[s-cars] The "almost" perfect real-time ODB scan tool

[Vincent Frégeac]

I just ordered a Nokia Internet tablet on Linux (a reconditioned N770, not
the new N800, I’m a poor man right now) and while browsing the web to find
how to make this little gadget do what it’s not supposed to do (where would
be the fun of open-source otherwise), I found this :
http://openbossa.indt.org/carman/.

 

An ODBII real-time software (does fault codes too) with a gorgeous interface
and, last but not least, using bluetooth ODBII readers so you can install
the ODBII reader permanently, then pair the internet tablet with it when you
need it, with no cable to plug, or route in your dashboard.

 

You can find a review here with a video of Carman plugged in a Toyota
Slowmobile :
http://tabletblog.com/2007/02/carman-bluetooth-elmscan-5-and-n800.html

 

As the internet tablet can also be used as a media player and GPS (with a
bluetooth GPS receiver), this can become the one-gadget-does-it-all.

 

But I’ve said « almost ». There’s still some limitations. Current version of
Carman has a fairly slow refreshing rate, about once per second, but it’s
apparently due to the software, not the hardware, so there’s probably
improvement in this area coming, especially as it’s an open-source software
so new revisions come fast. The other problem, for us urSers, is I haven’t
find a Bluetooth ODBI reader yet, only ODBII. I don’t know if this can be
overcomed by a ODBI/Serial or USB cable plus a Serial or USB/Bluetooth
interface but at least it can be used on newer Audis.

 

Not perfect yet, but still a nice setup worth trying and I’ll probably try
to put together a ODBI/Serial or USB/Bluetooth something when the S-Bitch
will be running again.

 

Did I mention Carman is free. The internet tablet and the
ODB/Whatever/Bluetooth are not though, but still cheap compared to a laptop
(and much smaller/convenient), especially if you get the old N770 on eBay.
It won’t replace the full-featured VAG-COM but could be a nice diagnosis or
just-for-fun geek addition to our Audis.

 

As usual, no affiliation, use at your own risk, YMMV, blablabla
.

 

 

 

Vincent

’96 urS6, aka the S-bitch, on the waiting list for major surgery

’81 Fiat Spider2000, aka the SpeedTicketer, middle-age health check-up in
progress

’94 BMW 318is, aka the assholemobile, because I need something to drive