecting and reconnecting the beacon. |
Detailed Notifications | On | This will determine the app's ability to offer additional notifications to indicate the start and end of a trip, as well as other notifications, such as when the app is on standby or there's no movement and the trip will end soon. You can control audio cues globally from your phone's settings, but this will control most notifications. |
Show Edit Trip After Auto Stop | Off (Android-only feature) | This will open the app to allow the user to update the details needed to add to the trip. Some fields may be required and a manual save is needed, or the trip will be lost. |
TripLog Drive
TripLog Drive Explained
The TripLog Drive is a USB-powered GPS logging device. It's an upgrade to our TripLog Beacon device, since it has all the same Beacon functionality to activate tracking, wake the app from closed, and assign mileage to specific vehicles. In addition to those features, it also has its own built-in GPS and storage. In the default real-time GPS tracking mode, the app will hand off GPS functions to the Drive to reduce the time your phone's GPS needs to be active. If for any reason there's no connection to the app, the drive will detect power and track on its own in offline mode. When it reconnects to the app, it will continue tracking in real-time mode, in addition to downloading the offline trips from its built-in storage.
TripLog Drive Steps (How It Works): Real-Time Tracking
Real-Time Tracking: Live Tracking
Turn on the vehicle and the TripLog Drive receives power (connects to the phone)
The TripLog Drive wakes the app in the background
The TripLog Drive tracks on standby (waiting the timeout period for movement)
Start driving (exceed the speed threshold within the timeout period) = Start Point
Driving (as long as the TripLog Drive has power, tracking continues) = Driving Route
Stop and turn off the vehicle (the Drive disconnects) = End Point
No power to the Drive (grace period exceeded) = Save Trip
Real-Time Tracking: Offline Tracking (Phone Absent)
Turn on the vehicle and the TripLog Drive receives power (no connection to the phone)
The TripLog Drive tracks on standby (waiting the timeout period for movement)
Start driving (exceed the speed threshold within the timeout period) = Start Point
Driving (as long as the TripLog Drive has power, tracking continues) = Driving Route
Stop and turn off the vehicle (the Drive disconnects) = End Point
No power to the Drive (grace period exceeded) = Save Trip
Reconnecting to the app = Trips are downloaded automatically in the background. Trips labeled as Offline Tracking
Requirements and Setup
Required Permissions
All app permissions included, as explained in the Permissions course
Location = Allow Always / Allow All the Time For the TripLog Drive to work correctly, the location permission must be set to Allow Always or Allow All the Time. Even though the app hands off the GPS function to the Drive, the operating system still collects location and the app still needs that permission. The operating system will occasionally remind you that the app is using your location. Make sure to keep selecting Allow Always or All the Time
Nearby Devices or Bluetooth access is required to be able to monitor the Bluetooth connection for connecting to previously configured devices. This may be requested at first, but it should also be available in the device settings.
Background access and battery saver/optimizations Background access and battery optimizations must be allowed so the app can continue running in the background.
TripLog Drive Setup
First selection message when choosing TripLog Drive AutoStart
TripLog Drive Settings Menu
Android | iOS |
 |  |
TripLog Drive Default Settings and Descriptions
Setting | Default | Description |
Select TripLog Drive Device | The first connected Drive will be configured automatically | List of connected and previously connected TripLog Beacon devices |
Tracking Mode | Stream data to the app in real time | Select the operation of the Drives connected to the app. Real-time collection or offline mode |
Link Bluetooth Devices to Vehicles (Android only) | Automatically link the default vehicle to the first Drive | Links the vehicle configured in TripLog to determine where mileage will be associated when captured automatically. Linking vehicles is combined on iOS under Select Devices |
Speed Threshold | 5 mph | Speed threshold to activate tracking. During the timeout period, the app will monitor movement and start tracking if it's exceeded. Android only: there is a Start Immediately setting that will allow tracking to begin regardless of the speed threshold and with the Bluetooth connection. |
Timeout Minutes | 5 | Duration of the timer from the initial Drive connection until the end of movement monitoring. In most cases, more time is better. If there is no movement during the timeout, movement monitoring will end. You'll need to reset the connection to restart it. You can reset this by toggling Bluetooth off/on or by disconnecting and reconnecting the Drive. |
Detailed Notifications | On | This will determine the app's ability to offer additional notifications to indicate the start and end of a trip, as well as other notifications, such as when the app is on standby or there's no movement and the trip will end soon. You can control audio cues globally from your phone's settings, but this will control most notifications. |
Show Edit Trip After Auto Stop | Off (Android-only feature) | This will open the app to allow the user to update the details needed to add to the trip. Some fields may be required and a manual save is needed, or the trip will be lost. |
TripLog Drive Offline Mode
TripLog Drive Steps (How It Works): Offline Mode
Turn on the vehicle and the TripLog Drive receives power
The TripLog Drive tracks on standby (waiting the timeout period for movement)
Start driving (exceed the speed threshold within the timeout period) = Start Point
Driving (as long as the TripLog Drive has power, tracking continues) = Driving Route
Stop and turn off the vehicle = End Point
No power to the Drive (grace period exceeded) = Save Trip
When connected to the phone = trips are downloaded through the interface
Required Permissions
All app permissions included, as explained in the Permissions course
Nearby Devices or Bluetooth access is required to be able to monitor the Bluetooth connection for connecting to previously configured devices. This may be requested at first, but it should also be available in the device settings.
Background access and battery saver/optimizations Background access and battery optimizations must be allowed so the app can continue running in the background.
How to Download Offline Trips
Click the green Start button
Select Download
Choose Connect to TripLog Drive (make sure it's powered on)
Confirm the reminder message to keep the Drive powered on
Start Download
Once complete, confirm and close
