The other day I got an email about this handy little device for making a quick check on what you have done. I’d forgotten about it until I read your post Saratoga.
Even at £90 for the software and £25 for a card reader, thats still £115 for something you don’t have any need for what-so-ever, in my opinion.
It isn’t the drivers responsibility to keep these records, it’s the firms. So, unless you are both, thats a days wages that could be spent on better things.
You can write everything you need to know into a diary, costing well under £10.
For £10 you’ll get am A5 size, day per page diary, with plenty of room to put in drops, times, breaks, etc. You’ll get change from that £10 too.
Getting a printout, or just scrolling through the “Display, Driver 1”, will tell you a summary of exactly how long you have driven, been on other work etc today. Thats what the gadget Coffeeholic has linked to, in the post above, will give you, among other things. So you can make a note of these in your records for the day. You can do that just as easily as downloading your card onto your computer.
A diary is much more accessible too, for checking on things during your working day. And, if it all goes pear shaped for some reason, you can write your notes in the diary at the time and have them to hand if it should become necessary later.
If it was true that the software was free and the card reader was the expensive item then getting one cheaper would have worked. However, with the price of the package still being at £100-£150 then it’s still out of my range.
As for the diary option, I’m already using that 
It’s got a section at the top to put the vehicle/company details and I can fill in the rest of my stops, breaks etc.
Now that I’m driving more restricted vehicles (54mph) than the unrestricted 7.5t’s (70mph) I need to take more care on my hours.
I already have spreadsheets to keep track of my weekly shifts. Of which I have no problem in making them available for other drivers to print and make use of. Perhaps I should start a new thread on that option too 
At least I tried, and the next time a driver thinks that they could do with the software themselves then they can at least read this post here and get the idea of prices.
I like Coffeeholic’s little reader, must ask VOSA for one for Crimbo.
On a serious note, I do a bit of agency work, mainly on analogue tacho’s. and have only used a digicard twice, last time nearly a year ago. ERRR, I have forgotten what to do after inserting the card. could some kind (non senile) soul give me a quick checklist please.
invincible guy:
I like Coffeeholic’s little reader, must ask VOSA for one for Crimbo.
On a serious note, I do a bit of agency work, mainly on analogue tacho’s. and have only used a digicard twice, last time nearly a year ago. ERRR, I have forgotten what to do after inserting the card. could some kind (non senile) soul give me a quick checklist please.
In the FAQ’s forum, you find this.
The TruckNet Guide to Digi-Tachos.
Simon:
invincible guy:
I like Coffeeholic’s little reader, must ask VOSA for one for Crimbo.
On a serious note, I do a bit of agency work, mainly on analogue tacho’s. and have only used a digicard twice, last time nearly a year ago. ERRR, I have forgotten what to do after inserting the card. could some kind (non senile) soul give me a quick checklist please.
In the FAQ’s forum, you find this.
The TruckNet Guide to Digi-Tachos.
You’ll also find this
tachograph:
Simon:
invincible guy:
I like Coffeeholic’s little reader, must ask VOSA for one for Crimbo.
On a serious note, I do a bit of agency work, mainly on analogue tacho’s. and have only used a digicard twice, last time nearly a year ago. ERRR, I have forgotten what to do after inserting the card. could some kind (non senile) soul give me a quick checklist please.
In the FAQ’s forum, you find this.
The TruckNet Guide to Digi-Tachos.You’ll also find this
■■? Links to the same page ■■
Simon:
tachograph:
Simon:
invincible guy:
I like Coffeeholic’s little reader, must ask VOSA for one for Crimbo.
On a serious note, I do a bit of agency work, mainly on analogue tacho’s. and have only used a digicard twice, last time nearly a year ago. ERRR, I have forgotten what to do after inserting the card. could some kind (non senile) soul give me a quick checklist please.
In the FAQ’s forum, you find this.
The TruckNet Guide to Digi-Tachos.You’ll also find this
■■? Links to the same page ■■
When I click your link it takes me to the forum index page.
Strange because I’ve just checked the properties of the link you posted and can see now that it’s the web address for the tutorial page http://trucknetuk.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=20451, I thought it was a bit unusual that you’d post a link to the forum index page instead of directly to the tutorial
Can’t understand why it’s taking me to http://trucknetuk.com/phpBB2/index.php though 
Probably a glitch on my machine
Thanks Simon & Tacho, just the job. Is it true you are required by law to carry enough paper■■?
invincible guy:
Thanks Simon & Tacho, just the job. Is it true you are required by law to carry enough paper■■?
Yes. What is enough isn’t defined and it would vary from job to job as multi drop with more changes of mode will produce a longer print out than say trunking. At our place the policy is one roll in the machine and two spares. That way if the one in the machine runs out you will still have one spare after you have replaced it until you can get another from the office.
Thanks Coffee, The “norm” seems to be, to put off replacing spares until the weekend for some reason, my system is to keep one for myself.
invincible guy:
Thanks Coffee, The “norm” seems to be, to put off replacing spares until the weekend for some reason, my system is to keep one for myself.
Wise move, the regulations lay the responsibility for having enough printout paper on both the employer and the driver.
Coffeeholic:
invincible guy:
Thanks Simon & Tacho, just the job. Is it true you are required by law to carry enough paper■■?
Yes. What is enough isn’t defined and it would vary from job to job as multi drop with more changes of mode will produce a longer print out than say trunking. At our place the policy is one roll in the machine and two spares. That way if the one in the machine runs out you will still have one spare after you have replaced it until you can get another from the office.
the latest regional RHA email had this in it :
Spare Printer Rolls
Members are reminded to make sure their drivers have spare digitac printer rolls in the cab with them. Failure to do so may attract a PG9.
Thanks Dennis, I suppose the next thing will be we have to pay for them too. I had to pay half for my Digi-card, just wondered how other drivers fared.
invincible guy:
Thanks Dennis, I suppose the next thing will be we have to pay for them too. I had tp pay half for my Digi-card, just wondered how other drivers fared.
Like most agency drivers I had to pay for the driver card myself.
aldi are selling card readers at £7.99 i think, dont know if they read a digi card though goin to get 1 later today, i’ll let you all know.
164480:
aldi are selling card readers at £7.99 i think, dont know if they read a digi card though goin to get 1 later today, i’ll let you all know.
Even if it can read the card you’ll need the right software to go with it.
been to aldi the card readers dont read digi cards so did’nt bother getting 1.
Bought this( CardMan CM3121 USB Heavy Base)
from card smart 30 quid with the postage it works perfectly then downloaded the drivers from tachomaster website, i had to use my companys acount and password to download it though, theres a link on saratogas post near the start of this topic,
try this smartcardfocus.com/shop/ilp/ … ndex.shtml