Cables That DO NOT Work With PCM Hammer

[Lowlyfe1]

As we all know the tactrix cables are not supported (sad face). However, I have 2 other j2534 cables and Neither of them seem to work. First cable would be a JLR Mongoose Pro and this is the log:
[01:24:20:933] PCM Hammer 021
[01:24:20:940] Monday, March 25 2024 @01:24:20:94
[01:24:20:944] Initializing J2534 Device
[01:24:20:954] Loaded DLL
[01:24:21:029] Connected to the device.
[01:24:21:032] Battery Voltage is: 11.4
[01:24:21:034] Failed to set protocol, J2534 error code: 0x00000001
[01:24:21:036] Unable to initialize J2534 Device
[01:24:24:072] Thanks for using PCM Hammer.

Second device is Scanmatik 2 PRO and this is the log for that:
[01:42:35:227] PCM Hammer 021
[01:42:35:227] Monday, March 25 2024 @01:42:35:22
[01:42:35:227] Initializing J2534 Device
[01:42:35:227] Loaded DLL
[01:42:35:290] Connected to the device.
[01:42:35:290] Battery Voltage is: 12.052
[01:43:03:103] Will save to C:\Users\Administrator\Downloads\rework v1.bin
[01:43:13:117] Querying operating system of current PCM.
[01:43:13:188] OSID: 12579405
[01:43:15:374] Unlock succeeded.
[01:43:15:389] 4X communications disabled by configuration.
[01:44:57:423] Failed to upload kernel to PCM
[01:44:57:439] Clearing trouble codes.
[01:44:58:453] Elapsed time 00:01:43.0761530
[01:44:58:458] Read failed, Error
Any thoughts? Alternately any recommendations on a cable that's actually supported?
Thanks!

[Tazzi]

Unfortunately not all J2534 tools support the required VPW OBD2 protocol, and ontop of that, alot of them don't support the highspeed either.

I am one of the developers of OBDX Pro scan tools, our GT and VX tools both support VPW, along with supporting J2534.

[antus]

Exactly right. Regarding the tactrix, its not so much pcmhammer doesnt support the tool, its that the tool doesnt support the pcm's vpw protocol.

Regarding the mongoose, I read there are clones of the JLT out there, its not clear if this is a bad clone or a problem with the JLT not supporting vpw. I have the older discontinued mongoose pro GM 2 and it does everything properly and works with pcmhammer. The JLT is supposed to support vpw.

The recommended cable for speed and price are the obd xpro interfaces mentioned above.

The AVT 852 works well but is no longer available and higher cost. The scantool products can work (including recent variations that wont work with lsdroid) but they are very slow, and prone to hardware failure and are not recommended.

[Scanmatik]

For Scanmatik SM2, the issue was fixed in 2.21.25 (Dec 2023) thanks to complain of this forum user. Please download and install the latest update.

https://scanmatik.pro/pages/downloads

[V8fan]

Unfortunately not all J2534 tools support the required VPW OBD2 protocol, and ontop of that, alot of them don't support the highspeed either.

I am one of the developers of OBDX Pro scan tools, our GT and VX tools both support VPW, along with supporting J2534.

How to detect right version of j2543 device that will support j1850vpw ?

There is so many devices onto aliexpress
VXdiag VCX nano for volvo ? DiCE ?

[antus]

The reason this thread exists is because there is no foolproof way to know. For example tactrix drivers claim it supports VPW and yet it was never implemented by the company that made it and so does not work. Then there are other low cost tools which do not support the large packet sizes and so will support some types of logging software then fail with pcmhammer. In general still to the devices which are know to be working, and I would suggest avoiding scantool brand devices as they are very slow. vcx nano is reported to work, dice will not. MDI will, but better than all of that the obdxpro devices are fast and cheap and well supported by their manufacturer with this software. Plus if you buy through this link we get a couple of cents from the sale which we put towards the site or buying more PCMs for future development. https://obdxpro.com/?ref=pcmhacking

[V8fan]

I would suggest avoiding scantool brand devices as they are very slow. vcx nano is reported to work, dice will not.

I have mini vci -not worked )
Scantool maybe slow -but it works without errors for me and for 40$ its good result because before I bought one I cant use PCMhammer at all)
So better slow than nothing
And dont ignore shipping costs - scantool can be bought from ali with zero shipping charges
I have zero doubts that OBDXpro perfect product but I can't buy it with ease and without additional cost
Not all people live in Au or US

[Lowlyfe1]

I would suggest avoiding scantool brand devices as they are very slow. vcx nano is reported to work, dice will not.

I have mini vci -not worked )
Scantool maybe slow -but it works without errors for me and for 40$ its good result because before I bought one I cant use PCMhammer at all)
So better slow than nothing
And dont ignore shipping costs - scantool can be bought from ali with zero shipping charges
I have zero doubts that OBDXpro perfect product but I can't buy it with ease and without additional cost
Not all people live in Au or US

What cable is this exactly if you dont mind linking me please?

[V8fan]

I have not bought it myself
So I cant provide exact link
I only can make photos of inner board for comparison

[Lowlyfe1]

Just wanted to give a follow up post So, I bought a Topdon RLink x3 from ebay. It was just over $100 USD and it works for flashing. Does not work with x4 speed but flash time took about 8 min on my first test doing a complete write. All and all not too bad for the price and actually works.