FeedComp Troubleshooting
Use this section to identify and resolve common FeedComp issues.
Before running through full troubleshooting, try these quick steps:
1. Check the scale status
- In FeedComp, tap your User Profile icon in the top-right corner, then tap Settings.
- Locate the Connected Scale section:
- Red (disconnnected): FeedComp remembers the scale but can't reach it right now. Continue with the steps below.
- Blue: The scale is connected. You don't need to do anything else.
- Blank: FeedComp doesn't have a saved scale. This is a different issue, so skip this flow and contact VAS Support.
2. Move close to the scale
- Hold the phone or tablet very close to the scale, especially if the scale is inside an enclosure.
3. Restart the app and the scale (follow this exact order)
- Fully close FeedComp.
- Power OFF the scale.
- Wait 5 seconds.
- Power the scale back ON.
- Wait 5 seconds.
- Open FeedComp again.
4. Let FeedComp reconnect on its own
- Go to User Profile > Settings and watch the Connected Scale section.
- Stay on this screen and leave the device untouched for up to 1 minute:
- Do not tap "Switch Scale" (this stops the automatic reconnection).
- Do not change screens or minimize the app.
- Do not pull down the notification shade.
- When the status changes from Red to Blue, the scale is reconnected.
5. If it still doesn't connect
If the status is still Red after 1 minute, note the following and share it with VAS Support:
- About how far you were from the scale
- About what time the connection failed
Then continue with the detailed troubleshooting steps below.
flowchart TD
Start([Scale Disconnected]) --> S1[1. Open FeedComp<br>Profile > Settings<br>Check Connected Scale]
S1 -->|BLUE| Done([Connected<br>Ready to Feed])
S1 -->|RED / offline| S2[2. Move close to the scale]
S2 --> S3[3. Restart in this order<br>• Fully close FeedComp<br>• Scale OFF, wait 5 sec<br>• Scale ON, wait 5 sec<br>• Open FeedComp]
S3 --> S4[4. Profile > Settings<br>Wait up to 1 minute untouched<br>Do NOT tap Switch Scale<br>Do NOT minimize the app<br>Do NOT open notifications]
S4 -->|Turns BLUE| Done
S4 -->|Still RED| S5[5. Note distance + time<br>Share with VAS Support<br>Then follow the full troubleshooting guide]
classDef blue fill:#deebff,stroke:#0747a6,stroke-width:2px,color:#0747a6;
classDef red fill:#ffebe6,stroke:#de350b,stroke-width:2px,color:#de350b;
classDef green fill:#e3fcef,stroke:#006644,stroke-width:2px,color:#006644;
classDef gray fill:#f4f5f7,stroke:#5e6c84,stroke-width:2px,color:#172b4d;
class Done green;
class S4 red;
class S1,S2,S3 blue;
class S5 gray;Understanding Scale Bluetooth Behavior
- Topcon Digi-Star Scales: Support only one active Bluetooth connection at a time. If Bluetooth disconnects improperly (for example, if the tablet is turned off mid-feeding or moved out of range), the Topcon scale may still believe it is connected and will stop advertising itself over Bluetooth. When this happens, no tablet can detect the scale until the scale is power-cycled.
- Scale-Tec POINT Scales: Support multiple connections and continue advertising even after sudden disconnects.
Step-by Step Troubleshooting
1. Check Android Location Permissions (Most Common Cause on Android): Android requires Location access for Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) scanning. If permissions are set to "Allow once" or disabled, the app cannot detect or pair with the scale.
- Go to Android Settings > Apps > FeedComp > Permissions > Location.
- Set permission to Allow only while using the app (or Allow all the time).
- Toggle Use precise location to ON.
- Return to the FeedComp App Info screen and toggle Remove permissions if app is unused (or Pause app activity if unused) to OFF.
2. Check Proximity:
- Keep the phone or tablet within 25 ft (8–9 m) of the scale head unit. (If the scale is inside a metal cab enclosure, move closer during pairing).
3. Perform a Full Bluetooth & Scale Reset (Follow in this exact order):
- Turn the scale head unit OFF.
- Force stop the FeedComp app:
- Android: Go to Settings > Apps > FeedComp and tap Force stop. (Swiping the app away in the recent apps / task switcher does not reset background Bluetooth services).
- iOS: Swipe up into the App Switcher, swipe FeedComp away, and ensure it is fully closed.
- Turn Bluetooth OFF in the tablet settings, wait 5 seconds, then turn Bluetooth back ON.
- Check for other devices: Ensure no other nearby phone or tablet is currently connected to the scale. If another tablet was used previously, turn Bluetooth OFF on that tablet.
- Turn the scale head unit back ON.
- Wait 5 seconds before opening the app (this gives the scale time to boot and begin broadcasting Bluetooth advertisement packets).
- Open FeedComp and let the app auto-connect.
4. Make sure the app language is set to English:
- Some scale models fail to pair when the app is set to another language.
- Tap on the language/profile icon in the top right corner to select English.
5. Verify roles in Loader View:
- If using Loader View, confirm each device has been assigned a distinct equipment type.
6. Verify scale head firmware is up to date:
- Check firmware using the scale manufacturer's native app (Scale-Tec or Digi-Star) before launching FeedComp.
- Topcon Digi-Star Scale: Contact VAS Support.
- Scale-Tec POINT Scale: Connect the device to the internet. Open the POINT app; it will automatically notify you if a firmware update is available. Follow the on-screen prompts to install the update.
⚠️ IMPORTANT: Do not uninstall and reinstall the FeedComp app to resolve scale connection drops. Reinstalling resets Android permissions and permanently deletes on-device logs needed for troubleshooting. Always verify OS permissions directly.
If the Topcon scale doesn't appear in the Bluetooth device list after you turn the phone's Bluetooth off and back on:
- Don't keep tapping Refresh.
- Power OFF the Topcon scale.
- Wait about 5 seconds.
- Power the Topcon scale back ON.
- Wait a few seconds for the scale to start.
- Tap Refresh again.
If the feed tractor passes near a WiFi location, the tablet can auto-connect to that WiFi, triggering a data refresh, and the app may freeze mid-feeding.
- Use FeedComp in Offline Mode by turning off WiFi on the device before starting any feeding. This is the primary workaround.
- Android: Swipe down and toggle off WiFi or go to
Settings, then select Connections and toggle off WiFi.
- iOS: Go to Settings, then select WiFi and toggle it off.
NOTE: For the best experience, we recommend maintaining a data connection during feeding. If your feed bunk or mixing area lacks coverage, a cellular tablet or WiFi range extender can help. See the Pre-Installation ChecklistPre-Installation Checklist for details.
- If WiFi can't be disabled, avoid feeding routes that go through areas with WiFi coverage.
- Check that no device restrictions (battery saver, low power mode) are active — these can reduce Bluetooth range and reliability.
- Android: Go to Settings, then select Battery and toggle off Power Saving.
- iOS: Go to Settings, then select Battery and toggle off Low Power Mode.
After pairing successfully, the Bluetooth connection doesn't persist between each feeding session, and you need to re-pair the device before feeding can begin:
- Verify Android Location Permissions (Most Common Cause):
- Open Android Settings > Apps > FeedComp > Permissions > Location.
- Make sure permission is set to Allow only while using the app (or Allow all the time). If it is set to "Ask every time" or "Only this time," Android revokes access when the app closes or restarts, which breaks auto-reconnection.
- Make sure Use precise location is toggled ON.
- Tap the back arrow to return to the FeedComp App Info screen and make sure Remove permissions if app is unused (or Pause app activity if unused) is toggled OFF.
- Restart the App Properly:
- After updating permissions, force-stop the app by going to Android Settings > Apps > FeedComp > Force stop, then reopen FeedComp.
- Note: Simply swiping the app away in the recent apps / task switcher does not restart the background Bluetooth connection service.
- Check Scale Power and Range:
- Confirm the scale indicator is powered on and within Bluetooth range (under 30 ft / 9 m).
- Verify the correct mixer/truck is selected in the FeedComp app.
⚠️ IMPORTANT: Do not uninstall and reinstall the FeedComp app to fix this issue. Reinstalling resets the permission prompt, which will reintroduce the problem if "Allow once" is selected again. Always verify the Android OS permission settings directly..
This is almost always a physical hardware issue, not an app issue.
- Check the physical load cell cable connections at the mixer and junction box — loose or corroded wiring is the most common cause.
- Inspect the mixer for rusted wires at the junction box; if corroded, a farm mechanic should replace them (risk of breakage).
- Verify the scale head's Display Count setting is set to C1 (not C0) to prevent invalid values from syncing (Scale-Tec POINT ScaleScale-Tec POINT Scale only).
- Confirm the scale is not stuck in Gross/Net lock mode — toggle back to Gross if needed.
- Topcon Digi-Star Scale: The T/R button toggles between Net and Gross each time you press it. On the scale, check the flashing arrow on the side of the display points to GROSS, which allows the display to show the total weight.
- Scale-Tec POINT scale: Press the square stop button (■) on the POINT scale to place it back into Gross Mode.
- Check that the scale isn't in Hold mode. To resolve this, see Scale is stuck in "Hold" mode below.
Scales can enter a hardware-level Hold that conflicts with the FeedComp pause function.
- In the FeedComp app, verify the Pause icon ("On Hold" button) is no longer active. It should only display during the loading and dropping phases. When tapped, the connected scale enters "On Hold" mode.
- Check the Hold settings on the scale:
- Topcon Digi-star Scale: For help, view Configure Scale Settings for Topcon Digi-Star ScalesConfigure Scale Settings for Topcon Digi-Star Scales.
- Scale-Tec POINT Scale: Press the square stop button (■) on the scale head. The scale should return to Gross Mode and the weight will begin updating live again.
- If the scale won't leave "On Hold" mode, turn the scale off and back on, then reconnect via Bluetooth.
If you continue to experience bouncing weights, delayed stabilization, or premature auto-advances with your Topcon Digi-Star scale, Contact Us to adjust your scale settings remotely. VAS can adjust motion filter settings per scale from our side, and no changes to the scale head or on-site equipment are needed.
- Ensure the mixer is on level ground and the mixer's load cells are evenly seated.
- Review the mixer's physical mounting and scale sensitivity — this is typically a dealer/hardware configuration issue, not a FeedComp issue.
- Contact the scale manufacturer to review and adjust the scale's filtering and dampening settings.
⚠️ IMPORTANT: Tapping "Continue" immediately closes the load and updates inventory — there's no undo.
This is not a scale hardware issue, but this directly alters the scale reading during a feeding if Continue is tapped before the scale reads zero.
- Before tapping Continue, confirm the feed has been fully dropped.
- Check that the scale reads zero (or the desired remaining weight).
If you use a Topcon Digi-Star scale, make sure that the mixer's Drop Tolerance is set to a minimum value of 1 in the Equipment settings.
When the mixer is within the Drop Tolerance threshold and no additional weight is detected, FeedComp automatically advances to the next pen or completes the load if it’s the final pen.
⚠️ IMPORTANT: If 0 is the Drop Tolerance value, FeedComp may not complete drops correctly.
To update your mixer's Drop Tolerance:
- Tap Adjustments > Equipment.
- Select the mixer.
- Tap Edit Equipment.
- Enter the new Drop Tolerance.
- Tap Save.
Follow these steps to troubleshoot and restore the connection and ensure your feeding data is saved:
- Check Internet Connectivity: Ensure the mobile device has an active WiFi or cellular network connection. Open a web browser on the device to verify access.
- Force a Manual Sync: Open the FeedComp app and navigate to the main dashboard. If the app is open but not syncing, try closing the app completely and restarting it to trigger a new connection.
- Verify App Version: Ensure you are running the latest version of the FeedComp app. Outdated versions may fail to send the required heartbeat data to PULSE.
- Review Power Settings: Ensure the device is not in a "Low Power" or "Battery Saver" mode that might be restricting background data usage or preventing the app from communicating with the cloud.
⚠️ IMPORTANT: Always download and share device logs BEFORE uninstalling or force-clearing app storage. Uninstalling FeedComp completely wipes the local log files required by engineering to diagnose connection issues.
- Open FeedComp on your device and tap the profile icon in the top-right corner.
- Scroll to the bottom of the profile page to the App Version section, located just above the Sign Out button.
- Tap the version number. A message confirms the logs were saved to the device.
- Open the device Files app.
TIP: Use the search feature in the app list to fine "files" if the icon is not on the home screen.
- Navigate to the Downloads folder, typically found under Internal Storage.
- Locate the log file. The filename uses this format: FC_[IntegrationID]_Device_logs_[Date]T[Time].txt
- Coordinate sharing the log file with Support or email it to: fwsupport@vas.
NOTE: Log files are only stored on the device for approximately 48 hours. Share them with VAS Support as soon as possible after encountering an issue.