PC interface and software
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 81
Likes: 0
From: Long Island New York
PC interface and software
So have a C6 Z51 auto and eventually i would like to do some modifications to just about everything. However, im probably going to do things gradually and therefore do not want to go back everytime to spend about $300 on a tune and have to return maybe 10 times. Ive read about the hand held tuners and cant help but feel that it does not give me maximum control. Many of my friends have interfaces for their PCs but im having trouble finding one. JET has a DST for earlier models and will probably come out with one soon but dont know when. Are there any other companies i can go with? What does everyone think VS professional and handheld?
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
From: Issaquah WA
You are on the right track, although in your area you have many
great tuners to choose from.
I went with this:
http://hptuners.com/
Then emailed the file off to C Williams at RPM
http://rpm-motors-inc.com/
(see his icon on the left of this page, he is a supporting vendor)
I have to believe its pretty dialed in now from his first stab
at it, but have sent him some data I collected per his request
to ensure its good.
You will be happy, the car is a whole new sensation.
If I did nothing to it, I would do the tune first. Of course I couldn't
keep from doing nothing so I have Callaway Honker, ported intake
and TB...
great tuners to choose from.
I went with this:
http://hptuners.com/
Then emailed the file off to C Williams at RPM
http://rpm-motors-inc.com/
(see his icon on the left of this page, he is a supporting vendor)
I have to believe its pretty dialed in now from his first stab
at it, but have sent him some data I collected per his request
to ensure its good.
You will be happy, the car is a whole new sensation.
If I did nothing to it, I would do the tune first. Of course I couldn't
keep from doing nothing so I have Callaway Honker, ported intake
and TB...
So have a C6 Z51 auto and eventually i would like to do some modifications to just about everything. However, im probably going to do things gradually and therefore do not want to go back everytime to spend about $300 on a tune and have to return maybe 10 times. Ive read about the hand held tuners and cant help but feel that it does not give me maximum control. Many of my friends have interfaces for their PCs but im having trouble finding one. JET has a DST for earlier models and will probably come out with one soon but dont know when. Are there any other companies i can go with? What does everyone think VS professional and handheld?
Drifting
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,407
Likes: 0
From: Canton/Detroit Michigan
The first one (hptuners) is in my opinion GOD AWFUL.
They limit how you use the device. What a load of DRM poop that is.
Sorry, but if I buy something, I don't want to have artificial restrictions on how I use it. I'm not willing to pay 50 bucks each time I get a new car or if I loan out my unit to a friend to use.
I sent them an e-mail stating that I am definitely NOT buying one due to the licensing restriction.
What is going on with everybody these days trying to soak their customers with limited use licensing? I would understand if it were a software only product, but you need to have the hardware to make this work.
I guess they want a cut of each car scanned/tuned with "their" device. Keep it I say.
Pity, though, because it actually looked pretty good from what I saw on their site.
They limit how you use the device. What a load of DRM poop that is.
Sorry, but if I buy something, I don't want to have artificial restrictions on how I use it. I'm not willing to pay 50 bucks each time I get a new car or if I loan out my unit to a friend to use.
I sent them an e-mail stating that I am definitely NOT buying one due to the licensing restriction.
What is going on with everybody these days trying to soak their customers with limited use licensing? I would understand if it were a software only product, but you need to have the hardware to make this work.
I guess they want a cut of each car scanned/tuned with "their" device. Keep it I say.
Pity, though, because it actually looked pretty good from what I saw on their site.
Racer
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 398
Likes: 2
From: Kokomo Indiana
The first one (hptuners) is in my opinion GOD AWFUL.
They limit how you use the device. What a load of DRM poop that is.
Sorry, but if I buy something, I don't want to have artificial restrictions on how I use it. I'm not willing to pay 50 bucks each time I get a new car or if I loan out my unit to a friend to use.
I sent them an e-mail stating that I am definitely NOT buying one due to the licensing restriction.
What is going on with everybody these days trying to soak their customers with limited use licensing? I would understand if it were a software only product, but you need to have the hardware to make this work.
I guess they want a cut of each car scanned/tuned with "their" device. Keep it I say.
Pity, though, because it actually looked pretty good from what I saw on their site.
They limit how you use the device. What a load of DRM poop that is.
Sorry, but if I buy something, I don't want to have artificial restrictions on how I use it. I'm not willing to pay 50 bucks each time I get a new car or if I loan out my unit to a friend to use.
I sent them an e-mail stating that I am definitely NOT buying one due to the licensing restriction.
What is going on with everybody these days trying to soak their customers with limited use licensing? I would understand if it were a software only product, but you need to have the hardware to make this work.
I guess they want a cut of each car scanned/tuned with "their" device. Keep it I say.
Pity, though, because it actually looked pretty good from what I saw on their site.
Former Vendor
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 678
Likes: 0
From: Trenton NJ
The first one (hptuners) is in my opinion GOD AWFUL.
They limit how you use the device. What a load of DRM poop that is.
Sorry, but if I buy something, I don't want to have artificial restrictions on how I use it. I'm not willing to pay 50 bucks each time I get a new car or if I loan out my unit to a friend to use.
I sent them an e-mail stating that I am definitely NOT buying one due to the licensing restriction.
What is going on with everybody these days trying to soak their customers with limited use licensing? I would understand if it were a software only product, but you need to have the hardware to make this work.
I guess they want a cut of each car scanned/tuned with "their" device. Keep it I say.
Pity, though, because it actually looked pretty good from what I saw on their site.
They limit how you use the device. What a load of DRM poop that is.
Sorry, but if I buy something, I don't want to have artificial restrictions on how I use it. I'm not willing to pay 50 bucks each time I get a new car or if I loan out my unit to a friend to use.
I sent them an e-mail stating that I am definitely NOT buying one due to the licensing restriction.
What is going on with everybody these days trying to soak their customers with limited use licensing? I would understand if it were a software only product, but you need to have the hardware to make this work.
I guess they want a cut of each car scanned/tuned with "their" device. Keep it I say.
Pity, though, because it actually looked pretty good from what I saw on their site.
You can tune up to 4 vehicles with your initial purchase of $499(std) or $649(pro) and include one of the best scanners on the market for GM.
Compare that to a handheld that will run you $300-400 but is locked to 1 vehicle and has 1/10000th of the functionality of our software package.
Also like stated you have to keep in mind the developement time & man power it takes to support over 50 vehicles & 30 different engines not to mention the thousands of operating systems we support. And then actually break down those tables so that they make some sense to the person trying to tune their vehicle. Its taken alot of time & dedication to get where the package is today.
And if you think pricing is too high now 5 years ago you were talking upwards of $25k for the same thing you can get for $3000 today in some cases
Pro
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 610
Likes: 1
From: Midland Texas
St. Jude Donor '09-'11
HPTuners is a GREAT product! But it is just a tool. Anyone who thinks they can just buy HPTuners and tune their own car is asking for trouble and disappointment. The problem is not with the software, the problem is with the learning curve. People who only do tunes 1 or 2 times per year are never going to be "tuners". Tuning without a wide band isn't tuning.
For those of you who plan on lots of modifications, buying tunes from a good tuner experienced in tuning cars with similar modifications is by far the best approach. If you have to buy the interface in order to be able to flash a tuner's file to your car when you are remote, so be it.
I have several years of part time experience datalogging and tuning both GM and Ford cars, and, believe me, HPTuners is an absolutely wonderful product and you can find help on several forums if needed. Even I buy tunes from an experienced tuner on a vehicles that I have no experience with and use that tune as a starting point and fine tune air fuel ratio from there on the vehicle on the road.
There is no substitute for knowledge and experience, regardless of the tuning software used.
Joe
For those of you who plan on lots of modifications, buying tunes from a good tuner experienced in tuning cars with similar modifications is by far the best approach. If you have to buy the interface in order to be able to flash a tuner's file to your car when you are remote, so be it.
I have several years of part time experience datalogging and tuning both GM and Ford cars, and, believe me, HPTuners is an absolutely wonderful product and you can find help on several forums if needed. Even I buy tunes from an experienced tuner on a vehicles that I have no experience with and use that tune as a starting point and fine tune air fuel ratio from there on the vehicle on the road.
There is no substitute for knowledge and experience, regardless of the tuning software used.
Joe
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