Upgrading your existing AXM and AXL units to the latest Bluetooth Mesh is now available and offers a range of benefits.
AXM and AXL scales communicate with each other via a wireless technology known as Zigbee. This technology was released to market in 2005 and data transmission from the AXM/AXL to the smartphone app and in-cab reader experiences an approximate six-second delay.
When developing the AXS, Airtec adopted a newer wireless technology Bluetooth Mesh. This change brought many improvements, including faster data transmission and a stronger and more reliable connection. As a result, weights update to the smartphone app and in-cab reader every second, and communication dropouts are far less common.
Zigbee and Bluetooth Mesh are not interoperable. This means that if you buy an AXS or upgrade your AXM/AXL scale to Bluetooth Mesh, it will no longer communicate with scales operating on Zigbee.
To support the transition to Bluetooth Mesh, Airtec developed the AXM and AXL Bluetooth Mesh Upgrade Kits to enable customers to experience the benefits of Bluetooth Mesh technology and upgrade existing AXM/AXL scales to be compatible with AXS scales. The update kits are a simple swap out process that customers can do, by opening the AXM/AXL scale and replacing the Zigbee (X-Bee) module with a Bluetooth Mesh equivalent. Full instructions are provided.
Benefits of upgrading your existing gauges include:
- Increased range of wireless connection meaning fewer dropouts
- Increased connection speed and data delivery means a faster data stream to your TruckOBM app
- Your gauge can communicate with Airtec’s new AXS Series
- TCA Type Approved SmartOBM (Category B)
However, along with these benefits, there are a few limitations…Once upgraded, Bluetooth Mesh gauges can only communicate with other Bluetooth Mesh gauges - such as the AXS Series or other upgraded units. Any AXM/AXL gauges operating under the original modules will require an upgrade to be interoperable.
