Is the OBDLink EX cable the best cable to use with the latest forscan?

I have the elm27 (the one with the switch and I haven't tested it on the MK3.5 as if yet) that I used with an older version of forscan and elmconfig but if the OBDLinknEx is better or more stable with the latest software versions I would get this.

26 minutes ago, sonic113 said:

Is the OBDLink EX cable the best cable to use with the latest forscan?

The OBDLink EX and the vLinker FS will be far superior to the older cloned Adaptors although there have been problems with the vLinker one on certain Laptops with USB 3 Ports only but it works in the vast majority of cases and there is a workaround. They claim to have fixed the problem with their latest Adaptors.

When you connect FORScan with an older Adaptor it will give you a warning if the Adaptor you are using is too slow.

 

18 minutes ago, Tizer said:

The OBDLink EX and the vLinker FS will be far superior to the older cloned Adaptors although there have been problems with the vLinker one on certain Laptops with USB 3 Ports only but it works in the vast majority of cases and there is a workaround. They claim to have fixed the problem with their latest Adaptors.

When you connect FORScan with an older Adaptor it will give you a warning if the Adaptor you are using is too slow.

 

Out of the two OBDLink EX and the vLinker FS which one would you recommend?

Just now, sonic113 said:

Out of the two OBDLink EX and the vLinker FS which one would you recommend?

They are as good as each other but the vLinker is cheaper.

The OBDLink has come down in price a bit since the vLinker one became popular, I think they were ripping people off before they had competition to contend with.

I prefer the OBDLink, but that's just because I haven't used the other.

I had a switchable ELM327 before, which caused issues

The EX is really fast and reliable

4 hours ago, Tizer said:

They are as good as each other but the vLinker is cheaper.

The OBDLink has come down in price a bit since the vLinker one became popular, I think they were ripping people off before they had competition to contend with.

 

3 hours ago, DaveT70 said:

I prefer the OBDLink, but that's just because I haven't used the other.

I had a switchable ELM327 before, which caused issues

The EX is really fast and reliable

Thanks fellas. I will shop around for the best deal and see what I can come up with. Appreciate the help.

the EX dropped off the recco list for early cars after the discovery of 18V FEPS

 

Bluetooth

https://www.vgatemall.com/products-detail/i-52/

Wired

https://www.vgatemall.com/products-detail/i-19/

spotted this re the USB fun....

Update the previous USB HUB solution

1. The solution to solve the problem by USB HUB is changed to provide a new adapter.
Including the previous USB HUB solution users, please contact us if you have any problems - we will provide a new adapter free of charge.

topical - response to a bod struggling to replace a 2010 focus PCM 

Quote

 

Are you using an OBDlink EX or a vLinker FS and which Forscan version? 

Are you seeing a phrase similar to "FEPS voltage has been applied" just before you get the the "service procedure has been interrupted" - you must use a version of Forscan that supports the FEPS check - AKA 2.4.17

Adjusting any parameter in the VID block and attempting to "write" should refer you over to the PCM Firmware update section if using FORScan version 2.4.17 as the VID block parameter settings(including the VIN change) are buried in the firmware layer! This will require downloading some calibration files either from FORScan (requires a Paid FORScan license for the download and the FIRMware process), or from fordserviceinfo.com!

This procedure also requires a complete erase of the PCM and and rewrite of the PCM calibration including the requested changes!
This process is different than changing as built programming!

PCM's of this vintage must have an adapter with the Flash EEprom Programming Signal (FEPS) capability which is an 18 volt signal provided by the adapter to DLC pin 13 to open the PCM for programming! Later PCMs use a secondary Boot loader(SBL) for this process!

The only FTDI/ELM327 type adapter with this capability is the vLinker FS 

otherwise it is VCM2 or J2534 PassThru adapters! 

The OBDlink EX adapter is not capable of providing the FEPS signal!

 

 

3 hours ago, Botus said:

topical - response to a bod struggling to replace a 2010 focus PCM 

 

This is very interesting stuff.

So the vlinker FS would be a better choice over the EX ?

I wouldn't worry about FEPS Programming, it's a legacy thing and I'm not sure if many or any UK cars had it, seems to have been more common in American ones at one time.

The other thing about it is that the type of programming that you need a FEPS Adaptor for is in the 2.4 version of FORScan which is not the version that you can download from their website and 99% of people on this Forum are using.

As well as  FEPS Adaptor you also need a great deal of knowledge and something that can provide a lot of power to the Battery and even then you can still easily brick a car.