Vodafone Tracker Fob instructions
Discussion
I have been searching the web and this forum for instructions for my tracker fob - Model 2781 fitted to a 2014 DB9. What does the flashing LED signify? How can I open the casing to change the battery without breaking the whole thing?
I thought others might find the results of my research helpful (but if someone can correct or add to these instructions - feel free). My thanks to other PistonHeads who have also posted about these devices.
Vodafone Tracker Fob Instructions
Tracker fob is active if a very faint LED flash is seen.
To turn off tracker when not in use:
Press and hold oval button for up to 10 seconds. A bright LED will show. Release button when LED goes out. No LED flashes then indicate fob inactive
Battery check:
Press oval button. Bright LED = good battery; flashing LED = weak battery. Vodafone send a text when the vehicle detects a low battery.
To Open Tracker fob:
Lever off the top cover (unprinted side). There are 4 locating lugs at the corners and none at the side or end edges. The lugs are on the top cover, with locating holes in the bottom section. Lever each corner in turn. Once partly open, there is a small hole in the curved edge to prise open that end.
The fob uses a single CR2032 battery. + and – are marked on the circuit board contact bars. Lift out the circuit board to slide battery out. Close the covers tightly afterward to ensure the circuit board is held tightly.
I thought others might find the results of my research helpful (but if someone can correct or add to these instructions - feel free). My thanks to other PistonHeads who have also posted about these devices.
Vodafone Tracker Fob Instructions
Tracker fob is active if a very faint LED flash is seen.
To turn off tracker when not in use:
Press and hold oval button for up to 10 seconds. A bright LED will show. Release button when LED goes out. No LED flashes then indicate fob inactive
Battery check:
Press oval button. Bright LED = good battery; flashing LED = weak battery. Vodafone send a text when the vehicle detects a low battery.
To Open Tracker fob:
Lever off the top cover (unprinted side). There are 4 locating lugs at the corners and none at the side or end edges. The lugs are on the top cover, with locating holes in the bottom section. Lever each corner in turn. Once partly open, there is a small hole in the curved edge to prise open that end.
The fob uses a single CR2032 battery. + and – are marked on the circuit board contact bars. Lift out the circuit board to slide battery out. Close the covers tightly afterward to ensure the circuit board is held tightly.
Good information thanks - I didn't know about the battery testing or the bright flash.
I found getting the two halves apart a real pig as mine held together really tightly. Ideally you need to use plastic tools (similar to ones used to take a phone apart) and you'll probably end up with dents around the edges of the peripheral slot. The two halves are held together with four pegs that are a friction-fit into four corresponding hollow bosses; as DB9newbie said the pegs are in the corners so that's where to concentrate the prising activity.
Once I'd changed the battery (one CR2032) I then used some plastic-compatible grease on the four pins to try to make disassembly easier next time - normal petroleum greases might degrade the plastics over time. Apparently, at a pinch you can also use a CR2016 battery - same size but the CR2016 has less than half of the capacity of a CR2032. Lift out the circuit board and the battery just slots in from the top - but there's no Poke-Yoke for the orientation so you need to fit it the right way round
I found getting the two halves apart a real pig as mine held together really tightly. Ideally you need to use plastic tools (similar to ones used to take a phone apart) and you'll probably end up with dents around the edges of the peripheral slot. The two halves are held together with four pegs that are a friction-fit into four corresponding hollow bosses; as DB9newbie said the pegs are in the corners so that's where to concentrate the prising activity.
Once I'd changed the battery (one CR2032) I then used some plastic-compatible grease on the four pins to try to make disassembly easier next time - normal petroleum greases might degrade the plastics over time. Apparently, at a pinch you can also use a CR2016 battery - same size but the CR2016 has less than half of the capacity of a CR2032. Lift out the circuit board and the battery just slots in from the top - but there's no Poke-Yoke for the orientation so you need to fit it the right way round
Edited by LTP on Friday 10th December 12:12
LTP said:
pschlute said:
Does no-one produce a phone app yet to replace these fobs ?
That would probably require the involvement of a mobile phone network company in car tracking....oh, wait. .
Best Regards
Minglar
LTP said:
Seriously, I don't know what frequency band they use and whether there would be security concerns. I guess you'd also have to use Bluetooth,
I can pay bills and make bank transfers with my phone. I use it exclusively for physical shopping these days using my fingerprint. What security concern could there be that is greater than that ?Bluetooth...i think my phone just might have that seeing as it is 20+ year old tech.
LTP said:
another thought,
Also, what about the network signal availability? Let's assume you have a 5G phone, which we know has good network coverage in big cities but not so much out in the sticks.. You decide that you're going to go for a drive in the countryside and your phone loses signal - does this mean that the tracker system now thinks your phone is no longer with the car and so your car might be stolen?
I've no idea how the current system gets around these limitations, but it seems to.
I live near to the Hindhead tunnel in Surrey. It is just over a mile long. With the latest Vodafone tracker and fob system I still get calls from the tracker centre after I have driven through it. Also, what about the network signal availability? Let's assume you have a 5G phone, which we know has good network coverage in big cities but not so much out in the sticks.. You decide that you're going to go for a drive in the countryside and your phone loses signal - does this mean that the tracker system now thinks your phone is no longer with the car and so your car might be stolen?
I've no idea how the current system gets around these limitations, but it seems to.
The fob speaks to unit in the car which in turn speaks to the tracker centre. If you are outside of coverage you are going to get a call in any case.
All I am suggesting is that the unit in the fob can be augmented by a unit on your phone app. It simply replaces the function of the fob...ie does an electronic handshake to the unit on the car.
LTP said:
And if you want to lend your car to someone?
Stick a battery in the fob and give them that. I am not suggesting you don't have a backup.The point I am trying (and obviously failing) to make, is that most folk always have a smartphone with them. We make calls, answer texts, send emails, pay for petrol and shopping and many things more. Unless I am going far from home I never take my wallet and bank cards with me anymore. Yet when I want to drive my car I need to find and take a tracker fob, and ensure it still has a functioning battery in it. Pretty archaic.
LTP said:
I'll wait.
I have no more idea than you if a phone app can act as a tracker tag. Yet you accuse me of failing to understand what you are saying.
I may well be wrong, but please tell me why ?
Throwing out questions both you and I cannot answer is pointless.
If you just wish to be rude fair enough. All I ask is you back up your statement that "I do not understand". Understand what exactly ?
All you have done so far is to acknowledge that your knowledge is as poor as mine.
In case you had forgotten my original statement, here it is again..."Does no-one produce a phone app yet to replace these fobs ?"
I am not expecting a phone or phone app to be a tracker. Just to do the function a tracker fob does at present.
Edited by pschlute on Monday 13th December 18:41
Edited by pschlute on Monday 13th December 18:42
Edited by pschlute on Monday 13th December 18:48
pschlute said:
I have no more idea than you if a phone app can act as a tracker tag.
Well I'm glad we've established that. The answer to your original question appears to be "No"I've deleted all of my comments and I'll not be responding to this thread any further as it's now well off-topic.
Edited by LTP on Monday 13th December 19:37
LTP said:
Well I'm glad we've established that. The answer to your original question appears to be "No"
I've deleted all of my comments and I'll not be responding to this thread any further as it's now well off-topic.
You are the rudest person I have ever had the misfortune of coming across on this forum.I've deleted all of my comments and I'll not be responding to this thread any further as it's now well off-topic.
Edited by LTP on Monday 13th December 19:37
I asked a simple question and despite you admitting you had no idea, you accused me of not understanding
When I asked you to clarify you run away.
I realise that most internet forums are like this these days, but I expected better.
ps....you may have deleted your posts, but you cannot delete where I quoted you.
Poor behaviour
LTP said:
Good information thanks - I didn't know about the battery testing or the bright flash.
I found getting the two halves apart a real pig as mine held together really tightly. Ideally you need to use plastic tools (similar to ones used to take a phone apart) and you'll probably end up with dents around the edges of the peripheral slot. The two halves are held together with four pegs that are a friction-fit into four corresponding hollow bosses; as DB9newbie said the pegs are in the corners so that's where to concentrate the prising activity.
Once I'd changed the battery (one CR2032) I then used some plastic-compatible grease on the four pins to try to make disassembly easier next time - normal petroleum greases might degrade the plastics over time. Apparently, at a pinch you can also use a CR2016 battery - same size but the CR2016 has less than half of the capacity of a CR2032. Lift out the circuit board and the battery just slots in from the top - but there's no Poke-Yoke for the orientation so you need to fit it the right way round
Thanks LTP, these fantastic instructions enabled me to diagnose the fault with the tracker model 2761 on my Macan EV. I especially loved the poke yoke references and photos. Bravo to you and thank you, David I found getting the two halves apart a real pig as mine held together really tightly. Ideally you need to use plastic tools (similar to ones used to take a phone apart) and you'll probably end up with dents around the edges of the peripheral slot. The two halves are held together with four pegs that are a friction-fit into four corresponding hollow bosses; as DB9newbie said the pegs are in the corners so that's where to concentrate the prising activity.
Once I'd changed the battery (one CR2032) I then used some plastic-compatible grease on the four pins to try to make disassembly easier next time - normal petroleum greases might degrade the plastics over time. Apparently, at a pinch you can also use a CR2016 battery - same size but the CR2016 has less than half of the capacity of a CR2032. Lift out the circuit board and the battery just slots in from the top - but there's no Poke-Yoke for the orientation so you need to fit it the right way round
Edited by LTP on Friday 10th December 12:12
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