Month: August 2018

Posted on

Optimizing connection speed

Tips for increasing the speed of reading parameters

1. First of all, you need to understand that the number of parameters polled at the same time affects the reading speed most of all.
The more sensors are read in turn, so the more parameters the Car Scanner needs to read, the more time it takes to read each one.
For example, if reading one parameter takes 100 ms, then reading 4 parameters takes 400 ms.
Enabling “Always read and calculate fuel consumption” feature also negatively affects the speed of reading the parameters.
Therefore, if the reading speed is important for you, try to reduce the number of parameters, that are requested at the same time.

2. For cars operating under the CAN 11bit and CAN 29bit protocols, you can enable Request optimization (Settings – Adapter – Advanced settings – Optimize requests for faster data reading). Enabling this function can accelerate simultaneous reading of several parameters up to 6 times.

3. Configuring the timeout for the adapter to receive data (Settings – Adapter – Advanced settings – ELM327 send ATST command). This command determines the time interval after which the adapter considers that there will be no new data from the ECU and passes them to the program. The lower the value (for example Send 8), the faster the data exchange, but the connection to the ECU will be less stable. Too low values ​​will not allow the ECU to be connected at all. High values ​​(96 and FF) are used to improve the stability of the connection by reducing the speed.
Thus, you need to gradually reduce the value of the Send ATST command and check the stability of the connection. After changing the Send ATST command, you must reconnect to the computer! Changing a setting does not affect an already established connection.
For example, on my car – Kia Sportage SL 2014 with Viecar Bluetooth 4 adapter I get highest speed with ATST=16, but sometimes packets are lost. 100% stable connection with ATST=32. But with a crap cheap adapter I can’t get stable connection even with ATST=64.

Some cars like old Volkswagen, Audi, Skoda requires high ATST values like 96.

4. If you want to get readings, received from different control units (for example, from the engine block and from the automatic transmission unit), then this increases the polling time even more, because. before each request, Car Scanner have to spend some time reconfiguring the ELM327 adapter to work with the new control unit (engine, automatic transmission, etc.).
Therefore, in order to achieve maximum speed, it is recommended to interrogate parameters located in one control unit.

Posted on

Configuring Bluetooth connection on Android

First of all make sure, that you have OBDII ELM327 adapter with Bluetooth.

You should plug it inside the diagnostic socket in your car (known as “OBDII socket”) and turn on ignition or start the engine. If your adapter has a power button on it’s body – press it.

Step #1: Pair your phone/tablet with OBD2 adapter. If you have already done that – skip to Step #2.

WARNING! Depending on different Android versions, pairing may be done in some other way.

Open Android settings and locate Bluetooth section. Turn on Bluetooth and wait until your adapter would be discovered.

Usually it’s called “OBDII”, “obd2” or something like that. If it’s branded, it could be called as it’s brand (e.g. “Viecar”, “VLink”, etc.). Please, note, that it’s NEVER called like your car brand or “MY CAR” or something like that.

Tap on it to pair your phone/tablet with OBD2 adapter. Adapter would ask you for PIN-code.

If you don’t know PIN code, check your adapter documentation. Usually it’s “1234”, “0000”, “7890” or “1111”.

Step #2: Select adapter in Car Scanner.

Open Car Scanner and go to Settings (gear icon in the top-right corner)

Tap on “Adapter” (in old versions – “Connection”)

Select Connection type: Buetooth

Tap on “Select device” and you’ll see device selection screen.

Tap on your adapter’s name.

That’s all, now you have adapter selected and you need to go back and tap on big green “Connect” button.

Next time all you need to do is just tap on “Connect” button

Don’t forget to press power button on your adapter before connecting, if it has one.

Posted on

Configuring Wi-Fi connection to ELM327 adapter

First of all make sure, that you have OBDII ELM327 adapter with Wi-Fi connection type. You should plug it inside the diagnostic socket in your car (known as “OBDII socket”) and turn on ignition or start the engine. If your adapter has a power button on it’s body – press it.

Step #1: Open your Phone/Tablet Wi-Fi settings (NOT Car Scanner settings) and turn on Wi-Fi.

Locate Wi-Fi network, created by ELM327 OBDII adapter and connect to it.

Usually it’s called “OBDII”, “OBD2”, “WIFI_OBDII” or something like that. Sometimes it’s name has something familiar with your adapter brand (e.g. VGate adapters usually have “VLINK” network name).

Most of adapters doesn’t require password for WiFi network, but if your adapter requires that – follow documentation that comes with your adapter.

Please, note, that it’s NEVER called like your car brand.

iOS
Android

Step #2. Car Scanner setup.

Open Car Scanner and go to Settings (gear icon in the top-right corner).

Tap on “Adapter” (in old versions – “Connection”)

Select Connection type: Wi-Fi

Make sure that you have correct adapter IP address and port. For most cases it’s IP address is 192.168.0.10 and port is 35000, but some adapters have different settings, so you should check documentation that comes with your adapter.

That’s all! Now all you need to do is tap on big green “Connect” button that’s located.

When you want to connect next time, just make sure that you’re connected to OBD2 WiFi network and tap on “Connect” button.

 

 iOS Wi-Fi connection troubleshooting

 

Posted on

Configuring Bluetooth 4.0 (LE) connection on iPhone/iPad

First of all, make sure that you have an OBD2 ELM327 adapter that works via Bluetooth 4.0 (LE). Pay attention to the Bluetooth version! Apple iOS devices support only Bluetooth 4.0 adapters. Older Bluetooth adapters are not supported. This limitation of the operating system Apple iOS. For more information, read article about choosing propper ELM327 adapter.

You need to insert the adapter into the diagnostic socket (also known as the OBD2 connector) and turn on the ignition or start the engine. If your adapter has a power button on the case, press it.

Make sure that Bluetooth is enabled on your iPhone / iPad.

Attention! Unlike Android devices, you don’t need to setup pairing with adapter in the iPhone / iPad system settings!

Step 1: Launch the Car Scanner and go to Settings (click on the gear icon in the upper right corner).

Step 2: Select “Adapter” (in old versions – “Connection”)

Step 3: Select “Connection Type”: Bluetooth 4.0 (LE)

Step 4: Click the “Select Device” button. You will be taken to the Bluetooth LE (4.0) nearby device search window.

Step 5: Wait until your adapter is detected and click on it. If the adapter is not found within 5-10 seconds, click on the “Update” button to retry the search.

Usually the adapter is called “OBDII”, “obd2” or something like that. If this is a branded adapter, then its name can be similar to its brand (for example “Viecar”, “VLink”, etc.). Please note: adapters are never called as a car brand, “MY CAR” or something similar. And, the adapter always has a name. Devices without a name, only with the address of the form {…} are not adapters.

Attention! If after several attempts your adapter is not discovered, it means that it has an outdated (<4.0) version of Bluetooth that is not compatible with Apple iOS.

Step 6. Select your adapter in the list of detected devices and wait for the compatibility check with Car Scanner.

That’s all, connection setup is complete. Now you need to click on the big green “Connect” button on Car Scanner main screen.