Small form factor logging

[dubya_rx]

Hi all,
Might have been asked before but couldn't find anything.

I'd like to do data logs while doing track/lapping days. But the laptop is a bit large to keep in the car while driving. I don't want it flying around in the car. I tried putting it under the passenger seat, but just ended up breaking my usb connector. Anyway...

Has anyone been able to use a palm pda or similar device to do logging? or maybe there is a small wince device that I could use.

Anyone have recommendations?

Thanks!

[Nozay33]

http://wpsm.free.fr



but not free.

[dubya_rx]

Seems we would need an OBD2 to serial connector. Wonder if someone could make a version of the tactrix "cable" that is just a serial connector. Then we could attach the serial sync cable for the palm. (And then port some software).

-Walter

[scoobysnack]

thats defenitly a cool software but i dont even know how to read french so i cant even figure out what the name of it is

[Nozay33]

http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfis ... r&lp=fr_en

not a perfect translation but at least gives a taste of what the software does

[FrSTi]

http://babelfish.altavista.com/babelfish/tr?doit=done&url=http://wpsm.free.fr&lp=fr_en

not a perfect translation but at least gives a taste of what the software does

The way altavista translates is quite cool

Tasty, as you said...

[Freon]

Why don't you just build a strap or mount for your laptop? Or buy a docking station and attach it under the passenger seat.

Or you could use nylon straps and velcro. Cut small slits in the carpet under the seat, feed the straps through the slits. Put your laptop under the seat and throw the straps over it with the velcro to secure it.

I don't see why you're blaming the form factor of your logging device. If you got a smaller device and don't strap it down, it will also fly around. The problem is mounting, not form factor.

[Rotawerx]

yep, my mate does that in his 9second RX7

[NSFW]

USB is not a symmetrical protocol, there must be a dedicated 'host' and 'device' at each end of the cable. Most PDAs do not have USB host ports, so they can act only as USB peripherals. Since the OBD2 cable is a USB peripheral, it won't attach most PDAs.

There have been a couple of USB-host-capable PDAs but they are the exception rather than the norm.

There is a new flavor of USB called USB "on the go" which allows devices to act as host or peripheral, but it's not widely use yet (and the current Tactrix cables don't support it).

I think my PDA (Toshiba e750) might be able to act as a host, but I'm not sure if it will recognize the Tactrix cable without a Windows CE driver for the cable... I will give it a shot if I can find the widget that gives the e750 a physical USB host port.

All that said, if the Tactrix guys can be talked into creating a cable with an OBD2 connector on one end and TTL-level serial connectors on the other end, one could build a pretty sweet logging device using a Gumstix computer (http://www.gumstix.com/). Some of the Gumstix boards have MMC slots to store logs, or it can be connected to a PC using USB. Cooler still if the OBD2 cable can provide power and ground. Might need 5V regulation, but that shouldn't be hard.

[blkscooby]

I have OBDII scan/ dyno/ logging software for my Sony PDA from www.nology.com. It is limited in the number of paramters that you can log at once (I think 5) but it might be enough. It is great for road dyno/ 0-60 mph/ 1/4 too! It comes with the cable for PDA to OBDII.

[dubya_rx]

http://prj.perquin.com/obdii

Would this type of interface be compatible with the subaru style signalling?

I'm a bit confused about K line, L line, etc. I also thought there was a specific subaru protocol that was a simple constant baudrate.

Would this simple interface work, or am I missing a concept?

Thanks,
Walter

[Twinturbo]

Don't you have a safety belt in your car

[dubya_rx]

Don't you have a safety belt in your car

Sorry, I don't get it.