Gen2 OBD2 app review

Are you being deliberately obtuse?

You are missing the whole point. Communication, not just comprehension, is a two-way street. You need to talk with people. not at people.

It kinda does. You tailor the message to the audience. Logic dictates you would not attempt to explain quantum physics to a toddler.

 

Oh, so now we’re assuming the audience determines the validity of the information rather than the accuracy of the message itself? Interesting take.

By your logic, if someone refuses to understand basic math, the math itself is wrong—got it. Communication is a two-way street, but comprehension is still the responsibility of the listener as much as the speaker. You can tailor the message all you want, but if someone chooses not to grasp it, that’s on them, not the person delivering it.

And let’s be real—if someone struggles with basic mechanical concepts, I’m not going to start spoon-feeding them information like I’m talking to a toddler. This isn’t kindergarten, and I’m not handing out participation trophies for effort.

 

You haven't got it.

Your choice.

 

When someone's grasp on reality is in question you can't debate him back to health.

 

Close the thread, it is of no more value.

 

thats what happens when people derail the original topic with their own agenda.

if that's what you tell yourself to feel better about your day, have at it!

its said that those who are of genius level intelligence and people who possess exceptional abilities, or creativity are not understood or appreciated by those around them. as you get older you realize you cant please everyone and when others just don't get it, I don't loose sleep over it in my old age.

 

Back to Gen2 OBD2 app reviews ...

At last I have joined the MaxiAP 200 club, having read good things about it here, and my earlier beater laptop having given up its magic smoke.

I've just come inside from my first try connecting it to the car. I have a gen 3. It seems to connect to all the same ECUs I could reach with the laptop. It collects live data.

I pressed a button that seemed to start datalogging. Yay! I was hoping it can do datalogging.

All I can see so far to do with the datalog, after collecting it, is to send it to an Autel server with a description of a problem for them to diagnose for me.

That isn't what I typically am wanting to do with my datalogs.

Maybe I'll learn more by reading the actual manual (it does have a menu entry that displays a manual), but ...

Can anybody else who's used this thing for longer please tell me there is a way to locally store and access a datalog file?

Also, when I was done using it, I found a "log out" button. So I pressed it. Now the app won't do anything but prompt me to log in. If I'm not online at the time, it says Invalid internet connection.

So if I can't log in without being online, is there any way to use the app's diagnostic functions without "logging in"? Or if I log in, can I just not push the "log out" button, and have it stay "logged in"?

I mean, I've already registered the app and the dongle and downloaded all of the Toyota goodness. It's all on the phone.

I will be crabby if I can't use this thing to work on my car in places without internet.

 

Congrats, at least I think from your perspective.

I've not attempted, though check with their customer support and report back your findings is my thought.

Oddly, Xfinity contacted me regarding a free phone with unlimited data, txt and phone and $1 something a month service for the first year and no more than $20 a month the second year with the same unlimited package deal. This was with my Xfinity Internet plan, so bundled, even though separate bill. All I had to do was pay the phone tax and activation fee. Literally, was days after I was trying to use my TextNow (T-Mobile) smartphone with the Autel App and MAXI AP200 in the Lake Leelanau area of the state which had no T-Mobile service. Therefore, no Autel App due to not being able to log in. Got the Verizon smartphone plan and went to town getting the 08 parts car Prius out of the chicken coop and back on the road safely. Autel App worked great, though wasn't able to add a key for some reason.

Some Libraries have cell service WiFi hotspots you can check out we found out later.

 

True, I haven't tried customer service yet, which most of the online reviews describe in less than glowing terms. I did read through the included manual last night and it didn't have any more info on the datalogging, unless I skimmed right past it.

If I had the app on a phone with a SIM card I could consider something like that, though $20 a month doesn't take long to eclipse the cost of the Autel.

Not unlike the old beater laptop, I have this installed on a (not quite so old) beater phone. I ordered the dongle from Amazon kind of on impulse after the laptop died, and when it arrived I went to the Play Store and thought about downloading the app on my regular phone, but then looked at the reviews and the Chinese provenance and the long, long list of Android permissions demanded and thought "nope, separate phone for you." And I don't really want to be adding a data plan for a separate phone.

Yep. And truck stops, as I learned on my road trip last summer.

Have you been able to figure out how long you can stay logged in? So far, after logging back in once, and not being dumb enough to push the Log Out button again, the app has just started up again for me without a network connection, and even after powering the phone off. If it's the kind of deal where I can just make sure it's logged in before starting off on a road trip, maybe that's not too awful.

I have the choice on English or Metric measurement units. I generally like Metric units. But it's going to take a while to start thinking of tire pressures in kilopascals.

 

Good to know, thanks for info as usual.

No, like now would be a great time to test, though I have errands to run and can attempt a log in and leave for a few hrs on the road and see if still logged in when I get back. I'll report back if I remember, as I am being berated for not listening and may be when I return. lol

Ew... sounds like P.Chem.