Teltonika FMX Devices

Designed with their markets in mind

GPS trackers must satisfy various regulations and standards to be suitable for their target market, such as the FCC’s government approval, PTCRB testing, and other testing performed by cellular operators. To further illustrate the significance of these topics, we’ll break each down in detail below.

LTE  and LTE-M connectivity

When it comes to implementing IoT solutions, North America has many cellular networks available – including Cat 1 and Cat M1. To make sure you have the right tracker for your location, Teltonika offers two variations: the FMM series and the FMC series. The major difference between them is that while the FMM was designed especially for Cat M1 usage in North America, its sister product, the FMC, supports wider-reaching global coverage with a more commonly used technology like Cat 1 connectivity. As more countries are upgrading their infrastructure to enable widespread use of newer technologies like Cat M1 network coverage, this may not yet be an option everywhere.

FMM00A

• Regulatory: IC, FCC, AT&T approval, PTCRB
• 4G Cat M1, with NB IoT connectivity
• Recommended: North America

FMC00A

• Regulatory: IC, FCC
• 4G LTE Cat 1, with 2G fallback
• Recommended: North America

FMM003

• Regulatory: CE/RED, UKCA, E-Mark, RoHS, REACH, RCM
• LTE Cat M1 and NB IoT connectivity
• Recommended: Global, where available

FMC003

• Regulatory: CE/RED, UKCA, E-Mark, EAC, RoHS, REACH, RCM, SDPPI (POSTEL)
• 4G LTE Cat 1, with 2G fallback
• Recommended: Global

For companies whose vehicles are only in use within the US and Canada, employing an FMM00A device with Cat M1 access is a sensible choice as it allows them to save on bandwidth without having to sacrifice quality or network reliability.

On the other hand, businesses that frequently operate in areas such as Mexico where LTE Cat M1 networks aren’t as accessible should utilize an FMC series module that specializes specifically for LTE Cat 1 networks. No matter your needs, both options have been designed to maximize IoT applications while using minimal bandwidth so that hardware designs stay uncomplicated and cost-effective.

Certification: FCC, RoHS, PTCRB, and more

In the United States, all GPS Trackers must be compliant with rigorous standards like those set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), PTCRB, and even RoHS in some regions. Thus, to be used or sold commercially they require certification from these organizations before being available on the market.

To ensure RF and safety compliance, Teltonika FMX00A devices have undergone rigorous certifications like FCC and RoHS. Not only that but they have been certified by PTCRB as well and included in the Verizon Open Development list, making them compatible with top carriers such as AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, and US Cellular.

Design and enclosure

The OBD device is both powerful and small, giving you a more efficient design than many of its competing products. There are two LED lights close to the port that shows the status without any disruption while driving at night. Furthermore, you won’t need a screwdriver for opening it – all you have to do is use a thin plastic tool. On top of this, it also exceeds industry-standard IP41 rating expectations.

Inserting the micro-SIM and connecting the Li-ion backup battery just needs to be done once on installation, which will give up to three hours of service in active mode.

Location positioning

OBD devices are primarily used to track location. This is done through a mix of GNSS signal reception, LBS/Cell ID capabilities, and motion detection features. To make these concepts easier to understand, we will dive into each one below for further explanation.

GNSS capabilities

With Teltonika’s OBD series, you can reap the benefits of Quectel modules that can lock with GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, and Galileo satellites. It offers an impressive tracking sensitivity (-165 dBM) while also boasting Assisted GPS capabilities to bring a faster time-to-first fix (TTFF).

GPS tracking modes

With the help of Teltonika’s multiple configurable tracking modes, drivers can enjoy high-precision monitoring while ensuring low power utilization during idle times. Moreover, this flexibility helps to minimize data usage and related costs when a device is traveling overseas and roaming.

Sleep mode settings can be effortlessly adjusted remotely utilizing SMS or IP commands, as well as in-person with a USB cable and Windows configurator.

Determining driving and parking statuses

Driving and idling statuses are related to the ignition status, which is detected based on information from the four sources described below, from most specific to least.

Starting with firmware version 03.25.14, it is possible to use a combination of several sources simultaneously to detect vehicle movement and/or idling status.

Odometer: CAN and GPS

Mileage on the Teltonika OBD devices can be read via two methods:

1. CAN bus data
   The Teltonika mileage information from the CAN bus is identical to what you’d find on the vehicle’s dashboard. This data can be read from a wide range of makes and models of vehicles as long as they are supported with the current hardware and software versions.
2. GPS-based mileage
   Another way to obtain your mileage data is to consider using the internal GPS counter of miles driven. The readings are updated quite frequently – independently from tracking modes settings- and thus provide comparatively accurate results. Though please note that this number may deviate significantly from what is displayed on the car’s dashboard; in actuality, GPS measurements can be off by as much as 5-15%.

Cell ID positioning

Teltonika OBD devices have superb GPS sensitivity, but can also provide Cell ID positioning when GNSS signals are blocked or obstructed. This is known as Location-Based Services (LBS) positioning. Examples of when blocked can be:

• In lower-level parking areas where the GPS signal is lacking
• In covered areas with unstable satellite coverage
• As protection against car theft with the use of jamming devices

As a secondary technology, Cell ID positioning is not as precise as satellite navigation. Typically speaking, the accuracy of a location usually varies between 300 to 1000 yards in urban zones and 2 and 5 miles in rural areas. Teltonika OBD devices constantly look for satellite signals when LBS is active and, once linked again, reverts to GPS locating.

The Teltonika OBD series has you covered whether accuracy or cost-effectiveness is most important, as it can be modified to optimize either. Plus, with the ability to communicate over both UDP and TCP protocols – selecting UDP for minimal data utilization – your device’s data consumption will vary depending on tracking modes. Generally speaking, this ranges from 1.5 MB up to 5 MB per mile of travel, for an average of 2.5MB/mile.

To ensure your IoT requirements are fulfilled, you must carefully review the different tracking mode parameters to guarantee a fine-tuned balance between track quality and data costs. We have outlined below our configuration recommendations for Teltonika OBD devices in the most common scenarios:

Real-world testing

To evaluate a Teltonika OBD’s connectivity and accuracy, we tested one within a city, forest, and mountainous terrain. Even when parked underneath the ground for multiple days, it only required seconds to a minute to find its location. As long as you don’t hide your device beneath any other structure or part of your car (e.g., dashboard), tracking accuracy should be effortless.

Events with configuration

Teltonika OBD devices boast advanced onboard logic that catapults them beyond the competition and vastly amplifies their range of applications. With sophisticated algorithms collecting data from GPS, cellular modules, accelerometer, power voltage, and OBDII stream, these gadgets are indispensable for monitoring driving conditions to improve vehicle performance and enhance security measures.

Featured events

To begin, let’s explore the remarkable features that place Teltonika above its competitors in terms of logic.

Ignition start/stop

Teltonika OBD devices can accurately differentiate between ignition states of conventional and electric cars, LCVs, and other light vehicles by measuring board voltage, engine RPMs, or movement detected by the accelerometer, providing a reliable solution for your automotive needs.

• Board voltage: The device draws its power from the OBDII port, allowing it to directly measure board voltage. If the detected voltage is higher than the adjustable threshold of 12V or 24V for combustion vehicles, then ignition is in an ON state; any other measurement indicates an OFF state. Note: this method should not be used on electric cars.
• Engine RPM: Traditional car engines are the only ones eligible for this technique, and it will only work if the engine RPM value is accessible in OBDII data. The ignition state shifts to “ON” once any RPM value goes above zero.
• Accelerometer: When motion is detected by the integrated sensor, the “ignition” switches on. In its absence, it remains off.

When two or more sources are selected, at least one condition must be met to change the ignition state.

Towing

When a car is in park and the engine is off, any movement will activate the towing alert mechanism. This motion detection feature utilizes an internal accelerometer for accuracy.

This alert is triggered when the vehicle’s acceleration or tilt angle surpasses a specified threshold value while the ignition is off. To provide you with adaptability and to help avoid false triggers, such as when exiting or entering the vehicle, this feature can be customized by modifying thresholds for time after initiation of state change, impact duration, acceleration (0.1-10 g), and tilt angle (0.5 -30°).

Tracker removal

This event is generated when the device is unplugged from the OBDII port. It has two modes:

1. Standard: based on external power only and recommended for most vehicles where the OBDII port continues to supply power after the vehicle’s ignition is switched off.
2. Advanced: defined by the combination of external power and accelerometer. It is suitable for some vehicles where power is not supplied via the OBDII port after the ignition is switched off.

Driver behavior

Teltonika OBD trackers can analyze six parameters that relate to the driver behavior:

1. Excessive idling
2. Harsh acceleration
3. Harsh braking
4. Harsh cornering
5. Speeding
6. Excessive engine RPM

This feature is highly customizable, making it suitable for a variety of car models and settings, from highways and construction sites to industrial complexes.

Crash detection

Crash detection is a beneficial option that provides an early warning system for accidents and telematics insurance applications. When enabled, this technology keeps track of acceleration in three directions to determine if there has been any sort of collision. Developers have set high standards for acceleration and duration which allow the device to recognize varying levels of crashes from minor bumps to more serious ones.

Teltonika OBD devices do more than just detect collisions, as details such as accelerometer, GNSS module, and even Bluetooth sensor data can also be collected. This information is gathered before, during, and after an accident – all of which are immediately sent to a server through an efficient data exchange protocol.

Custom events

Teltonika OBD devices help you stay informed with tailored events triggered by a wide range of parameters. Any variation or crossing into predefined ranges will prompt a notification to the server, keeping information up-to-date on the most important information.

Basic events

Although Teltonika OBD devices do not have anti-tampering features like a case opening alert, other commonly seen events such as speeding, jamming, and idling are included in its software. To ensure greater security for your fleet’s data, consider sealing the device once it is installed.

Communicating events to drivers

Despite Teltonika OBD devices lacking a speaker or buzzer, there are still numerous methods to inform drivers of any triggered events from the device. To help with training purposes, for instance, you can employ alternative notification techniques such as:

• X-GPS Monitor App: Our fleet management software offers a phone application that helps drivers and fleets alike keep track of vehicle locations and parameters, both in real-time and historically, while also notifying them of events.
• X-GPS Tracker App: Communicates with the driver and allows drivers to receive Push notifications.

Fuel-saving features

Teltonika OBD devices provide more than just GPS/OBD odometer and fuel readings to calculate MPG for optimal fuel savings. They also offer unique features that accurately measure fuel consumption, thus inspiring drivers to be more mindful of their driving habits.

GNSS fuel counter

Teltonika OBD devices are designed to measure fuel usage with pinpoint accuracy. By combining GNSS technology and monitoring distance traveled, they can calculate an accurate consumption rate across different speed settings.

To ensure an accurate fuel consumption reading, the parameters of a vehicle’s fuel meter are established according to its technical documentation. The three distinct driving modes available on this device can be adjusted based on customizable speed ranges:

• City – 18 mph (about 30 km/h)
• Medium – 38 mph (about 60 km/h)
• Highway – 56 mph (about 90 km/h)

Additional parameters are necessary to obtain the most accurate fuel consumption estimations. When fleets sustain vehicles of a uniform type, these values can be validated with ease.

When in highway driving mode, add a 20% fuel consumption ratio for every 50 km/h (31 mph) over the prescribed speed limit, although you do have the option to override these maximums and allowances. During winter months, when fuel consumption rises by 7-10%, you can use a correction factor to adjust before sending data off to the server.

Idling Fuel Consumption (L/h) allows you to measure the fuel consumption of your vehicle when it is in a stationary position with the ignition on. The default rate for this figure stands at 1 L/h, while the minimal and maximum values are 0 and 5 respectively. For most diesel vehicles, this value averages around less than 1 liter per hour while gas-powered cars typically consume between 1.5 – 2 liters every hour during idling mode.

Eco/Green driving

With a heightened risk of fuel waste, wear and tear on the vehicle, accidents, and fines due to aggressive driving behavior, owning a vehicle can be expensive. Thankfully though, Teltonika OBD devices offer an Eco Driving function that helps you assess how safely your employees are driving by analyzing six parameters, assigning each trip a score ranging from 0-10 points.

Main parameters:

• Sharp acceleration
• Hard braking
• Sharp turning

Additional optional parameters:

• Exceeding the set speed limit
• Extended downtime with the engine running
• Excessively high engine speed (if this parameter is read via OBDII)

The rating value ranges from 0.00 (very bad) to 10.00 (excellent):

Accordingly, the ECOscore is determined by the formula:

ECOscore = (10 / E_gen) × (D × E_allowed / 100)

Where:

E _allowed = The number of allowed events of this type per 100 km of tracking
D = Distance traveled in km
E _gen = Total generated events

After installation, the accelerometer is calibrated once to ensure the Eco Driving function operates properly. The automatic calibration process is as follows:

1. Stop the car on a flat, straight road
2. Send SMS command “auto_calibrate:set”
3. Accelerate within 5 seconds to a speed of at least 18 mph (30 km/h)

Successful completion of the calibration is confirmed by an SMS message.

OBD reading capabilities

If you’re looking for the most comprehensive OBDII readings, Teltonika GPS trackers are your best bet. Their compatibility with SAE J1979 standard ensures accurate data readings and supports OEM parameters as well, giving these devices a unique advantage over their competitors. Not to mention, they can read both conventional and electric vehicle information. It’s an unbeatable feature that makes Teltonika’s GPS trackers stand out from the crowd. From vehicle leasing to insurance telematics, this cutting-edge technology makes these devices an ideal selection for applications that rely on comprehensive vehicle monitoring. Corporate vehicles can also benefit from the advanced telemetry capabilities.

Since the May 2022 release of firmware version 03.27.12.Rev.143, Teltonika OBD devices have been equipped with a full set of OBDII data PIDs, and they are dedicated to delivering up-to-date information on what exact vehicle data can be accessed from specific makes and models by continuously adding new manufacturer-defined parameters for customers’ use.

Common OBD parameters

With Teltonika’s extensive OBD parameters list, outlined in the table below, you can easily monitor and track your vehicle’s performance to ensure it stays running smoothly. This comprehensive selection will give you complete control over every aspect of your vehicle.

OEM/OBD parameters

Teltonika’s engineers are committed to unlocking the full potential of OBD data readings and have worked hard to grow the selection of cars from which fuel and mileage information can be read. The company keeps an updated list featuring supported models along with their parameters for reference.

Thanks to the support of OEM/OBD parameters, it’s also possible to use the Teltonika GPS device in electric vehicles. Available parameters for EV and Hybrid vehicles include:

With Teltonika GPS devices, you can easily and conveniently monitor all OEM/OBD parameters in electric vehicles as well. Reap the benefits of tracking EV and Hybrid vehicle features such as:

Bluetooth connectivity

Teltonika OBD devices support Bluetooth LE 4.0, which enhances their ability to link with external equipment like sensors, and configure via PC or mobile app. This makes for a simpler way of managing your device’s setup without having to manually handle it every time.

• Connecting external equipment: Although a few competitors of Teltonika offer BLE connectivity, Teltonika’s execution is particularly noteworthy for the broad range of supported sensors and other equipment. Specifically, with Bluetooth technology from Teltonika, you can access more data than ever before and make smarter decisions about your vehicles. Examples of supported sensors include:
  • Wireless interlock relay (interrupting ignition or fuel pump)
  • Wireless panic button
  • Measuring sensors for fuel (for example, Escort TD-BLE), temperature and humidity, magnetic field (EYE Beacon / EYE Sensor or Escort TH-BLE)
  • Magnetic field sensor and light sensor (to detect the opening of a container or cargo)
  • Driver ID (Blue Slim ID)
  • Tire pressure sensor (only supported by Continental TPMS)

Up to four Bluetooth devices can be connected to the OBD tracker simultaneously.

• Device configuration: You can configure the device through Windows software or a USB cable, making it an easy and straightforward process. Plus, you can use the mobile app to alter basic settings such as APN and server connection with ease.

Configuration: Local and OTA

The device offers advanced security measures, allowing for local and remote configuration as well as password protection to help thwart unwanted modifications from unauthorized individuals.

The bottom line

After a comprehensive evaluation, Navixy can confidently attest to the impressive capabilities and features of the Teltonika OBD series. From its cutting-edge technology, and extensive configuration options to the unbeatable value for money, these top-notch OBD tracking devices leave nothing to be desired.

Boasting a multi-GNSS module enhanced with Assisted GPS and Cell-ID functions, these trackers are intended to provide exact location details in all conditions. Plus, such properties can be tailored for any tracking projects you may have in mind.

The Teltonika OBD devices offer extensive readings of all PIDs, including those from original equipment manufacturers (OEM) for conventional cars, hybrid and electric models, vans, and light trucks. Furthermore, they are compatible with 24V board power in these vehicles. However, J1939 readings for heavy-duty vehicles are not supported.

With Teltonika OBD trackers, you can be sure of never-ending support from the manufacturer. FOTA updates are frequent and will keep providing new features over time. What’s more, when you buy a reliable tracking device from an established vendor like Teltonika, you get uninterrupted service as opposed to halts or resets which could disrupt your workflow.

For unparalleled speeds, the OBD series is a reliable favorite with both LTE Cat M1 and Cat 1 compatibility for service in the US, Canada, and Mexico, as well as any other areas with dependable 4G.

Does the Teltonika OBD series seem like a great fit for your next project? If so, Navixy’s team of specialists is ready to assist you. We would be delighted to explain in more detail how our platform combines with the device features and how it can be used for various IoT applications.