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MikeyPSF

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Everything posted by MikeyPSF

  1. Sounds like a clean break. Shouldn't be a problem. Go ahead and send it in to the address mentioned in the support ticket. We'll solder in a new USB connector, test, and if everything looks good, get it back to you in a few days, no charge. -Mike Tactrix
  2. If your friend is going to do the repair, that's okay, but two things to consider: 1) Is the broken off connector in good condition? If this damage occurs the connector is almost always badly twisted and shouldn't be re-used. You can buy a new connector from a parts supplier like digi-key, but just another reason that it's easier to send it to us since we keep these parts on hand. 2) It's important to use a soldering iron that is appropriate for circuit board use. Often people contact us after they attempt a repair using a heavy soldering iron and the board is damaged beyond repair at that point. Usually units are repairable as long as the USB wire leads on the printed circuit board are still in decent shape. In some cases some circuit board lead damage can be worked around, but if all five leads are torn clean off, there isn't much that can be done since some of that goes in to middle layers of the multilevel circuit board where they can't be easily re-attached to. We'll work that out over email with some photo back and forth to save you the trouble of sending in a unit that can't be repaired. -Mike Tactrix
  3. We offer free repairs on our Openport 2.0 units. If you still have it, send me an email at support at tactrix dot com and we can figure out if the unit is repairable. -Mike Tactrix
  4. Old versions of our EcuFlash software don't work with Android, but that's something we'll be working to add. Mac support will be added first though, sometime this year. Windows 8.1 works now with our current software. -Mike Tactrix
  5. Thanks for that. I'm Mike, one half of the company that is Tactrix. We distribute our software freely because we want to eliminate the hassle of licensing and purchasing our software separately after purchasing our hardware, but to be clear, it's the sale of that hardware that funds our ability to spend our days working on EcuFlash, adding new vehicle support, and answering customer's support emails. Our software will always be free to use and we'll remain in business as long as we're able to sell the hardware that we've designed and is made in the USA (Washington & California). To those who support our company by purchasing our OpenPort hardware which is made to work with our EcuFlash software, our small company thanks you. -Mike
  6. If you loose power while flashing, you just need to be careful to not turn the car off and as long as you don't, you can then restart the process. The way EcuFlash/OpenPort works is to send a kernel in to your ECU. That bit of software oversees the reflashing process. If the process is interrupted (laptop goes to sleep, USB unplugs, etc) you can correct the problem and restart the process with no ill effects because the kernel is waiting patiently for new instructions and it will even pick up where it left off. However, if you turn off the car after a mid-flash problem, the kernel is now gone and your ECU is bricked. As for the benefit of the OpenPort over a VAG-COM cable, for one you have fast logging functionality built in to the hardware which allows you to easily log on the go without a laptop connected. You also have the latest driver that we've written for increased stability over the older versions which used Windows software, which wasn't as stable. We wrote our own driver when we were seeing occasional Window's blue screens. Is the savings of a Chinese VAG-COM worth the increased risk of OS crashing? Is increased stability of value to you? If you know anything about Windows driver development, you know that it's very challenging work. Why do we do we spend timing working on better drivers, new software features, new vehicle support, and OS issues? We spend time on OS issues (upcoming release has improved install for Windows Vista), new features, and new vehicle support (two addition ECUs in the works now), because supporting and creating a better product for the community is the focus of our company. Our daily work is funded by the sales of the OpenPort. We're currently hiring a support person (in SF if you know someone) and eventually we'd like to add a third full time developer. You should consider purchasing an OpenPort because it's assembled in both Washington and California, not overseas, so sales supports physical labor in two US states and two companies. Your purchase supports EcuFlash development. You receive lifetime support with our hardware & software, even if you aren't the original owner. Pretty good no? You support the growing of a small business that works to make tools of value to this community. We think those facts make us pretty unique in this space and good reasons to consider purchasing our hardware to support US production and development of an affordable product.
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