The Equipment Question
One of the most common questions before booking a Matrix activation: "What do I need to provide?" The short answer: not much. For a remote ODIS session, the customer's equipment requirements are minimal — the technical tools are on the service provider's side.
What You Need to Provide
1. Your Audi (Obviously)
The car needs to be:
- Stationary (parked, not driven during the session)
- Key-on (position II — accessories on — or engine running)
- In a location with internet access
- Battery at 12.4V or higher
2. Internet Connection
The pass-through interface connects to your network. Options:
- Home WiFi: Ideal. Stable, low-latency, no data limits.
- Phone hotspot: Works fine on LTE/5G. Ensure signal is stable where your car is parked.
- Ethernet via network extender: For cars parked in garages far from the router — a powerline adapter or range extender ensures WiFi reaches.
Minimum requirements: stable connection with >1 Mbps throughput and <100ms latency. Most home broadband and modern cellular easily exceed this.
3. A Battery Maintainer (Strongly Recommended)
The ODIS session takes 30–45 minutes with the ignition on. On most vehicles, this draws enough current to slightly reduce battery charge. A CTEK MXS 5.0 or similar battery maintainer connected during the session eliminates any risk of voltage drop interrupting the coding process.
This is especially important for:
- Vehicles with larger accessory loads (multiple screens, seat warmers, etc.)
- Vehicles with older batteries approaching end-of-life
- Cold weather sessions where battery output is reduced
What the Service Provides
Pass-Through Interface Hardware
The OBD-II pass-through interface is the bridge between your car and the remote ODIS session. This is a physical device that plugs into your car's OBD-II port and connects to your WiFi network.
Depending on the service:
- Provided by service: Some services ship an interface as part of the package — you keep it or return it after
- Customer-sourced: Some services require you to own or purchase a compatible interface
- Loaner model: Some services loan an interface and have it returned after the session
Ask German Orbit about the interface arrangement when booking — we'll confirm what's needed for your specific setup.
ODIS Software and Credentials
The ODIS software, VW Group PPN credentials, and SFD2 authorization access are all on the technician's side. You don't download anything, you don't need a laptop, and you don't need any specialized software.
OBD-II Port Location by Model
| Model | OBD-II Port Location |
|---|---|
| A3 8Y, A4 B9, A5 B9 | Under driver's dash, left of steering column |
| Q5 FY, Q7 4M | Under driver's dash, may be behind trim panel |
| Q8 4M | Under driver's dash, accessible without tools |
| A6 C8, A7 C8, A8 D5 | Under driver's dash, standard location |
| e-tron GE | Under driver's dash, standard location |
On most vehicles, the OBD-II port is accessible without removing any panels. On some models it's behind a small plastic cover that pops off easily.
DoIP Vehicles: Additional Interface Requirement
For 2024+ vehicles on the PPE platform (Q6 e-tron) and some updated Q8 e-tron builds, a DoIP-capable interface is required in addition to standard OBD-II compatibility. Standard OBD-II interfaces cannot communicate with all modules on DoIP vehicles. German Orbit confirms interface requirements for your VIN before scheduling.
Preparation Checklist
- ✓ Locate OBD-II port before session day
- ✓ Verify WiFi signal reaches your car's location
- ✓ Charge battery to >12.4V (or connect maintainer)
- ✓ Confirm interface compatibility (German Orbit provides this guidance)
- ✓ Block out 45–60 minutes (includes connection setup time)