Uber-easy DIY USB ALDL Cable

[CDeeZ]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Arduino-FT232RL-USB-to-Serial-Module-USB-to-TTL-level-USB-Cable-dupont-248-/260917151841?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cbfdf c861

let me know if that link doesn't work, but it's what i bought a few weeks ago...

anyways, this convenient little piece of hardware allows you to hook up to a 8192 baud ECM with 2 wires.... no resistors, no ICs, no diodes.... just two simple connections.

and when it comes to homebrew hardware, simple is always good. just went and tested it on the MC, works great. also passes the tunerpro "test for cable" when unplugged from the car, not something i'm used to with my current cable.

so anyways, before this i was using Parallax 28030 units, which are serial->USB adapters, so i converted the 8192 stuff(basically TTL?) to serial using a MAX232 circuit, then converted serial to USB using the Parallax 28030. ever built a MAX232 on proto boards? they're a pain. then soldering into the solder cups of a DB9 connector? also a pain.

now, assuming you can get ahold of a male ALDL connector or just use the bare pins for whatever reason, you'll have 2 or 4 quick solder joints to make and then you're done. put it in a radioshack project box for like $3(since this came with it's own USB cable) and you're out the door with a USB ALDL cable for just under $12. attach a male OBD1 connector (for $15 plus shipping from ALDLcable.com, or i potentially have an overseas supplier that has a cable that can be used after some tweaking for a little under $9 shipped) and you have a fully functional and professional enough looking cable.

sell it, use it, abuse it, whatever. :)

anyways, tested at 8192 and it works flawlessly. since it uses the FT232RL, it should be a quality, long-lasting unit. i'd like to do a 160 baud test, but i don't want to try and dig out the 85 IROC ECM.

Bought 3 of these. Connected RXD to TXD together and then Connected them to pin M on ALDL for the 8192 Baud. And GND on the converter to GND on the ALDL.

Configured Com port settings for each, and the only thing that happens on attempting to start a scan is the RXD and TXD flash red repeatedly while TunerPro says "DA: Connecting......."

Without reading every post in 19 pages did we decide this is hit or miss, or doesn't work at all or?

[kyled94]

Bought 3 of these. Connected RXD to TXD together and then Connected them to pin M on ALDL for the 8192 Baud. And GND on the converter to GND on the ALDL.

Configured Com port settings for each, and the only thing that happens on attempting to start a scan is the RXD and TXD flash red repeatedly while TunerPro says "DA: Connecting......."

Without reading every post in 19 pages did we decide this is hit or miss, or doesn't work at all or?

I have the exact same issue, thought it may have been my car though (98 Holden VT Commodore)...

Anyone have a definitive answer to this?

[delcowizzid]

did you turn on cable echo in the adx or in preferences of tunerpro as they cable will pickup whats sent when you send it

[kyled94]

did you turn on cable echo in the adx or in preferences of tunerpro as they cable will pickup whats sent when you send it

Yep, sure did.
Also tried EFILive and "OSE Enhanced Flash Tool" but both complained about not finding a heartbeat.
I've seen chatter in EFILive, but it wouldn't sync because it couldn't get a heartbeat

[CDeeZ]

Delcowizzid, can you elaborate on cable echo?

I've got a buddy with a computer science degree who is going to take a look at this.

It sounded too good and easy to be true, looks like it might be :/

[CDeeZ]

Thing passes cable found and functional test in TunerPro but still won't connect to datastream.

[CDeeZ]

Finally got it working. Guess my alligator clip ended test leads were corroded/broken and causing a no connection situation.

Stripped a little more wire and wound the wires diresctly to each other and it connects and successfully scans. Lots of intermittent data connection errors compared to the Moates cable, looks like a success but with that issue to work out.