Something I've been working on

[ASmartMan]

Hey All

E-Mail excerpts

From: Auterra Support [mailto:support@auterraweb.com]
Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 3:42 PM
To: 'Shepard, Brent'
Subject: RE: Questions
Hi,

Yes, the iQue will work with our Palm-based scan tool products.

It will not be possible to return one software disk (Windows) for another disk (Palm). However, I can offer 10% off the purchase of both the Palm A-300 scan tool kit plus the S-101 Windows software if you want both. Within the 30-days you could return both products for a refund. You could not, however, just return the S-101 Windows software. Both the scan tool and software would be returned together.

Here is the 10% off coupon code:

tenoffsale

You can use it to purchase any products, as long as the total is greater than $100.

Note, if you want to use Palm and Windows software, you'll need one of our serial scan tool kits (A-300 Palm or A-301 Windows). The A-302 Windows USB kit will only work on Windows PCs. Palm requires a serial port.

If the Palm software works on the Smartcar, the Windows software will too and vice versa. They use the same hardware adapter and share much of the same software, even though one works on Palm and one Windows.

If you want to play with the demo software, you can download the Windows and Palm from our Downloads page. The vehicle data is simulated in demonstration mode.

http://www.auterraweb.com/downloads.html

Dave
Sincerely,
Auterra Support
support@auterraweb.com


From: Shepard, Brent [mailto:bshepard@microsemi.com]
Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 2:13 PM
To: Auterra Support
Subject: RE: Questions
Dave

This is the PDA/GPS I was planning on usinghttp://cgi.ebay.com/GARMIN-IQUE-3600-PORTABLE-GPS-CAR-NAVIGATION_W0QQitemZ320220782227QQihZ011QQcategory Z84075QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

But you didn’t answer my other question.

Even thought I will be doing the initial test on a laptop (to make sure it works), I would want to return the windows software and exchange it for PDA software.

I am not looking to integrate the OBD reordered data with the GPS data, I’m just looking to have a versatile tool that allows me to see real-time auto data and on the rare trip where I need directions to have a GPS (built in) to give me the directions, as well as a PDA that allows me to store data (phone #s address, etc.

Thanks for the quick response

Brent

From: Auterra Support [mailto:support@auterraweb.com]
Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 4:40 PM
To: Shepard, Brent
Subject: RE: Questions

Hi,

Thanks for your interest our products. Let me try and answer some of your question.

All of the A-300 series and A-500 series products should work on the Smartcar. All of our products have a 30-day money back guarantee, so yes it can be returned for any reason.

The Palm A-300 works on most Palm PDAs. I am not sure what GPS features you are looking for, so I'll provide some info for each product type below.

http://www.auterraweb.com/supportedpalms.html

Here are some A-300 things to note:

- I only know of one Palm with GPS built in. The Garmin iQue series which is discontinued. Are there others?
- The Auterra Palm software does not log GPS position, whether using an internal or external Palm GPS.
- The Auterra Palm software fuel economy feature uses an older algorithm and is not as accurate as the Windows and DashDyno based products. It also works on fewer vehicles. It the future, it will be upgraded to the next algorithms.
- The Palm cannot be charged while connected to the vehicle.

Here are some Windows A-302 product notes:

- The Auterra Windows software does not log GPS position from an external GPS receiver. It will playback GPS position in Google Earth from DashDyno recorded files.

Here are some DashDyno product notes:

- The DashDyno will record GPS position if you connect an external GPS receiver. Most GPS handhelds and puck-style receivers will work.
- GPS playback in on a PC using the included Dyno-Scan for Windows software.
- The DashDyno easily mounts inside the vehicle using the windshield mount.
- The DashDyno product comes with the Auterra Windows software.
- You can connect your laptop to your vehicle using the DashDyno PC-pass thorough mode.

http://www.auterraweb.com/dashdynoseries.html

If you are looking for in-vehicle mounted that runs off the vehicle battery, the Auterra DashDyno is the most convenient and designed expressly for that purpose.

In my car, I have my handheld GPS and DashDyno both windshield suction cup mounted so I can view the GPS street information and log GPS position with DashDyno. Both the GPS and DashDyno run off the vehicle battery for long-term usage.

If you have other questions, let me know.

Dave
Sincerely,
Auterra Support
support@auterraweb.com


From: Shepard, Brent [mailto:bshepard@microsemi.com]
Sent: Monday, February 25, 2008 11:18 AM
To: support@auterraweb.com
Subject: Questions
Greetings

My Name is Brent Shepard and I have a few questions about your product, but first some background.

I own a Smart car (made by Mercedes Benz for Europe), this was imported by G&K Importers in Ca, there are 1075 converted (to US standards) currently on the road in the US.

We have tried various trip/OBD recorders/readers for these cars (now it becomes strange). Scangauge II works on the model sold in Canada but NOT the US or the EU. A trip computer called the X Gauge works on the EU version but not the US or Ca versions. BUT a trip computer called MDC works on all US,Ca,EU, but it is at a hefty price (and 1 trip computer works on all, separate models need not be ordered).

Now comes my questions.

I am a key member in the US forum for this car forum http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/forums/ and my handle is ASmartMan , others are waiting for me to beta the various units out there and make recommendations.

I’m not looking for something for nothing, I am willing to buy your 300, unit BUT IF it doesn’t work I need to be able to return it, and if it does work, I would like to exchange the Windows software for the Palm software (I’ll be testing with a laptop first).

The ultimate goal (of the group) is to have an OBD II reader/interpreter connected to a GPS capable Palm. Because there are many GPS palms out there some with serial ports and some with USB, that is why I need to test it on a laptop first so I know what OBD reader/recorder worth with what port.

Any input/help in my quest would be greatly appreciated.

Brent R Shepard


Ps after 5 PM EST e-mail brent_shepard@yahoo.com

[smartie yank]

Looks interesting Brent. Looks a little spendy compared to the scan gauge but if it works great. I have the MDC unit which is great but would be nice to have another screen to be able to view more things at once.

Keep us updaded, thanks, Dan

[ASmartMan]

This is a project I've been researching for awhile now.

ScanGauge II works in Ca but not the US or EU

X Gauge works in the EU Ca? but not US cars

MDC works on them ALL with no special mods required for ether model

I've spent the last 2 days e-mailing back and forth with Auterra Support.

I bought not only the windows software but also the Palm software for their 300 version http://www.auterraweb.com/dyforpacan.html it communicates using the KWP 2000 protocol (the protocol needed for the Smart) it can be laptop based or Palm pilot based.

My first round of tests will be using a laptop to ensure everything works as expected, if it does then I'll be switching to a GPS palm, pilot http://cgi.ebay.com/GARMIN-iQUE-3200...QQcmdZViewItem

I like this project for a few reasons, you get a trip type computer that allows you to data log many items until your memory is full ( you get to record all the details during that trip to aunt Jenny's house, transfer it to your main computer, then graph it in something like Excel), it is also a GPS that tells you how to get to aunt Jenny's house, and its a PDA for those things one can do with a PDA

It has all the code readers, as well as being able to reset any faults at will.

If this works as I believe it will (but there are no guarantees in life ) I was given (as the beta tester) a 30 day no questions asked money back return promise, and also, if it does work and any one of you Smarties want to do the same as me I got them to commit to a 10% off retail price for the Smart community.

I will be testing this on my G&K converted 450 SSOO I don't know (or have a way of testing) if it will work on a 451.

Wish me luck

ASM