ODB2 USB vs. Blue Tooth

tinsley207 · Dec 5, 2020

Hello All,

I have a Konwei USB Blue Tooth ODB2 Adapter and I've had trouble with it frequently disconnecting from my device, which is an older Samsung NOTE4 phone. When the device is disconnected I peek at the adapter and it just has a single red light near the power button, no other lights. When I power cycle the adapter all kinds of lights respond and blink and I get a connection and I'm typically ok for a little bit after that. I was wondering if the Konwei doesn't like my phone or vice versa or if you all feel it is more reliable to use a USB ODB2 device? Basically I'm tired of resetting the adapter.

Thanks.

notfred · Dec 5, 2020

I don't know if any of the apps like Soul Spy or Torque will work with a USB connection - I think they are all setup for a Bluetooth connection.

IanL · Dec 5, 2020

I use a Kindle Fire with my Konwei. No problems at all. They are quite cheap now. Quite easy to install Google Play Store (details on the web) to install the apps.

JejuSoul · Dec 5, 2020

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I recommend you have a look at this thread. - Soul EV : recommended obd2 adapter

There's also an interesting rant about the problems so many people have with these adapters here - Car Scanner : Choosing OBDII adapter

You should know that, most of cheap adapters (with price <$50) are NOT actually ELM327. They are Chinese clones, pretending to be ELM327, acting like ELM327.

What is so bad with “clones”?

Buying a cheap Chinese clone is like playing against casino – casino always wins.

Most of “clones” have different bugs.

In fact, there are several “real” versions of Chinese clones:

Old clones, marked as “v.1.4” or “v.1.5”, they were built very well, supported 90% of ELM327 command set and in most cases worked like original ELM327 without any bugs. It’s very hard to find such a good clone now.
Newer clones, marked “v.2.1”. This is a piece of ****. 100% of that clones has bugs (see list of known bugs below). If you see cheap ELM327 marked as “v.2.1” AVOID BUYING THIS CRAP!
Smart-*** Chinese fake-makers, that made v.2.1 clones realised, that consumers prefer buying ELM327 clones, marked as “v.1.4” or “v.1.5” and don’t want to buy “v.2.1”, that was full of bugs. So, what have they done? They just changed version string in “v.2.1” to “v.1.5”. And we have actually “v.2.1” clones, but marked as “v.1.5”. They are just the same piece of **** as v.2.1 with changed version string.

tinsley207 · Dec 5, 2020

Thanks, I read through the threads. All good info. Jejusoul, I just noticed you had a power switch on your ODB2 Cable. I don't have this right now. Would you reccomend it? And if so, why? Thanks.

Nate

notfred · Dec 5, 2020

The 12V on the OBD II connector isn't switched on and off with the car, it's always on. If your car is parked for a long time then your OBD II adaptor can drain your 12V battery.

JejuSoul · Dec 6, 2020

tinsley207 said:
Thanks, I read through the threads. All good info. Jejusoul, I just noticed you had a power switch on your ODB2 Cable. I don't have this right now. Would you recommend it? And if so, why? Thanks.

Yes.
I pushed the OBD connector back out of its clip to allow room for the plastic cover to be closed. The OBD extension wire is threaded under the steering column so that the switch and adapter can sit under the navigation by the accessory ports.

The OBD extension wire with a switch solves the possible problems that the KW902 has.
1/ Drawing power when the car is off.
2/ Having an insecure password

But by far the biggest reason is that you can tuck everything away and never have to open the plastic cover over the fuse box.
1/ This looks way better.
2/ You are not going to break the clips on the plastic cover as the plastic get more brittle as it ages.

IanL · Dec 6, 2020

Does the adapter draw power when it is switched off with its own switch?

JejuSoul · Dec 6, 2020

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I have two KW902. On the first the power button on the adapter does nothing at all. On the second the LEDs go off and it loses connection to the phone. I don't trust this hardware enough to say that it properly powers down. I do trust the switch.

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tinsley207 · Dec 6, 2020

OK thanks! I like your mod. I'll pick up one of those cables.

ODB2 USB vs. Blue Tooth

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