DIALOG Remote: install it, prepare the SD card and maintain a REBEL

DIALOG Remote is the free maintenance utility for REBEL LT and REBEL CT loggers. Use it to prepare SD cards, load a configuration without a DIALOG licence and set the clock. It also updates the firmware and changes the logger's settings.

What DIALOG Remote does

DIALOG Remote is free and needs no DIALOG licence. It sets up a REBEL with an existing configuration file through the SD card. The person in the field never needs the project's DBC or A2L files. It can:

• Format the SD card, in the PC's card reader or in the logger
• Load a configuration onto an SD card for the logger to pick up
• Set the logger's real-time clock
• Update the logger's firmware over USB
• Read the logger's hardware configuration over USB
• Change the logger's user and connection settings

Every version of DIALOG can do the same maintenance tasks. See DIALOG: set the clock, format the SD card and update REBEL firmware. Building a configuration needs DIALOG Configurator or above.

Install and open DIALOG Remote

1. Download the installer. Get Dialog Remote.msi from the Influx Technology downloads server. For every installer, see Software downloads: installers, drivers and firmware.
2. Run the installer. Open Dialog Remote.msi and select Next.
3. Accept the licence. Read the licence agreement. If you agree, select I accept the terms in the license agreement and select Next.
4. Install the software. Select Next again, then Install and Finish.
5. Open DIALOG Remote. Find it under All apps in the Windows Start menu, or use the shortcut the installer puts on the desktop.

The main window lists the SD card drives on the left and the configurations on the selected card on the right. The toolbar holds every task in this guide:

• Set Configuration To SD
• Refresh
• Format SD Card
• Reflash Rebel
• Set Rebel Time
• Settings
• Format Logger SD

If the card was not in the reader when you opened DIALOG Remote, insert it and select Refresh. You can swap cards the same way. If your PC has no SD card reader, Influx Technology can supply an external one.

Format a new SD card in the logger first

A REBEL needs its SD card prepared with the right file system and allocation unit size. The first time a card goes into a logger, format it in the logger, once, before you use it any other way.

1. Fit the card and connect. Insert the SD card into the logger and connect the logger to the PC with the USB cable.
2. Format the card. Select Format Logger SD, then select Yes. When a second window asks again, select Yes to start.
3. Close the message. When the format is complete, select OK.

Format the SD card in a card reader

After that first format in the logger, you can format the card in the PC's card reader with DIALOG Remote. Do not format it straight from Windows. DIALOG Remote opens the format window with the values a REBEL needs.

1. Insert the card. Take the card out of the logger and put it in the PC's card reader. Select Refresh if it does not appear.
2. Start the format. Select Format SD Card and confirm with Yes.
3. Keep the preset values. The format window opens with the capacity, the file system (FAT32) and the allocation unit size (32 kilobytes) already set. Do not change them. Select Start.
4. Confirm and close. Select OK to erase the card, or Cancel to stop. When the format is complete, select OK, then select Close.

Load a configuration onto the SD card

Export a configuration from DIALOG as an .ivs file (Influx configuration structure) and you can load it onto the logger's SD card. When the logger starts with the card fitted, it loads the configuration and runs it. To export a configuration, see DIALOG: create projects and configurations and send them to a REBEL.

1. Insert the card. Put the formatted SD card in the PC's card reader.
2. Choose the configuration. Select Set Configuration To SD, choose the .ivs file and select Open.
3. Check the card. Wait until the configuration appears under Configuration Structures.
4. Fit the card. Remove the card from the PC and insert it into the logger.

Watch: How to configure the SD card or a REBEL data logger using DIALOG Remote (1:56)

The video shows an earlier version (formerly DiaLog Remote).

Set the logger's clock

1. Connect the logger. Plug the REBEL into the PC with the USB cable.
2. Open the clock. Select Set Rebel Time. The window shows the date and time to set and the current logger time.
3. Set the time. The date and time follow your PC's clock. Check or adjust them, then select OK.

The REBEL clock runs from a rechargeable battery. If a logger loses the time after several weeks unused, power it from 12 V for more than 12 hours to charge the battery. Then set the time again. If it still loses the time, contact technical support, as the battery may need replacing.

Update the firmware

1. Connect the logger. Plug the REBEL into the PC with the USB cable. Some loggers also need 12 V on the OBD connector to update the firmware. If you are not sure, connect both. 12 V does no harm when it is not needed.
2. Open the reflash window. Select Reflash Rebel. The Firmware tab shows the Connected Rebel firmware version.
3. Check for Limited Mode. If the version field says Limited Mode, supply 12 V through the OBD connector before you continue.
4. Choose the firmware. Select Browse firmware, choose the firmware file and select Open. Firmware comes from Influx Technology. See Software downloads: installers, drivers and firmware, or ask technical support.
5. Start the update. Select Reprogram and confirm with Yes. A message confirms when the logger has been updated and power cycled.
6. Disconnect the logger. Unplug the USB cable and the 12 V supply.

Read the hardware configuration

Support often asks for a logger's hardware configuration. To get it:

1. Connect the logger. Plug it in over USB, with 12 V on the OBD connector if it shows Limited Mode.
2. Open the Diagnostics tab. Select Reflash Rebel, then the Diagnostics tab. It lists the serial number, firmware version, board and fitted modules. It also shows the active file and the free space on the SD card.
3. Save the information. Select Save to write it to a text file you can send to support.

Change the logger's settings

Connect the logger over USB and select Settings. The Logger Information window has four tabs. To write a change to the logger, select Update.

Manufacturing Info

General information about the hardware: serial number, hardware version, date of manufacture and the hardware fitted. Under Alternative Interface, choose whether the logger uses its GPRS (cellular) device, its Wi-Fi device or both.

User Info

The User Name, the Max Log Time and Max File Size of each recording, Allow SD Card Format from Rebel and Delete oldest file when SD card is full.

GPRS Settings, WiFi Settings

The cellular (labelled GPRS) and Wi-Fi provider settings. The server address field on these tabs belonged to the retired STREAMLOG service.

Next: DIALOG reference: glossary, OBD and UDS services, ISO-TP and PIDs.