Hello All,
My name is Ray Davis. I received an invite on another forum from Tom to discuss my RV Dash here in your Newell forum. I had spoken earlier today on phone to Chester Stone and Bill Johnson.
The RV Dash was a personal project, done in my off-hours. I own a Prevost, and originally wanted an easy way to read error codes from the DDEC. Being a registered Apple developer, I wanted to do something with an iPad, and so I started back in Sep 2011 looking for hardware that would allow me to talk to my DDEC with an iPad.
I soon learned that the generation of Prevost's owned by members of clubs I frequent (POG, PC), the DDEC speaks J1587, not J1939 which is the newer protocol. So, I had to find wifi device that could talk J1587. I found the CANpod from Cubic Labs, and began developing my product. I located two other vendors. One was more expensive, while the other vendor would not return email or phone calls.
The RV Dash is the first of two applications. It connects via wifi to the CANpod device, initializes it, and starts data streaming. It then decodes in the data from the device, and operates about 25 gauges, set on two pages of the app. Currently the application ONLY speaks J1587. I have only tested on Prevost buses running either an 8v92 or S60 engine. I have had beta testers out for just over a year, running in a number of different buses, running from a 1990's 8v to a 2010 S60 based bus.
The second app is a universal app, will run on both iPad and iPhone, and is a DDEC error decoder reader/clearer. It was recently approved by Apple and is also available via the App Store.
I have been very tentative about selling this outside of the Prevost market, because I haven't done any testing with other vehicles. I will say in general the newer, the more data is streaming down the CAN bus, and the more gauges are active. Older units there is less data, so some of the gauges do not work.
The app does allow the user to layout the size and placement of the gauges in any way they desire. It also has two different gauge "modes", one is standard rotational gauges like in a vehicle, and another mode is what I call slider mode, which has horizontal gauges, and the indicator moves horizontally over the gauge. Both style of gauges also include a digital value.
I am selling the CANpod hardware, with the two apps for $750. I have made a deal with my buddies on forums I frequent that I will discount that $100, and I will offer the same deal to this forum. So, both apps, and CANpod hardware for $650. I wish I could sell for less, however the cost of the interfaces dominates the price of the bundle.
I would highly suggest that we try some testing with Newell coaches, as I have not tested with a Newell at this point. I understand in talking to Chester and Bill that there are both DD and CAT engines. I am hopeful that the DD engines will just plug and go. The CAT will require investigation, and possible app updates?
Ray
PS: A couple of things I forgot to mention:
The app is available for a free download on the app store.
https://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZSt...46745&mt=8
It has a demo mode available. I invite you to download, and try it out, and see if this is something that does interest you. To get to demo mode, simply start the app. Wait about 5 seconds, and when the CANpod is not located it will put up a trouble-shooting dialog. On the dialog is a demo button.
Tap demo, and the app will stream data out of an internal file that I captured in my bus while driving to a service facility. The data will run for about 3 minutes. During that time you can try out any of the functionality, including gauge layout etc.
Also, I am located in Southern CA (Lake Forest). Anyone in the area I would be happy to get together and test in your vehicle to see how it works.
I am happy to answer any questions you might have.
Ray
