WinOLS Mastery: Map Identification & Editing: Hardware and Software Requirements
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Hardware and Software Requirements
04.57
| 00:00 | - As we've learned in the last module, WinOLS is only one part of the package that you'll need in order to actually tune a vehicle. |
| 00:07 | As well as the actual purchase of a WinOLS license that allows you to use the software that we're focusing on in this course, you'll also need a hardware and software interface for the ECU reading and writing. |
| 00:19 | Beyond this, you also may need to consider some generic tuning tools which we'll also discuss within this module. |
| 00:24 | When it comes to the flashing hardware, there's actually a number of options and each has their pros and cons as well as their own very different price points. |
| 00:33 | For example, at the lower end of the price range, is the solution from PCM Flash which can be purchased for under $50. |
| 00:40 | The software however does require a third party OBD2 to USB interface such as the popular Tactrix cable which will add around $200 to your cost. |
| 00:50 | Lastly, you'll also need to purchase a relevant module that will allow reading and writing of the vehicle that you want to tune. |
| 00:57 | For home enthusiasts, this sort of option can be quite appealing and if you only intend to tune one specific car, then you can be set up for potentially around $300 USD. |
| 01:07 | As you would expect though, the more expensive options provide more thorough support as well as data logging and sometimes even live tuning can be supported too. |
| 01:16 | Among the many options available is Auto Tuner, bFlash and Kess, just to name a few. |
| 01:23 | Arguably, the most popular option for professional tuning workshops dealing with a wide range of cars is CMD which will cost you around $5500 USD. |
| 01:33 | This however is a complete tuning solution that is capable of reading and writing via OBD2 direct from the ECU header plug via supply jumpers or direct from the PCB. |
| 01:45 | The bFlash solution that we'll be utilising in some of our worked examples is another option. |
| 01:49 | This is going to cost you around $6300 USD. |
| 01:53 | Like CMB, bFlash is also a complete tuning suite that provides the option of OBD2, bench and PCB reading and writing. |
| 02:02 | There are also a range of other tools included such as logging, log analysis and live tuning functionality for some supported controllers. |
| 02:09 | The reality is that most professional tuners will own more than one hardware flashing solution and use the option most appropriate to the vehicle that they're working on. |
| 02:19 | The additional expense of this option is usually not a huge concern for professional shops since the cost of the hardware's quickly recouped by tuning large volumes of cars. |
| 02:28 | It isn't necessary though when you're getting started to spend thousands, particularly if you only want to tune your own vehicle. |
| 02:36 | Cheaper options such as PCM Flash may be absolutely sufficient for your purposes. |
| 02:41 | Another consideration with the mainstream professional flashing hardware is that there will usually be master and slave kits available. |
| 02:49 | The professional flashing industry has been dominated by a model where a master tuner will develop calibrations for specific vehicles and levels of modification. |
| 02:58 | They'll then recruit a number of slave dealers and sell these calibrations to their slave dealers who then onsell them to the end user customer. |
| 03:06 | There's nothing wrong with this business model, and it's been well proven. |
| 03:10 | The results for the slave dealer can also be excellent if you've aligned yourself with a quality master dealer who's producing good calibrations. |
| 03:18 | The downside of this master/slave arrangement is that the slave dealer isn't able to directly make tuning changes if something isn't quite to their liking. |
| 03:26 | Of course the better master dealers will offer the service to make further calibration refinements if required but ultimately the slave dealer isn't actually tuning and hence this is really not the focus of this course. |
| 03:39 | I only mention it because usually the slave kits are priced quite a bit lower than a master kit and hence this could seem appealing if you're not aware of its limitations. |
| 03:48 | With so many different controllers in use across all of the different cars that are popular for flash tuning, and the constantly changing landscape in terms of the available products and the applications they support, it's difficult to provide a definitive list of your options but we've provided a PDF document that you'll find attached to this module that provides a list of the known popular options for various vehicles that you can use as a reference at the time of recording. |
| 04:13 | We're also happy to help with specific application questions on the forum. |
| 04:17 | We know that making a decision on your reflashing hardware is quite an expensive one and we want you to be able to purchase with confidence. |
| 04:25 | The key takeaways from this module are that WinOLS does require a separate hardware interface to read and write the ECU. |
| 04:32 | Professional solutions tend to be quite expensive which makes them more suited to professional tuning shops rather than home enthusiasts. |
| 04:40 | Fortunately there are some cheaper options available to suit these users though. |
| 04:44 | For professional tuners looking at a hardware solution, it's also important to understand the difference between master and slave kits to ensure you're buying a solution to suit your needs. |
