MyFirst90coupe

I am looking to do some datalogging. I was reading the website for Datamaster and it states that you have to have a serial connection. I don't think my laptop has a serial connection but it has a ton of USB's. Will it work correctly with a USB cable?

Just wanted to ask before I buy the cable.

Thanks,
Jeff

JackDidley

You need something like the cable below. You can also get one from AKM cables.

http://www.moates.net/aldu1-and-cabl....html?cPath=97

MyFirst90coupe

This one from aldlcable.com won't work then?

http://www.aldlcable.com/sc/details.asp?item=aldlobd1u

JackDidley

It should. I have not bought one in years, just suggesting ones that came to mind.

3D87C4

I just got the Moates cable and downloaded & installed Datamaster yesterday. So far everything seems to be working. If you get the Moates cable be sure to load their USB drivers too.

To familiarize myself with the software I started a datalog and drove around the block to see what I could capture. It worked fine but I had two minor issues. First, the datalog stopped after 300 seconds. I assume this was caused by my laptop entering some kind of power saving mode 'cause it was running on the battery---I'm on the Forum right now to look for inverter suggestions. The other is that Datamaster only allows 32 parameters to be output to a cvs file for plotting in excel---I need to figure out what data to save.

In the more than you really want to know category:

I have a code 32 I want to debug. The SES light ('87 coupe) comes on right after starting the engine for my evening commute home---never in the morning. Reading the FSM it's probably the EGR Temp. Diagnostic Switch or a ground in circuit 935. I'm hoping to use Datamaster to see what the EGR switch signal state is on start up to see if I'm on the right track.

MyFirst90coupe

Ok, I will get the Moates. It seems to be the better of the 2 options.

WW7

When you hook everything up, and before you start collecting data, you have to turn off screen saver on your computer, if you don't every time it comes on it will break the connection to the program..This is the problem the guy above is probably having..WW

3D87C4

Agreed. I got an inverter to power the laptop and am waiting for the rain to stop so I can give it another try.

MyFirst90coupe

Any issues running it with Vista?

3D87C4

I'm using XP so can't answer from experience, but...

Here's a quote from page 5 of their manual:

"1.5 Minimum computer Requirements

DataMater requires Windows 2000/XP/Vista/Win7 and will run on 32- or 64-bit versions of these operating systems."

That said, I seem to recall seeing some posts about Vista/Windows 7 issues. A forum search may find more.

You can download their manual.

MyFirst90coupe

I ordered the cable today...I'm going to have the tune done by someone else though so that I don't mess it up.

JackDidley

Sounds like a good plan. Get a base tune from somone, then download Tunerpro RT and fine tune it yourself. I got a lot of help from the forums and mseven when I made changes to the car and decided to tune it myself. If you start with a good tune, tweaking it is not that hard and a good learning experience.

MyFirst90coupe

I'm going to have Mick do the tune and then I'm not going to mess with it.

MyFirst90coupe

Ok, I tried to do some datalogging tonight since I got my cable today.

Should the switch be in the open position?

I shut off any and all screen savers/power savers. All seemed good except I kept getting NO PCM signal warnings. It would eventually reconnect itself.

I sent the file off to Mick. Hopefully it's enough to get him started.

JackDidley

The data signal is very weak. Some cars seem to have more problems than others keeping the connection. I have to make sure all connections are tight on the cable and plug into the ALDL tight. Sometimes I think RF noise can be a factor. I can never get a good log at the dragstrip. Mick also has a 90, maybe he has some ideas. You will really like the program when you get used to it.

3D87C4

I'm not sure about the switch position. The FSM for my '87 indicates different operating modes in the open and 10k positions. The web sites seemed to suggest using the 10k position so that's what I did. I'll have to try the open position and see what happens.

I had some No PCM messages initially too but it settled down after a few minutes. Testing the connection and/or altering the sample rate may have helped.

MyFirst90coupe

I need to set my port speed and such. I ran it with the switch in the open position.


I also need to turn of the WAN assistant, that might help. didn't think about it until I past a Burger King and it popped up asking if I wanted to connect.