i50 Manual (5.51)
Page 60
© 2018 Datalink Systems, Inc.
www.datalinksystemsinc.com
14.0 Garmin Interface
The i50 (with appropriate firmware version) can talk to any Garmin terminal supporting the Garmin
Fleet Management Interface (FMI) version 2. Specifically, it must support Garmin protocols A602,
A603 and A604. A special data cable (available from Garmin suppliers) is required to connect the
Garmin terminal to the i50.
If any i50 port is configured to use a Grace pager system, the i50 will send special messages to the
Garmin whenever a pager signal is detected or lost, or an alarm message is received. Also, when the
i50 boots up it will send a message stating the current list of pagers in range. When a pager test
signal is received, the i50 creates a Garmin message to display the test, allowing a user to respond
directly to the pager, or else wait for an ACK from the server. If the pager receiver stops responding
for any reason, a Garmin message will be sent to warn the user that the pager system is down.
Two-way text messaging is supported using the standard Garmin messaging screens. These
messages can be sent to and from DataHost clients.
The Garmin Quick Message list is automatically populated with one or more messages when the
Garmin is connected. This list provides a way to request the current i50 status (network, GPS, and
pager states). If a Grace system is enabled, another quick message is provided to call-back all
Super-Cell pagers in range. This feature alerts each pager and displays a call-back message on
screen.
DataHost clients have the option of sending stop locations to the Garmin terminal. Drivers can then
select these stops from a list, causing the Garmin to calculate a route and guide the driver to the
desired location. The status of stops as well as the estimated-time-of-arrival (ETA) for the current
route can be sent to the server as they change (if enabled in the i50 options). Note that the ETA is
transmitted whenever it changes by more than 10%, at a maximum rate of once per minute. The ETA
is transmitted as either the actual time of arrival (e.g. 10:15 pm) or time remaining (e.g. 25 min),
depending on which is more constant. This prevents unnecessary data transmissions if a vehicle
stops and starts while en route.
An optional firmware feature is support for Garmin driver logging. This firmware monitors the Garmin
driver name and driver status fields, sending them back to DataHost clients. The Garmin driver status
list is automatically populated with a range of commonly used status strings when the unit is
connected to the i50.
