VAGCOM USB Adapter: Professional Edition

Hello, especially @Rainer:

You are offering a USB dongle adapter in your online store.

Am I understanding correctly that this adapter essentially integrates a deactivation code generator, which unlocks all previous and future VAGCOM shareware versions as soon as the adapter is connected to the PC?

Can this adapter be used sequentially and randomly on multiple computers with shareware software, and will all of them be unlocked?
Does the adapter lock itself to a single PC, and then require a reset (for a fee, presumably via a code?) to be used with other computers?

Does the VAGCOM unlock revert to the "Shareware" status after disconnecting the adapter?

Hello Ulf,

Quote:

Can this adapter be used sequentially and randomly on multiple computers with shareware software, which would then all be unlocked?

Hehe, that wouldn't be bad, would it?

So, for the USB professional adapter, you need the corresponding VAG-COM version, which is not the same as the shareware version for the serial interface.

In the professional versions, the software key is embedded within the adapter itself. This means you don't have to unlock VAG-COM on each computer every time. Simply connect the adapter, and the software is unlocked. With the serial professional version, if you use VAG-COM without the corresponding adapter, such as with one of your self-built adapters, it will automatically revert to the shareware version.

Best regards, Rainer.

Rainer K. wrote:

In the professional versions, the software key is located within the adapter itself. This means you don't have to unlock VAG-COM on each computer every time. Just plug in the adapter, and the software is unlocked. In the serial professional version, VAG-COM will automatically revert to the shareware version if used without the corresponding adapter, such as with one of your self-built adapters.

Hi Rainer,

What can the VAGCOM professional version do that the "hobby" versions cannot?

Does the dongle adapter provide galvanic isolation between the car and the PC?

@Ingo: I deleted your question because it had resolved itself.

Hello Ulf,

Quote:

What can the VAGCOM professional version do that the "hobby(?) versions" cannot?

The full version of VAG-COM supports the following features:

• Querying control unit information,
• Reading measurement blocks,
• Reading and clearing fault memory,
• Checking control unit self-test (readiness),
• Performing control unit login (e.g., to activate a cruise control system),
• Changing control unit coding,

in addition...

• Decodingall error codes into error texts,
• Displaying measurement block 0,
• displaying all measurement blocks,
• Basic settings mode,
• Control unit adaptation,
• Support for 7-digit PINs.

The adapter itself has built-in protection against voltage surges on the K1/K2 and L lines. It seems that radios are often installed, and then mistakes are sometimes made in the connector pin assignment.
Wenn dann auf einer Signalleitung feste +12V sitzen und ein Treibertransistor im Adapter versucht diese gegen Masse zu ziehen, steigt im Normalfall Rauch auf. Not here.
The issues related to the different electrical characteristics of various serial ports should also be resolved.

Quote:

Does the dongle adapter have galvanic isolation between the car and the PC?

I don't know if a complete galvanic isolation has been implemented, and I haven't checked it.

Best regards, Rainer.

Hi Rainer,

In your list of VAGCOM features, I don't see (at first glance) anything that the unlocked "everyone" versions couldn't also do.

Or am I completely misunderstanding something?

From a purely functional perspective, there isn't a huge difference. However, professional interfaces have an integrated microcontroller that takes over various timing-critical functions from the PC. Windows is not ideally suited for timing-critical functions. This brings the following advantages compared to 'simpler' interfaces:

* Significantly faster connection establishment with the control units. A professional interface can measure the baud rate required by the control unit and immediately adjust itself accordingly.

'Connections are more reliable because the interface adapts to the exact baud rate required by the control unit. With a simple interface, VAG-COM must use the closest supported baud rate on the PC.

* Optimized protocol timing, with no measurable difference compared to genuine VAG diagnostic devices. This allows it to work with control units that would not be accessible with simpler interfaces and Windows-based software (e.g., original Audi 1Z, Audi 2.6L ABC, etc.).

For the new EDC-16 engine control units (such as some ME7 gasoline engines), there is a 'Turbo' function in the measurement blocks, which allows for up to 34 samples per second on fast PCs.

'If there is a short circuit on the K (K1) or L (K2) bus in the car, either to V+ or ground, communication is not possible, but the LED on the interface will blink red. If you then use VAG-COM and click on 'Options' -> 'Test', it will tell you exactly what the error is, for example, 'K1 short circuit to +12V'.'

* Integrated dongle function. No activation required. Once a professional interface is detected, VAG-COM is unlocked and operates in its full version. So, there's no need to worry if a hard drive fails, Windows needs to be reinstalled, or if you want to use a different computer. A professional mechanic doesn't have time to wait for a new activation if something like that happens.

Galvanische Trennung haben diese interfaces nicht, ist aber auch nicht noetig. An der auto-seite vom interface werden richtige ISO-Tranceiver IC's verwendet, wie es in den meisten steuergeraeten auch gibt. Diese schutezen das interface und den PC gegen spannung 'spikes' usw. Hier in USA verkaufen wir schon seit einem jahr ueberhaupt keine interfaces mit glavanischer trennung mehr, und haben kein einzigen bericht von kaputten PC. Wir hatten aber zwei faelle wo leute sehr billige 'universelle' 12V<->Laptop netzteile von 'Radio Shack' benutzt haben, welche die masse an ihrem laptop auf irgenwelche spannung erhebten, und dann sind ihre interfaces selber kaputt gegangen. So ein 'Ground Loop' ist eigentlich der einzige fall wo galvanische trennung wirklich sinn hat, aber es muss dann eine echte galvanishe trennung sein, also darf keine verbindung zwichen masse am PC (pin 5 an RS232) und masse am auto (pins 4 und 5 am diagnose stecker haben). Auch ein interface mit widerstand zwischen PC-masse und Auto-masse hilft hier nicht viel, da der wiederstand dann hoechstens als 'sicherung' wirkt (verbrennt). So, please be careful with extremely cheap 12V to laptop power adapters.

-Uwe-

Uwe@Ross-Tech wrote:

* Integrated dongle function. No activation required. Once a professional interface is detected, VAG-COM is unlocked, full version.

Hi Uwe,

Does the adapter also unlock all future VAGCOM versions?

Would one then "buy themselves out" of the otherwise recurring activation costs (if one always wants to work with the latest version) by paying the (relatively high?) price of the adapter?

Hi Ulf,

If the device is a dongle, it unlocks the VAG-COM software for the duration that the adapter is connected. If you disconnect it or plug in a different adapter, you'll revert to the shareware version.

I would at least assume so.

Best regards,

Jan.

Jan6K wrote:

If the device is a dongle, it unlocks the VAG-COM for the duration that you have the adapter plugged in. If you unplug it or plug in a different one, it reverts to the shareware version.

Hi Jan,

That was quite clear to me.

My question was more about whether the unlocking also works with all future VAGCOM versions, or whether each new version might require a suitable dongle = a new adapter.

Or whether the calculation of the activation code will be changed at some point, so that the dongle, for example, will fail starting in 2008...

Does the adapter also unlock all future VAGCOM versions?

Would one then offset the (relatively high?) price of the adapter against the recurring activation costs (which are often incurred when wanting to always use the latest version)?


Do you have any information about new activation costs being introduced with new versions? Regardless of the interface you have, updates to new software versions are free for legitimately registered customers.

Sometimes, with less sophisticated software, a new version might require a new activation. However, this new activation is usually free if it's for the same computer and/or a valid deactivation code is available.

Objection: All unlock features are specific to the language and dealer version. Currently, this also applies to the dongle interfaces, but in the next version, we will make a change so that the standard English version will also work with all foreign language dealer dongles. Since it sometimes takes a while before a new version is translated (and beta versions are rarely translated), this will be another advantage of the professional interfaces – you can always use the latest English version.

-Uwe-