question about dsmlink

[Diceman19]

of course i am still waiting for the 1g version to come out, but i was just wondering if anyone has experience with the dsmlink software running on windows xp. i know they say that win 98 is the best, but being a tech, win 98 sucks balls. just hoping that i can use a bearable OS for logging and tuning. thanks!

 

[spoolup]

Yes XP works, I never seen anywhere wher they said 98 is the best, they use that as a minimum requirement. Cut and paste from DSMlink.com:

You need a 2G DSM (turbo model) with an EPROM ECU. In addition, of course, you need a laptop with a serial port (RS232, DB9 port), running at least Windows 98. If your laptop doesn't have a serial port, see here. For a full description of what's involved, check here.

NOTE: Many versions of Windows 95 seem to cause problems. We have at least one user running fine with '95, but three other installs have failed. It seems there are more versions of '95 that fail than work...your mileage may vary.

AND:

We have reports of people running DSMLink acceptably on a P100 with 24megs of RAM. A laptop like this can be had for less than $100 on E-Bay. Preferrably, though, you'll want to locate a laptop with a little more meat to it. Our suggested minimum platform would be a P233 with at least 32meg of RAM running Win98. You'll be very happy with that setup.

The only other major requirement of the laptop is that it provide an RS232, DB9 serial interface of some sort. Almost all older laptops include this, but there are some newer ultra-thin laptops these days that do not. Be sure that you have some way of getting a DB9 serial port out of the laptop before committing to it. We have had reports of PCMCIA serial port adapters working well on laptops that do not have built-in serial ports. Also, the USB to DB9 devices seem to work fine as well. We have not verified this ourselves, but a number of our users report both solutions to work seemlessly. DB25 to DB9 converters plugged into the printer port will *NOT* work.


I am currenlty running XP with SP2 and have no problems with DSMlink (other programs took a dive from SP2). I have a Toshiba A75, 3.06G proc, 1024M ram, but it has no 9 pin serial D connectors so I am using a iogear USB to serial interface adapter. Cost 30ish from Best buy. And I have not ran into a problem. The laptop is only in the car for logging or making changes. I primarly use it as "HOME" computer. I am thinking about buy a ebay 100 speical and just leaving it in the car. I have ALOT of friends running the old comuters with nothning but windows and DSMlink and having no problems.

 

[Diceman19]

SP2......*shudder* ;-) yea, i have a spare 1.6 gig athlon laptop here and want to use that. no serial ports here either but like you said, no biggie. thank you for the info.

 

[spoolup]

I was just letting you know that with SP2, which seems to create bugs with anything that does not bear a Microsoft stamp, can still work with DSMlink. Just be carefull on the type of serial adapter you use. There are a few post @dsmlink.com about the radio shack adapters not work since they "may not" support RTS/CTS signaling. Just FYI

 

[Diceman19]

alright, thanks for the headsup!

 

[Eagle_Summit]

quick question here. You dont have to keep dsmlink in your car at all times correct? Its kind of a newb question i guess you could say. But when you make changes its permanent into the ecu, correct?

 

[spoolup]

correct you only have to use the laptop to data log or to make chages to the ECU. Other than that think of it as a regular car but no bling factor like the SAFC on your dash may add.

People always make a few walk bys or stop when your sitting at the local Chevron changing the settings back after going from Race to pump gas, or when out tuning and you are shutting every thing down in the Wendys parking lot. Still you get the occasional Neon, Focus, ect owner saying "dam, thats like the movie fast and the furious!! :thumbdown " Makes you want to put your head down and cry.

 

[ClipseT96]

Talk about looks. I got a 17" widescreen toshiba and have teh hood off using a big ol fuel pressure gauge w/ a long hose. People dont know what to say.

 

[dave99gst]

dsmlink works on XP fine for me also.

 

[dave99gst]

dsmlink works on XP fine for me also.

 

[Tallen]

Works for me too, though I only really use my Stylistic (tablet pc) w/ win98 for DSMlink. Its cheap enough to sit in the car without me worrying about theft much.