Datalogger

I never really knew anything about datalogging until yesterday, and since then i've decided I need to get into it. I don't know much, but if anyone else knows or has one on here i'd appreciate some advice. What do I need??

So far I think I need:

- Palm (which one should I get)

- Datalogger (I only found 1 for my '94 hybrid OBDI/OBDII, any others?)

- Hot sync cradle/cable? (wtf is this?)

anything else?

- Hot sync cradle/cable? (wtf is this?)

i've done some research on dataloggers, too. The 'hot sync cradle/cable' is an attachment that provides a serial port connection. The datalogging cables have a serial connection. here's some examples: http://www.pocketlogger.com/?pid=palm

i purchased software (tunerstein - last link below) and a cable off e-bay, then a very good USB to SERIAL adapter, but my laptop wouldn't run the program. having once more read up on Miragecorps dataloggers, i see a recently added FAQ at the bottom http://automotive.miragecorp.com/Support/OBDISoftFAQ.html, in which USB>SERIAL adapters won't work. also, as you mentioned, Palm is the way to go, laptops are inferior.

here are some other sites i've bookmarked:

http://www.pocketlogger.com/

http://mmcdlogger.sourceforge.net/

http://www.stealth316.com/2-scanmaster3-install.htm

http://www.tmo.com/

http://students.db.erau.edu/~szabafab/stein/

It appears that all the different datalogging programs/software requires Palm OS 3.5 or later. The mmcdlooger & pocketlogger sites have a good list of Palm, Sony, and Handspring devices that are compatible, and those that have been tested, those that are supposed to be compatible, and those that are incompatible.

Datalogging programs differ in one regard to the number of parameters that can be logged at the same time. Miragecorp boasts a wopping 16 parameters over the competitions' average of 12, while MMCd can log up to 32 parameters at once.

Most of the sites have screenshots for your viewing pleasure.

hope this was helpful.

Twizted--> let me know what Palm you're thinking about purchasing; i think i'll look into doing the same. Since i already have the cable and the Tunerstein softreare, i just need a Palm. However, the Tunerstein software hasn't received any high praises that i can remember. I think the Miragecorp is widely used by 3Si guys as user SHiVeR-91VR4 sells them and advertises for Miragecorp. Also, i've heard of several using the MMCd logger software, and it looks quite legit and easy to follow.

Personally I use a Palm M100, MMCD and a always on logger cable off Ebay. the cable cost 24.00 Palm was 20.00 and MMSD is free. bought it formy DSM, and now that I sold that and have a 93 Stealth it works in tis car as well. MMCD can log more parameters than I know what to do with, so It is great for me.

the other cable you need is a SERIAL cable for the Palm. It actually should come with most of the older units. it was the slower way to connect devices to a computer before USB came out.

As to you and your OBD I/II Hybrid.... good luck. just sharing what I use.

If you want I can post up some pics of my setup tomorrow.

Mike

Yeah i'd appreciate the pics so I can get an idea of how the setup looks.

As for which Palm, i'm trying to decide whether I should go the cheap route (Ebay used) or the more expensive one (Ebay new). If I go the cheap route then i'd be looking to get the Palm IIIc (seen on Ebay for $30-$50), since it's compatible with the $250 (fair price?) software that I found from Mirage for my hybrid ECU. If not that then it would be the newer Palm Tungsten (M5xx) which is $300+. Would I be getting the same thing out of it with either one, or would it be worth the money for the newer one w/ more features??

the question will come up, what are you using it for? I went uber-cheap on my M100, as I dont use it for anythng but datalogging. For my personal PDA I have a HP Ipaq Pocket PC. If you plan on using the palm as a palm AND a logger, you might want a better one than I have. But that is if you plan on using ita as a Palm.

here is the ADL Plug to serial plug
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/schollianmj/ADLtoSerial.jpg

Here is the Serial To Palm cable
http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a21/schollianmj/serialpalmcable.jpg

Hope this helps.

Mike

does your Palm M100 work with Windows XP?

If I remember right I think it only went up to 98 for the M100.


Anyways I plan just to use it as a datalogger, I don't really need a palm, so I wouldn't get anything extra out of a newer one as far as datalogging is concerned??

right, that's what i read on the Palm compatibility page. but i need to know if it works with Windows XP so i can export/import my datalogs into Excel or whatever and save them on my comp.

actually It DOES work on Win XP. I am running Win XP sp2 adn the Palm software works JUT FINE! and as for exporting into Win Excell, I have the complete install of Office 2003 (word, powerpoint, excel, frontpage, onenote) and it works just fine.



Mike

ya, i think i'm gonna go with the Palm m125 b/c it has an expandable memory slot. perhaps i can get a used one for 25 bucks.

Well if you get yours before I get mine let me know how it works out for you. Thanks for the pics btw stealthy-one.

no problem. Im here to lern and help if possible! :)

alright, i got my Palm m125 off e-bay for 35 bucks. got a hotsync to serial cable, and i've downloaded the MMCd datalogger software.

here's the problem, i can't get the palm to recognize MMCd. the palm recognizes palm files which include .prc, .pdb, .pqa, .pnc, and .scp file extensions. However, the mmcd 1.5 contains none of the above file extensions. it only contains h files, c files, and a .rcp file.

i first thought i would just rename the .rcp file to a .prc file, b/c it sounded close. but that didn't work.

then i googled .rcp and there are Palm tutorials that say:
"Basically, you will "write" the .rcp file using your favorite text editor, compile it, link it to the compiled source code of your app, and get a beautiful .prc file that you can hotsync to your device or run on POSE."

so i'm a little confused what a .rcp file is? how can i get MMCd to load from the computer to my Palm? (yes, the hotsync is working, i have been able to transfer other files.)

Stealthy-One....help?

f'in yeah! after a little more searching, i solved my problem. the link on this page to the download http://mmcdlogger.sourceforge.net/ gives you MMCd version 1.5. however, there is no application/executable file here. and so i found this website: http://www.ecimulti.org/mmcd/ that has MMCd version 1.71 which DOES contain the MMCd application file!!! its a .prc file, so my palm recognized it, hotsync'd it, and voila! smooth as butta!

too bad my car is still in the shop for another week and i'll be up in NYC for 2 weeks by then. so i won't be able to datalog for a while :(

but the program DOES work. Twizted--> go to this site: http://www.ecimulti.org/mmcd/ -->click downloads --> MMCd Source 1.71.01132005

let me know when you get your palm and then datalog! i'm so pumped. curious to check knock and other things with some WOT pulls and whatnot.

I use a handspring visor (palm os) for logging.

You can get the visor delux for $10-$20 on ebay. Same basic functionality as the m100. but the screen is almost twice as big as the m100.

Cool thanks, but now the only problem that i'm going to have is that I have the '94 OBDI/OBDII hybrid ECU...i'll need software special to that, correct? The only one I see for it is $250 from Mirage. Also whats mmcd stand for?

hmmm...not sure where you can find hybrid 94/95 datalogging software. you can try the MMCd stuff. you're best bet is to ask over at 3si.org and see what other people are running with their hybrids. ya, definitely do that before you spend 250 bucks on miragecorp's software.

MMCd stands for Mitsubishi Motors Coroporation datalogger. it was pioneered by the DSM guys, but its also compatible with the 3/S cars.