sixturbosix Posted June 7, 2006 Share Posted June 7, 2006 Our shop has recently bought a VCM in preperations for the new IDS.My question is what do I need to buy in order to get up and running with a PDS.I called Rotunda and got confusing answers about what was needed.The guy I talked to said I could not use the same VCM we purchased for the IDS.He also said I would have to get a cable kit,pocket pc,and buy an activation key for the pds software.Is this correct because he didn't sound like he had much knowledge on the subject.I am looking for some straight answers on this subject if anyone can help.Maybe a detailed list on what to purchase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HGM Posted June 7, 2006 Share Posted June 7, 2006 Personally, I recommend the complete PDS kit for a technician. With that you will save money(in the long run) and basicly be buying a complete NGS kit(PDS is a dirrect replacement for the NGS).. With your own PDS kit($2400 last I looked) you will have the software for 2yrs and that includes the IDS software if you have a laptop that is compatible, then all you need is the extra $200 cable to allow you to personally own the equipment capable of doing 90% of what the WDS currnetly does. The VMM kit is way out of the average tech's price range($5,400),especially for the ammount of time you would use it.. It makes more sense to use the dealers VMM kit for those instances.. Thats just my take on it, I like the PDS for what it is(NGS replacement), and its easy to use. As far as just buying the PDA and using it with the shops VCM, I guess you could, but you would have to have the cables,and bag to put it in, then you would have to give the VCM back whenever they needed it.. Pain in the but to me, so I vote for the kit.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Browning Posted June 7, 2006 Share Posted June 7, 2006 Quote: With your own PDS kit($2400 last I looked ) Look again, that kit on the RTTP web site was DISCONTINUED and just as I was going to buy one. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad.gif You can still buy a "kit" which has everything BUT the PDA which you must buy separately from Dell or H-P. As of today and the last two months that kit has been on backorder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LR Mike Posted June 7, 2006 Share Posted June 7, 2006 Reading here, I just had a thought - has anyone actually tried using the same VCM with a PDS and a IDS? /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/confused.gif Here's my point - when I switched our VCM from NGS+ to IDS, I had to change the software in the VCM. So now I'm wondering if PDS and IDS use the same VCM software. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/shrug.gif Could be important for those of us trying to be 'thrifty' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LR Mike Posted June 7, 2006 Share Posted June 7, 2006 Quote: With your own PDS kit($2400 last I looked ) Look again, that kit on the RTTP web site was DISCONTINUED and just as I was going to buy one. /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/mad.gif You can still buy a "kit" which has everything BUT the PDA which you must buy separately from Dell or H-P. As of today and the last two months that kit has been on backorder. I actually spoke with Rotunda yesterday about this and our missing VMM. They have not yet removed the kit from the website because they have not discontinued it. There are so many backorders for it that they had to stop taking new ones! Apparently the BOs are starting to be filled now, though if you talk to the diagnostic people all VCM, VMM and toughbooks are on BO! /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/banghead.gif I have a few techs here wanting a PDS kit, too, so we are just watching and calling hoping they will re-release it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixturbosix Posted June 7, 2006 Author Share Posted June 7, 2006 In earlier post on this same topic.FordTechCA says he switches between IDS and PDS using the same VCM. Topic name under this category is PDS & VCM.In other words can I use our shops VCM and only buy remaining items needed,such as pocket pc,cable kit and software. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LR Mike Posted June 7, 2006 Share Posted June 7, 2006 john - if FordTechCA is switching between the tools, then yes, all you need is the cabling, pocket PC and appropriate software. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snw blue by you Posted June 7, 2006 Share Posted June 7, 2006 Has anyone had issues with their PDS losing communication? This is a constant problem with ours,and I refuse to purchase my own until I know whats up. Other than this isuue it's a tits tool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fleetingmoment Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 YES A RE-BOOT will work wonders herd about it today. We first thought we had a bad signal location problem. Try rebooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FordTechCA Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 hey guys, yes the same IDS VCM will also work with PDS. only thing you need is the different cable to connect to a pocketpc or connect to a laptop. if you have IDS already and a VCM just order the NGS+ to PDS conversion kit, $165 last time i looked. it has the cable to connect to the pocketpc cable and a shorter OBD2 cable. if you have a PDS and want to have your own cheeper IDS just get the cable that connects the VCM to the laptop. if you get your PDS software update by DVD you already know that the IDS software is included on it, last i knew. if not then you probably know that the IDS software can be downloaded on the PTS website, if your a ford tech, under the rotunda/ids section. hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bruce Amacker Posted June 12, 2006 Share Posted June 12, 2006 The VCM is the same for NGS, PDS, and IDS. I have used the same VCM for all three and it works well. The software has to be updated obviously, but the hardware is the same, and I've had my VCM for 2-3 years now. snw blue by you: Yes, the PDS does want to lock up and need to be rebooted or have the VCM unplugged once in a while, but I don't find it to be a huge inconvenience. It falls under the S* happens category. Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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