Man with hammer needs help.

[Pinger]

Hello all.
The first thing you need to know is how hopeless I am with computing. I'm a mechanical engineer with a hammer and computing really taxes me. But, I'm trying to get Tuner Pro to a point where I can hook it up to my 1999 C2500 5.7 Vortec Suburban - firstly as a scan tool (and the infamous cam sensor calibration) and later maybe some tuning (I'm running with LPG/propane so more advanced ignition timing could be of use). I'm so ignorant of computing that I don't even know which part of the forum I should post my question in so I'll ask it here.

I have previously had Delphi software to scan a smart and getting all that sorted I needed lots of help. Same again for the Suburban.
I've been getting a lot of help from a guy on the GMT400 forum and wouldn't be as far down the line with this without his help. So far, he's helped me find the BIN, .xdf and .ads files. But apparently I need the .ads file on Tuner Pro and that's done via the 'acquisitions' button which I don't have. It's suggested that a file went missing during install hence no 'acquisitions' button. I've re-loaded it several times and it's still the same (on W8.1 it shows 'missing MSVCR120.dll' but when copied to a W7 laptop (the one I'll be using) no such pop-up).

What do I do next to gain the 'acquisitions' button? And once I have it, how do I get .ads from the W8.1 laptop to the W7 one without it being connected to the internet? So far I've just been copying files over on a memory stick but .ads doesn't appear compatible with that.
TIA - and please please realise I am not just joking about my lack of computing abilities - I really am worse that you can imagine.

[dave w]

The 1999 C2500 5.7 liter is OBD2. I'm unaware if anyone has developed an OBD2 .ads file (data stream) for TunerPro RT.

Possibly the OBD2 information on ALDLCable.com will help: http://aldlcable.com/allinone.asp

dave w

[Pinger]

The 1999 C2500 5.7 liter is OBD2. I'm unaware if anyone has developed an OBD2 .ads file (data stream) for TunerPro RT.

Possibly the OBD2 information on ALDLCable.com will help: http://aldlcable.com/allinone.asp

dave w

Thanks.
Strangely enough, I had a look at an ELM327 cable I already have this morning - and the disc with the software. Maybe it's that that I should try.

It was suggested that 'ads.99' here >> http://www.gearhead-efi.com/gearhead-efi/def/ads/ was what I needed. Then the lack of 'acquisitions' button became apparent.

[dave w]

Thanks.
Strangely enough, I had a look at an ELM327 cable I already have this morning - and the disc with the software. Maybe it's that that I should try.

It was suggested that 'ads.99' here >> http://www.gearhead-efi.com/gearhead-efi/def/ads/ was what I needed. Then the lack of 'acquisitions' button became apparent.

I understand the confusion, there is an OBD1 $99 definition: http://www.gearhead-efi.com/Fuel-Inj...Information-99

dave w

[In-Tech]

Depending on the elm327 variant you have, it can be verrrrrry slow. For my generic crapola I use https://www.obdlink.com/ they have different varieties depending on the connection you want. I prefer a cable every time over wireless but I'm old school so I use the SX USB version to my laptop and ebay dudes have it for under $40 if my memory is correct.

[1project2many]

Hi.

I have the same vehicle. I have a couple of .ads definition files that I use for Tunerpro OBDII datalogging. I believe they could use improvement but I can collect fairly basic information which is useful for tuning.

I am unsure how to view the coveted timing offset value. In our scan tool it is accessed through a special test function menu. I can attempt to look through the GM data info to see if I can figure out how to view this value.

I will clean up the definition files tonight or tomorrow am and post them to this thread.

For anyone who is more familiar with Tunerpro, don't the definition files contain headers which are specific to the type of cable? I have an AVL cable so does that mean the file will not work with the ELM cable without modification?

Edit: There are different files for ELM and AVL cables. I will attempt to edit an ELM cable to work with the black box. In the mean time, one of the attached files may provide some data.

I've been getting a lot of help from a guy on the GMT400 forum and wouldn't be as far down the line with this without his help. So far, he's helped me find the BIN, .xdf and .ads files. But apparently I need the .ads file on Tuner Pro and that's done via the 'acquisitions' button which I don't have. It's suggested that a file went missing during install hence no 'acquisitions' button. I've re-loaded it several times and it's still the same (on W8.1 it shows 'missing MSVCR120.dll' but when copied to a W7 laptop (the one I'll be using) no such pop-up).

I believe there are a number of small things to check and / or clarify in regards to this paragraph. You probably have the right stuff but the last thing you want is to accidentally use the wrong file or get instructions that don't match what you're working with.

[Pinger]

Depending on the elm327 variant you have, it can be verrrrrry slow. For my generic crapola I use https://www.obdlink.com/ they have different varieties depending on the connection you want. I prefer a cable every time over wireless but I'm old school so I use the SX USB version to my laptop and ebay dudes have it for under $40 if my memory is correct.

I've not totally decided on whether the ELM327 is what I'll use. I also have this Delphi >> https://www.wish.com/product/5e7d9e2..._BwE&share=web sort of thing which I set up on the W7 laptop for diagnostics on the smart but it doesn't read the Chevrolet very well.
For diagnostic I think I'd prefer laptop and lead. Tempted though (especially given my weakness with computers) to go BlueTooth and something like TorquePro but that to my mind is more like extra gauges on the dash than true diagnostics.