I want to start tuning or atleast datalogging my V6, I can read wiring diagrams and solder so I figure I'll make my own cable. My laptop has a parallel port instead of a serial port. Which cable did you make? Do you have the wiring diagrams for it? did it work well? Does it work with tunerpro RT or Winaldl?

I made a cable that I use on my test bench, only because I have a serial port on my desk top computer.

I ended up buying a Moates' ALDU1 to use in the car though. worth every penny.

I tried USB to serial converters but they were flaky and the only "proven" ones were almost as much as buying the ALDU1.

FWIW, I made one of the simple MAX232 circuits.

Like this? http://www.techedge.com.au/vehicle/aldl8192/8192hw.htm
That one seems doable. And I can do it with the parallel port.

Took me 2 tries to get one that work, dunno why all is right, guessing I was just to slow on the solider work and over heated something.

I have made a few

Both MAX232 and simple 2-trans ALDL cables. See my homepage for pictures and diagram.

now I have a moates ALDU1 and only have of my own as backup....

Parallel port I'm not sure, dont tink so but I'm NOT a computer guy .......

I made two, one worked. I tried the two transistor circuit but it never worked. Later I discovered that the transistors I had purchased in a bulk pack were not all of the same pin-out . After that failure I tried the max232 based version with great success. I used it until I bought a usb version from aldlcable.com for 59 bucks(great deal).
I also have an "ELMscan 5 compact" OBD2 cable from scantool.net. Also cost 59 bucks which works excellent on My 99 suburban and my uncles 96 Pickup.

i never had success with my 2-transistor setup i built at least twice, but i've made a few MAX232s now, both serial and USB, and they work great. cost to build the serial came out to like ~$12 total, and the USB, with adapter, comes out to less than $30...

now if i could only get ahold of the male ALDL plugs for cheaper than what aldlcable.com charges.....

Local radioshacks didnt have most of the parts for the max232 cable so I think I'll just save a couple more bucks and just buy the 60$ usb cable, that way i dont have to try and of the parallel port crap. Thanks everyone for your input

Parallel port wouldn't work anyway.

I think there was a cable years and years and years ago that used the LPT port, but serial is most common, other than USB.

I built my own single-resistor setup with the schematic here

Tried doing the self-powered one, but it didn't work. Once I added the external power, it worked great.

I've got a package of 10 Max232 chips that I'm planning on building a Max232 cable with one of these days, but haven't had a ton of motivation to do it, since my original cable works fine.

Well I did some cleaning around the house for my mom and she ordered the USB cable for my from ALDLcable.com

Cool.

Yep, it should be here this week. I tried making two single transistor cables neither of them worked so I bag the idea of making one. I would of tried a MAX232 cable but the local radioshacks didnt have all the parts and I figured if I had to order something online I might as well just get a new and known working cable haha. Keep an eye out for my datalog thread, I'd like you guys to look over my datalogs so I know what to work on in tuning, should have the thread as soon as I get the cable. Thanks guys

Care to share your circuit for the usb version?

this one's a bit outdated(since i didn't know the parallax converter pushes out enough power for a 78L05 to power the MAX232), and kind of bare, since i only ever plan on using it with later P4/P6 ECM/PCMs, but use it for what you will.

http://www.robertisaar.co.cc/web_images/max232_aldl.pdf

if anyone really wants it, i can try and find my newest "clean" version...

Wow, so are you saying that you just connected pin 2 and 3 of your USB cable to the MAX232, and it works? I can't be reading that correctly...

pins 2, 3 and 5 on the serial port where all that was necessary for communication. for power, i tore apart another USB cable and used it's +5V line to power the 232(though if you connect the pins 4 and 7 from the serial port, you can use those to power the regulator instead of another cable).

then the only connections going to the ALDL port were the data and ground lines. the rest is connecting it to itself or leaving things unconnected.

worked perfectly fine for me.

this is a CAD drawing of a COMPLETELY capable(160 baud compatible, 1227165 compatible, later 8192 compatible) i drew up to aid me in assembling all of it. i purposely tried to use as little space as possible, so it looks kind of cramped....

Okay, that makes sense.

ok, so it looks to me you are using a usb to serial adaptor, and interfacing to the adaptors serial output. Correct?

yes, though i have made just a full serial cable for someone else before using the same schematic.

I've done the 2-trans, MAX232, MAX233, and a few others. Here's one of the early units I used to shake down the ECM85x software, worked fine with a 165 at the other end of 50' of lamp cord:
http://moates.net/imagery/photos/Ele...x232-Front.jpg