yesterday used one for the 1st time, jumped on a 07plate DAF thought mmmm so stuck my card in driver1 slot after checking there was enough paper, asked if i wanted manual entry? thought no? did various other things anyway it showe the hammers so secured load etc moved forward an it went to drive , i thought great no prob, then when i stopped went to hammers, after 5 an a bit hours of stopping an starting with short runs i thought put it on the bed for 45mins no prob, then after more loading an short local runs back an forth, time to go home! mmm got it to say printout pressed ok then printout not available was displayed? thought oh well it will be on the card? couldnt eject that now! anyway started the truck then tried out it come! but then as i was agency driver everbody had cleared off, i noticed others earlier were putting there card in the download machine as requested, i tried it didnt have a clue what was happening allsorts of lights then a beep? just hope its all on there as i would like my wages from 8-4.30 !!! anyway is there a understandable link on here for instructions that i can print an laminate for next weekend hopefully!
This might help
Logging on or Commencing Duty
Turn on your ignition, then:
Siemens VDO
Insert your card into slot 1 with the chip facing upwards
Logging off or Finish of Duty
The card won’t eject until all of the information has been fully exchanged between the driver card and the vehicle unit. Keep the ignition on, but ensure that the vehicle is stationary.
Manual Entries
Use the up and down menu keys to select the required activity and time additions, then press the ‘enter’ key to confirm.
Theres also a good demo available at the following
If all else fails…read the instructions
donpablo:
…mmm got it to say printout pressed ok then printout not available was displayed?..
That means you didn’t have the ignition on, it won’t print and will display that message with the ignition off.
try this link full user guide
has anybody heard if they intend to alter the software in the machine so that only actual wheel rolling time is recorded as driving time, and the action of the machine in grossing up POA and break together, so that after a period of POA the driven time for the period since last break goes to zero, is to be altered. The machne is fine,it is the software that is less than good, and that is being charitable
cheers i went on that link to the instructions and printed them off then laminated them , they are coming with me next time 
, still not sure how that download machine works that you stick your card in for the firms benefit, 
oh well never mind
The Siemens Digi is the easiest too. 
The ones they fit in the Scanias (cant think of the make)are a right â– â– â– â– â– â– â– pain in the arse. 
bikemonkey:
The ones they fit in the Scanias (cant think of the make)are a right [zb] pain in the arse.
Aye, they are!
ok what a plonker i am, this week driving for another firm same siemens digitach, i printed the instructions form your advice and laminated them, took them with me and oh how so simple it is, just have the engine running it is simple, so proves this site is a fantastic source of help an advice for simple and difficult problems, cheers guys an girls!
bigdennis:
has anybody heard if they intend to alter the software in the machine so that only actual wheel rolling time is recorded as driving time, and the action of the machine in grossing up POA and break together, so that after a period of POA the driven time for the period since last break goes to zero, is to be altered. The machne is fine,it is the software that is less than good, and that is being charitable
Yes, the software is a disaster.
No, they will not be up-dating the software of digi-tachos already fitted. They aren’t designed to be up-datable.
Why?
If they were up-datable, then less scrupulous companies would find a way to ‘up-date’ them, to do whatever they wanted them to.
The only way to up-date them, is to build completely new machines with new software built in and replace all the previously fitted tachos.
There is clearly going to be huge expense involved in this.
The software was designed to a specification supplied by the EU (who were advised by, among others VOSA). The EU clearly got it wrong, so it isn’t the fault of the manufacturers, so they will want paying for a start…
Now if they had gone to the designers of those electronic drivers timers. Tachoguard and our mate Davey Driver for example. We might have actually been given a worth while product. Of course, if we’d been given a decent piece of gear, these timers would have become obsolete very quickly, so these people would demand huge consultancy fees too.