This landmark release introduces our powerful new on-device Analysis tool, providing users with unprecedented local access to historical data, system diagnostics, and performance insights. This version also brings key updates to RV-C protocol support, and includes several system-level improvements.
Key Improvements & New Features:
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All-New On-Device Analysis Tool:
We are thrilled to launch the brand-new local Analysis tool, accessible directly via the device's IP address or regulator.local. This feature has been built from the ground up to offer a comprehensive, intuitive, and powerful way to explore your system's performance and history.
- Intuitive User Interface & Experience:
- Modern Layout & Navigation: A completely new interface featuring clear selectors and tabbed content for excellent organization, especially for smaller screens.
- Enhanced Selectors: Device, measurement, and time range selectors, featuring "Select All" buttons for quick configuration.
- Interactive Charts:
- Zooming on a chart dynamically updates the custom time range selector.
- Effortless reset to "All Time" view.
- Helpful instructions are provided for using the chart features.
- Rich Tooltips: Robust tooltips with detailed data, timestamps and charge stage information.
- Visual Clarity: Styling for badges (colors, shapes), metric buttons, and section headers for a clean, modern look.
- Advanced Data Display & Interaction:
- Overall Health Indicator: Added an indicator to provide a quick overview of system health.
- Comprehensive Fault Display:
- Fault table.
- Fault occurrences are flagged directly on charts.
- Export fault logs.
- Faults occurring in close succession (within 120 seconds) are grouped for clearer analysis.
- Configuration Change Tracking: The system logs and displays configuration changes, allowing users to see what settings were modified and when.
- CSV Export: Robust CSV export format for chart, statistics and fault data.
- Configuration Export: Export historical configurations.
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RV-C Protocol Enhancements:
- New DGN Support: Added support for
genericRevisionStatus (DGN 130455 / 0x1FD97) and genericRevisionRequest (DGN 130454 / 0x1FD96), enhancing interoperability with Firefly and other devices.
- Extended Fault Reporting: The
dmRv (Diagnostic Message) message now includes reporting for:
- Alternator Temperature Faults
- Alternator Voltage Faults
- Regulator Temperature Faults
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System, Database & Firmware Update Process:
- Over-The-Air (OTA) Update Improvements:
- Important: The update process now automatically deletes the existing database before an upgrade to ensure a clean installation.
- Database Enhancements:
- Increased on-device historical data retention to 14 days. (Previously 5 days).
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Fault Management & Reporting:
- Delayed Alert Emission: Implemented delays for temperature and voltage related fault alerts in the main program logic. This helps reduce nuisance alarms by requiring a condition to persist before an alert is triggered.
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General Fixes & Package Updates:
- Package Maintenance: Various performance improvements.
Important Notes:
- Data retention during updates: The firmware update process for this version and subsequent versions has changed. The update process will now erase any locally stored historical data. This allows the device to increase data storage between updates, while maintaining sufficient free space on the device for the update process.
- Discover the new Analysis Tool: We highly encourage all users to explore the capabilities of the new on-device Analysis tool. Its comprehensive features offer deep insights into your system's operation.
This release delivers RV-C and J1939 enhancements, adds broader NMEA 2000 compatibility with RPM reporting, introduces new configuration options, and includes various improvements and package updates.
Key Improvements & New Features:
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RV-C and J1939 Enhancements:
- Data Broadcasting:
- Added Engine RPM broadcasting via CHASSIS_MOBILITY_STATUS, with "listen-before-talk" logic to avoid conflicts if already present on the network.
- Added Alternator RPM broadcasting using J1939 Alternator Status (0xFED5 / 65237).
- Added Field Drive % reporting derived from CHARGER_STATUS.
- Added Firmware Version reporting via J1939 SOFTWARE_ID (0xFEDA / 65242).
- Compatibility Fixes:
- Resolved issue where an NMEA 2000 VREG request could incorrectly trigger a response when the unit was configured for RV-C only.
- Implemented responses to global and directed Address Claim (DGN 0xEE00) requests to improve device discovery (also benefits NMEA 2000).
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NMEA 2000 Enhancements & Victron Integration Refinements:
- Broader RPM Compatibility: Added Engine RPM reporting via NMEA 2000 PGN 127488 (Engine Rapid) and Alternator RPM reporting via J1939 PGN 65237 (Alternator Speed) transmitted over N2K.
- Improved Victron Discovery & Interaction:
- Implemented responses to Address Claim (PGN 60928 / DGN 0xEE00) requests for faster recognition by Victron GX devices.
- Refined internal logic for handling Victron VREG commands and prioritization.
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Configuration & Application Logic:
- Alternator Current Limit: Added a configurable parameter to set an explicit current limit for the alternator output.
- Delayed Fault Emission: Current-related faults must now persist for 5 seconds before being reported, reducing nuisance alerts.
- Refactored Current Control: Internal application logic updated to separate alternator and battery current control for improved modularity.
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Dashboard & User Interface:
- Alternator Current Limit Display: Added display of the configured alternator current limit on the dashboard.
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System Maintenance:
- Package Updates: Updated various underlying packages.
- CAN Filtering: Updated internal software CAN filters.
Important Notes:
- Full end-to-end Victron NMEA2000 integration features (like DVCC control from the GX and Victron Lynx Smart BMS, full device visibility, VRM data population) require an upcoming Victron VenusOS release. We will update this note when Victron deploys the appropriate release.
- Ensure the correct protocol (NMEA 2000 or RV-C) is enabled in the Altion configuration settings for your system.
This release focuses heavily on enhancing the dashboard display with more target information, data source indicators, and improved robustness. It also includes usability improvements for configuration and several minor bug fixes.
Key Improvements & New Features:
Important Notes:
- No major configuration changes are required for this update, but users will benefit from the enhanced dashboard information and bug fixes.
This release significantly enhances Victron integration (including DVCC support, awaiting Victron release), expands support for dual alternator setups, improves the user interface, and includes bug fixes and stability improvements.
Key Improvements & New Features:
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Victron Integration Enhancements:
- DVCC (Distributed Voltage and Current Control) Support (Awaiting Victron Release): The regulator fully supports DVCC, allowing for coordinated charging control within a Victron system. Full DVCC functionality will be enabled automatically upon a corresponding Victron firmware release. This comprehensive support includes:
- Responding to VREG requests.
- Targeting DVCC-specified amperage rather than battery amperage.
- Dual alternator DVCC support (see below).
- Improved handling of Victron-specific PGNs.
- Faster and more consistent recognition by Victron Cerbo GX devices.
- Display of DVCC and alternator charging targets on the dashboard.
- "External Control" status reporting via PGN 127507 Charger Status.
- Implementation of Lynx Smart BMS VREGs and PGN.
- Dynamic Alternator Amperage Capacity: The regulator now dynamically adjusts the reported alternator amperage capacity based on real-time output levels.
- Improved Communication: NMEA 2000 string padding and address claiming.
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Dual Alternator Support:
- Configuration and Control: Added configuration options and control logic for a second alternator, including current shunt setup and independent addressing.
- Dual DVCC Implementation (Awaiting Victron Release): Full support for dual alternator control via DVCC, awaiting a corresponding Victron firmware update.
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User Interface Improvements:
- Modernized Dashboard: The dashboard has been redesigned for improved readability and aesthetics.
- Wi-Fi Network Selection: A new tool simplifies Wi-Fi network selection, showing available networks and signal strength.
- Enhanced Information Display: Added IP address and fault/charge cutoff details to Altion Max OLED display.
- Contextual Configuration UI: CAN bus details are now dynamically shown or hidden based on configuration.
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Improved Charge Control:
- Refined Logic: Improved charge cutoff logic and field charging algorithm.
- Expanded VREG Support: Added support for additional Victron VREGs for broader compatibility.
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System Stability and Bug Fixes:
- Improved Reliability: Improved data processing and configuration handling.
- Software Updates: Enhanced the software update process.
- Various Bug Fixes: Resolved multiple minor bugs to enhance performance and user experience.
Important Notes:
- Dual alternator functionality requires appropriate hardware and configuration.
- DVCC functionality is fully implemented on the regulator. Full system integration requires a future Victron GX device firmware update to enable DVCC for Altion devices. Set up and enable
Alternator shunt installed and NMEA 2000 in the Altion configuration to prepare your device for Victron DVCC support. This release note will be updated upon Victron's release.
This release focuses on integrating with Victron systems and making firmware updates easier and more reliable.
Key Improvements & New Features: