[ale] need 5" android tablet / phone for obd car instrumentation
Ron Frazier (ALE)
atllinuxenthinfo at techstarship.com
Tue Sep 17 19:01:48 EDT 2013
Hi Scott,
I did order the UltraGauge already. However, I definitely do appreciate your suggestion, and it's an interesting idea. It's entirely possible that I'll want a cheap android device at some future point for this or some other purpose. I find all the information people share with me valuable even if I don't use it immediately. I'm saving the links you provided in case I need them later.
Sincerely,
Ron
Scott Plante <splante at insightsys.com> wrote:
>I suppose you've already ordered it and it's too late, but I was going
>to suggest a used smartphone. You don't need phone service to run apps
>that depend on wi-fi or bluetooth or whatever. A quick search turned up
>a Droid X for $54. You could probably find something suitable for less.
>
>
>
>http://www.cellularcountry.com/used-cell-phones/verizon/motorola-droid-x-bluetooth-wifi-gps-pda-phone-verizon-p-6864?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=cse&utm_campaign=googlebase_feed&gclid=CN2y1ci107kCFWpp7AodAUEAvA#googlebase
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>
>From: "Ron Frazier (ALE)" <atllinuxenthinfo at techstarship.com>
>To: "Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts" <ale at ale.org>
>Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 10:20:17 AM
>Subject: Re: [ale] need 5" android tablet / phone for obd car
>instrumentation
>
>Hi all,
>
>I appreciate all the suggestions thus far. I've decided to give the
>UltraGauge a try. I like the idea of a smaller dedicated device that
>starts up and shuts down on its own and has a wired interface. Its
>capabilities may turn out to be more sophisticated than torque, other
>than screen size and graphical display. Although, torque does quite a
>lot if you dig into the menus.
>
>I'll let you know how it works out. Feel free to suggest more cheap
>tablets, as I may want to own one of those someday anyway.
>
>The UltraGauge price on the website is $ 60 after rebate. To get the
>rebate, you have to prove you've read parts of the manual, manipulate
>the menus, and take a quiz. Prior to getting the rebate, the price is $
>69. The suction cup gooseneck windshield mount (optional) adds another
>$ 10. Shipping was about $ 9. So my out of pocket cost initially was
>about $ 88.
>
>This is a wired device, (as is ScanGuage), so any potential bluetooth
>security problems go away.
>
>This thing is obviously made by geeks for geeks. I've taken a pretty
>good tour though the manual already. It is a plug and play device, but
>you really need to read most of the manual to get some good tidbits.
>Make sure you get the most recent manual for the Ultragauge EM. Older
>designs are discontinued. Here are some things I discovered in the
>manual.
>
>I expect to have to tinker with the default settings to achieve maximum
>accuracy for the following sensors:
>
>* Distance traveled calibration, cannot use your odometer for max
>accuracy, it may be innacurate, obd port gets data from the same place
>as car's odometer
>* Fuel usage calibration
>* Fuel level sensor operating mode (if present)
>* Customizing alarms I may or may not want, All alarms are
>customizable. One forum post was complaining about pending trouble code
>alarms. He turned all alarms off. If he'd read the manual, he'd know he
>can set individual high / low alarms for every sensor and turn each on
>and off.
>* Special calibration if the car has a MAP sensor
>* Setting max background lighting to 80%. See temperature data below.
>(Automatically adapts to ambient brightness.)
>* Creating a small sunshade for the device. See temperature data below.
>
>* Putting the UltraGauge internal temperature sensor on the display
>
>* If the car has a fuel level sensor that it reports to the obd port
>(some don't), the gauge can auto detect fuel fill ups. The thresholds
>for this are customizable.
>
>* On rare occasions, a car will experience battery drain with the
>device, because the car shuts down it's systems in a funny time delayed
>manner, which may trick the gauge into staying active. There are menu
>options to fix this.
>
>Almost everything about the unit is customizable via the menus.
>
>* For example, on rare occasions, obd protocol detection fails. It's
>not as standard as you might think. In this case, you can force it to
>use the protocol you know your car uses.
>
>* On rare occasions, the car will mis report whether it has a MAF
>sensor or not. You can force this selection via the menus too.
>
>Note that these last two are failures in the car's design, not the
>gauge's design.
>
>Also, the UltraGauge warranty is voided if you allow the unit's
>internal temperature to exceed 160 deg F and the screen is damaged. It
>has an internal temperature gauge which can be displayed and an alarm
>for this purpose. They recommend removing it from the dash on the
>hottest days, but I think placing small shade over the device will
>probably suffice. I'm thinking a white piece of styrofoam or aluminum
>foil or something. Not sure yet. I've had other LCD devices go all
>black on really hot days and they usually recover. I don't leave my
>tablet in the sun. My GPS doesn't seem to care.
>
>Looking forward to getting the box from the postman.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Ron
>
>
>
>"Ron Frazier (ALE)" <atllinuxenthinfo at techstarship.com> wrote:
>
>>Hi Neal,
>>
>>You've got some good points there. The stand alone devices do have
>>some
>>definite advantages. If I was to use a tablet, I'd start it before
>>moving the car and preset the gauges I want to see and then not bother
>
>>it. Even so, while the tablet might power up automatically when the
>>car is turned on, and could be configured to run without a password; I
>
>>don't know if I could set it to autostart the torque program.
>>
>>Still doing research, but I may go with this:
>>
>>http://www.ultra-gauge.com/
>>
>>It has some very advanced configuration options documented in the
>>manual, including automatic fill up detection (if the car has the
>right
>>
>>sensors), automatic display dimming, detailed mpg calibration, and
>>odometer accuracy calibration. It displays up to 6 gauges at once and
>>costs $ 60. Looks pretty interesting.
>>
>>faq - http://www.ultra-gauge.com/ultragauge/support/FAQ.htm
>>bigger faq -
>>http://www.ultra-gauge.com/ultragauge/support/UltraGauge_Support_LP.html
>
>>knowledge base -
>>http://ultra-gauge.com/customer_support/knowledgebase.php
>>user manual -
>>http://ultra-gauge.com/ultragauge/support/Ultra_Gauge_EM_1_2_Manual_3_30_13.pdf
>
>>product demo -
>>http://www.ultra-gauge.com/ultragauge/TEN/product_demo.htm
>>
>>Sincerely,
>>
>>Ron
>>
>>
>>On 9/16/2013 10:40 PM, Neal Rhodes wrote:
>>> >From a safety standpoint I'd stick with the Scanguage. It's the
>>> simplest to place, easiest to read, and you can put it such that you
>
>>> can see it without taking eyes far off the road.
>>>
>>> I do have torque and an odb reader and never use it.
>>>
>>> Scanguage IIs also can calibrate to your fuel injection system and
>>> keep track of your fuel consumption, such that they can predict
>>> exactly how many miles you have left before empty. (basically by
>>> counting number and length of each fuel injection pulse) In the
>>> truck, which shows empty when there are 6 gallons left, this is
>>> helpful for planning gas stops accurately. Especially when you
>>have
>>> to find USLD instead of gasoline.
>>>
>>> I don't recall other Android ODB software doing that in a way that
>>I'd
>>> trust.
>>>
>>> I really think the 4 button Scanguage is the way to go. Dorking
>>> around with the UI on an Android device while driving is just too
>>> distracting.
>>>
>>> Neal Rhodes
>>> MNOP Ltd
>>>
>>> On Mon, 2013-09-16 at 19:57 -0400, Ron Frazier (ALE) wrote:
>>>> Hi all,
>>>>
>>>> I'm trying to find a good way to add obd based instrumentation to
>my
>>>> car. The scangauge product is an obvious choice, but they want $
>>160
>>>> for the 4 sensor display model. I thought I was going to use a 7"
>>>> tablet, but that's just a bit too big, and I really have no good
>>place
>>>> to mount it. I'm thinking I could get away with a 5" tablet and
>>mount
>>>> it under my gps (also 5") in the center of the windshield. However,
>
>>5"
>>>> tablets are almost impossible to find. So, I wanted to see what you
>
>>>> think. A phone could work if and only if it can operate without a
>>cell
>>>> phone contract or account. If the total parts count ends up over
>>about
>>>> $ 130, I'll just go with a scangauge. I know I'll have to add an
>>obd-II
>>>> - USB cable from amazon for $ 20 - 30. I want a wired solution
>>rather
>>>> than a wireless solution for security reasons, since the obd-II
>>adapter
>>>> will be permanently in place.
>>>>
>>>> I've tried the following websites searching for tablets:
>>TigerDirect,
>>>> NewEgg, Micro Center, DealExtreme, ChinaVasion.
>>>>
>>>> Here's what I need:
>>>>
>>>> Required Items:
>>>>
>>>> * 4" - 5" tablet / phone - required
>>>> * OS: Android 4 or better - required
>>>> * Google Apps, Play, etc. - required
>>>> * Screen: capacitive multi touch - required
>>>> * USB: with OTG Capability - required
>>>> * USB Adapter: Micro to Standard - probably required
>>>> * Memory Card Slot - required
>>>> * WiFi Radio - required
>>>> * Lack of Memory Flaw - required - All of internal flash memory
>>after OS
>>>> must be available for user apps and data. Not partitioned as in 1
>>GB /
>>>> 3 GB.
>>>> * 512 MB RAM or Better, 4 GB Flash or Better - required
>>>> * Windshield Mounting System - required
>>>> * External Power Adapter& Port - required
>>>> Powering through usb would be a problem unless the obd port
>>can
>>>> provide enough power, which I doubt. The obd-II - USB cable may not
>
>>>> provide any power to the tablet at all. Also, the obd port remains
>>>> powered after the car is turned off, which could drain the car's
>>battery
>>>> if powering the tablet.
>>>>
>>>> Optional Items:
>>>>
>>>> * Bluetooth - desired
>>>> * Gravity Sensor - desired
>>>> * Accelerometer - desired
>>>> * GPS - desired
>>>> * 3G / 4G / Cellular Radio - optional - If present, must be
>>compatible
>>>> with Verizon and the rest of tablet / phone must be able to work
>>without
>>>> a cellular account or contract via wifi only.
>>>>
>>>> Any thoughts? On the chance any of you wanted to sell me used
>>>> equipment, I would have to get the obd-II adapter and confirm
>>successful
>>>> operation before finalizing a purchase. I would also have to find
>>>> viable solutions for providing power in the car and mounting the
>>device
>>>> on the windshield.
>>>>
>>>> Any help is always appreciated.
>>>>
>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>
>>>> Ron
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>
>
>
>
>--
>
>Sent from my Android Acer A500 tablet with bluetooth keyboard and K-9
>Mail.
>Please excuse my potential brevity if I'm typing on the touch screen.
>
>(PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want to
>
>call on the phone. I get about 300 emails per day from alternate energy
>
>mailing lists and such. I don't always see new email messages very
>quickly.)
>
>Ron Frazier
>770-205-9422 (O) Leave a message.
>linuxdude AT techstarship.com
>Litecoin: LZzAJu9rZEWzALxDhAHnWLRvybVAVgwTh3
>Bitcoin: 15s3aLVsxm8EuQvT8gUDw3RWqvuY9hPGUU
>
>
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--
Sent from my Android Acer A500 tablet with bluetooth keyboard and K-9 Mail.
Please excuse my potential brevity if I'm typing on the touch screen.
(PS - If you email me and don't get a quick response, you might want to
call on the phone. I get about 300 emails per day from alternate energy
mailing lists and such. I don't always see new email messages very quickly.)
Ron Frazier
770-205-9422 (O) Leave a message.
linuxdude AT techstarship.com
Litecoin: LZzAJu9rZEWzALxDhAHnWLRvybVAVgwTh3
Bitcoin: 15s3aLVsxm8EuQvT8gUDw3RWqvuY9hPGUU
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