OBD II to USB

I usually have access to the latest and greatest Snap-On scanner with data logging, etc.
Well my buddy closed the shop for the month of January and went to Costa-Rica.
Business was just too slow for him.

I've been thinking of trying Alex Peper's software and dongle for my laptop. Will be able to scan and data-log myself and have the records to compare. His software can be downloaded from www.obd-2.com/.
Alex's software and hardware is about $130.00 IIRC.
The software can actually be downloaded for free to see if it's compatible with my laptop (Is not supposed to work on 64 bit systems) I will find out by downloading, if it downloads OK, then I'll order the rest of his stuff for the GM. Which just consists of the proper cable needed to hook it up to the ALDL. I don't know if there is anything special installed in his cable that allows it to work though.? Otherwise a cable can be had for much less.
If anyone knows if a proper OBD2 cable can be purchased from www.obd2cables.com , then that would substantially decrease the price. Free software and about a $20.00 cable.?

Rickw wrote:

I've been thinking of trying Alex Peper's software and dongle for my laptop. Will be able to scan and data-log myself and have the records to compare. His software can be downloaded from www.obd-2.com/.
Alex's software and hardware is about $130.00 IIRC.
The software can actually be downloaded for free to see if it's compatible with my laptop (Is not supposed to work on 64 bit systems) I will find out by downloading, if it downloads OK, then I'll order the rest of his stuff for the GM. Which just consists of the proper cable needed to hook it up to the ALDL. I don't know if there is anything special installed in his cable that allows it to work though.? Otherwise a cable can be had for much less.
If anyone knows if a proper OBD2 cable can be purchased from www.obd2cables.com , then that would substantially decrease the price. Free software and about a $20.00 cable.?

Anybody have any knowledge on the OBD2 cable needed for proper hook up.
Do I have to buy the one from Alex Peper or can I buy one from OBD2Cables.com.?
Anybody know.?

dont know much about making your own OBD2 scanner, but i'll share what i do know.
i have the auterra scan tool with pda hookup. i'm also well versed in the powrtuner.
from what i am gathering of all the scanners, they all have the same plug, like those sold on obd2cables.com. what makes them different is the software and the "converter box". with the dhp, all you need is some way to go from car to usb, then the software does the rest.
with my auterra i have a little box inline with the cables to covert the pinouts from the car into something readable for pc's and pda's then i also have software on the pda to display the data.

Matt,
Could you do me a favor and take a look at what Alex Peper's site has to say. (He did the site himself and apparently he is the OBD genius, so it can be hard to decipher the first time around. He worked with the EPA and SAE to come up with the OBD protocol)

And then if you could just take a look at OBD2cables.com for me, as they have every cable imaginable. I think I just need a ALDL (OBD2) on one end and either a USB or Serial plug on the other end to connect to the computer, preferably a USB, I think. The problem I have is they have different technical names, stuff I'm not familiar with.
Alex Peper offer's what he simply calls an OBD2 to USB cable. I am just wondering why it's over $100.00 dollars if it really is just a simple cable that can be purchased through OBD2cables for a lot less.
Alex's software is free. This is comprehensive scanning software, not tuning software.

i dont see a obd2 to usb cable on the site, most of the ones are either extensions for use with other cables or converter cables for audi/MB/german cars.

alex peper defiantly knows his stuff and his software has been around for some time now. i dont see any reason his software wouldnt work with almost any cable that goes from obd2-pc.
as for his prices on cables, remember his software if free he has to make the money somewhere. and $100 isnt that bad for a scan tool.
do you have a part number or link for the cable you were specificaly looking at on obd2cables.com?

No, I don't.
#1: My biggest concern was did Alex Peper's cables have something embedded in them that was unique to his cables and software and that was necessary.
#2: When looking at the OBDCables.com site I need some help in determining what cable will hook up to the OBD2 ALDL port and then to the computer. They use terminology I'm not familiar with, so I just want to purchase what will work, Or I will just buy Alex's stuff to be sure.
But I would like to save some money right now as I'm near broke after the holiday's.
But I have a problem with the car that needs analyzing

if your laptop still has the old serial connection you can try the
J1962M to DB9 cables (not sure if you need male or female, but they have both)
that is the only one i see that may work.
note that their site says "cables to be used with - http://www.scantool.net/scan-tools/pc-based/ "
i think you will need the adapty that scantools.net sells for $99 to make it work.

you are probably better of just biting the bullet and getting alex pepers cable and software so you know it works and dont keep spending $10 here and there trying to piece it all together only to find you need a $100 adapter.

Thanks a lot for looking into this for me.
That's exactly what I needed to hear, I was trying to save money but i also didn't want to nickle and dime myself to death only to find what I have purchased won't work.
I will order everything from Alex Peper and be done with it.
Thanks again for your time and analysis. I truly appreciate it. I am semi-clueless when it comes to these things.
I will order the USB cable from Peper with the software.
Rick

no problem Rick.

Rick keep your eyes open for deals. I just picked up a used autotap w/ GM enhanced parameters for $100.

there is a aeroforce for sale on clupgp for 140shipped. a very nice scanner btw.

i just got in a actron scanner after sending the first one i got that was defective. my car sez obd1 but the plug in is obd2...hope it works

actron work fine..as long as you have the correct connector .. its the scanner i have (for my 95) there is an OBDII connector which actualy runs ALDL 96 onwards uses the OBDII connector

Nigel

robotennis61 wrote:

i just got in a actron scanner after sending the first one i got that was defective. my car sez obd1 but the plug in is obd2...hope it works

nigelf wrote:

actron work fine..as long as you have the correct connector .. its the scanner i have (for my 95) there is an OBDII connector which actualy runs ALDL 96 onwards uses the OBDII connector

Nigel

Keep in mind the S/C 95 is a Series I and uses OBD 1.5, which does not use OBDI or OBDII.

robo let us know if it works. Based on past information I don't think it will.

deekster_caddy wrote:

Rick keep your eyes open for deals. I just picked up a used autotap w/ GM enhanced parameters for $100.

Are you interested in selling it for a profit.?
Especially if your buying the new software. HPT

Rickw wrote:

deekster_caddy wrote:

Rick keep your eyes open for deals. I just picked up a used autotap w/ GM enhanced parameters for $100.

Are you interested in selling it for a profit.?
Especially if your buying the new software. HPT

Yep. Haven't got around to listing yet.

can you guys give me info to hook up with Alex Peper's site?

how about here.....

http://www.google.com/search?q=Alex+Peper%27s+site&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=com.ubuntu:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

Nigel

chrldo wrote:

can you guys give me info to hook up with Alex Peper's site?

http://www.obd-2.com

Albertj

hey Nigel and Albertj thank you!

Anyone have this "tool' or ever tried it.

I've got a program on my notebook which should read the OBD II info and other stuff (temps, pressures, etc..) and I want to check it ou. I need a GM OBD II to USB connector... I THINK

Anyone hook their laptop to their Riv?? Am I missing a part I'd need besides an OBD II to USB connection cable?

I use Alex Peper's "Car Code" (www.obd-2.com) with a dongle he built. It has a serial output that works with a serial-to-USB converter (actually, any OBD-2 -> Serial dongle should work with with an USB converter attached, as long as you have the software to read the serialized output).

Albert

man that's a COMPLEX webpage!

Nate,
I thought the same thing at first.
But you just have to read through it a few times and it becomes sensible.
He clearly did the page himself and being a genius didn't know how to dumb it down for us mortals. But it is actually legible once you read and look for the info you need and ignore the other stuff.
Bottom line is, the OBDII protocol can be involved or simple, depends how much you want to get out of it.
I would rather buy a comprehensive program that allows me to pick out what I want to learn and then progress without having to keep buying more modules, if you will.

You can get a bluetooth OBDII dongle that plugs into your OBDII diagnostic port and allows you to use a computer, or in my case an android phone. Shows all sorts of information, and all you need is a smartphone, or bluetooth enabled laptop. You can customize the display to show anything, and it also lets you reset any codes the car throws and also find out exactly what the code means. Program I use costs $5 and the dongle was $25 off of ebay. Can't go wrong.

Here's a screen shot of mine: