Newbie OBD-II question..

**ravan** · 08-11-2008, 01:01 AM

Wondering if its possible to 'split' the signal, having one end go into a carputer and the other into a dedicated multifunction gauge?

Assuming not since its 'two-way' but maybe someone knows?

And this my be a FAQ or a dumb question (see.. newbie).. but what interface device would be appropriate to connect the output from a 2007 JK Wrangler to a carputer?

**malcom2073** · 08-11-2008, 05:29 AM

OBD2 is indeed two way (Request/reply type system USUALLY), however you can monitor the bus and pick up messages on one unit that were sent by another unit. Being as your vehicle is 2007 it is likely a CAN controlled car, so an ELM based device would work for you; check out www.obdpros.com

**michbound** · 08-11-2008, 01:51 PM

Malcom,

agree with everything you said, one clarification - like you mentioned you could monitor messages that some other device sends but having the carputer and the multifunction gauge send out messages simultanously would mess up the two devices but you could certainly set the OBDPro into monitor mode and have the multifunction gauge send out requests.

Not sure if that's what the OP's after

Thanks
Paul
www.obdpros.com

**malcom2073** · 08-11-2008, 04:25 PM

Thank's for clarifying that Paul.

ravan: Another option is to have your carputer sending requests, and tie the TX line from the OBD tool into both your computer and the gauge (The rest of the connections hooked up normally to the computer), this would allow the gauge to listen to the serial replies from the OBD tool going to your computer, and save you the cost of having to buy two OBD tools. All you have to do is have the gauge listen for the reply it's looking for and display that value.

**ravan** · 08-11-2008, 10:29 PM

Thanks!

The USB scantool looks like it might fit the bill. Is there a way to verify it works with a 07 Jeep before splurging?

I was looking to get ODB-II input into a carputer and installing a dedicated gauge such as this one at aeroforcetech.com/DodgeSRT4order.html

That way the data is always available even if the carputer is doing something else or defragging (kidding, i hope..)..

Not sure which device would do the 'sending' of data..? Recommendations?

Just one device like the one from odbpros needed in this case? if the gauge can be set to 'listen only' mode; the carputer could be interactive?

Thanks all - love the friendly help here

**malcom2073** · 08-12-2008, 05:39 AM

Ouch, that's pricey.

The most likely setup with that: The gauge would be plugged into your OBD2 port, and you would need an OBD2 splitter so you could plug in your computers OBD2 device. You would have to set your computers scantool to "listen" mode, and let the gauge make the requests, in that case the car can only have access to the data which the gauge is currently requesting.

I seriously doubt that gauge has any capability of just "listening" to the bus, so you'd have to have the computer listening and decoding what it recieves.