Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Doughboy on 17 October 2006, 22:12:51

Title: Cheap Tech 2 (is it worth it?)
Post by: Doughboy on 17 October 2006, 22:12:51
Is the cheap Tech 2 on Ebay worth the money? What can you do with it? What can the real one do?

Just Curious, was thinking about getting one.

If they are useless I was only Joking about buying one ;)
Title: Re: Cheap Tech 2 (is it worth it?)
Post by: TheBoy on 17 October 2006, 22:18:37
As long as you accept the software is crap and incomplete, then its worth the money. It allows you to read fault codes in many of the onboard systems, and to reset codes.

No ECU updates/reconfig, no live data

A real PITA to get working if your laptop doesn't have a genuine 16550 type serial port, if you can get it going at all.

It is nowhere near the real thing, not even close. But then, it is several thousand quid cheaper.

A better set of files is being worked on by people here, but this will not resolve the underlying problems with the software.

Title: Re: Cheap Tech 2 (is it worth it?)
Post by: Doughboy on 17 October 2006, 22:22:05
In other words unless your loaded bribe a Vx mechanic  ;D
Title: Re: Cheap Tech 2 (is it worth it?)
Post by: TheBoy on 17 October 2006, 22:28:49
Quote
In other words unless your loaded bribe a Vx mechanic  ;D
If you just want to read and reset codes, then cheapo tech2 lead is good buy as long as your laptop can run it (usb to serial adapters problematic with it)
Title: Re: Cheap Tech 2 (is it worth it?)
Post by: Doughboy on 17 October 2006, 22:56:49
Need a laptop, just sold all 3 as no serial port. Could wheel out webserver on a couple of trolley jacks though.
Title: Re: Cheap Tech 2 (is it worth it?)
Post by: TheBoy on 17 October 2006, 22:58:39
Quote
Need a laptop, just sold all 3 as no serial port. Could wheel out webserver on a couple of trolley jacks though.
Yeah, getting a decent laptop with proper 16550 type ports is gonna be a challenge.

Personally, I got it working of my 2.0Ghz P4 tosh using a USB to serial adapter running a 'prolithic serial adapter' driver, forced to COM1:
Title: Re: Cheap Tech 2 (is it worth it?)
Post by: Doughboy on 17 October 2006, 23:06:48
Should be getting a new lappy in a couple of months. Need some overtime on the buses though.
Title: Re: Cheap Tech 2 (is it worth it?)
Post by: theolodian on 17 October 2006, 23:53:31
It's not cheap, but the Quatech SSP-100 is a good PCMCIA serial port card for uses like this.
Title: Re: Cheap Tech 2 (is it worth it?)
Post by: Doughboy on 18 October 2006, 00:14:04
Bit pricey, when I get a prob I might consider a cheapo tech2 and borrow a lappy. From what I've seen on here so far it seems to be the Cam Sensor  ;D
Title: Re: Cheap Tech 2 (is it worth it?)
Post by: theolodian on 18 October 2006, 14:19:59
Quote
Bit pricey, when I get a prob I might consider a cheapo tech2 and borrow a lappy. From what I've seen on here so far it seems to be the Cam Sensor  ;D
No, that's just the hegemonic manipulations of the anti-castration league  ;) ;D