Wifi OBD device

[rob_gendreau]

I've been using a wifi OBD device, the Vgate iCar ELM327 from these guys:
http://www.obdinnovations.com/vgate-ica ... s-scanner/

Works fine with my iPhone and DashCommand. I bought the Ford PIDs (extra $10), but that gave me transmission temp, which wasn't otherwise included. You can also custom program that into a Scan Gauge.

It's pretty nice, but will really chew battery power so your phone has to be plugged in. The OBD has auto-off, which is nice, but to restart it I have to plug it back in. Maybe that's unique to the Ford OBD port; I dunno. Unlike some others you just log into its wifi network; some others require you set up a static IP address on your phone which can be a pain.

Also, I'm looking for a better OBD app. Dashcommand is nice, but the custom gauges are all round dials. I'd like something that just puts out big text; I don't even need the labels. I have to mount my phone a bit away from me so those little dials are hard to read.

And I haven't yet found an app that does a real good job of emphasizing the sort of stuff we're into; most lean towards performance tuning, although DashCommand does have a tilt meter for offroaders. I'd like more odometer functions combined with tilt and GPS data (kind of a Harry's Lap Timer for 4x4s). That with temps, RPM, and fuel stuff. Anyone know of anything?

[BroncoHauler]

I have this one, also a Vgate. Vgate ELM327 Bluetooth Scan Tool OBD2 OBDII Scanner for Torque App for Android. The Bluetooth should use less power than WiFi. Have only had it a few weeks, and really haven't explored it much. Does gauges in addition to diagnostics, just like your version.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00AAO ... UTF8&psc=1


Herb

[rob_gendreau]

Unfortunately those of us wit iOS devices are more limited than Android users in what we can get. Bluetooth OBD devices for Apple equipment is rarer; it's easier to do wifi.

One problem with this is that since my phone thinks it's connected to a LAN that goes to the internet it seems to refuse to use cellular data when it's logged into the OBD network. I have to exit from the network to access Google Maps, for instance. I can use an old iphone without a SIM card, so it doesn't matter most of the time, but it is a limitation I haven't been able to work past.