Optimal GPS and Engine Data (CAN/OBD) - for CHEAP!
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2021 6:15 am
Working with Harry and Renato, they have come up with an ultimate cost effective solution. To me, it seems like the perfect solution as long as you can tinker, solder, figure out minimal code and Arduino with ESP32. Everything else out there is simply overpriced, and doesn't really work that well, to be honest.
I've run a few different GPS setups all current $100-200 price range (no names), annoyed by every one, either they don't work, stop working, not reliable, or give large error in GPS accuracy, etc. Same with the OBD adapters, I have a $100 adapter, just cant get data faster than 1-2x a second, and missing required channels. I don't have that problem with these devices! No joke.
Pay close attention to data update and timing. Very good! The best I've seen in HLT, perfect, I would say:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTpEsmIM4Bg
10hz GPS updates, very accurate, and 20hz OBD updates. MPH is GPS based in this example. Look at that response! I've checked the data for interpolation, and there really isnt any. Data is very consistent, no dropouts or delays.
GPS Code is here: https://github.com/renatobo/bonogps
Engine data is processed from OBDII using the ESP32, with Renato's CAN Ducati code, I've since modified this code for generic GM/OBDII use: https://github.com/renatobo/DucatiPanigaleCanBus
It's good stuff, well worth the investment and time. It's very reliable using my Iphone 11 Pro. So reliable, that I put these in 2 separate vehicles, the GPS and OBD devices have the same BLE names for each set, so all I have to do is get in the car, open Laptimer, and BAM. Connected to both GPS and CAN/OBD. No restarting of Iphone, Laptimer, or the devices themselves! I've run this combo in each car, for weeks, and they all just work. Pretty crazy, I know. I have a third set in the house, on my test bench.. all I do is power up the devices, and Laptimer connects!
I have since added a 2.8" TFT display for the engine data, this is more advanced, but simply added to the existing code supplied by Renato, his code did not have to be modified in any way for the TFT to work. It shows special GM mode 22, things like Spark Knock, EGO/WBO2, high res ABS wheel speed, etc. Also includes a Knock Alarm, Knock History (currently holds max knock for 10s after peak value) and includes AEM X-Series EGO data, etc. With all of this, data is still sending to HLT at 20hz. Nice job Renato! Very efficient and compatible code that works with even the TFT add on. There's a lot going on with the CANbus code, and it works perfectly. There is nothing on the market that can display custom CAN/OBD data on your dash, while sending that same data to HLT, all of this from one device. It just doesn't exist.
Basically, need
1) GPS: $10-30 (in the Github Links)
2) ESP32 for GPS: $5 (in Renato's Github Links)
3) ESP32 for GPS: $5 (in Renato's Github Links)
4) Optional TFT for Engine data display: $10-15 (not in Github links, either setup yourself, or I'll get my code shareable in github)
Video in the above link, also here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTpEsmIM4Bg
Picture of the TFT display, below... it updates at about 10hz, data comes in at about 20hz, all of those channels at once - also much better than any of the big name OBD data display companies! I have that triggering an Alarm beyond 2.0deg Knock Retard, and holds the peak knock value for 10seconds so you can see it safely, after your off the throttle. Ethanol percent, pretty much anything you can think of can be added. I have it using a touch button to set idle to 1200rpm for times when you dont want to sit idling for long, like warmup or track staging lanes, idling is generally bad for a modified engines. I had it setup to turn on cooling fans, still plan to include that as a second touch button, but removed for now.
I've run a few different GPS setups all current $100-200 price range (no names), annoyed by every one, either they don't work, stop working, not reliable, or give large error in GPS accuracy, etc. Same with the OBD adapters, I have a $100 adapter, just cant get data faster than 1-2x a second, and missing required channels. I don't have that problem with these devices! No joke.
Pay close attention to data update and timing. Very good! The best I've seen in HLT, perfect, I would say:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTpEsmIM4Bg
10hz GPS updates, very accurate, and 20hz OBD updates. MPH is GPS based in this example. Look at that response! I've checked the data for interpolation, and there really isnt any. Data is very consistent, no dropouts or delays.
GPS Code is here: https://github.com/renatobo/bonogps
Engine data is processed from OBDII using the ESP32, with Renato's CAN Ducati code, I've since modified this code for generic GM/OBDII use: https://github.com/renatobo/DucatiPanigaleCanBus
It's good stuff, well worth the investment and time. It's very reliable using my Iphone 11 Pro. So reliable, that I put these in 2 separate vehicles, the GPS and OBD devices have the same BLE names for each set, so all I have to do is get in the car, open Laptimer, and BAM. Connected to both GPS and CAN/OBD. No restarting of Iphone, Laptimer, or the devices themselves! I've run this combo in each car, for weeks, and they all just work. Pretty crazy, I know. I have a third set in the house, on my test bench.. all I do is power up the devices, and Laptimer connects!
I have since added a 2.8" TFT display for the engine data, this is more advanced, but simply added to the existing code supplied by Renato, his code did not have to be modified in any way for the TFT to work. It shows special GM mode 22, things like Spark Knock, EGO/WBO2, high res ABS wheel speed, etc. Also includes a Knock Alarm, Knock History (currently holds max knock for 10s after peak value) and includes AEM X-Series EGO data, etc. With all of this, data is still sending to HLT at 20hz. Nice job Renato! Very efficient and compatible code that works with even the TFT add on. There's a lot going on with the CANbus code, and it works perfectly. There is nothing on the market that can display custom CAN/OBD data on your dash, while sending that same data to HLT, all of this from one device. It just doesn't exist.
Basically, need
1) GPS: $10-30 (in the Github Links)
2) ESP32 for GPS: $5 (in Renato's Github Links)
3) ESP32 for GPS: $5 (in Renato's Github Links)
4) Optional TFT for Engine data display: $10-15 (not in Github links, either setup yourself, or I'll get my code shareable in github)
Video in the above link, also here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTpEsmIM4Bg
Picture of the TFT display, below... it updates at about 10hz, data comes in at about 20hz, all of those channels at once - also much better than any of the big name OBD data display companies! I have that triggering an Alarm beyond 2.0deg Knock Retard, and holds the peak knock value for 10seconds so you can see it safely, after your off the throttle. Ethanol percent, pretty much anything you can think of can be added. I have it using a touch button to set idle to 1200rpm for times when you dont want to sit idling for long, like warmup or track staging lanes, idling is generally bad for a modified engines. I had it setup to turn on cooling fans, still plan to include that as a second touch button, but removed for now.