DashDAQ; Can We Make It the New CanView?

http://priuschat.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=12465&stc=1&d=1229488829

As the result of a random posting here on PriusChat, I took a close look at
the DashDaq website. What I found surprised me. Granted, this unit costs
about 3x what the ScanGauge does, but I think that it has the potential to be
as versitile as the no longer available CanView program.... and it doesn't
require a separate compuer to do it.

So before continuing, please check out theDashDAQ site:

DashDAQ Series II - Features

Although there is mention of the unit's use with hybrids, it is very generic.

Strange, thought I. So, I called DashDAQ and had a lengthy conversation
with one of their techs. Although he sounded slightly bemused, probably by
my wholesale lack of technical expertise, he patiently listened to my pitch
that they were missing a growing segment of the automotive market by no
having hybrid info, and especially Prius specific info, in their standard data
display capabilities. The tech said he'd check with his higher ups and get
back to me.

Well, he has. I got this email:
 
Thanks for inquiring about our DashDAQ product line.  At this time
DashDAQ will view generic OBD2 information from the Prius but we have
yet to get our hands on one to see just what those signals include.  We
unfortunately do not have the Prius scheduled for further updates at this
time but that can be changed if demand increases.  Keep watching our
forum to see what the latest and greatest additions are as they occur.
 
Thanks,
 
Jay Rohrback
Drew Technologies
3915 Research Park Dr.
Suite A10
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Ph. 734-222-5228, x603
Fax 734-222-5008
DrewTech: Vehicle Diagnostic, Scantool, PassThru (J2534), and OBD-II Hardware
DashDAQ Series II from Drew Technologies

If you would like to see DashDAQ with hybrid/Prius standard data display
capabilities, I see three opportunities here:
1. Send email or call to make inquiries or express interest in a Prius- ready
DashDAQ
2. If you are technicaly knowledgable, contact DashDAQ about decoding
Prius specific data strings
3. If you live near Ann Arbor, call them and offer to go by and have them
read the Prius OBD strings.


 

Hi Rokeby,

You might have them go by the Sourceforge MYCANSCAN webpage and download the program. From that they can get much of the Prius specific stuff.

Oh, and do not drive through Itasca, IL with one of those as shown on the webpage.

Maybe they can drop the price by a couple of hundred bucks to start with.

They wonder why the Scanguage sells so well!

THIS THING IS WAY TOO OVER PRICED!!!

KK6PD

That is mega dollars for a few gauges.
It's very clever but I'm not about to shell out nearly $1000AU for it.

Yes, the DashDAQ is about 3x the cost of the ScanGauge. But then it
appears that it will do a lot more than the SG too; better display graphics,
faster access to more data, data collection, etc. So if anything, a
comparison of cost/value needs to be made with an in-car CanView
display set-up.

CanView users, can you tell us what your set-up cost -- IIRC, you need a
laptop or carputer for data display.

CanView users, does this unit look like it could provide the multiple gauges
that you have access to now. Do you see it as a potentially valuable tool
in the non-availability of CanView for us latecomers.

N.B. I have had my SG for almost a year now. Love it, but it has its limits.
Especially when it comes to looking at the more esoteric HV battery data.
Programming the X Gauge isn't the issue, it's switching back and forth
between gauges. On the SG you have to cycle thru a whole series of
guages to find the one you want. In the DashDAQ you can set up multiple
custom screens that have up to six guages on them. You can program the
pre-selected guage sets with max/min values, gauges, numerics, etc.

My intention here is to try to get the DashDAQ folks excited enough that
they'll start programming for the Prius. In the near future the Honda
Insight II will be on the road, and shortly thereafter other new hybrids.
Now is the time for us to act proactively, before DashDAQ gets other
requests.

I can't do this by myself. Even If you don't plan on getting one (now),
your call or email could make a difference in in getting a CanView
replacement available. You don't have to make a committtment,
just show some interest... that is to say, its like voting, its free.

Standard Disclaimer: I have no connection or financial interest
whatsoever with the maker of the DashDAQ.

Hi All,

The DashDaq costs about the same as EEE PC , with CANUSB, and cable for the MYCANSCAN. I went the EEE PC route as its a laptop, its rugged, and I thought it would be nice to have a Laptop for buisness trips I would be making last year, to be able to do email and stay web connected in the evenings, AND, I could run a GPS program on the laptop when out travelling in the car. So, all this multi-functionalism justifies the price. The only thing that has not worked out well is the in-Car GPS, as the little USB connected receiver pucs they sell have poor sensitivity. And I have not gotten around to fixing mine. Apparently, the antenna designs have too small a ground plane (something I know about professionally) for the size of the patch ceramic element. Using a SIRF III evaluation receiver with an antenna I developed at work, (which needs no ground plane) it all works just fine.

GPS appears to be the disadvantage of the DashDaq. Or did I misread this? The GPS enabled unit is extra.

I think the greatest advantage of the MYCANSCAN/EEE PC is the color change with paraneter value. This is very handy for accelleration RPM monitoring. Some of the other parameters on the MYCANSCAN should do this better, but the RPM is just great. I accellerate at 2000 RPM, and that is where the lower right corner of the screen changes from green to red. At 2000 RPM its orange. So, there is no need to look directly at the screen. And when the engine goes off, the RPM block goes black - great for pulse and glide. Very operationally ergonomic. Atilla probably does not even make the bar go up and down like it does, just change color would be fine. Making the bar go up and down without any reference lines, is kinda useless, actually.

The disadvantage of the MYCANSCAN is it does not have Tranmission/Motor temp gauges. Nor does it have IGN parameter. IGN is not such a big thing, as IGN is tightly coupled to RPM to a first order approximation.

There is also a bug in the battery temperature. Apparently, he did not decode the leading bit encoding the minus sign. So, when the battery temp is below 0, it reads 256 and lower. I actually had this in college, there is a term for that number representation, but I forget now.

It's probably a Two's complement number representation and the MYCANSCAN software is most likely treating it as an unsigned number.

Is the acceleration color thing at a glance the only information you need when driving? I fancy having a play with a USBCAN adapter but I not so keen on a laptop in the car - I was wondering whether one of those mini itx boards could work as a data logger plus a simple display? (or maybe wireless or bluetooth to my Nokia N810 internet tablet?).

canview is still available!

Products

I like the graphics of the interface. It's more polished than CAN-View. Whether it would provide more functionality or user-friendliness than CV (even with CAN data) is kind of hard to say just looking at the pics on the site. I also like the data-logging feature -- something that ScanGauge has been promising for years but has yet to deliver.

But it would have to come down in price considerably and add most of the CAN data now available either through CV or Xgauges for me to consider it, even if I didn't have CV already.

Price was one of the issues with CV. The CV developer gave up on them (except for PHEV models) when he realized the small niche market that was willing to pay considerably more than what the SG cost wasn't making it profitable for him.

I paid (I think) $360 for it, but I didn't need an external monitor; it can be plugged directly into the MFD on the 2004 and 2005 Prius. An optional interface for another $40 or so provides data logging.

well if a lot people buy CV then the price can get down!

maybe do a group buy?

Flying_White_Dutchman,

Thanks for posting the CanView site. Personally, I find even the first page
of the site intimidating. How many of what major pieces and add-ons do I
need? What about cables and connectors? And, do I do, or do I don't
need a separate display unit -- I'm pretty sure I do.

I know CanView works for you guys who have the background and
capabilities to "get it together." But, I'm not one of you. I need plug and
play if I'm going to get something even close to CV.

Enter DashDAQ. From what I think I know from poking around on their
website, its a single self-contained unit with integral display. In the
package comes standard guage skins and software. To that can be added
marque specific software and custom skins, some skins skins even match
the dash of that marque. ATT, there is no Prius/hybrid specific data
retrieval/display.

For me, and I suspect many others, the DashDAQ may be the only way we
can get CanView-llike data access and recording capabilities.

Forget what this unit costs! Right now, this is not about buying one.
In it's current capabilities the DashDAQ is not Prius friendly. So, why don't
we, as the world's largest virtual Prius communnity, try to get that changed?

My major point here is that if there ever is to be a Prius specific data set,
and even gauge skin, it is necessary for folks to contact DashDAQ and
merely express an interest in it. (I think it would be especially helpful if
technically competant members called because you could answer their
questions as to access to Prius specific data.)

We need some Prius Community Action here. It's free and it won't cost a penny!

And, times a'waste-in,' the Honda Insight II will be here next year. It will
be a cryin' shame if the Insight folks beat the Prius folks to the starting line.

Anyone hear anything new about the Japanese version of the CANview (which interface is MUCH more sexy then anything else I've seen)

Hi I posted this question and offer a couple of weeks ago:


Is there anybody interested in the DashDAQ with NAV? I run an auto expeditor business selling to car dealers and such. I would like to buy one of these with the NAV, but DashDAQ wants me to buy two to start out with. The cost of this unit with the NAV is $556.00 and $439 without. I think they want me to buy two of the same. I may be able to mix the first buy. I'll pick up the tab for shipping to me. Shipping to elsewhere is on the buyer though. I don't think it would be much more than $12 or so. I am not making a profit on this so I hope it is ok to post this here.

Here is the link : DashDAQ Series II - Features


Jon

jrmason,

This thread is the result of your earlier post and our brief PM exchange.

As I posted earlier, I've looked closely at the DashDAQ site. An interesting
unit, but at this time it has nothing hybrid/Prius specific that would
overcome the general feeling that it is pricey.

I presume that your interest in it is not Prius specific.

Well, anyway, I think that if we could get the mfg'r to get interested in
hybrid/Prius programming, the unit could be an alternative to the CanView
for non-techies like me. All it takes is an email or phone call. :cheer2:

Unfortunately, I don't see a lot of interest amongst PriusChatters in
making any effort to go in that direction. Kind of like the Detroit 3
choosing to drag their feet on true high FE/MPG vehicles. :frusty:

Such Is Life.

Hi Evan,

I doubt they are going to make it open source, for the purpose of adding car specific gauges. Looks like they are charging $90 per make of vehicle for this kinda stuff. So, it may be built into their price that they have to charge that money.

Does anyone know if/when the manufacturer of ScanGauge II is coming out with a newer version?

Given my severe technical limitations, I have not felt comfortable acting
as an intermediary between PC and DashDAQ. So here's what I've done...

I've emailed my contact at DashDAQ. I've invited him/them to come up and
make corrections, additions, comments, whatever, on this thread.

Boink! I've lobbed the ball into their court, for an easy return...

Let's see what happens.

Hi Everyone,
I've been reading through the thread this morning and have to say I do see quite a few of your points. I think the real core of the problem is that our DashDAQ was not really developed with the Prius market in mind, but actually for the street performance market and in doing so we designed a feature set that fit that market. I can see where the gauges, datalogging, fuel economy tracking, and diagnostics are valuable to your community but the performance monitoring and GPS probably aren't as valuable. Our unit without GPS is $549 retail. I could be wrong, but by the time you purchase gauges, a datalogger, and a scantool, you'll be there or over very quickly. I'm in essence agreeing with most of you that our product is over-featured and over-priced for what you really want to purchase. If I could, I'd offer something closer to what you want but can't at this point in time. That being said, we are still open-minded in that if someone wants to take the time to call us and set up an appointment to come in with their car, we'd certainly take the time to see what information is truly available through generic OBDII. It may be that what's there will meet your needs. The value equation is still something that I have to leave up to your community to justify. I do thank you all for your opinions and advice though.
Jay Rohrback
Drew Technologies

Jay,

[Edit: Oops, I forgot my manners! Welcome to PriusChat.]

Many thanks for the quick come back and your reasoned response.

Maybe it's time for you guys to catch the hybrid wave of the future.
If so, we'd love to help.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Boink! the ball is back in "our" court.

Can anybody up in the Ann Arbor, MI area contact Jay directly to arrrange to
go by and let Jay and his people take a look at the Prius' OBD data?

Jay Rohrback
Drew Technologies
3915 Research Park Dr.
Suite A10
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
Ph. 734-222-5228, x603
Fax 734-222-5008

There looks to still be a chance this could develop into something good.