OBD2 Port Readers

[ZedN]

What OBD2 Port Readers have people got/recommend? I want to purchase one with 802.11/wifi so that I can run Rev on my Ipod wirelessly... Was looking at KiWi by PLX but they seem a bit exxy?

[Nepharius]

Wifi seems a bit extreme for this application, is the iphone compatible with running a bluetooth OBD2 dongle? Although now that I think about it I know the iphone does have a rather crippled array of bluetooth profiles (last time I checked which admittedly was a while ago) which doesnt include the Serial Port Profile so maybe that doesn't work. I'm waiting on a bluetooth OBD2 thing from ebay so will be able to tell you guys if it works, but thats for an android phone. Still I'd look into if you could use bluetooth instead some how as you will be able to save a lot of money that way.

[steinez]

REV is totally over priced for the iPhone. Brackus' OBDII bluetooth connector and droid was excellent and the trip mapping very cool and price = cheaper. I am awaiting a droid phone now as already have a reasonlably priced bluetooth dongle ($45) that picked up off eBay. Also have a CAN OBDII ScanTool which is simple plug in OBDII device and can read codes/ clear CELS but haven't had to put it to the test yet thankfully. If you wanna borrow it at all I am on the northside and often head up to redcliffe for work.

[Nepharius]

Well if you are going down that path I have a USB to OBD2 cable that I know works in the car(or at least a mazda 6 mps) that could be on your doorstep for $25!

[Yeldarb]

Like another member here I went the Garmin Hd Eco Route. It does read and clear codes and gives you these cool gauges but if you strictly want a diagnostic device then try what Brackhaus has, if you have Android that is. I avoided a IPhone device as I didn't want to tie the phone up with playing music, taking a call and have the OBDII running. If you're in the market for a new GPS the Garmin is excellent anyway. The ODBII reader is $180 extra on top of whatever Garmin Nuvi model you choose.

[ZedN]

Hmmm thanks guys, but I think you are all just telling me that I am lame and need to get an android Jokes ofcourse, thanks for the offers and advise :-)
See I just have a spare ipod touch that I was just going to hook up into the car to play music and then also double use it for data logging/CEL codes when I needed.. But Rev only uses wireless tech - not bluetooth and doesnt have support for cable connection either. But if the cheapest I can get is around the $300 mark then it isnt worth it.

I would really like to invest in a GPS so I think I might just bite the bullet and go with Yelbarb's suggestion and look into the Garmin...

[darkness]

I'm running this

DealExtreme: $53.99 ELM327 Bluetooth OBD-II Wireless Transceiver Dongle

with my android phone and Torque application. Supposedly able to clear CEL codes, but haven't had one yet. Seems a good setup, but having a few issues get the phone to upload the log for Torque. Once upload you can see some of the data and a gps map of the drive.

[ZedN]

Seems like the only cheap way is by getting bluetooth, which is what that one is unfortunately... Looked at lunch and the Garmins are only $300ish, which is pretty decent price. So it looks like the ipod will just need to stay hidden away in the glove compartment, hehe.

[Nepharius]

Don't forget that you need the eco route attachment which is $150+ and only works with certain garmin models. There is a big discussion on here somewhere about them, worth a read.

[Nexus]

Seems like the only cheap way is by getting bluetooth, which is what that one is unfortunately... Looked at lunch and the Garmins are only $300ish, which is pretty decent price. So it looks like the ipod will just need to stay hidden away in the glove compartment, hehe.

If you have a serial port on whatever device you are connecting, Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe you can get away with just a cable, no real electronics. Same cable that connects OBD to bluetooth/USB interfaces, just without the serial <--> USB/bluetooth electronics.