Fogstar Drift App

[headlight]

Anybody having problems with the app ?
I received 2 x 105AH Fogstar Drifts today.
I down loaded the app on to my phone but no matter what I do my phone just searches and searches and doesn't connect.
I have also down loaded the app on to my tablet but that won't connect either.
I have Bluetooth and location turned on on both devices and have uninstalled and re-installed the app several times on both devices but still no joy.
I can connect to other devices via Bluetooth no problem.

 

[Bat21]

That Renogy arrangement is ridiculous, by the end of the winter a stored battery left off charge could be flat and ruined.

In all fairness the batteries can be 'switched off' in cold weather, this will prevent the heating pads from warming up.

 

[MichaelT]

Nothing wrong with the batteries, is there any data to prove your comments? It’s a bit unfair to state this without any evidence it could be that Fogstar have sold three times as many batteries to folk on the forum and that would give a false sense of problems as against other less popular manufactures? We need balanced info

Just the number of posts about them. I know they are cheap and probably same inside as the rest of them and maybe it is just the app. I don't have time to trawl through all the posts but its just a feeling.

Edit: I just did a quick search for Fogstar, KS Energy & Renogy Batteries for titles only. Fogstar had 3 pages the others less than 1. Now some of the fogstar were for black friday and other sales plus a review so maybe not scientific but the others were also asking about anyone fitted them but only 1 fault for KS. As I said not scientific and more of a feeling. Maybe the app is too much, for most users just monitoring the SOC etc. is enough and having lots of parameters you can change and having to set it up to accept a charge or allow to be discharged are too much but i understand the reasons for some settings.

 

[headlight]

I’ve had a 300a Fogstar Drift Pro since September and app works fine

Can I ask what device you are running the app on please ?

 

[Vansflyer]

I've just spoken to Fogstar who can't explain why I can't connect to their app but have suggested a few things to try which I will try in a bit.
This is all the Fogstar app does except for occasionally detecting my bedroom TV.

View attachment 839594

This is exactly what my Note 9 does if I have been in the app, come out of it for a while but leaving it open. It needs a "force quit" or manually close the app and it then works first time when I open it up next.

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[Fogstar]

Not the same inside, ours are better. We're the only manufacturer that deals with the prismatic cell manufacturer directly. It is true, that we have to use a Bluetooth Low Energy module, whereas Victron etc do not have to use these, they can use normal Bluetooth modules. Power consideration doesn't have to be a factor for device retailers, it does for us. We can't have a module that uses a lot of power, if we did, customers would be coming back to their motorhomes after winter to a dead battery.

 

[headlight]

This is exactly what my Note 9 does if I have been in the app, come out of it for a while but leaving it open. It needs a "force quit" or manually close the app and it then works first time when I open it up next.

I've been doing force stop and uninstalling and re-installing the app since yesterday lunchtime, also turning Bluetooth and location on and off and forget paired devices, although it has never paired, with no luck

 

[Vansflyer]

I've been doing force stop and uninstalling and re-installing the app since yesterday lunchtime, also turning Bluetooth and location on and off and forget paired devices, although it has never paired, with no luck

I am out of ideas sadly... what phone's are you using out of interest?

 

[Fogstar]

But the Bluetooth module doesn't know you've forced quit. It still thinks you are connected, so does not broadcast to other devices. This is usually fine, as then you reconnect from the exact same device, and all is well. The issue arises when you then try 16 new devices and it can't see the module, as it's still connected to the one you've forced quit.

 

[headlight]

I am out of ideas sadly... what phone's are you using out of interest?

Huawei and Samsung phones and 2 Samsung tablets.

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[headlight]

But the Bluetooth module doesn't know you've forced quit. It still thinks you are connected, so does not broadcast to other devices. This is usually fine, as then you reconnect from the exact same device, and all is well. The issue arises when you then try 16 new devices and it can't see the module, as it's still connected to the one you've forced quit.

Surely if I've uninstalled the app, turned Bluetooth off and 'forgotten' all paired devices then I'm not still connected ?

 

[MichaelT]

But the Bluetooth module doesn't know you've forced quit. It still thinks you are connected, so does not broadcast to other devices. This is usually fine, as then you reconnect from the exact same device, and all is well. The issue arises when you then try 16 new devices and it can't see the module, as it's still connected to the one you've forced quit.

So as the OP cannot connect does it still think its connected to a BT device in your workshop as he has never connected as far as I can read?

 

[Lenny HB]

Nice to see Fogstar have joined Fun.

 

[Vansflyer]

But the Bluetooth module doesn't know you've forced quit. It still thinks you are connected, so does not broadcast to other devices. This is usually fine, as then you reconnect from the exact same device, and all is well. The issue arises when you then try 16 new devices and it can't see the module, as it's still connected to the one you've forced quit.

I understand the BMS locking on to a device, and once it has 16 BT connections how do you reset it and forget all the previous connections or does it time out after xx mins? If so how come the other App connected to the BMS? Just trying to get some clarity here in case the issue arrises with others.

 

[MisterB]

how far away are you from the battery when trying to connect and how many connections are you trying to make? is it worth deleting everything and trying to start from fresh? i have to be fairly near the battery to connect via bluetooth and mine sometimes doesnt connect and then next time it does. as i stated earlier, to me the monitoring part is just a new toy to play with, after a while you will just forget it.

if youve ever looked at the tear down on youtube, you will see exactly whats inside and the honest opinion of the guy who did the tear down.

Vansflyer - i havent seen many other posts about an issue with bluetooth, could it be user error? i know how frustrating it is when something like that happens - sometimes too often in my case LOL!!

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[headlight]

how far away are you from the battery when trying to connect and how many connections are you trying to make? is it worth deleting everything and trying to start from fresh? i have to be fairly near the battery to connect via bluetooth and mine sometimes doesnt connect and then next time it does. as i stated earlier, to me the monitoring part is just a new toy to play with, after a while you will just forget it.

if youve ever looked at the tear down on youtube, you will see exactly whats inside and the honest opinion of the guy who did the tear down.

Vansflyer - i havent seen many other posts about an issue with bluetooth, could it be user error? i know how frustrating it is when something like that happens - sometimes too often in my case LOL!!

I have deleted everything and started from fresh numerous times.
I have tried connecting with the device actually resting on the top of the battery so I can't get it any nearer.
Agreed that once I've had a trip or 2 with the batteries I will just use my Victron smart shunt to see what is going on.
Luckily the app Fogstar sent me to try this morning seems to work fine so I have been able to see how the batteries are after their first initial charge and all seems fine

 

[Brianmor]

Just to go against some of the negative Fogstar thoughts doing the rounds at the moment. my drift 105AH has been installed for 8 months, a couple of very minor parameter issues were dealt with quickly.
So for me a for Fogstar

 

[headlight]

how far away are you from the battery when trying to connect and how many connections are you trying to make? is it worth deleting everything and trying to start from fresh? i have to be fairly near the battery to connect via bluetooth and mine sometimes doesnt connect and then next time it does. as i stated earlier, to me the monitoring part is just a new toy to play with, after a while you will just forget it.

if youve ever looked at the tear down on youtube, you will see exactly whats inside and the honest opinion of the guy who did the tear down.

Vansflyer - i havent seen many other posts about an issue with bluetooth, could it be user error? i know how frustrating it is when something like that happens - sometimes too often in my case LOL!!

This video ?

 

[Speve]

Can I ask what device you are running the app on please ?

iPhone 13 and iPad Pro

 

[headlight]

iPhone 13 and iPad Pro

I am hoping to try an iPhone this weekend just to see if that will work as what I've tried so far have all been android devices.

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[Speve]

I am hoping to try an iPhone this weekend just to see if that will work as what I've tried so far have all been android devices.

I have only ever used IOS and it works fine hope you get it sorted

 

[Vansflyer]

how far away are you from the battery when trying to connect and how many connections are you trying to make? is it worth deleting everything and trying to start from fresh? i have to be fairly near the battery to connect via bluetooth and mine sometimes doesnt connect and then next time it does. as i stated earlier, to me the monitoring part is just a new toy to play with, after a while you will just forget it.

if youve ever looked at the tear down on youtube, you will see exactly whats inside and the honest opinion of the guy who did the tear down.

Vansflyer - i havent seen many other posts about an issue with bluetooth, could it be user error? i know how frustrating it is when something like that happens - sometimes too often in my case LOL!!

The issue seems to be with the Android app and the open platform that it sort of is. Apple stuff is more consistent with this stuff as they tie it down a heck of a lot more. EG: you cannot get a WiFi sniffer app on Apple as IOS doesn't allow anything other than Apple stuff to access WiFi, this may have changed but for sure it was the case for many years.
As I said in a previous post Bluetooth is not a standard and different manufacturers use different parts of it. EG: Sony would never stream track title or artist via BT, Samsung would. Older VW cars would only connect via RSAP to phones... complicated stuff.
I guess the BT in the BMS is getting locked up somehow or the phone doesn't like the app for a weird reason. Apple is IOS, that is is and no variation. Android is an operating system each manufacturer can "fiddle with" so every variant can't be checked by Fogstar or anyone else making an App.
FYI if I am having issues with stuff like this I will delete the app and reboot the phone before I try the app again. They have a nasty habit of remembering previous permissions / connections even when deleted... just as they can turn on data and wifi even if you set them to be off!! Sometimes too much tech can be a problem..

 

[headlight]

The issue seems to be with the Android app and the open platform that it sort of is. Apple stuff is more consistent with this stuff as they tie it down a heck of a lot more. EG: you cannot get a WiFi sniffer app on Apple as IOS doesn't allow anything other than Apple stuff to access WiFi, this may have changed but for sure it was the case for many years.
As I said in a previous post Bluetooth is not a standard and different manufacturers use different parts of it. EG: Sony would never stream track title or artist via BT, Samsung would. Older VW cars would only connect via RSAP to phones... complicated stuff.
I guess the BT in the BMS is getting locked up somehow or the phone doesn't like the app for a weird reason. Apple is IOS, that is is and no variation. Android is an operating system each manufacturer can "fiddle with" so every variant can't be checked by Fogstar or anyone else making an App.
FYI if I am having issues with stuff like this I will delete the app and reboot the phone before I try the app again. They have a nasty habit of remembering previous permissions / connections even when deleted... just as they can turn on data and wifi even if you set them to be off!! Sometimes too much tech can be a problem..

Yes I've rebooted the phone and tablet on numerous occasions with no joy.

 

[Al n Val]

Hmmm so FogStar own app is no good but some other app is good and works better with their batteries… that doesn’t sound good does it… are these batteries fit for purpose because if I had the same problem as you yesterday I would have taken them back and chucked them at them…

my 2 Fogstar Drift 280ah batteries are brilliant and the app works everytime

“Are these batteries fit for purpose”

Mine are

 

[headlight]

my 2 Fogstar Drift 280ah batteries are brilliant and the app works everytime

“Are these batteries fit for purpose”

Mine are

If you don't mind me asking, what are you using the app on and is it android or ios ?

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[Speve]

Hmmm so FogStar own app is no good but some other app is good and works better with their batteries… that doesn’t sound good does it… are these batteries fit for purpose because if I had the same problem as you yesterday I would have taken them back and chucked them at them…

Bit of an unfair statement the batteries are fit for purpose as stated by several folk on this thread
perhaps the Android app needs a little adjustment but that does not justify criticising Fogstar particularly if you haven’t tried one

 

[Brianmor]

If you don't mind me asking, what are you using the app on and is it android or ios ?

I use mine on a pixel 6 phone and a Samsung 7 tablet and have never had a problem on either

 

[headlight]

Fogstar did say that my Huawei phone might only have Bluetooth 4 as opposed to 5 due to its age and that that could be a problem but said that that didn't explain why neither of the Samsung Tab 8's or the other half's Samsung phone wouldn't work as they are all Bluetooth 5.

 

[Speve]

Fogstar did say that my Huawei phone might only have Bluetooth 4 as opposed to 5 due to its age and that that could be a problem but said that that didn't explain why neither of the Samsung Tab 8's or the other half's Samsung phone wouldn't work as they are all Bluetooth 5.

I’ve just checked and my iphone13 phone and iPad Pro are both bluetooth 5

 

[AdrianChen]

I did hear once (I think) that bluetooth and WIFI signals can interact - might be worth a try with wifi turned off on the phone?

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[Al n Val]

If you don't mind me asking, what are you using the app on and is it android or ios ?

I use Apple only so mines a 13pro, been no probs from day 1, I even connected to both batteries before I opened the boxes tbh

I do believe though the app itself doesn’t always give the correct results, i’ve thought this while and it’s confirmed my thoughts only this morning

We arrived here yesterday morning having not been on hookup for over a week, battery 1 was at 34% and 2 was at 47%.

This morning after being on hookup overnight batt 1 79%, batt 2 100%, this was about 8.30am

I checked again at 9.30am and both batteries were showing 100%

Batt 1 always shows that it’s lower than 2 and i’ve no idea why, they are wired in parallel so imho should discharge equally

But what do I know