Recommended Alternative Scan Tool/Code Reader to Durametric

[Danimal]

Used Duramterics come up for sale pretty often. I bought mine used on this site for $100. Still has two VINs and did not log mine after using it. There is a 986/996 for sale facebook group that tends to have them too.

I vote used durametric and if you need the unlimited version, worry about it later. The real challenge is finding an old windows laptop that can run it....at least it was for me.

[Hamstuh]

Originally Posted by Danimal

Used Duramterics come up for sale pretty often. I bought mine used on this site for $100. Still has two VINs and did not log mine after using it. There is a 986/996 for sale facebook group that tends to have them too.

I vote used durametric and if you need the unlimited version, worry about it later. The real challenge is finding an old windows laptop that can run it....at least it was for me.

the compatibility specs on their website says basically any windows laptop can run it. are there strict limitations that i should know about ? buying a laptop isnt an issue

[Danimal]

Yes, there is a section saying that it needs to have an older version of .NET protocol enabled. I could not enable it on a relative’s newer windows laptop (there are many posts about people having similar issues on Reddit, YouTube etc. trying to enable it for other reasons). But I was able to enable it on my mom’s old laptop.

I am a Mac user and didn’t want to buy a used laptop and hope it is compatible….so I had to beg and borrow what was available.

Originally Posted by Hamstuh

the compatibility specs on their website says basically any windows laptop can run it. are there strict limitations that i should know about ? buying a laptop isnt an issue

[Hamstuh]

Originally Posted by Danimal

Yes, there is a section saying that it needs to have an older version of .NET protocol enabled. I could not enable it on a relative’s newer windows laptop (there are many posts about people having similar issues on Reddit, YouTube etc. trying to enable it for other reasons). But I was able to enable it on my mom’s old laptop.

I am a Mac user and didn’t want to buy a used laptop and hope it is compatible….so I had to beg and borrow what was available.

Correct me if im wrong, I do work with computers quite a bit. My first thought would be to install an older version of windows and then install the proper .net for it ? I read a bit online and saw win 10 can cause some issues though a 32 bit windows 7 has worked. With that said, a fresh media creation tool install of windows should allow that protocol to install properly and therefore work ?

[Danimal]

That is my understanding as well. But the computers I was using weren’t mine and I didn’t want to try some of the work arounds I came across. Fortunately one of them worked.

Originally Posted by Hamstuh

Correct me if im wrong, I do work with computers quite a bit. My first thought would be to install an older version of windows and then install the proper .net for it ? I read a bit online and saw win 10 can cause some issues though a 32 bit windows 7 has worked. With that said, a fresh media creation tool install of windows should allow that protocol to install properly and therefore work ?

[theiceman]

Well i just borrowed the Icarsoft por 2.0 from my buddy

When i tell it i have a boxster and go to live data it only has deviation for one cam . Also the number it displays is non sensicle 1017 or something .



A bit disappointing , i find for a 2001 with no can bus icarsoft does very little.

Hopefully it is just something i am doing wrong and someone can correct me .

( 2001 S )

[997_986]

Originally Posted by theiceman

Well i just borrowed the Icarsoft por 2.0 from my buddy

When i tell it i have a boxster and go to live data it only has deviation for one cam . Also the number it displays is non sensicle 1017 or something . [...]

European (and canadian??) cars only display one bank, i had to learn that and was just as pi.... off as you, but this is a feature and not a bug. I used a durametric.

[78F350]

I don't know about the AD500. This is how my AD600S showed cam deviation on one of my 2001s:

[theiceman]

Originally Posted by 78F350

I don't know about the AD500. This is how my AD600S showed cam deviation on one of my 2001s:

Thanks for this pic.

yup this is exactly what i would have expected .... below is what the 500 shows.



so looks like the 500 is an epic fail.

[theiceman]

So as luck would have it .....

i decided to return my TOPDON ad500 as it seemed pointless paying 206 dollars CAD for something that didn't do what i wanted it to do. Although i did like the unit .

i checked for the AD600s it it showed as not available on AMAZON.CA only the 500. But i do have an Amazon.com account also as i live close to the border and we often get ripped off on amazon.ca and i have a US address i get stuff shipped to.

They showed the 600 and also it was under a lightning deal so i grabbed it. ( i hope it was the right one) . I just have to nip over the border to pick it up so no big deal.

It turned out to be just 50 bucks more expensive than the 500 I had so well worth it .

I will report back when i have it in hand.

[theiceman]

Well i just picked up my TOPDON AD600S .. jury is still out whether it can read cam deviation as my car is stored for the winter. But i do have a buddy with a 996 still on the road so im going to go see him and se if it will read. ihis is a 99 so if it reads his i think im fine..
stay tuned.

edit ..Well I have an update and its not good ....

Got the TOPDON600S and wanted to see if it could show the data I am looking for . Problem is the Boxster is in Storage as it is winter here and snow is here. But i do have a buddy with a 996 ( 1999) that still has his on the road. He said i could use his car to test. based on screen shots from the TOPDON600S above I was fully expecting to see the results from cam sensors on his 996

Well im not sure how different the DME software is on his 1999 996 vs my 2001 986 , but there was no TAGS for Cam at all, The software has been updated since the above screenshots and it is prettier .. but going down the list there was nothing that referred at all . I was able to take a couple of screen caps of what data was being shown on his car and nothing about the cam which is surprising given it is the same engine.

Im going to go ask on the 996 forum to see if there is any info over there.





I can only hope that the DME software is more advanced onmy 2001 and i can report results in the spring.

[theiceman]

Originally Posted by 78F350

I don't know about the AD500. This is how my AD600S showed cam deviation on one of my 2001s:

Well I have to say I am very disappointed. i splurged for the TOPDON 600S as i also have a 2001S that i wanted to monitor cam deviation on and returned the 500 as it showed non sensicle data.

Below is the results on my TOPDON 600S when trying to measure cam deviation on my Boxster.



I hope im just doing something wrong, but i dont think so ...

I think this thing is a complete waste of money.