Laptop Loggin and CABLE

[XiKeiyaZI]

Alright, so I'm sure you've seen this tons of times... but I've been through all 9 pages that I get when I search for 'Laptop Logging' and it totally doesn't answer my question. It seems the only answers lie in the 1g setup.

What I'm looking to do, obviously, is setup my spare laptop for logging capability in my GST. Well... I know what programs, in general, to try and I have an open serial port on the laptop.. now I just need to know where to either A: Buy a cable that will run from my laptop to the OBDII port... or B : How to MAKE ONE.

Any help would be appreciated. Hell, slap me if I missed the post and direct me towards it if possible. Thank you.

 

[the_mork]

Skip the serial port nonsense.

You are at a severe disadvantage in having a 95 ecu when it comes to logging but you can always use an ebay VagCom cable which is a simple usb > diagnostic port cable that will carry MUT over OBD2. This is best used with Evoscan or Mitsulogger. The cable should cost about $15 but will only log data, not be able to flash any ecu.

I would suggest determining what sort of tuning system you plan on running in the future. For the 2g there are three main choices, a burned chip which IMO is a less appealing choice these days, dsmlink, or swap to a flashable H8 computer from a 98/99 car. Only the burned chip will see any use from a simple VagCom cable and dsmlink/H8 computers will require different types of cable (more expensive but far more capable). Personally I would not consider an SAFC a realistic tuning option these days, they simply don't do enough for the price.

For more information I would suggest the search term "evoscan", or search around at EvoScan OBDII Mitsubishi Subaru DataLogger Scantool.

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

I read about the disadvantages of a 95 ECU, and I DO plan on upgrading to DSMLink in the near future. For now, I simply want to be able to log data and be sure that I can monitor critical behavior in the car like knock and other such things. Exactly what disadvantages does the 95 ECU offer? Would it be saving issues by switching to a new ECU or will the 95 Eprom be okay once DSMLink is installed?

Thanks for the cable information though! I'll certainly look into it.

 

[the_mork]

Dsmlink solves all logging issues by using a different style of request and response in which the ecu is told to simply start dumping certain data through the cable without waiting for a request and response for each sample.

The 95 ecu is only a limitation for logging. Certainly there is no problem with going to a newer ecu in which case you have all the tuning capabilities of dsmlink for a similar price plus the ability to sell your eprom ecu for a tidy bundle. This is a steeper learning curve though and the discussions on dsmlink vs any other tuning system are endless. My personal opinion now after playing with several systems is that dsmlink is really nice and that the trade off for price makes most comprehensive tuning solutions about equal ie: jackal vs. flashable ecus vs. dsmlink. Basically they can all do most of the same things but there are enough advantages and disadvantages to each that if I had to do it again I would still have a hard time choosing which way to go.

I just don't want you to go out and buy a cable and logger without at least knowing that you may have to scrap your investment later. That said a vagcom cable and evoscan come out to be pretty cheap in the end.

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

I appreciate the information and the concern of tossing money to the wind. It's crossed my mind several times of the route I should go down. I don't look to make a ton of power in this car because I don't want to toss the money down that is required to have a high-powered FWD and keep the front wheels on the ground. I'd simply like to get exerpience with tuning and logging while also muscling out a better tune and performance from this vehicle in the process within reason.

I've had my heart set on ECMLink for some time now, but I have to say the cost is discouraging...but you get what you pay for and I've heard/read many great things about it so the performance of it must justify the pricetag.

At the moment, I'm just looking for a while to log some of the conditions of this vehicle as this 2G is new to me. I have various components and other things available to me so I was hoping there was a way to make at least a basic way to log on a laptop I have available. I don't mind dropping a few bucks on a cable...but I'd just like a definitive answer as to ; What is the best setup to log with using a laptop?

 

[GSXSixteenG]

I appreciate the information and the concern of tossing money to the wind. It's crossed my mind several times of the route I should go down. I don't look to make a ton of power in this car because I don't want to toss the money down that is required to have a high-powered FWD and keep the front wheels on the ground. I'd simply like to get exerpience with tuning and logging while also muscling out a better tune and performance from this vehicle in the process within reason.

I've had my heart set on ECMLink for some time now, but I have to say the cost is discouraging...but you get what you pay for and I've heard/read many great things about it so the performance of it must justify the pricetag.

At the moment, I'm just looking for a while to log some of the conditions of this vehicle as this 2G is new to me. I have various components and other things available to me so I was hoping there was a way to make at least a basic way to log on a laptop I have available. I don't mind dropping a few bucks on a cable...but I'd just like a definitive answer as to ; What is the best setup to log with using a laptop?

I have a palm pda if your interested in a pocketlogger setup. Its been sitting my closet for 3 years. I have no use. I can't remember which model it is though. Your probably a little more tech savy and motivated to figure it out than I. Just pay shipping and its yours. You would still need whatever cable is necessary for obdII

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

I have a palm pda if your interested in a pocketlogger setup. Its been sitting my closet for 3 years. I have no use. I can't remember which model it is though. Your probably a little more tech savy and motivated to figure it out than I. Just pay shipping and its yours. You would still need whatever cable is necessary for obdII

And this is why you're one of the more favorable names I see on here. ;3

PM me the info and I'll pay shipping now.

Any idea what cable is needed, exactly? As it should be pretty clear, I'm new to this.

 

[GSXSixteenG]

Not sure on the cable needed, maybe someone else can chime in. The hot sync cable has a db9 end, so maybe you could get away with the cable mentioned above for just logging.

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

Okay, so GSXSixteenG hooked me up. ;3 Thanks bud.

I now have an HP Jornada 520/540 on it's way. Won't be able to determine which one it is until it arrives early next week.

Should I be able to set this up for logging? Also, which cable would I be able to use with it? I'd like to go ahead and get that ordered.

 

[Ceddy]

PocketLogger no longer sells 2G cables.

The big disadvantage with a ODB2 logger is it doesn't log knock.

If you have a laptop with a USB port, you can get EvoScan and a VAG 409.1 cable for under $50.

The 95-96 ecus are unfortunately very slow logging. About 10 samples per second. A 97-99 or Evo ecu raises this to 200 samples/sec. ECMLink is around 1000 samples/sec. The Evo ecus also have a DMA logging patch that does something crazy like 10,000 samples/sec.

You want at least 100 samples/sec to get good logs.

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

As stated several times above.. I don't have the cash right now to drop $450-$600 on DSM link. As much as I'd LOVE to.. I can't afford the price right off hand.. or to ship them my ECU and have my car be down for a week waiting to get it and the supplies back, and pray it works. So for the moment I'd rather be able to log and at least have an idea of what's going on.

This is new to me, so simply being able to do it will be amazing. Just like my first DSM, it wasn't turbo but I loved it. People always told me to sell it and go turbo. Now that I own a 2G GST and a 1G RS AWD, I've been pampered by it. What you don't understand that simply being able to LOG, PERIOD.. would be very beneficial to me. I don't care how slow it is.. only that it will help point me in the right direction until Either A: ECMLink's price drops.. or B: I can afford the time and cash to upgrade for it.

=/ So thank you... I'll look into this VAG cable. If it's laptop compatible.. what keeps it from being used on a Palm?

 

[the_mork]

It is usb, and in this case when using it with evoscan you aren't using the obd2 protocol which allows you to log knock. Evoscan also has all sorts of wonderful configurable bits as well as maptracing to make understanding your logs a lot easier.

If I could log only one thing it would be knock, for a stock car little else really matters. The problem with early ecus is the transfer of data over obd2, there was no other option besides this for a long time so all 2g ecus logged this slowly and no 2g (that didn't run dsmlink) could log knock until recently (a couple years ago). We've become spoiled fast. People logged and tuned this way for a long time, it works but you might as well go for the best cost-effective option if you're going to do it at all. Vagcom and evoscan are the way to go. Use the palm on your 1g.

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

=/ -sigh-

Well... Time to start trying to figure out how to get Link...

 

[the_mork]

Or vagcom + evoscan for $50. The setup can then be sold later if you like.

 

[XiKeiyaZI]

Well... while I can use it to log and adjust.. I'm as far as I can get with my vehicle at the moment via the upgrade path. I need to be able to fine tune... I was hoping to use the scanning (on the cheap so I can save for Link) to make sure that I had all of my bases covered before I actually bought the tuning tool.

 

[DSMDriver69]

I have evoscan and a cable if your interested. The logging isnt very fast on the 95 ecu but it still works. Im willing to sell it for cheap because im shipping off soon and converting my gst back to stock to sell. Just pm if your interested.