New user questions about OBD-II Emulator MK2

[mkwahler]

New user questions about OBD-II Emulator MK2

Hello everyone.

I have recently purchased the OBD-II Emulator MK2. I'm using it in conjunction with the Scantool OBD Development Kit (https://www.scantool.net/obd-development-kit/). I can successfully retrieve PID values from the emulator. I can change PIDs either with the GUI application or with Windows Hyperterminal connected via the emulator's USB cable (using ATSET commands).

What I can't seem to figure out is how to use the serial connector on the side of the emulator (I want to connect to a (Microchip PIC) microcontroller). I don't see any indication of what the baud rate is in documentation (can it be changed?). Does this connection use the same command set as with the USB connection?

I tried connecting this serial connector to my PC via a USB-to-serial adapter (https://www.digikey.com/product-detail/ ... ND/2441358). This adapter provides for connection to a reference voltage to tell it what levels to use. I've used it successfully with many of my PIC projects, with reference voltages of 3.3V and 5V.

I connected it to the emulator pins as:
Emulator | FTDI adapter
TX ......... RX
RX ......... TX
GND ....... GND
+5V ........ VREF

(The pins are not labeled on the emulator, so I identified them from the photo at https://freematics.com/pages/products/f ... lator-mk2/)
I chose reference voltage of 5V because information at this link says "The 6-pin XH-2.54 socket provides an interface for serial TTL connection".
(BTW, there was no cable provided with the emulator for this socket; should there have been?)


Trying at 38400 baud, when I first power up, I receive a single byte: 0xFE. I don't know if this is 'garbage' because of wrong baud rate, or if it's correct.

Should I see some kind of initialization message, such as that I get via the USB cable?

Other question: I want to be able to emulate a real car, where when I connect my scantool dev kit, I see a continuous stream of messages. I'll have my application filter out the unwanted messages. What the emulator seems to do for me, is only reply to requests for data. During my search of this forum for information, I did come across a reply from Stanley that said it "behaves as the OBD port in a real car". (I don't remember which forum thread; forgot to bookmark it.)

Perhaps this serial port on the side will let me command the emulator to do this?

Yet another question (but not as important):
Is there a way to cause the emulator to save PID values I've changed, so the changes remain after power off and on?

I'm just beginning to learn about OBD-II and CAN networks.

Can anyone help me to understand better how to use this tool?

Thanks,
-Mike

[stanley]

Did you connect USB cable at the same time?

[mkwahler]

Stanley:

I get the same results with or without the USB cable connected. What is the correct way; when using serial port on the six-pin connector, should the USB cable be connected or not?

What about all the questions I asked:

1. What is the baud rate for the serial connection on the six-pin connector?
2. When using the serial connection on the six-pin connector, do I use same command set as with USB connection?
3. When using the serial connection on the six-pin connector, should I see some kind of initialization message, such as that I get via the USB cable?

4. I want to be able to emulate a real car, where when I connect my scantool dev kit, I see a continuous stream of messages. I'll have my application filter out the unwanted messages. What the emulator seems to do for me, is only reply to requests for data. During my search of this forum for information, I did come across a reply from Stanley that said it "behaves as the OBD port in a real car". (I don't remember which forum thread; forgot to bookmark it.) Perhaps this serial port on the side will let me command the emulator to do this?

5. Is there a way to cause the emulator to save PID values I've changed, so the changes remain after power off and on?

Thanks,
-Mike

[stanley]

It is recommended not connecting USB cable. The command set from the serial UART is same as from USB connection. The baudrate is 38400bps. Currently PID values will not save inside emulator.

[mkwahler]

Stanley:

As I indicated in my previous post, I am unable to get things working with or without the USB cable connected. Now I do know to leave out the USB cable for further attempts. When trying (without USB cable) the connection at 38400 baud, I only receive a single character (0xFE). Should I see the same initial text as I do when using the USB cable? (This was my question #3 from my last post). Sending AT commands gets no response.

Also please address my question #4 (about causing emulator to simulate a real car, with continuous data stream).

Right now my immediate issue is getting successful communication with the serial connection. Is there anything else I can check or try? If I cannot get this product to work for me, I must ask about return policy.

Also, to any other forum users, if you have any experience with this product please offer what advice you can.

Thank you.

-Mike