Tuners: Which version of Megasquirt should i buy? Read stats..

Mekkahfire · 08-31-2006, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Features / Benefits of the MegaSquirt-I EFI System

Onboard MAP sensor for NA or boosted engines up to 21psi!
Speed density or Alpha-N.
Use any injector - High or Low impedance.
Compatible with output from narrowband and wideband O2 sensors.
Log data on your laptop for later analysis.
Tuning software is free for download and regularly updated with new features.
Open Source design - all code and hardware information is available online.
Includes proper female DB37 connector and shell for your wiring harness.
Professionally Machined Brushed Aluminum Endplates. Excellent Fit and Finish!
LMB Heeger EAF-300 Case with flanged ends for easy mounting.

New Features specific to the latest PCB Version 3.0
All automotive temperature grade components for increased reliability.
Higher quality 4 layer PCB for increased resistance to noise/crosstalk. All PCB's electrically tested at the factory for enhanced quality control.
Added current limiting circuitry to provide increased fault tolerance--- it other words, it's much harder to blow this thing up if you make a mistake!
Uprated Flyback circuitry is now built in- bring on the low-z injectors!
Onboard Heatsink bar
Large Prototype area onboard- for adding custom circuitry to your ECU
Supports use of original MS tach input, ignition coil triggering, VR, Hall and Optical sensor triggering.
Direct Ignition coil driver is now on-board

Read more about the new V3 PCB features here: MegaSquirt V3.0 Main Board

Fully upgradeable to MegaSquirt II Fuel and Ignition Controller
This unit can be upgraded to MegaSquirt 2 (due to be available mid-August, 2005) and you'll have the following new/improved features:

Ignition control (full spark timing advance control, dwell control, etc) for one coil/distributor and EDIS systems,
All tuning tables at 12×12 resolution
On-board stepper motor driver for IAC stepper control (this will require a few jumper wires to be added on the MegaSquirt PCB)

You would think Megasquirt II would be best, considering the V2 controls spark, has timing advance support... Any oppinions on this?

I know i made a previous thread on the MS, but i need an educated answer realitively soon, because im going to be buying it in a few days.

Thanks guys!

Weasy2k · 08-31-2006, 07:50 PM

Well you need to control advance and such so MSII would be something to look into.

MSII is also going to have less of the buggy software/hardware issues i have seen in some of the installs (this is from our local MS expert).

Good luck with whatever you choose...

joeo · 08-31-2006, 09:30 PM

You'll want to look into knock retard/advance control. I know an older version of the megasquirt had it as an addon (hardware & software).
As far as I know, the current version (II) does not have knock control, but can monitor knock. Good luck on it!

http://www.lovehorsepower.com

Weasy2k · 09-01-2006, 02:13 AM

the knock control from what I used sucks! I stopped using the control and just monitered it and got J&S safeguard to do the rest. I jsut didnt like it...doest respond fast enough at all. Maybe why they dont have it in MSII

Enthalpy · 09-01-2006, 12:27 PM

MS is severely hardware-limited. My guess is this is why they didn't incorporate something that takes the processor overhead that knock response does. My guess is that's also why it doesn't respond to knock very quickly. It's a lower-priority process.

If I were you and I had to use MS, I would use the most feature-rich one I could find.

Mekkahfire · 09-01-2006, 01:48 PM

Well what confuses me is they boast use of a new microprocessor in the MSII, a 24 MHz HCS12 processor. With 64kb of flash and 512k of user ram, it should be MORE than enough to run knock control, in real time. Maybe ill email them asking why.

Enthalpy · 09-01-2006, 04:20 PM

New processor doesn't mean the code is well-written. The new processor doesn't mean the OTHER extra stuff they wanted more than knock control doesn't take up a fair amount of headroom.

I am getting my information second-hand, as I only took assembly in college and haven't touched it since. Someone who knows it much better and played with recoding the MS is where I get my information. The guy has his Graduate Degree in Computer Science, he knows his stuff.

Weasy2k · 09-06-2006, 12:46 AM

^^ You are right...

I talked about this with a guy who used to stock, sell and install MS systems, he mentioned that the code is written poorly and does not take advantage of the processors speed properly (other mumbo jumbo i didnt remeber).

All in all...you can have a huge process but if the code takes a huge amount of resources just to run the basic code (fuel and spark) then there wont be much room left to read other stuff.

He has now switched to something called VEMS...

Enthalpy · 09-06-2006, 01:36 AM

I haven't heard of VEMS, but I've heard of GEMS. That's the precursor to the AEM EMS. In fact, that's who AEM bought the technology from.

Weasy2k · 09-06-2006, 01:37 AM

VEMS is failry new form what i hear...its like MS but better as he says..i havent had the time to look into it

toyotaspeed90 · 09-28-2006, 04:19 AM

the MSII has the same main board as the MS1 v3.... MSII is actually just a replacement of the 36? (main) chip in the board....

i personally liked the ease of the ms1 v2.2 myself.....

puertorican.mr2 · 09-28-2006, 09:34 AM

Pardon guys....But I rather buy a microtech......is more user friendly than other products in the market

Weasy2k · 09-28-2006, 12:00 PM

microtech? got a link?

puertorican.mr2 · 09-28-2006, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Weasy2k

microtech? got a link?

www.microtechefi.com Most of the guys that I know use this computer on their cars.

Weasy2k · 09-28-2006, 12:52 PM

another aussie company...so many ems's are there

puertorican.mr2 · 09-28-2006, 02:18 PM

I have seen the perfomance on Mr2's in my area with the microtech and it kick ass. I can't tell you about the MS because I only seen it once on an eclipse turbo.

Enthalpy · 09-28-2006, 04:39 PM

Power generation is NOT the mark of a great EMS. Any EMS on the market will allow you to get pretty much the same power output. The simple job of pulsing the injectors and charging the coil does not make a great EMS.

What makes a great EMS is its ability control the engine the SAME way under ANY condition. This includes temperature, altitude, humidity, etc. A great EMS will allow fantastic drivability under any ENGINE condition as well. Cold, hot, overheating, idling, redlining, it doesn't matter.

Features like peak/hold injection, sufficient GPOs, and COP operation will make a great EMS as well.

puertorican.mr2 · 09-28-2006, 05:04 PM

That's true but If you are going to sell me a product that noboby is familiarized with, I'm going to have a hard time when I run into trouble. The first thing Mekkhafire has to do is to see what is popular in his area so he can buy an ems that he can find support for it. If I'm going to buy an aussie ems I don't want to be calling to Australia every time I run into trouble.

toyotaspeed90 · 09-28-2006, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by puertorican.mr2

That's true but If you are going to sell me a product that noboby is familiarized with, I'm going to have a hard time when I run into trouble. The first thing Mekkhafire has to do is to see what is popular in his area so he can buy an ems that he can find support for it. If I'm going to buy an aussie ems I don't want to be calling to Australia every time I run into trouble.

by that standard.... nobody would put JDM parts & engines in their car since they can't get parts for them....

and as for comparing mircrotech to MS..... again... MS is a DIY-er INEXPENSIVE route.... the first price i saw on that microtech page was $1,090.... hmm, about 3.5 times the price of an MS.... not including that the microtech unit comes with a map to "run your engine to be driven to a tuner shop for final tuning"..... IE, a crap map to get it to a dyno.... sounds familiar!

Personally... i'm not going to go out and spend $1,000 on an EMS.... i can get at least 3 mr2's for that price!

puertorican.mr2 · 09-28-2006, 09:58 PM

Thats the beauty about free will. No one can make buy a product that you don't like or feel comfortable with. JDM parts are not cheap and you put it in your car even if you have to spend 5 to 6k on a clip. Going with the same principle, you install in your car what you think is best.

Ps. Let me know where can you buy even an mr2 for a 1000 so I can have a spare on my driveway.....lol......

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08-31-2006, 07:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
Weasy2k What is an MR2? Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 8,891 Thanks: 33 Thanked 82 Times in 68 Posts iTrader Rating: (9/100% )	Well you need to control advance and such so MSII would be something to look into. MSII is also going to have less of the buggy software/hardware issues i have seen in some of the installs (this is from our local MS expert). Good luck with whatever you choose...

08-31-2006, 09:30 PM	#3 (permalink)
joeo Boost is so very good... Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 61 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	You'll want to look into knock retard/advance control. I know an older version of the megasquirt had it as an addon (hardware & software). As far as I know, the current version (II) does not have knock control, but can monitor knock. Good luck on it! http://www.lovehorsepower.com

09-01-2006, 02:13 AM	#4 (permalink)
Weasy2k What is an MR2? Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 8,891 Thanks: 33 Thanked 82 Times in 68 Posts iTrader Rating: (9/100% )	the knock control from what I used sucks! I stopped using the control and just monitered it and got J&S safeguard to do the rest. I jsut didnt like it...doest respond fast enough at all. Maybe why they dont have it in MSII

09-01-2006, 12:27 PM	#5 (permalink)
Enthalpy EMS Harmonizer Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 1,226 Thanks: 8 Thanked 55 Times in 43 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	MS is severely hardware-limited. My guess is this is why they didn't incorporate something that takes the processor overhead that knock response does. My guess is that's also why it doesn't respond to knock very quickly. It's a lower-priority process. If I were you and I had to use MS, I would use the most feature-rich one I could find.

09-01-2006, 01:48 PM	#6 (permalink)
Mekkahfire Gone But Not Forgotten Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Westerville OH Posts: 1,351 Thanks: 9 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/75% )	Well what confuses me is they boast use of a new microprocessor in the MSII, a 24 MHz HCS12 processor. With 64kb of flash and 512k of user ram, it should be MORE than enough to run knock control, in real time. Maybe ill email them asking why.

09-01-2006, 04:20 PM	#7 (permalink)
Enthalpy EMS Harmonizer Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 1,226 Thanks: 8 Thanked 55 Times in 43 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	New processor doesn't mean the code is well-written. The new processor doesn't mean the OTHER extra stuff they wanted more than knock control doesn't take up a fair amount of headroom. I am getting my information second-hand, as I only took assembly in college and haven't touched it since. Someone who knows it much better and played with recoding the MS is where I get my information. The guy has his Graduate Degree in Computer Science, he knows his stuff.

09-06-2006, 12:46 AM	#8 (permalink)
Weasy2k What is an MR2? Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 8,891 Thanks: 33 Thanked 82 Times in 68 Posts iTrader Rating: (9/100% )	^^ You are right... I talked about this with a guy who used to stock, sell and install MS systems, he mentioned that the code is written poorly and does not take advantage of the processors speed properly (other mumbo jumbo i didnt remeber). All in all...you can have a huge process but if the code takes a huge amount of resources just to run the basic code (fuel and spark) then there wont be much room left to read other stuff. He has now switched to something called VEMS...

09-06-2006, 01:36 AM	#9 (permalink)
Enthalpy EMS Harmonizer Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 1,226 Thanks: 8 Thanked 55 Times in 43 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	I haven't heard of VEMS, but I've heard of GEMS. That's the precursor to the AEM EMS. In fact, that's who AEM bought the technology from.

09-06-2006, 01:37 AM	#10 (permalink)
Weasy2k What is an MR2? Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 8,891 Thanks: 33 Thanked 82 Times in 68 Posts iTrader Rating: (9/100% )	VEMS is failry new form what i hear...its like MS but better as he says..i havent had the time to look into it

09-28-2006, 04:19 AM	#11 (permalink)
toyotaspeed90 No Skills Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Bellingham, WA Posts: 2,416 Thanks: 0 Thanked 149 Times in 144 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	the MSII has the same main board as the MS1 v3.... MSII is actually just a replacement of the 36? (main) chip in the board.... i personally liked the ease of the ms1 v2.2 myself.....

09-28-2006, 09:34 AM	#12 (permalink)
puertorican.mr2 born to be wild Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Cayey, Puerto Rico Posts: 159 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Pardon guys....But I rather buy a microtech......is more user friendly than other products in the market

09-28-2006, 12:00 PM	#13 (permalink)
Weasy2k What is an MR2? Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 8,891 Thanks: 33 Thanked 82 Times in 68 Posts iTrader Rating: (9/100% )	microtech? got a link?

09-28-2006, 12:52 PM	#15 (permalink)
Weasy2k What is an MR2? Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 8,891 Thanks: 33 Thanked 82 Times in 68 Posts iTrader Rating: (9/100% )	another aussie company...so many ems's are there

09-28-2006, 02:18 PM	#16 (permalink)
puertorican.mr2 born to be wild Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Cayey, Puerto Rico Posts: 159 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I have seen the perfomance on Mr2's in my area with the microtech and it kick ass. I can't tell you about the MS because I only seen it once on an eclipse turbo.

09-28-2006, 04:39 PM	#17 (permalink)
Enthalpy EMS Harmonizer Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 1,226 Thanks: 8 Thanked 55 Times in 43 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Power generation is NOT the mark of a great EMS. Any EMS on the market will allow you to get pretty much the same power output. The simple job of pulsing the injectors and charging the coil does not make a great EMS. What makes a great EMS is its ability control the engine the SAME way under ANY condition. This includes temperature, altitude, humidity, etc. A great EMS will allow fantastic drivability under any ENGINE condition as well. Cold, hot, overheating, idling, redlining, it doesn't matter. Features like peak/hold injection, sufficient GPOs, and COP operation will make a great EMS as well.

09-28-2006, 05:04 PM	#18 (permalink)
puertorican.mr2 born to be wild Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Cayey, Puerto Rico Posts: 159 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	That's true but If you are going to sell me a product that noboby is familiarized with, I'm going to have a hard time when I run into trouble. The first thing Mekkhafire has to do is to see what is popular in his area so he can buy an ems that he can find support for it. If I'm going to buy an aussie ems I don't want to be calling to Australia every time I run into trouble.

09-28-2006, 09:58 PM	#20 (permalink)
puertorican.mr2 born to be wild Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Cayey, Puerto Rico Posts: 159 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Thats the beauty about free will. No one can make buy a product that you don't like or feel comfortable with. JDM parts are not cheap and you put it in your car even if you have to spend 5 to 6k on a clip. Going with the same principle, you install in your car what you think is best. Ps. Let me know where can you buy even an mr2 for a 1000 so I can have a spare on my driveway.....lol......