Start
Connection
ENET cable, Ethernet interface and network setup.
Hanterill connects to supported cars through a standard ENET cable. The same cable works across supported models, including Volvo EX30, Polestar 4 and Zeekr. The car's central gateway receives the app's requests and passes them to the appropriate control unit. This page covers the connection and what to check when it fails.
How the physical connection works#
When you plug an ENET cable between your car's OBD-II port and your computer's Ethernet adapter, three things happen in order:
- The car detects the connection: The same ENET cable connects supported models to your computer. Keep the car awake so its diagnostic connection is available.
- Both sides pick local network addresses automatically: Neither your laptop nor your car runs a home router (DHCP server). Instead, after a few seconds of waiting, both your computer and the car automatically pick link-local IP addresses in the
169.254.x.xrange. Your computer's operating system will often call this a "Self-assigned IP" or "Unidentified network with no internet access". That is completely normal and is exactly what the car expects. - Hanterill opens the connection: The car's gateway accepts the connection and passes requests to the battery, brake and other control units.
requestdiscover vehicle and activate diagnostic routing
- Computer169.254.x.x link-local
- ENET cablesame cable for supported models
- Vehicle gatewayCEM / VGM on port 13400
- Control unitsBattery, brakes, climate, body
responserouting active, ready to read modules
Step-by-step connection in the app#
- Plug in: Connect the OBD-II plug under the driver's dashboard and the RJ45 plug to your computer.
- Wake the car: Sit in the driver's seat or press the brake pedal so the dashboard wakes up.
- Pick your Ethernet adapter: On the Connection screen in Hanterill, select your wired Ethernet adapter. The app automatically ranks wired adapters with a
169.254.x.xaddress at the top and filters out Wi-Fi, VPN, and virtual adapters. - Click Find vehicle:
- Hanterill first sends a discovery broadcast on the cable asking any vehicle gateway to announce its VIN and address.
- If no broadcast reply arrives within the timeout window (which is common on newer SEA-platform cars like the Volvo EX30, Polestar 4, and Zeekr models that stay silent on broadcast), Hanterill automatically tries connecting directly to the platform's standard gateway addresses (
169.254.19.1and169.254.1.1) so you do not have to type IP addresses by hand.
- Click Connect: Hanterill activates routing with the gateway, identifies the vehicle platform, and displays Connected.
Understanding the live connection log and status badges#
While connecting, the Connection screen shows a live, plain-language status log so you never have to guess why a connection is waiting:
| Status shown in the app | What it means in plain language | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Waiting for network address (DHCP) | Your computer just detected the cable and is still waiting a few seconds to see if a home router is present before picking its 169.254.x.x address. | Wait 5 to 10 seconds and click Find vehicle again. |
| Link down / No carrier | The Ethernet adapter sees no electrical signal from the car. | Check that the car is awake, both plugs are seated and your computer's Ethernet adapter is connected. |
| Port closed on gateway | The car is on the network, but its diagnostic port is currently asleep or refused the connection. | Wake the dashboard (press the brake pedal or turn ignition on) and try again. |
| Unreadable traffic | Data arrived on the wire that is not valid diagnostic traffic. | Disconnect any VPN client or virtual network bridge that may be intercepting local traffic. |
| Connected (DoIP) | Routing is active and the car's gateway is ready to answer diagnostic requests. | Proceed to Overview, Battery Health, or Fault Codes. |
Automatic recovery if the car briefly drops the link#
Vehicle gateways close idle connections if no message is sent for several seconds, or if a module restarts during a fault-code clear. Hanterill handles both automatically:
- Automatic keep-alive: While you are connected, Hanterill sends a lightweight heartbeat in the background so the car's gateway does not fall asleep while you are reading a screen.
- Automatic reconnect: If a module reboot or brief voltage dip interrupts the connection during a scan, Hanterill waits a moment, re-opens the diagnostic channel, and continues without losing the work already collected.
Released builds connect to real vehicles only. The website has sample readings, but the app has no demo vehicle mode.