Obd Elm327
April 26th, 2010 | 
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OBD ELM 327
OBD 2007 works with any Elm327 chipped scan tool or any scan tool powered by a chip that fully emulates all the AT commands of the Elm327 chip. There are many manufacturers of Elm327 chipped scan tools, so theoretically we support any scan tool powered by an Elm327 chip.
However, we directly support the scan tools you see on our main page, because these companies have proved to both reliable and supportive. We are confident in recommending any of these scan tools because we have observed the quality of the products and can vouch that these scan tools are all made to the highest standards. We have also extensively tested each of these products with OBD 2007.
OBDPro
Without doubt this scan tool is the “Big Daddy” of the Elm327 scan tools. The OBDPro scan tool is jammed packed full of innovative features as compared to the other Elm327 scan tools.
The OBDPro is brilliant and nothing stands next to it because of the following 3 unique features:
- Support for very high speed baud rates.
- Double buffered message queue.
- Remote upgrade capability.
High Speed Baud Rates and Double Buffering
The first two features are primarily aimed at the high speed CAN protocol, the protocol used by all new vehicles manufactured since 2008. When the CAN protocol was first introduced in vehicles during 2004/05, many Elm327 chipped scan tools suffered from BUFFER FULL messages, as a result of the high speed CAN networks of the vehicle over running the small internal buffer of the Elm327 chip.
The OBDPro scan tool, overcame this limitation with its unique double buffer design, so that BUFFER FULL messages were eliminated even at low speed baud rates.
However, why use slow baud rates (9600 and 38,400 baud), when a USB port is capable of speeds of up to 2.0Mbits. The OBDPro scan tool in conjunction with OBD 2007 can exploit the very high speed baud rates of the OBDPro scan tool up to 4 times faster than the current Elm327 v1.3 chip. If you are seeking high speed performance, then the combination of OBDPro and OBD 2007 is the obvious choice.
Remote Upgrade Capability
This feature of OBDPro is truly unique. OBDPro is the only Elm327 type scan tool, which is remotely upgradable. Your scan tool investment is protected, because when any new firmware release is introduced, you have the ability to upgrade your scan tool, by running a free upgrade program from OBDPros, while your OBDPro scan tool is connected to your computer. Within a couple of seconds, your firmware is upgraded to the latest version, so your scan tool is always current.
To do the same thing with any other Elm327 chipped scan tool requires purchasing a new chip for about USD $32, waiting days or weeks for delivery, dismantling/assembling your scan tool, removing the old chip and replacing with the new chip. Removing and replacing the 28 pin Elm327 chip is not something anyone has the guts to do. If you choose to do so, be extremely careful not to break or bend one of those 28 pins.
OBDPros is the complete one stop shop – they design their own chip, plus build their scan tools.
OBDKey v1.3
OBDKey v1.3 is a brand new design from KBM Systems. It is an extremely compact design about the size of a matchbox and is available in either USB or Bluetooth configurations. OBDKey maybe small, but it is very big on performance. It is easily the fastest scan tool we have ever tested.
OBDKey v1.3 Bluetooth paired with a Smartphone running our OBD 2007 for Pocket PC is an ideal combination for any workshop manager who may be required to test multiple vehicles quickly to determine workshop priorities. Slip it out of your pocket, plug it directly into the OBDII port and complete a test in seconds, absolutely no cables are required.
Please note OBD 2007 is not compatible with versions of OBDKey prior to v1.3
All-In-One
This scan tool is powered by the Elm Electronics Elm327 v1.3 chip. The scan tool is very robust and very reliable and the company have been producing OBDII scan tools for many years, so they have a proven track record in this market.
The Elm327 chip has evolved from the earlier Elm32x series of chips. As a software developer, I always think that maybe the Elm chip has reached the end of its useful life, but the clever engineers at Elm Electronics always continue to amaze me with the innovations they keep making to this chip. The v1.3 was no exception with the improvements they made for the CAN protocol.
OBDLink
OBDLink is a first for Scantool.net. Previously Scantool.net was the manufacturer of the ElmScan 5 family of scan tools which are all based on the Elm327 v1.3 chip from Elm Electronics. OBDLink is their first scan tool of their own design and is based on a 16 bit micro.
OBDLink is fully compatible with the Elm327 v1.3a AT command set. OBDLink supports many of the advanced features first introduced in the OBDPro scan tool, such as very high speed baud rates (up to 2.0Mbps) and free future updates for the software. OBDLink is also available with an optional Bluetooth communication.
Price wise OBDLink is very expensive when you consider it is more than twice the price of an OBDPro with no additional features.
ElmScan 5 Compact
There is really very little to say about this scan tool. It comes from a company that was once a reputable scan tool manufacturer. However now they have decided to power their ElmScan 5 with a clone chip. Because of this we no longer recommend Scantool.net products.
Clone scan tools – Pros/Cons
No discussion or review of Elm327 scan tools would be complete without touching on the Chinese clone scan tools usually sold very cheaply over eBay. We have customers who have used these scan tools successfully, but we have had many more customers not being successful. Buying one of these scan tools is pretty much a gamble. You may end up with one that works, you may not. Quite often the scan tool doesn’t contain the latest v1.3, even though they are advertised as v1.3 chips.
Typically they can work with one protocol, but not another protocol. Even we they do work, they can be notoriously difficult to setup because they are usually shipped with extremely old USB drivers. OBD 2007 and probably any other software packages will have difficulty finding the correct serial port and factory baud rate setting if the wrong USB drivers are installed on your machine.
The quality of construction appears to vary markedly between the various scan tools that are available on eBay. A couple I have seen appear to be very professional made and another I saw would appear to be put together by someone who took up soldering as a hobby the day before. The one thing you cannot tell is who the manufacturer is.
All Elm327 chipped scan tools support the Elm AT command AT@1. The AT@1 command should return the manufacturer’s name like for instance:- SCANTOOL.NET LLC or OBDPros LLC v3 etc.
The manufacturer has the ability to write to the chip to insert their company name. If that is not done, then the standard response from the AT@1 command is the default “OBDII to RS232 Interpreter”.
I have yet to see one of these Chinese clones return a manufacturer’s name, other than the default “OBDII to RS232 Interpreter”. I suppose that is understandable, if you are going to steal someone else’s design, it would probably be best not to advertise who you are.
However that is precisely why we can’t directly support these scan tools. We have no point of contact to discuss whatever maybe a potential problem. If you do have a problem with a clone scan tool, you are usually struggling alone for a solution!
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BAFX Brand – ELM327 BLUETOOTH – OBDII OBD2 DIAGNOSTIC SCANNER – CAN ELM 327 SCANTOOL – CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAR CODE READER $23.99 Features The program lets you perform the following operations: ?Read diagnostic trouble codes, both generic and manufacturer-specific , and display their meaning (over 3000 generic code definitions in the database). ?Clear trouble codes and turn off the MIL (“Check Engine” light) ?Display current sensor data, including: |
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Bluetooth ELM 327 Diagnostics USB Cable $6.99 The program is very user-friendly, and easy to learn. The package includes software for reading and resetting codes. Gnet’s DigitalDash 5, a front end software for a Car PC that includes OBD functionality when the device is connected to your car pc. The processor is compatible with the AT command set for the widest compatibility with freeware and commercial programs written for the ELM series of i… |
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OBD2 OBD II Diagnostic USB Cable For KKL409.1 VAG-COM 409 $7.98 Reference Data 1.This cable can not work if your car uses a protocol ssystem like VPW,PWM or Can-bus. 2. Bus of communication 3.Terminal L= Ignition for waking up car computing system (ECU: Engine Control Unit) 4.Existed 3 different protocols with same OBD2 connector incl. ISO/KWP, VPW, PMW 5.This K/L Diaqnostic interface & cables work on ISO/KWP (Kev Word Protocol) Iaunched after 1996 only… |
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Bluetooth ELM 327 Diagnostics USB Cable $14.00 The program is very user-friendly, and easy to learn. The package includes software for reading and resetting codes. Gnet’s DigitalDash 5, a front end software for a Car PC that includes OBD functionality when the device is connected to your car pc. The processor is compatible with the AT command set for the widest compatibility with freeware and commercial programs written for the ELM series of i… |
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ELM 327 Diagnostics USB Cable $9.49 The program is very user-friendly, and easy to learn. The package includes software for reading and resetting codes. Gnet’s DigitalDash 5, a front end software for a Car PC that includes OBD functionality when the device is connected to your car pc. The processor is compatible with the AT command set for the widest compatibility with freeware and commercial programs written for the ELM series of i… |
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OBD-II 1.3 Scanner Software ELM 327 1.4 USB Plastic $13.99 Package includes: 1 x ELM327 USB interface. 1 x CD software…. |
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Soliport ELM 327 Bluetooth OBDII OBD2 Diagnostic Scanner $11.31 * Works with all OBD-II compliant vehicles * Wireless (Bluetooth) * Software included for Windows PC * Software included for Windows Smartphone * ISO15765-4 (CAN) * ISO14230-4 (KWP2000) * ISO9141-2 * J1850 VPW * J1850 PWM Note: pls be sure that your car compatible with these agreement before you buy Functions: * Read diagnostic trouble codes, both generic and manufacturer-specific, and dis… |
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ElmScan 5 Compact USB OBD-II Scan Tool & OBDWiz Engine Diagnostic Software (423001) $28.95 ElmScan 5 is the original best-selling ELM327-based scan tool, and is the perfect entry-level scan tool for the budget-minded do-it-yourself mechanic. ElmScan 5 Compact lets you turn your computer into a sophisticated diagnostic system. The scan tool is a breeze to install and configure, and provides a lot more information about your vehicle, than a handheld scan tool. It is fully … |
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ELM 327 USB CAN-BUS Automotive Vehicle Car Diagnostic Interface Code Scanner ELM327 OBD-II OBD2 $18.30 Description: This program is very user-friendly, and easy to learn. Allows you to use your PC and a hardware interface to get the information from your car’s computer. It is also very easy to install: simply extract the files into a folder on your computer’s hard drive, and you’re ready to go. To uninstall the program, simply delete the entire contents of the folder where the program resides. Soft… |
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