Help Please - Choosing a USB OBD II Device

**Cybergeek** · 05-11-2008, 09:27 PM

Originally Posted by dbanerian

I recently purchased the elm327 from an ebay site for $34 w/shipping (but-it-now cost). As far as double buffering??? - don't

see any with real-time updates. Interfacing to XP OS is simple and used scantool.net free version for code reading and real-time diagnostics. Read earlier that the ProScan 5.1 software is good, but interested if anyone else some ideas on the best software under $100???

Dave

I'm sorry I don't understand did you like your ELM from ebay? See the way I look at it as long as it works it's all good, no need to spend hundreds of dollars and if it does die well its only 40 bucks at least you can say you did what you had to.

**jash7** · 05-11-2008, 09:36 PM

i just bought an obdpros scanner and couldn't be happier with it. it works very well.

i noticed the seller is in china, and i think i read somewhere that they have a machine that can scan a chip and reproduce it cheaply, that might be what this is. (just a thought)

in any case, it's worth the extra twenty or thirty dollars to get one from a reputable company. good choice.

**Cybergeek** · 05-11-2008, 10:44 PM

Originally Posted by jash7

i noticed the seller is in china, and i think i read somewhere that they have a machine that can scan a chip and reproduce it cheaply, that might be what this is. (just a thought)

I heard something like that too

**nblracer** · 05-12-2008, 07:46 AM

hate to spam this around, but in this thread i also was looking for a obd and can interface tool. http://www.mp3car.com/vbulletin/engi...d-can-bus.html

Main problem, my obd connector does not have any CAN-bus, from what i see. But i know my car has both p-bus and i-bus running on the can network, What should i do? shout i tap and re rout a few wires back to the connector. Secondly what is the best all around tool for CAN and OBD for a 99 Saab 9-5? what if i was on a budget what would you recomend?

**michbound** · 05-12-2008, 09:38 AM

nblracer,

rerouting wires might not help as some of the can buses are single wire and will not work with the 2 wire scantools, can you list out what pins are populated on the OBD II connector, if the vehicle is a 99 Saab I suspect it might be using the ISO protocol for OBD II and not the CAN protocol.

Paul
www.obdpros.com

**dbanerian** · 05-12-2008, 09:50 PM

Very happy with the ELM327 v 1.2a performance of the $34 interface. Used it on three different autos any locks right on, and yes I'm pleased. As far as Chinese knock-offs, scanning chips and making dups - thinks that's a stretch. The chip in this device is the ELM chip and even if it's a manufactured part through some other company - so what this is the norm in the semiconductor industry - they simply buy the die designs and fab it themselves. The web site I purchased it from is:

http://motors.search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZtangxiaorui2000

Dave

**Dwaine** · 06-03-2008, 05:39 AM

I just bought the same device off e-bay. I will test it out in an auto shop and get back to everyone. The shop is using the odbpro module and it works great. So it will be a good comparison between both modules.

I remember coming to the shop with the obdpro module. The tech's laughed their heads off. Not a Hunter or Snap-on hardware device, but it's worked great so far. The module has reset various computer check engine lights that their old snap-on module could not.

It's also working great for the CAN vehicles.

**Cybergeek** · 06-03-2008, 11:44 AM

I bought this device and it works good I also have Proscan software and I was supprised at the 0-60 times it gives me and all the other info. Overall I'm happpy with it but if there is something I dont know about it let me know please.

**michbound** · 06-03-2008, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by dbanerian

Very happy with the ELM327 v 1.2a performance of the $34 interface. Used it on three different autos any locks right on, and yes I'm pleased. As far as Chinese knock-offs, scanning chips and making dups - thinks that's a stretch. The chip in this device is the ELM chip and even if it's a manufactured part through some other company - so what this is the norm in the semiconductor industry - they simply buy the die designs and fab it themselves. The web site I purchased it from is:

http://motors.search.ebay.com/_W0QQsassZtangxiaorui2000

Dave

Actually there are a couple of things to point out on the one being sold on ebay...

Though it says ELM 327 v1.2a it is actually the older ELM chip how can you tell? Well connect to the device using hyperterminal and then type in ATI and hit enter - the response back will show the ELM firmware version

This means you will not be able to get the higher speeds possible with the ELM 1.2 or with the OBDPro devices. OBDPro devices now can go all the way upto 1.25 Mbits on the USB versions

It also does not support some of the newer functionality that an OBDPro will support such as adaptive timeout values - what the adaptive timeout value does is monitor how long it takes for the vehicle to respond to a query and adapt appropriately - this allows for faster data from vehicles.

Also for CAN vehicles the device will quickly show a buffer overflow message if one was to try monitoring all messages on the fast can bus via ATMA. The OBDPro devices can keep up with all the CAN traffic on the bus - even on the high speed can buses operating at 500KBPS

Thanks
Paul
www.obdpros.com

**HiJackZX1** · 06-03-2008, 01:12 PM

Well I bought my ELM327 from obdpros.com...... I had bought a USB unit originally from ebay and it cr@pped out after only a few uses. I decided to buy the serial version, because I have way to many USB devices and am really shy of over loading the USB bandwidth. Since I have 4 serial ports I figured Id use the last one left for the OBD2 scanner from them..... Tommorrow it will be in the mail, I am sure I will be very happy with it!