Common tasks/ Troubleshooting

Here are some common tasks required to use the software for
a GForce 2 or 3 system:
1) Entering a vehicle
2) Adding an Operator
3) Adding an Operator Authorization Level
4) Adding a Supervisor
5) Programming a Disarm Key
6) Programming an Operator Key
7) Programming a Configuration Key
8) Resetting the Expiry Date on a Disarm Key
9) Troubleshooting
For assistance installing the software or hardware, or if you have not
purchased onsite training and require assistance configuring your
system, contact BMI Technologies Technical Support at

1 800 563 8867 x227 or support@bmitech.com.

Entering a Vehicle

For complete instructions, see manual page 13.

1. Click the ‘Configuration’ button from the GLink Start window.

2. Click the Add Vehicle button and click into the Authorization field of the empty
line created (marked with *).

3. Type in the desired Authorization level from a range of 11-98 and then press
<Tab>.

4. Type in the Vehicle Description and then press <Enter>. The system
automatically assigns a Vehicle ID to the vehicle. The vehicle has been
successfully added to the software.
Adding an Operator
For complete instructions, see manual page 15.

1. Click the ‘Configuration’ button from the GLink Start window.

2. Click the Add Operator button and click into the Operator Name field of the
empty line created (marked with *).

3. Type in the operator’s name and then press <Tab>.

4. Type in the operator’s position and then press <Enter>. The system automatically
assigns an Operator ID to the operator. The operator has been successfully added
to the software.

Note: To keep track of operator license expiry dates, use the License Expiry field
(i.e. enter “10/31/2012”).
Adding an Operator Authorization Level

For complete instructions, see manual page 16.

1. Select an operator by clicking the Operator Name field for that operator. The field will
be highlighted, indicating the operator has been selected.

2. Click the Add Authorization button and click into the Authorization field of the empty
line created (marked with *).

3. Type in the desired Authorization level from a range of 11-99 and then press <Tab>.

4. Repeat steps 1-3 to add additional authorization levels for the same operator (up to 12
authorization levels per operator). A list of vehicles the operator is authorized to drive is
displayed in the operator vehicle listing (bottom right panel).
Adding a Supervisor
1. Click the Add Supervisor button and click into the Supervisor Name field of the
empty line created (marked with *).

2. Type in the supervisor’s name and then press <Tab>. The supervisor has been
successfully added to the software.

Programming a Disarm Key

For complete instructions, see manual page 23.

1. Select a supervisor by clicking the Supervisor Name field for that supervisor. The
field will be highlighted, indicating the supervisor has been selected.

2. Place the Disarm Key on the key contact of the Key Interface and click the
Program Key button. The following window will appear:

3. Keep the Disarm Key on the key contact of the Key Interface and click the Yes
button if there is no data on the key you wish to save. Otherwise, click No and
go to Read Key to save the data on the key. The following window will appear:

4. Click the OK button. The Disarm Key has been programmed successfully.
Programming an Operator Key
For complete instructions, see manual page 19.

1. Select an operator by clicking the Operator Name field for that operator. The
field will be highlighted, indicating the operator has been selected.

2. Place the Operator Key on the key contact on the Key Interface and click the
Program Key button. The following window will appear:

3. Click the OK button.

Note: The Information window shown must appear or the key will not be
programmed correctly. If it does not appear, repeat step 2.
Programming a Configuration Key

For complete instructions, see manual page 13

1. Select a vehicle by clicking the Vehicle Description field for that vehicle. The field
will be highlighted, indicating the vehicle has been selected.

2. Place the Config Key on the key contact on the Key Interface and click the
Program Key button. The following window will appear:

3. Click the OK button.

Note: The Information window shown must appear or the key will not be
programmed correctly. Repeat steps 1-3 if all three do not appear.

4. Read the Config Key to ensure it has been programmed successfully.

5. Apply the Config Key to the key contact on the G FORCE Impact Monitor on the
appropriate vehicle with the power on.
Resetting the Expiry Date on a Disarm Key

1. Click on Read Key and place the disarm key on the key reader. The window will display the key
contents, if any, as well as the disarm key’s current expiry date.

2. Place the key on the key reader and click Save to Database, regardless of whether there is data
on the key or not. This will reset the expiry date on the key.
TROUBLESHOOTING

Use this section to resolve some issues that could occur while using G-Link.

If your issue is not listed below, or if you require additional technical assistance, contact
BMI Technologies at 1-800-563-8867. To assist BMI’s Help Desk in troubleshooting the
problem, record the exact error message and sequence of events leading up to the error
message before you place the call.

Disarm Key Does Not Shut Off Vehicle Alarm

There could be two reasons for this problem:

(1) The Disarm Key is “full” (it is storing impact data for 42 impacts).

(2) The current date is past the expiry date on the Disarm Key.

In either case, read the Disarm Key and click the Save to Database button to clear
the key and reset its expiry date.

Unknown Supervisor.

This is not an error. It means the Disarm Key that has just been read is not
programmed (i.e. not assigned to a supervisor). If you want to assign a supervisor
name to it, do so through Configuration, but DO NOT clear the key when it asks if
you wish to, or data will be lost.
Ie_BadId – Specified comport doesn’t exist.

The communications port (comport) selected is not the correct one.

To resolve this, go to Control Panel->System->Device Manager on your PC and

confirm which com port the STMicroelectronics Virtual COM Port is set to. In
GLink, click the Settings button and select the appropriate comport. and test the
change by reading a Program Key. If the key can be read, the correct port has been
selected.

Ie_Open – Device already open.

The communications port (comport) selected is already in use by another device.

The computer may also have other software installed that has control of the serial
port. PDA (Personal Data Assistant) software (i.e. Palm Pilot) is an example of this.
In this case, turn off the ‘Hot-Sync’ feature, restart G-Link and test the comport by
reading a Program Key. You may have to confirm which comport the
STMicroelectronics Virtual COM Port is on again.

Key Interface not found, please check the com port connections.

The Key Interface is not set up properly. Check the communications port (comport)
selected. Check the power connections. Check the computer cable connections.

Once changes are made, test by reading a Program Key.

Read Key – No Key Found

A “No Key Found” message in the Read Key window indicates that the Key Interface
is not detecting a Touch Memory Key.

To resolve this, remove the key from the key contact and then return it. Refer also to
the section below, Cannot Read a Touch Memory Key, for a description of the proper
technique for reading keys.

Cannot Read a Touch Memory Key

If you are having difficulty reading a Touch Memory Key (Disarm, Data, Operator,
Program), it could be your method of making contact at the Key Interface. The
proper technique is to center the key on the key contact of the Key Interface and then
gently slide the key to the edge of the key contact. Contact must be made at the edge
of the key contact as well as the bottom flat part in order for the key to be read. This
contact must be maintained during the entire read process.

Note: Applying excessive pressure will cause a key to become dented and unusable.

Missing Login Data (G FORCE 3 only)

A Data key can hold approximately 762 records before it is full. An Impact Monitor
stores the most recent 1,023 records.

Note: A login requiring a safety check requires 2 records. A login without requires
only 1.
 In the event that there have been more than 762 logins recorded since the last time
login data was gathered with a Data key, it will take two (2) Data keys to gather all
the login data. If only one (1) Data key is used, the oldest 762 logins will be
gathered. The remaining data will be picked up the next time a Data key is used.

Login data will be lost if more than 1023 logins occur before a Data key is used to
gather login data. This happens because the 1024th login overwrites the login stored
at record #1. Subsequent logins are stored at record #2, then #3, then #4, etc.

For this reason, it is very important to establish a schedule for the collection of login
data that is suitable for the location. For example, an operation that runs 24 hours per
day and 7 days per week will require more frequent login data collection because the
login data “buffer” fills more quickly. If data collection is not done frequently
enough, login data will be overwritten and lost.

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME

In the fall and spring, when Daylight Savings Time goes into and comes out of effect, the
internal clocks on the Disarm Keys need to be synchronized. This will need to be done
for all Disarm Keys. To do this:

1. Ensure the clock time on all the computers where G-Link is loaded reflects the proper
Daylight Savings Time.

2. Read the Disarm Key. Save it to Database regardless of whether it has data on it or not. This
will synchronize the clock on the key with the clock on the PC.

3. Place the Disarm Key on the key contact of the Key Interface and click the OK button. The
time change has been reflected on the Disarm Key.Repeat steps 2-3 for each Disarm Key.

4. Use one Disarm Key to synchronize the internal clock for each Impact Monitor. Place the
Disarm Key on the Remote Key Contact of each vehicle Impact Monitor.

BACKING UP THE DATABASE

G-Link’s database files are stored on the hard drive of the computer on which it is
installed. If this is NOT a network server that is backed up regularly, care should be
taken to protect the data from hard drive failure by establishing a regular backup routine.

Contact your organization’s computer technician for assistance with this task. If you
performed a stand-alone installation and accepted the installation defaults, the files that
should be backed up are found in the C:\Program Files\gl4\data folder.