I will soon be putting a carputer into the Bird, and I was hoping I could use TunerCat or something similar for real-time data. However, I need to get my hands on an interface cable, preferably USB. Does anyone know how to make one, or knows of a site where I can find instructions? I am proficient with making these sort of things--installing terminals, soldering, and using perfboards if necessary.

(BTW, mods, if this should be in the DIY forum, please move it. )

 

I'm looking for one also. I had one but I broke it and I don't remember where I bought it from.

 

http://www.aldlcable.com/

 

Like I said, I would rather not buy one, as I already have all the wiring I could possibly need, and I know I can build one. The schematics on the site that the above link takes me to are all for a DB9 9-pin serial port, which my laptop doesn't have, and I would rather not use with the HP E-PC I plan on putting in the Bird. I would like something similar for USB, if possible.

 

Unfortunately there isn't an easy way to do it with USB as far as I know. The data coming from the diagnostic pins on the ALDL plug is very similar to RS232(serial), and USB wasn't even though of back then. This is why the electronics to convert it to RS232 are fairly simple. You can get a USB to serial adapter cable (which actually has a small circuit inside it), and then connect the ALDL adapter to it.

 

That's the answer I was hoping for. Why couldn't anyone else just say that?
BTW, I know this is a little out of the forum, but what is a good, FREE program that will do what I am hoping to do (TunerCat, WinALDL, etc)?