DATA CHECK Operation & Maintenance Manuals (OMM) are

currently available at:

1. FIND
www.cat.com/en_US/support/operations/technology/pro
The service port for the intended machine
duct-link-owners-manuals.html
2. CONNECT
The PL542 to the machine and start the engine

3. IDENTIFY
What information the device will provide using the LEDs
located on the front of the device
For mobile equipment or equipment that is located in
4. REGISTER areas where direct internet access is not available while
The device using Cat Activate or contact your local the product is in use, a paper copy of the OMM must be
dealer. printed and kept with
the product.
For more information or for a paper copy of the OMM
CAN/ please contact your nearest Cat Dealer:
CDL www.cat.com/en_US/support/dealer-locator.html

GPS CELL WIFI DATALINK

ORANGE, YELLOW & WHITE LED:

Blinking Leds= Searching This telematics device transmits information to Caterpillar,
Solid Leds= Connected such as data relating to the condition and operation of the
Off (White LED only) = Not Configured equipment upon which the device is installed. For more
information about how Caterpillar collects, processes, uses
BLUE LED: and shares information transmitted by this device, visit
Can be used to determine the information available from Caterpillar’s Data Governance Statement located at
the machine. THE BLUE LED SHOULD BE www.cat.com/data_governance_statement.
MONITORED WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING.
Important Notice Regarding Open Source Software
This product uses open source software that is available under one of a
Cat® Product Link™ PL542
BLUE LED OFF:
CELLULAR RADIO
variety of licenses. Some of these require the license text to be included in
No data link traffic. the distribution. Please visit the website http://www.cat.com/opensource for
a copy of each license for the PL542, and source code where required.

BLUE LED FLASHING ONCE EVERY 4 SECONDS:

Traffic present but engine speed not detected.
BLUE LED FLASHING EVERY SECOND:
Engine Speed present (critical for start stops).
BLUE LED FLASHING TWICE PER SECOND:
Engine Speed + Total Fuel Present.
SOLID BLUE LED:
Engine speed + total fuel + fuel level present (required
information for a Cat Essentials subscription).
The PL542 is a cellular device that when
paired with a compatible machine records
and sends information to be viewed in
VisionLink or my.cat.com. Inside are some
quick instructions to help you become
UENR7940 acquainted with your brand new PL542.
© 2018 Caterpillar. All Rights Reserved. CAT, CATERPILLAR, BUILT FOR IT,
Plug-in, register and enjoy.
their respective logos, "Caterpillar Yellow", the "Power Edge" trade dress as
well as corporate and product identity used herein, are trademarks of
Caterpillar and may not be used without permission.
VisionLink is a trademark of Trimble Navigation Limited, registered in the
United States and in other countries.
BEST PRACTICES:
° Thoroughly clean the desired location before
placing PL542 down on surface.
° Place device horizontally level and facing the sky
when possible. Mounting angle can have an
adverse affect on GPS accuracy.
° Do not mount device encased in metal. Plastic
and glass coverings are permitted.
° The device must be at least eight inches from the
machine operator to comply with FCC regulations.
° Make sure not to install two Product Link devices
on the same machine.
° When mounting, adhesive and mounting location
need to be above 30º F (-1º C).
° Eyelets on each side of the device can also be
used to mount the device using wire ties as
seen here.
SAFE STATE:
Most accidents that involve product operation,
maintenance, and repair are caused by a failure
to observe basic safety rules or precautions. An
accident can often be avoided by recognizing
potentially hazardous situations before an
accident occurs. Be alert to potential hazards,
including human factors that can affect safety.
Also be sure to have the necessary training,
skills, and tools to perform a procedure properly.
Review all applicable warnings and instructions
for placing the machine in a safe state before
performing any procedures. Please also refer to
the manufacturer's equipment operation manual
in order to mitigate any potential hazards
associated with the procedure. Always wear any
personal protective equipment needed in order
to perform the procedure properly.
INITIAL SETUP:
Setup of the PL542 has been
streamlined through the use of the
Activate App. The App is available in
both the Apple App Store and Google
Play Store. The steps are simple:
1. Sign in to the app using your CWS credentials.
(Can be acquired through your local dealer)
2. Find the device by searching the serial number
on the front of the unit OR it can be added by
using the QR Scanner or Equipment Locator in
the app. (See Below)
Search Equipment QR Scanner Equipment Locator
3. When the device has been entered use the
Register Device, WIFI Configuration or Check
Connection buttons to select the desired
functions.
NOTE: During WIFI setup, the network name (SSID),
country and password are required for setup.
NOTE: If the device has been powered on for more
than 15 minutes, and cannot be found using CAT
Activate, contact your local dealer for assistance.
CAT MACHINES
For Cat machines, be sure the "Make Code" field
is set to "CAT.” The "Product ID" must be eight
digits long (3 numbers or letters, followed by 5
numbers). The "Machine Serial Number" field
must remain blank.
NON-CAT MACHINES
For machines outside of Caterpillar, the Make
Code field will start as "Z99.” Another
manufacturer code can be chosen or it can be
left as "Z99.” Serial numbers can be up to 17
digits. Hyphens (-) are the only special character
allowed.
INSTALLATION
This kit includes the PL542 radio, mounting
hardware and warning labels necessary for
installation. Five different harnesses are
available. They are listed below. (Please note:
The harness must be ordered separately
from the PL542 kit.)
CAT MACHINES:
532-3754: Gray 9-Pin Deutsch connector, one of
the standard Caterpillar service port connectors.
532-3753: 14-Pin Deutsch connector, one of the
standard Caterpillar service port connectors.
532-5452: 12-Pin PL Ready Harness
536-8838: 8-Pin PL Ready Harness
538-2641: Barewire harness with STG
536-0072: 9-Pin Y-harness (Supplemental)
542-9452: 14-Pin Y Harness (Supplemental)
NON-CAT MACHINES:
523-5668: 12-Pin Deutsch connector, most
commonly seen on Komatsu.
523-5669: Black 9-Pin connector. This is the
J1939 Standard, it’s most commonly seen on
John Deere, Case, Hitachi, Kawasaki, JCB as
well as many others.
525-4950: Harness equipped with an OBDII
connector. Used primarily in Automotive and On
Highway Truck applications.