MiX Vision

Diagnostic Event
Configuration Guide
 © 2016 MiX Telematics International (Pty) Ltd.

Table of Contents

1 Introduction.................................................................................................................. 3
2 Diagnostic: MiX Vision - Critical Error .......................................................................... 3
2.1 MVR Critical Error Codes ...................................................................................... 4
2.2 MVR Critical Error – Recommended Actions......................................................... 4
3 Diagnostic: MiX Vision – MVR Device Error ................................................................ 5
3.1 MVR Device Error Codes ...................................................................................... 6
3.2 MVR Device Error - Recommended Actions ......................................................... 8

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 © 2016 MiX Telematics International (Pty) Ltd.

1 Introduction
Due to the fact that MiX Vision error codes has evolved over the years and now offer a
mechanism where the error codes are binary encoded as well as one where each error is
individually logged. This leads to the duplication and excessive logging of the same error
multiple times during a trip.
It is recommended that users only create the following two events in their databases and
that all the other error events are excluded from the templates in order to make it easier to
identify and service a faulty MiX Vision unit.
Note that we will refer to the MiX Vision onboard computer using the generic term OBC in
this document, the actual device can be FM3xxx Communicators, MiX 4000 or MiX 6000.
FM3xxx Tracers does not support MiX Vision.

2 Diagnostic: MiX Vision - Critical Error

This new error message will ONLY trigger when the OBC fails to communicate with the
MiX Vision Video recorder and all the binary encoded error messages will be excluded.

Return Value DVR Error Status

Value Maximum
Recording type Notification

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 © 2016 MiX Telematics International (Pty) Ltd.

2.1 MVR Critical Error Codes

The output of this error should ONLY return the 2 values listed below. Note the two errors
below are exceptions, since they are not returned by the MVR, but are generated by the serial
script when it fails to communicate with the MiX Vision unit.

This error will typically be logged for any event that triggers during
the first minute after the MVR was powered-up (e.g. "Ignition ON"
Boot Error
as a Video event). During this time the MVR is still booting up and
1 073 741 824
cannot record any video or respond back to the OBC with any of
(4000 0000 0000
the error messages. The condition “Time Since Ignition ON >
0000)
120s” will prevent any false events and when you see this
message it means the MVR does not boot correctly.
MiX Vision
"NOT When the OBC serial script fails to communicate for more than 5
responding” minutes with the MVR, an error message will be logged with the
error message following value:
-2 147 483 648 8000 0000 0000 0000 = -2147483648 (Note on some Insight
(8000 0000 0000 reports this value is too big and will appear as a string of dashes)
0000)

2.2 MVR Critical Error – Recommended Actions

This is a critical error and will require a technician to visit the vehicle.

Cause Effect Action

The serial cable between the OBC and MVR will flash power LED every 10s and Check serial cable
MVR is not connected or damaged. camera LEDs will remain off. Check that installed port matches
configuration.
The MVR is not powered All the LED’s on the MVR will be off. Check red/black wire and ensure it is
connected to 12/24V
The MVR fails to boot The power LED will flash every 5-10s Remove power (White connector) and
and the camera LEDs will also flash re-apply power and switch Ignition ON. If
the unit still fails to boot, replace with
another.
If unit does boot, log call with Help Desk
so that unit SD card can be repaired
over-the-air.
The MVR is not switched ON by the MVR will flash power LED every 10s and Check that the script is correctly
OBC when Ignition is ON. camera LEDs will remain off. configured on the OBC.
Check that positive Drive wire is
correctly connected and pulled high
(12V/24V)
The OBC is fitted with a backup battery The OBC will re-surface with power from The “Time Since Ignition ON > 120s”
and the equipment is installed behind an the backup battery and try and condition should prevent this, so check
isolator switch. communicate with MVR. The MVR is still that the event is correctly configured.
off and the OBC will log a critical error.

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 © 2016 MiX Telematics International (Pty) Ltd.

3 Diagnostic: MiX Vision – MVR Device Error

This error will return individual error codes from the table below if the MVR is on and
functioning. If you have received the Diagnostic: MiX Vision - Critical Error then none of
the errors mentioned below will be logged. To ensure that you do not get any false error
events, we recommend that the condition “Time since Ignition ON > 90s” is also added to
this event.

Return Value DVR Device Error

Value Maximum
Recording type Notification

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 © 2016 MiX Telematics International (Pty) Ltd.

3.1 MVR Device Error Codes

The following list of error codes can be returned by this event. Note that only the error
codes with green shaded cells with a Y in the Incl. column should be reported by current
versions of the script and firmware.
The error codes in red; 9, 11-19 is reserved for future use.
Error
Error Description
code Explanation Incl.
0 No Error This code is transmitted when no errors are detected Y
When the MVR Internal watchdog had to restart the processor, this code
1 Watchdog Reboot
will be transmitted Y
When the Video Processing chip reports and error, this error code will
2 Video Processor Error
be transmitted. Y
3 Audio Processor Error When an audio error is detected, this error code will be transmitted Y
4 Tampering detected on CAM1 When camera 1 is tilted or obscured this error code will be transmitted Y
5 Tampering detected on CAM2 When camera 2 is tilted or obscured this error code will be transmitted Y
6 Tampering detected on CAM3 When camera 3 is tilted or obscured this error code will be transmitted Y
7 Tampering detected on CAM4 When camera 4 is tilted or obscured this error code will be transmitted Y
When an error is detected on the SD card or the card is removed, this
8 SD Card Failure
error code will be transmitted Y
9 NAND memory failure When the memory fails, this error code will be transmitted N
If one of the power rails measure too low or the external power drops
10 PSU (Power) failure
below 10V then this error code will be transmitted Y
When the unit has to shutdown / reboot due to temperature this error
11 Temperature Failure
code will be transmitted N
12 SIM PIN Error When a SIM PIN error is reported, this error code will be transmitted N
When the unit cannot read the SIM card, this error code will be
13 SIM failure error
transmitted N
When an incorrect username or password for the APN is entered, this
14 APN UN & PW Error
error code will be transmitted N
15 Invalid APN When an invalid APN is entered, this error code will be transmitted N
When the GSM connection fails more than a configured time within a set
16 GSM connection failed > xx times
period, this error code will be transmitted N
17 GSM connection timeout When a GSM connection times out, this error code will be transmitted N
18 GSM jamming detected When GSM jamming is detected, this error code will be transmitted N
if the MVR no longer communicates with the modem, this error code will
19 GSM modem failure
be transmitted N
If the unit cannot maintain 72 hours of continuous video, this error code
20 Not recording 72 hours
will be transmitted Y
If the unit can connect to the server or data uploads failed, this error
21 Video Server comms error
code will be transmitted Y
When an error is detected on camera 1, this error code will be
22 Camera 1 Error
transmitted Y
When an error is detected on camera 2, this error code will be
23 Camera 2 Error
transmitted Y
When an error is detected on camera 3, this error code will be
24 Camera 3 Error
transmitted Y
When an error is detected on camera 4, this error code will be
25 Camera 4 Error
transmitted Y
When the MVR gets a command from the OBC that cannot be
26 Cannot process command processed or contains multiple errors (e.g. when the system is still
booting up), this error code will be transmitted. Y
Unit booted because of a power This will happen if the unit experiences a power failure (i.e. the MVR is
27
failure wired to an isolator or it is disconnected from power) Y
There is a corrupt file(s) on the SD card (possibly caused a bad SD card
28 SD card - Corrupt file(s) sector). It means there could be some video loss. This error should clear
after the data is wrapped. Y
MMC errors
29 SD Card - MMC error
Y

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 The causes of these errors are varied and deciding what to do

with an SD card that reports such errors is complicated.
 These errors are caused when the SD card returns an error or
fails to respond appropriately, or quick enough, during a write
or read operation.
 These errors can be categorized into 2 basic types (1) Spurious
and (2) Frequent

1. Spurious

 In some cases the error is spurious, in that, it may occur once

for a single read/write operation and may not occur again for
many days/weeks afterwards.
 This means that only a small portion of data may be lost.
 In the instances that we have seen, when the error appears
once, it always re-occurs some time later.
 This could be hours/days or even weeks. When it re-appears,
it is not necessarily at the same sector.

In these cases, the SD card is probably okay but it is probably a

very early indicator of the card deteriorating.

 We have been able to source cards internally that behave in a

similar fashion and our analysis has shown that while these
cards appear to operate correctly for long periods of time, they
have invariably always had the MMC error reappear at some
point later.
 For the most part, they will probably continue to operate (albeit
with the occasional small loss of data) for a long time.
 The sample SD cards that we have been able to access
continue to operate with the very occasional spurious MMC
error.

These card should probably be replaced at some point in the future

but at a low priority.
2. Frequent

 In other cases the MMC errors occur very frequently.

 These errors may happen continuously or it may be that the
card accepts read/write operations for a short while (1-2hrs)
before generating the error.
 This is probably the same card that occurred in the spurious
case above, but the card has been working for some time
longer.

In these cases, the SD card is likely damaged and should be

replaced as soon as possible.
The maximum write cycles of the SD card has been reached so the card
30 SD Card - Max write cycles
is no longer retaining data. The SD card should be replaced asap Y

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3.2 MVR Device Error - Recommended Actions

The following table contains a description and actions that should be taken when each of
these errors occur.
Error Name Description / Details Actions

Watchdog reboot (1) This error happens when the firmware running on the If there is a watchdog and it is not clear
unit reboots the unit. what the cause of this might be (for
If there is a high frequency of camera failures, the example low power), then this error
watchdog may reset the unit. should be reported to Cathexis for
If the unit cannot access the modem, the unit may reset remote support
the modem.
If the input voltage falls below the specified operating
voltage (a brown out) - a watchdog reboot may result.
A watchdog is an attempt to put the unit into a known
operating state (for example after a brown out)
Video Processor Error The system fails to record video or audio. If these errors happens more than once
(2) during a trip it should be reported to
Audio Processor Error Cathexis for remote support
(3)
Tamper errors (4,5,6,7) 1) The tamper events will only happen if the Video Expect some false events, but they
frames (image) has not changed for more than 20 should be less than 5% of all incidents.
seconds WHILE the vehicle is driving (Speed >
moving Speed) If it is a valid tamper event perform
2) The confidence level must be > 40% before a following actions:
tamper event will be raised i.e. even if tampering is - Ensure the camera view is cleared
detected, but the confidence level is lower than 40%, - The camera orientation is corrected.
the MVR will not raise a tampering event. - The lens is cleaned.
3) If tampering happens out of trip (When the vehicle is - LEDs are working and sufficient
NOT moving) or when the MVR is switched off – the night time illumination is visible in
event will only be raised when the vehicle is starting the scene.
to move (in trip).
4) Once a tamper event is raised for a specific camera, If more than 5% false events are
it will continue to raise the alarm every hour until the triggered Contact Cathexis support to
condition is cleared/corrected. investigate remotely
5) If the event is configured to record Video and to send
an active event and SMS, then the unit will upload a
video and send an SMS once every hour until the
Camera view is cleared or the camera orientation is
corrected.
If the cable is cut, it will raise a “CAMERA ERROR” and
not a Tampering Event
SD Card failure (8) This happens when the SDCARD has permanently • Contact Cathexis support to
failed or if there is no SDCARD inserted. This error will investigate remotely
repeat every minute until the SDCARD is detected  Will probably need to replace
SDCARD
PSU Failure (10) When the input voltage (supplied by the vehicle) drops  Resolve the problem with the input
below 10V the MVR will send this error to the OBC power
 If the input power source is consistently below 10V  Is the unit powered directly from the
this error will be generated every 60 seconds so it vehicle battery?
can result in a very high count  Check wiring
 This voltage is below the operating specification of  Check battery
the unit.  This may require a technician to
 This is called a brown out, and reliable operation of investigate
the unit cannot be guaranteed.

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Not recording 72hrs (20) This error is generated if the unit determined that the This is depends on the settings that were
continuous database did not have at least 72hrs of configured for continuous video
footage recordings. If the default configuration is
used then this error should not occur.

If the unit’s video configuration has

changed then this error should probably
be ignored.

If this error is frequent (more than once a

day) then contact Cathexis Support for
assistance
Video Server comms This happens when the unit cannot connect to the If the unit is reporting this error more
error (21) upload server at any point. The MVR connects to the than 6 or 7 times a day
server to upload video and statistics on a daily basis.  Check that the SIM still has data
 Check the SIM is enabled.
This could simply be:  Check if the vehicle has not entered
 Intermittent network outage (out of range) a different country (ie check if
 Or could point to a problematic modem or SIM or Roaming is enabled for SIM)
cell network.  Check the routing to the servers for
 or out of data error the APN is still valid
 or the APN data is incorrectly configured  If the above checks are successful
 or the server was incorrectly configured then a technician will probably be
required to diagnose
This error can be generated every hour.  As this relates to network comms,
remote support is likely to be
impossible

Camera error (22, 23, This reports a camera synchronization failure (most • Check and ensure the input voltage
24, 25). often this is transient). The cameras on the MVR are to the device is always >=10VDC
monitored and an error generated every time the (Can be done remotely)
camera synchronization fails. A genuine camera failure -  Check the videos from the camera
where it ceases to work, or works intermittently will to see if there are signs of failure in
result in thousands of camera synchronization failures. the video (can be done remotely)
 Check camera cables for signs of
Possible causes for synchronization failures. tamper
 On boot up it is possible that a camera does not  If the camera failure rate is <10
synchronize during camera power supply times a day, the error can probably
initialization, so the odd camera error count is be ignored
expected.  Contact Cathexis support for further
 If there is a video compression failure for any assistance
reason (perhaps a very large, complex image that
needs to be recompressed) - the camera power is
switched on and off, and a camera error will be
generated with the loss of camera synchronization.
 This is possible sometimes, in normal operation
with old cameras.
 A faulty camera will result in hundreds or
thousands of camera errors as the camera
synchronization may constantly go up and down.
The count is dependent on the up time of the MVR.
Units where the camera error count is high should
be investigated for possible faulty cameras. This
will also be evident in the video.

The cameras are designed to work above 10VDC. If the

input power is below 10VDC it is likely that the camera
synchronization will periodically fail
Cannot process This is an error reported by the MVR when it is unable to  Check that the latest OBC script
command (26) process a command from the OBC. version is running.
 If the unit is experiencing camera
These errors will happen when: synchronization failures then this
1. One or more cameras are down at the time of an error is likely to happen as well
event request (and the camera was part of the  If the frequency of this error is high
request). (happening after every OBC event
2. When an event is requested for a camera that is request) then Cathexis Support may
not configured or disconnected remotely be able to help
3. When a command is sent from the OBC before the
MVR has properly initialized. The OBC instructs

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the MVR to boot, but must give the MVR time to

boot. This happens if a command is sent before the
MVR has completed initialization.

Unit booted because of The error occurs when a unit had its input power  This is a little more difficult to
power failure (27) removed without the requisite instruction from the OBC interpret as it requires contextual
unit (i.e. power was previously cut to the device). If the knowledge of the wiring.
MVR is powered via an isolator and the ignition line was  It can be ignored in low volumes but
not asserted and the MVR given time to shut down if it occurs more than 30 times in a
correctly, then this error will occur in normal operation. day, then further investigation is
warranted
If the MVR is powered directly to the battery with its
ignition connected to OBC positive drive and the OBC
has instructed the MVR to shut down, then this error is
abnormal
SD card (28) There is a corrupt file(s) on the SD card (possibly  This error should clear
caused a bad SD card sector). It means there could be automatically after the data is
some video loss. This error should clear after the data is wrapped.
wrapped.  No user intervention is required
except to take note of this error if
certain data could not be retrieved,
since it can be due to the corrupt
file.

SD Card (29) MMC errors  For spurious errors the SD card

 The causes of these errors are varied and should probably be replaced at
deciding what to do with an SD card that some point in the future but at a low
reports such errors is complicated. priority.
 For frequent errors replace the SD
 These errors are caused when the SD card card as soon as possible.
returns an error or fails to respond
appropriately, or quick enough, during a write
or read operation.
 These errors can be categorized into 2 basic
types (1) Spurious and (2) Frequent
SD card (30) The maximum write cycles of the SD card has been  The SD card should be replaced
reached so the card is no longer retaining data. asap.

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