Master ELD brand BlueFire device

[Floyd4949]

Good morning,

I'm considering a BlueFire device for my "new to me" HR Neptune (2003).
Could anyone provide any insight or suggestions re. this device found on Amazon?

Thanks,
John
https://www.amazon.com/MasterELD-BlueFire-TM-9-PIN-Device/dp/B07XQRGBR5/ref=rvi_sccl_6/145-6370159-5144348?pd_rd_w=DHjnG&content-id=amzn1.sym.f5690a4d-f2bb-45d9-9d1b-736fee412437&pf_rd_p=f5690a4d-f2bb-45d9-9d1b-736fee412437&pf_rd_r=DYHJFXSPXE99XWCF9D9K&pd_rd_wg=Pc2RF&pd_rd_r=bcabbab4-ae47-4a39-96f9-b4beafc8f26e&pd_rd_i=B07XQRGBR5&psc=1

[Adam_C]

I have Bluefire, but bought direct from Bluefire.  Use an iPad to connect to it.  I'm getting intermittent bluetooth disconnects, but haven't tried troubleshooting anything yet.  May be a me problem.  It works well and saves me from having to rely on the inaccurate fuel gauge.

[Larry Laursen]

I have a Scan Guage D that gives me engine data.  It's hard wired and relatively simple, but provides the information directly from the engine computer.  I used it for monitoring the engine when I lost my dash gauges last year and the prior year.

» ScanGauge D

 

[cbr046]

I have to wonder what the relationship is between BlueFire LLC and MasterELD BlueFire.  $210 vs $165.  Is it a Chinese copy?  What's different?

Obviously the code is different (won't run on iPad) but also the same (runs BlueFire LLC app). 

I downloaded the Windows 10 version of BlueFire LLC app and tried to install it to get a look and feel for how the app operates.  First, it's written as a PowerShell app and has to be "side-loaded" - not your normal click-and-go install, which bypasses all of Windows security & protections.  I spent a part of morning trying to install it and got the "do you want this to take over your computer?" message (more than once) but ultimately never got the app to run.  In the process I inadvertently changed the PowerShell script execution policy, which might (or might not) change the ability to download future apps.  So the rest of the morning was spent trying to reset the execution policy back to default, which was way more difficult than re-checking an unchecked check-box.  That took hours, lots of reading, learning that PowerShell is a subset of the cmd structure, learning the commands of PowerShell, their syntax and how they operate.  My PC is back to normal but I'm doubting my ability to get a BlueFire app (LLC or MasterELD) to run (or especially) customized the way I would want it. 

In retrospect maybe if I ran the BlueFire script inside of PowerShell . . . . . . not today!

I'm not a software developer but I'd like to think I'm not 'stoopid'. 

I know VmSpec is a lot more expensive . . . and intense . . . but there's a lot more support (both here and by the developer) for it.  And it doesn't disconnect like BlueFire does! 

My 2c

- bob

Edited September 29, 2022 by cbr046

[Yoaks5]

22 hours ago, Adam_C said:

I have Bluefire, but bought direct from Bluefire.  Use an iPad to connect to it.  I'm getting intermittent bluetooth disconnects, but haven't tried troubleshooting anything yet.  May be a me problem.  It works well and saves me from having to rely on the inaccurate fuel gauge.

I have one also and it does the same thing. I have updated both the app on my I pad and the adaptor that gets plugged in (a pain to do, directions on their website) . Neither has helped with mine disconnecting. Mine does it about every 15 minutes but now does reconnect. I downloaded the app to my phone and an going to try it on that next to see if that solves it. There is a thread on this issue on the bluefire forum on their website. 

To the OP I got mine directly from bluefire llc. I'm thinking the one on Amazon is a Chinese knock off. 

On my last coach I had a silver leaf that did pretty much the same thing but was not bluetooth. Cost is about the same as the bluefire and I had no trouble with it. If I had it to do over again I would get that system next time. 

[jacwjames]

I also have the Silverleaf system, initially I used a small Sony Viao laptop for display but currently use a Microsoft Surface Go 2 tablet.  The tablet is harder to get your screen the way you want it due to the touch screen, I finally used an external mouse which provided much better control.  But once you get the screen displayed like you want it you don't have to fool with it anymore.  I just got back from a trip ~950 miles and the tablet did not drop the connection one time.  This is a hard wired connection to the Silverleaf box that communicates with the ECM.  The Silverleaf display can be tailored to your own tastes and you can make it as complicated or as simple as you want. 

I don't use bluetooth much, I have a Micro Air thermostat and just installed a Victron battery monitor.  In both cases the Bluetooth is not consistant or reliable.  Not much of an issue when you are not driving down the road at 70 mph.   But if your driving down the road the last thing you want is for the display to go blank. 

[Floyd4949]

Thanks for the valuable insights and comments... think I'll be looking in a different direction.

John

[MasterELD]

My name is Peter and I'm marketplace specialist with MasterELD. Led me explain some of the issues.... 
Our relation with Bluefire LLC is only on the level manufacturer-client, we are not associated with Bluefire LLC and we are not their dealers.  Long time ago, we bought many Bluefire 9-pin devices from them through company named UTECH Corp. At this time, Bluefire 9-pin devices were fully acceptable AOBRD plugs. Because we are a logistic transportation company, we bought these plugs for our drivers so they can use them as their log book devices. Unfortunately, about 2.5 years ago, FMCSA switched from AOBRD system to ELD system and Bluefire 9-pin plugs were eliminated from FMCSA list of compatible devices.  From that moment, all Bluefire plugs can be used only for diagnostic purposes, not for ELD. We simply decided to sell our overstock on Amazon and that's the story. MasterELD plugs are Bluefire LLC plugs, not China counterfeit.  Connectivity issues:  because 90% of our drivers are using Android phones or tablets as their log book ELD readers, we bought from Bluefire LLC only plugs that are compatible with Android. Our plugs are not compatible with Apple, and it's clearly stated in Amazon description. So if you have iPod or iPhone, you have to buy your plug from Bluefire LLC as they have Apple compatible plugs - we don't and we never had.  Bluefire LLC releases updates once in a while and we are updating our plugs accordingly. But still, the updates we do are only for Android version of the plug. In rare occasions, you may receive not updated plug - that means Bluefire LLC released the update after we sent the plug to you. Then you have to either update it on your own or send it back to us for the current update. Also, our drivers do not use computers or laptops, so I can't tell you if our Bleufire plugs will work with Windows. We never tried that as we never had the need for Windows. Reassuming - our MasterEld Bluefire 9-pin plugs work with Bluefire Android application and we test each plug we sell before shipment is made. Each plug is updated and tested.  Let me know if you have more questions. Thanks.