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allnameswereout is offline allnameswereout
2008-11-23 , 17:30
Posts: 3,397 | Thanked: 1,212 times | Joined on Jul 2008 @ Netherlands
#41
Originally Posted by Stuffguy View Post
Well, I finally got mine last night, and it's taking a bit of figuring.

The tablet (and Carman) recognize it as an OBD2 interface, and carman will connect to it for a few seconds before telling me "ODB2 disconnected"..

I've had very little time to poke at it, but it plugs in, transmits bluetooth, and carman (.7) at least sees it, but at this point, I've yet to get it doing what it's supposed to.

On an amusing note, it comes with the software from the car-pal (and the car-pal documentation) for windows, pocket pc, palm, etc..

*Update:
Well, I'm not much farther ahead - It still sees the unit (BTW, the pair code is "0000", if you get one), but disconnects after a few seconds. In the carman garage, it seems that the actual car-pal guys are having the same issue, so I posted my (looks useless to me) debug log to add to it. I'm hoping Matt has better luck than I, and that I've just got some out of date library file or the like. I can confirm that the DX unit is a bluetooth ODBII unit, but as far as working with carman 0.7.. Not yet for me..

Hey Matt; let me know how it goes for you...

To put it in debug mode, it's: carmand --log-level=debug > /my/card/my_log.txt (I used > /log.txt, but then you have to ssh into it to grab the file, instead of just plugging in the USB)
That starts the tray app in debug mode, and you've got to launch from there, but I didn't see any smoking guns around..
Is this when the car is on and running or is this when the car is off? I get the same, when the car is off. When the car is on, it works fine.
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speculatrix is offline speculatrix
2008-11-23 , 21:25
Posts: 880 | Thanked: 264 times | Joined on Feb 2007 @ Cambridge, UK
#42
I've got a 2L ford zetec and a 1.6L peugeot car, so am interested in comments about compatibility with these engines. sounds like this unit isn't going to tell me much about the ford engine from comments already made.
 
twaelti is offline twaelti
2008-11-24 , 09:12
Posts: 883 | Thanked: 980 times | Joined on Jul 2007 @ Bern, Switzerland
#43
My dongle came in last week, and I only tried it for a few minutes (Skoda Octavia 1.8T, 2001). Here is my take:
- Carman installation worked without a hitch
- Plugged in the dongle with engine off, was then able to pair the device and connect with Carman (used "0000" as bluetooth code)
- Turning on the engine disconnected the dongle from the tablet (might be because the dongle probably loses power for a moment during ignition)
- Was able to reconnect afterwards.
- Drove around a few yards to see if it works. It does.

Result:
- It works
- It looks very good
- It is a 99% useless gimick and application, mainly "just for shows". I'm left wondering what the practical use of this could be beside checking an engine fault code and if the time invested in Carman couldn't/shouldn't have gone into Canola instead... OTOH, showing off new application ideas probably IS the job of INDT, the app is "merely" a technology showcase and the position sharing over pidgin is awesome :-)
Last edited by twaelti; 2008-11-24 at 09:18.
 
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Red is offline Red
2008-11-24 , 10:44
Posts: 155 | Thanked: 63 times | Joined on May 2007 @ UK
#44
Is anyone doing this in the UK? I love the size of the dealextreme one; all the others I've been able to find are at least three times the size, and more expensive. Any recommendations?
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tz1's Avatar
tz1 is offline tz1
2008-11-24 , 13:52
Posts: 716 | Thanked: 236 times | Joined on Dec 2007
#45
Combined with a GPS or even not, it can track fuel economy, engine performance data (you should change oil more often if it never gets warmed up), speed, etc.

For compatibility, anything 1996 or later should have OBD-II support since it was mandated by most governments.

For a list of things it can tell you (there were some updates since I have a later ISP spec, but the main ones are early in the list anyway):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OBD-II_PIDs
Vehicles don't have to support any or all, but if yours has timing advance or manifold vacuum, it could be useful.

Beyond that is any existing bus traffic used to communicate between the modules and/or proprietary modes. For example, I don't have a Tach on my motorcycle, but can read the data on the engine bus (updated 16 times per second).
 
Stuffguy is offline Stuffguy
2008-11-24 , 23:01
Posts: 9 | Thanked: 4 times | Joined on Mar 2008
#46
Originally Posted by MattZTexasu View Post
I was able to try mine out today, and it works.

Here's what I did.
  • plugged the box into the odbII socket.
  • started my vehicle (Toyota - FJ Cruiser)
  • started carman
  • quit carman
  • went to settings in the apptray
  • paired the new device, and chose it for the odbII device selection.
  • launched carman from the apptray
  • went to the dials screen, and it was registering my RPM. I drove around the block and watched the dials move.
  • when I turned the vehicle off, it told me odbII disconnected.

I really hope that helps you diagnose your issue. It'd be nice if it worked well for everyone.
Ok. Switch me over to "confirmed working with carman".
 
cecil is offline cecil
2008-11-25 , 01:47
Posts: 32 | Thanked: 8 times | Joined on Sep 2008
#47
Originally Posted by twaelti View Post
- It is a 99% useless gimick and application, mainly "just for shows". I'm left wondering what the practical use of this could be beside checking an engine fault code...
I think I'm inclined to agree with you.

I have a few OBD II scanner tools but they all require a laptop. I keep a cable in each of my cars and I often have my laptop with me so if a CEL comes on I can check it immediately. For those times when I don't have a laptop, I also keep a CD with the software in the car in case I have access to someone else's computer.

When I saw this dongle, I immediately thought I would buy it because when I don't have a computer I usually have my tablet.

But then I thought... for the same price I can buy a standalone OBD II scanner. Leave it in the car and not ever be stuck having only one of 2 necessary components. I could then even lend the scanner out to friends if necessary.

Granted the cheap scanners might not track all of the same engine items like fuel trim, but the better ones will. If one is mechanically inclined enough to care about such things, it stands to reason that one would have a more purposeful tool that could do true logging. Checking it out on the fly 'just because' isn't very likely -- or a novelty.

If reading a car trouble code is the real purpose, it seems to me that a self contained OBD II tool is more practical.

Carman is cool. Glad it's around and thankful for the effort put into it... my opinion has nothing to do with the software. If the Bluetooth dongle were available cheaper, I'd go with it. But for the same price (sometimes a few $ more, sometimes less), I don't think it's the *better* choice.
 
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allnameswereout is offline allnameswereout
2008-11-25 , 21:05
Posts: 3,397 | Thanked: 1,212 times | Joined on Jul 2008 @ Netherlands
#48
Originally Posted by Red View Post
Is anyone doing this in the UK? I love the size of the dealextreme one; all the others I've been able to find are at least three times the size, and more expensive. Any recommendations?
For UK, http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=320313061278

30 GBP

Works. I have exactly this one.

I don't know if its big or not. I just used ducttape and hidden it well, under the steering wheel.
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Red is offline Red
2008-11-27 , 15:07
Posts: 155 | Thanked: 63 times | Joined on May 2007 @ UK
#49
Thanks for the link!
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Gujustud is offline Gujustud
2008-11-28 , 03:24
Posts: 32 | Thanked: 2 times | Joined on Oct 2007 @ Richmond, BC, CAN
#50
Glad to hear it's working for you guys, just put my order in.
 
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