Other Tuning Software/Good And Bad Tuning Software

OtherTuningSoftware/GoodAndBadTuningSoftware (2005-03-10 20:53:37)

Developer's page. Things to consider when writing OtherTuningSoftware

Frustrating things

need to use the mouse when tuning
deep menus
Two dimensional bar graphs where a map is spread over 16 screens
Not beeing able to boot it from a floppy (for a notebook that has a floppy drive? does this mean that it must have a DOS version?)
waiting for windows to load (complaints => redmond :-)

Beeing frustrated is not a good thing when you make repeated accelerations at stable loads while keeping track of trafic, detonation, EGT, Oilpressure, oiltemp, fuel pressure and watertemp.

Good tuning software examples:

[MOTEC tuning-software] one of the best known systems in motorsports

Speedpro FAST DOS tuning software

The best part with this software is that it's simple to learn. The fact that the Speedpro FAST is a fairly simple system helps a lot. It's controlled with the arrow keys but can be controlled with shortcut keys to simplify phone support or switching directly between screens. The Speedpro's WOT closed loop ability and the UEGO sensor allow it to get away with less tables then most other systems while still competing in the upper range.

This software is very good! Check it out. You can boot it from a floppy.

http://www.fuelairspark.com/Downloads/Software/C-Com%20DOS%20Demo.zip

Autronic DOS tuning software

At first glance this software looks terrible, but the windowslike user interface allows you to get started quickly even if you'll probably miss the mouse the first time. What scares most people with the autronic is the huge number of screens needed to tune all features of the Autronic (My windows software has 67 tuning screens!).

In each table the user can configure the number of loadsites and where they are placed. You choose between numerical or graphical presentation of the numbers. You'll be dropped back to numerical presentation each time you enter a screen. Each loadsite that has been changed from configuation is marked with an asterisk. You can also set a 'user attribute' to mark and lock each individual loadsite. You can also mark them with the 'fine autotune marker' or the 'coarse autotune marker' which also locks them. A good way to start tuning without autotune is to set idle, max torque and max power loadsites. Then you add loadsites as you go along. When autotuning you'll add a large number of loadsites from the start.

You can boot it from a floppy. No need to test the DOS software since it's almost identical to the Windows software.

http://www.autronic.com/software/332auto.zip

Autronic Windows tuning software

The good part with this software is that you'll use it for a while before you find the first change compared to the DOS software. Then you find that the graphs look a bit better, the configurable dash, that the software know how much you have changed a site, the improved logging, the tuning helpers, support for strange screen resolutions(like 800X480), better support for strange keyboard configurations.

The windows like gui and beeing able to use the mouse can probably be of help when first starting to use the software. The worst thing with this software is that you have to start windows before you can load it.

http://www.autronic.com/software/ECU4v11.zip

You'll grow into the FAST Speedpro DOS software and the Autronic DOS/windows software in a very short time.

Bad tuningsoftware examples:

Speedpro FAST Windows tuning software.

The worst part with this tuning software is that I felt totally lost when moving from the DOS Software to the Windows software. You should note that the concentration must be on the car and tuning, not on the software. Beeing forced to learn a new software is not fun, beeing forced to learn a new tuning software for the same engine management system is unforgivable. I can't judge this sofware because of this, I only feel frustrated since everthing takes nine times longer to do then with the old software. It also crashed on me the first time I used it. Our way of dealing with this new software is to ignore it and the new features it offer.

http://www.fuelairspark.com/Downloads/Software/C-ComWP%20DEMO.exe

Haltech DOS software, here each table is split into 16 screens to make it possible to use bargraphs to tune the engine. Absolutely horrible. Has crashed on me all three times I have tried to use it. Not uncommon to search for a stable build:(

Haltech Windows software, here you can choose between the bars, a 3d graph and a numerical presentation like the others have. But it almost looks like they messed up the numerical presentation to 'prove' that their bar graph approach is the best. I don't know if the new versions is stable, they must be, but I have never experienced an controlled exit with Haltech windows software.

MegaTune, for the price it's great:) But not beeing able to move beteen the loadsites with the arrow keys is terrible! Having a bunch of meters on the front page looks nice, but it's not very useful. Exits if you press esc key on main page.

Conclusions

What do we want?

I would say that something that looks like the Speedpro FAST DOS software is a good way to get people (and us) started quickly. But take a look at the Autronic software too, we will have more features then the SMC at the end and the Speedpro FAST may set limits.

If we have pulldown menus we want them to be activated and deactivated with the 'esc' key in addition to the standard 'alt' key. It is also important that the last pulldown menu is remembered when you press 'esc' the last time. If we have pulldowns 'esc' must not shut the active screen 'q' is good for shutting the active screen. 'TAB' is good for swapping between open screens.

The arrow keys is used to navigate the tables and the menus. When pressing a number key in any of the cells a dialog with an input field should be popped up automatically. Enter transfers the value to the cell. If enter is pressed in a cell the input field dialog should pop up. Pressing + or - in a cell increase or decrease the value in the cell, pressing shift while doing this increase the rate of change. The + and - keys is used in the same way if we have a graphical 3d mode of course 'G' is the only logical key for swapping beteen graphic and numeric mode.

Even though we finally want multiplatform software for

more requirements come from the usuability for tuning than from the platform (menus, etc...). Main reason: it must work well without a mouse.

Everyone experienced said that tuningsoftware is more like a DOS-app than a windows app (well, everyone said in other words, but that was the idea).

See also