Honcho

Nearly all SDS packages for sale seem to come with an old Dell D630. Is there some reason for that other than the fact that the D630 is inexpensive?

I found this: http://*******.com/Thread-DAS-Xentry...0-D630-Acronis which says DAS Xentry can be loaded onto any laptop.

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cetialpha5

It's probably because it has a real com port. Most laptops these days have just a USB port and things don't always work right if you're using a USB to RS-232 converter. You wouldn't want to brick a component during an update if you're using USB. The other option would be to get a C4 system, but then they cost more. I think there are a couple other systems out there like IBM that also have real com ports.

Honcho

Is there any worthwhile benefit to getting the C4 versus C3 version of the SDconnect multiplexer?

What are the "Green Network Cable" or WiFi, and
8, 14, 16, and 38 pin cables used for?

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cetialpha5

Not sure about specific benefits, that might boil down to how many cars you're using it on. For just one car, C3 is probably fine. I think those other cables are for different cars, they had different connectors on different years and models. I've just been looking into getting one so someone else will probably know better. It doesn't seem to get much cheaper if you find a package that doesn't have those cables, the expensive part seems to be the mux. Cheapest C3 setup is probably in the $300-$400 range and C4 is a bit over that.

Plutoe

The PART D mux(C3) is a serial ported mux---that's the reason for the Dell and IBM older laptops.

The PART W mux(C4 SD connect)is and Ethernet/wifi connected system and that is the reason for use on other laptops---the issue is the operating system currently DAS Xentry only runs on XP---however MB's newest diagnostic system where the screen runs on W7 the mux runs on Linux/blue ray.

If you do not need wifi/road tests and you do not have the newest CAN bus system---the PART D mux will do just fine.

In any event it will take you two or three months to learn the system other that just pressing F3

Honcho

Excellent info..... Thank you Plutoe.... that makes deciding which way to go a lot easier.

WinXP is going to be tough to find, so something that runs on Win7 is preferable.

So the WiFi option doesn't free it up from any cables or make it more convenient in any way? I probably will want to gather data "on the road"

Learning the system is "via F3" doesn't excite me, but oh well