Anyone for full Carsoft diagnostics?

[LeaUK]

I've been waiting for this beauty from these Chinese guys for 6 months...now it's here.

http://www.one-stop-factory.com/pdetail.jsp?productid=7659

 

[Nibbo]

That is absolutely brilliant... what is it?

 

[LeaUK]

?? How do you know it's brilliant...

It's the complimentary hardware unit that runs with Carsoft's full diagnostic software application. See here for features:

http://www.carsoftinternational.com/carsoftmb.htm

 

[fredfloggle]

It looks good - do you reckon it can clear down the SRS light if the fault has been fixed ?
Do you actually have the thing?

 

[stats007]

The unit is hardware only and will do nothing without software.

Is it a standard ISO interface to OBD2 or just a multiplexer for Carsoft?

 

[richard]

Don't you also need to buy a licence for the carsoft software.

R

 

[grober]

Battle for survival.

I suppose it had to come. All you have to do now is buy one of these babies for $220 US AND get "somehow" a copy of CARSOFT latest diagnostic software. Load it on to a portable pc and voila a diagnostic system. I have mixed feelings about this since it means a small independant European company may have its chief product pirated from underneath it. It did appear to offer a alternative to the very expensive "official " star diagnosis systems so I hope that it continues to survive.
The Chinese ---dont you just love em, a duvet cover for your bed, A GOOGLE that doesnt mention the Tiananmen square massacre, a dab radio for your bedside table, a transplant organ from an executed criminal (plenty more where that came from sir), a new 40 inch LCD TV, whole rural communities displaced for industrial development, etc etc.

 

[stats007]

I've been meaning to write my own basic diagnostic software - it's not that hard as the interface is standardised and it's just a matter of interpreting the data.

 

[jaymanek]

It looks good - do you reckon it can clear down the SRS light if the fault has been fixed ?
Do you actually have the thing?

SRS faults usually clear themselves if the problem is sorted.. No need to clear codes usually.

 

[richard]

I've been meaning to write my own basic diagnostic software - it's not that hard as the interface is standardised and it's just a matter of interpreting the data.

The hard bit is getting what the data / values mean/do - with the exception of the OBD-II/EOBD engine/emissions diagnostic info, which is published and standard across all (newish) cars.

I wrote this
http://freediag.sourceforge.net/

some years ago, project has sadly stalled now - but you can/could use it to turn of check-engine lights, and if you know what the data/values mean/do for COMAND turn off the speed-interlocks so you could watch TV in motion.
(yup, I did work them out)

Cheers
Richard

 

[stats007]

I had a document somewhere that described the packet data - have downloaded the source so will give it a go. I have a USB to OBD2 interace that I'll test it through.

CAN BUS would be handy so might have a go with that if I have time.

 

[fredfloggle]

SRS faults usually clear themselves if the problem is sorted.. No need to clear codes usually.

Are you sure about that ? every one so far has said that SRS faults specifically must be cleared down using STAR or software .

Obviously not being completely demented I realise that the interface is just that , and software is still required . I have asked Carsoft if their software will do what is necessary - but no reply to date .

Almost certainly the software has already been cracked and is available - I regularly use industrial software that costs a great deal more than this stuff , and has extremely sophisticated licensing is generally available cracked within about 25 seconds of being issued .
Can't say agree with it , but now it is part of life .
My laptop has around £12,000 of dedicated software installed , that is all OEM licensed , but there is nothing stopping Joe Soap from installing cracked software and nicking my work .

 

[LeaUK]

I'm sure if you surveyed across the 5 big forums (and of course feel free to search eBay) you will find even the latest copies of cracked EPC and WIS net, but still people use them!

Piracy and China is a HUGE topic so maybe best to try and avoid..

 

[Birdman]

Copying worrries even Microsoft.
My own software company used automatic self-reporting to identify unlicenced programs. We found outfits across five continents cloning our software. Then we introduced a free upgrade that allowed us to shut down errant copies across the internet. Did wonders for sales figures. Sort of depends on having an internet-connected product of course.

 

[fredfloggle]

Copying worrries even Microsoft.
My own software company used automatic self-reporting to identify unlicenced programs. We found outfits across five continents cloning our software. Then we introduced a free upgrade that allowed us to shut down errant copies across the internet. Did wonders for sales figures. Sort of depends on having an internet-connected product of course.

Microsoft did it with XP - the SP1 upgrade would detect the dodgy serial numbers and either refuse to upgrade or deactivate the copy of XP . Then of course the serial number changers evolved .

The software I am involved with is industrial control , and it is the source code that is valuable . Once we download the code to the processor , then we can protect the memory card - well we used to be able to , someone worked out a way to hex dump the memory card and suck the password out of it .

Still doesn't tell me if Carsoft will reset the SRS light though .......

 

[stats007]

Carsoft will do everything the Star system will generally - resetting the SRS light is minor and yes it can do it.

 

[Nibbo]

Carsoft will do everything the Star system will generally - resetting the SRS light is minor and yes it can do it.

Everything that star will do you say...
Does that include allowing the outside temperature display in the 'status line' of the instrument panel display?
And presumably Activating navigation after a comand retrofit?

 

[stats007]

In a word, yes as it's fully CAN compliant - though some services are restricted to the major models - C - E - S & SL.

 

[Birdman]

Microsoft did it with XP - the SP1 upgrade would detect the dodgy serial numbers and either refuse to upgrade or deactivate the copy of XP . Then of course the serial number changers evolved .

The software I am involved with is industrial control , and it is the source code that is valuable . Once we download the code to the processor , then we can protect the memory card - well we used to be able to , someone worked out a way to hex dump the memory card and suck the password out of it .

Still doesn't tell me if Carsoft will reset the SRS light though .......

One of the paradoxes of cloned software is that if the release is buggy you always know who's running the clones cos the techies call you up for urgent support. It's normally then you discover some cleverdick has ripped it off. When it stabilises, you don't hear a sausage - until they try to upgrade and run into probs.

Not yet a big issue in the motor trade, tho in time the value add may be as much in the software as the mechanicals. But cars wear out and software doesn't (more's the pity).

 

[fredfloggle]

Next question - how much is carsoft and next next question - do you have to wait a hundred years for the mulitplexer yolk to come from china ?

Is the carsoft stuff donglized , or do they sell with a software key ? just wondering about buying it and downloading over the net .