ECU Diagnostic Software Re-Write

[HarryW]

aide said:

HarryW said:

For the hard of thinking here....me.......
My old laptop has died and my works laptop will not allow applications to be added. I now find myself with only a iPad so can't conect to the ECU, what do people recommend. Get an old laptop, or get a cheap android tablet thingy.
My preference would be to get the latter and jamming it into the front speaker recess as a semi permannet fitting. What do you recommnd I buy and can someone do a real idiots guide/schematic for connecting it too......

Hi HarryW

I use a Samsung Galaxy S3 - the Nexus 7 is perfect as well.
If you have a 9pin ecu connection then you just need:
1. A Usb OTG Cable
2. And a Prolific USB to RS-232 DB9 Serial Adapter

Connection procedure:
1) Connect your cables together
2) Connect cable to your ECU
3) Connect cable to your Android device

When you connect the cable to your Android device you will get a popup asking you to run the app.

That's it!

HTH
Aide

Great thanks. Already have a 232/USB cable from the laptop, I assume prolific or not doesn't matter? Just need to get a micro usb/usb lead and a tablet.....already have an iPad so cheap is good as it's just for the Cerbera. Thinking slightly older model ASUS 7" at £65 or the latest HUDL2 8.3" at £99 from tesco.......Any thoughts?
Also when I get it where do I get the app from, as my previous version was just windows jobbie on the laptop?


Edited to add I think I have the 2 pin flying lead to the Ecu not 3 pin but I'll worry about that later.....

Edited by HarryW on Tuesday 16th June 20:51

[aide]

HarryW said:

Great thanks. Already have a 232/USB cable from the laptop, I assume prolific or not doesn't matter? Just need to get a micro usb/usb lead and a tablet.....already have an iPad so cheap is good as it's just for the Cerbera. Thinking slightly older model ASUS 7" at £65 or the latest HUDL2 8.3" at £99 from tesco.......Any thoughts?
Also when I get it where do I get the app from, as my previous version was just windows jobbie on the laptop?


Edited to add I think I have the 2 pin flying lead to the Ecu not 3 pin but I'll worry about that later.....

Hi, it has to be a prolific usb-to-rs232 cable - the one I listed is perfect.
I think others have successfully used the ASUS and HUDL2 tablets but I can't really comment on them as I've never used one.
However there are 2nd generation 2013 Nexus 7's for sale with a 12 month warranty for £99 on Ebay.
Once you get an Android tablet you need to use it to Search for RS-AJP on the PlayStore.
HTH
Aide

[tuscandani]

Why on earth do you not do one for an Apple products??? You would make so much money.

[Jhonno]

Because Apple are st and make it more difficult/expensive..

[tuscandani]

That doesn't surprise me. May have to get Android to use this piece of kit it seems.

Jhonno said:

Because Apple are st and make it more difficult/expensive..

[HarryW]

tuscandani said:

That doesn't surprise me. May have to get Android to use this piece of kit it seems.

Jhonno said:

Because Apple are st and make it more difficult/expensive..

This is exactly what I'm now having to do.
I suppose by getting something semi decent/OK with GPS and accelerometers etc I can add other things to it like SATNAV and a performance meter as a semi permananet fit in the car. Leaning to a HUDL2 myself at £99 from Tesco....it has a 8.3" screen so will make for a better SATNAV at least!


Quick question to those that understand the 232/USB converter, will the tablet draw power from the micro USB? or do I have to take it out to charge it........

[Jhonno]

Take it out to charge it.. The tablet powers the USB converter.

[tuscandani]

Can anyone post some pictures as to how the tablet looks as a replacement SATNAV? Would be great to see this.

[HarryW]

Was going to just get a free App as you would use for a Smart Phone, hence going for a cheap Tablet that had a GPS reciver. Something like Navmii https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com....


God help me but I've clicked on a cheap tablet at £60, seems to do everything OK from the reviews even will take a 3G SIM too....... http://www.amazon.co.uk/Freelander-Capacitive-Touc...

[FarmyardPants]

If you can thether it to your phone you can get a wifi only one (and google maps is ok as a satnav)

[aide]

FarmyardPants said:

If you can thether it to your phone you can get a wifi only one (and google maps is ok as a satnav)

Good point FYP

How to Use Your Android Phone as a Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot
How to Use Your iPhone as a Portable Wi-Fi Hotspot

I really should create a FAQ wiki

HTH
Adrian

[HarryW]

FarmyardPants said:

If you can thether it to your phone you can get a wifi only one (and google maps is ok as a satnav)

Sadly my phone is a BB from work and they don't allow tethering.
I have a everyday Touareg that I put a data sim in, I just need to pop it out of there into the Tiv when needed..

[FUBAR]

Very late to the party on this. As I'm useless anyone in the SE want to do the wiry bit if I buy everything?

Harry, I use Co Pilot on my Galaxy S5 and while a 'paid for' app (£20?) its a great Satnav in the Cerb and the maps d/l onto device so no need for a data connection etc. Maybe the cost saving of getting a wifi only tablet over a 3g one will offset the cost of app purchase?

[thefrog]

Got a half decent layout for the Nexus 7 (or any 1920x1200 resolution tablet) - uploaded here if you're interested (right click, save as and transfer to your tablet).

Greg

[aide]

FUBAR said:

Very late to the party on this. As I'm useless anyone in the SE want to do the wiry bit if I buy everything?

Harry, I use Co Pilot on my Galaxy S5 and while a 'paid for' app (£20?) its a great Satnav in the Cerb and the maps d/l onto device so no need for a data connection etc. Maybe the cost saving of getting a wifi only tablet over a 3g one will offset the cost of app purchase?

Hi FUBAR

Since you have a Samsung Galaxy S5 and if you have a 9pin ecu connection then all you need is:
1. A Usb OTG Cable
2. And a Prolific USB to RS-232 DB9 Serial Adapter

Connection procedure:
1) Connect your cables together
2) Connect cable to your ECU
3) Connect cable to your Android device

When you connect the cable to your Android device you will get a popup asking you to run the app.

That's it!

HTH
Aide

Edited by aide on Thursday 18th June 15:42

[aide]

thefrog said:

Got a half decent layout for the Nexus 7 (or any 1920x1200 resolution tablet) - uploaded here if you're interested (right click, save as and transfer to your tablet).

Greg

Thanks Greg,
Greatly appreciated.
I've added the download link to the (very sparse!) RS-AJP Wiki
Best wishes
Aide

[thefrog]

Thanks Aide. Good idea. Forgot about the wiki.

[HarryW]

Ok got my cables and cheap tablet delivered today. So here's my experience of fitting etc.
First off the 232/usb cable D plug has fixed female threads for screwing it together and it's molded
.

Annoyingly the ECU D plug has the same fixing


Rather than destroy the melded DPlug I decided to remove the ones off the ECU end, it is supported by rigid wires


Be careful though, the screws have nuts on the back which then need to be removed from under the circuit board, as they will rattle about and short something out if left. You can rattle them towards the connector end to recover them but it is tight, screws shown here,


232 converter now fitted,

Sadly you cannot close the lid with connecting directly to the DPlug, but as said previously I have the twin wire flying lead and not the 3 wire one. I wonder if it's +/- without earth? I'll investigate another day.. Also the lead is not long enough to put the AeCU fully back into the footwell, I have a D plug male/female extension on the way that will solve that, it might even have a shorter D plug to allow the lid to be half closed too.

[HarryW]

Part 2, the cheap tablet is OK, it's 7" and tbh seeing it now perhaps 10" would have been better. Down loaded the app and here's the result.





Drivers eye view



I can jam the tablet in the position, but I think once I've got more cable I might go for a higher up location by the top vents




Gratuitous view of my new rubber while I'm posting....

[Jhonno]

I just bought a male to female serial lead to get over the screw issue.. Also gives enough length then to have it visible when driving. Although my serial wasn't working so I've now got it set up permanently with the 3 pin lead..

I wonder if you could cut the lid maybe and seal it round the serial to keep a permanent fixture. That was what I was going to look into.