what laptop for vagcom purely?

[dummi]

i bought a USB-HEX from the uk vagcom distributor last year, i tried it a couple of times with my old laptop - dell P3 500mhz on win 98 se - i could find a port that would show up as active but i could not access any of the modules.. now i'm looking for a laptop when i get my car running hopefully in a few weeks i can use purely for vagcom, i'd like some advice on what to look for specification, OS ,, with my past experience of it not working i am not confident i know what laptop to look for , i have a chance to look for something simple and specific for this now

thanks

[maxxximus]

Exclusively for VagCom - how many times do you use it. Unless your in the motor trade id have thought it would be better just to upgrade your present laptop and use this for Vag com and all your other stuff.

I use my Dell 9300 P4 for vag com (Win XP) - works fine with key USB. Perhaps you could buy a PDA running windows mobile.

[Nige_RS4]

I'm running a 166Mhz toshiba with vag-com (serial interface) !

[maxxximus]

Just checked and Vagcom is not compatible with Windows mobile/Palm oS at moment so looks like your stuck with a laptop.

Generally if youve got an old PC running Windows 98 youd be better using a COM/serial interface but if youve got a newer PC(pentium4) then USB shouldnt be a problem.

Might work better running under Xp but no guarantee.

[dummi]

Niges4 i was thinking of something like that, not anything hi tech really. not looking to upgrade this laptop for a while it does its job still and i usually have a desktop available.

Maxxximus i wouldn't be keen on the little screen of a PDA anyway.

so the thoughts are something older and cheap like a 166hz with serial interface, maybe if i tell you how my usage will be

when the car is together again i'll want to make sure its running enough to get through MOT , so adjusting idle, TBA, checking sensors are functioning.

after i have run the engine in i'll be off to MRC to have it mapped, then i'll be using vagcom for FATS and generally monitoring the cars behaviour , would the old serial version do all that for me? are there any functions the USB can use better than the serial? i'm guessing its mainly about speed and sampling thats different ....

thanks

[Paulm]

I only have an old Compaq Armada 333Mhz 128ram and it works fine. I use USB. I used it on 98 then put on XP both worked fine.

[CliveH]

Dummi,

The "old serial" version will do just fine, which is Ross-Tech's preferred method of communicating.

Apparently, data rates are limited by the car not the serial port, and the USB version is only supplied to accommodate the newer laptops which do not have a traditional RS232 serial port.

[dummi]

excellent, look like i will sell my USB and get an old laptop and serial, thanks chaps

[Paulm]

see here


http://www.s2forum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17027

[dummi]

thanks Paul i've Pm'd him

[MarkB]

I have a Hex-com interface that has serial and use it on a P2 233 laptop. Works fine for me.

@ dummi if your lead is HEX+CAN on USB i'd be interested in a trade for my serial version if your interested

Let me know

[dummi]

i've decided to upgrade my OS on my laptop and see how that works out with this lead thanks though

[Nige_RS4]

The tosh laptop I use is the very small Libretto model, which is great with windows 98!

[dummi]

hmm, if i can pick up one cheap i will give it a go!

[MarkB]

i've decided to upgrade my OS on my laptop and see how that works out with this lead thanks though

No problemo...