Calibration Sourcing from the Internet

[Bruce Amacker]

Hey Guys:

 

I keep running into a problem that gives me a hard time: When reflashing with my IDS, I don't always have internet access at the truck's location. Sometimes the calibrations are on the hard drive, and sometimes IDS has to download them from the FMC server. Sometimes I will try to flash a truck unsuccessfully (because the file is not on the HD) and go to my hotel for the night, where the PC is on the net. I'll update my cals manually and you'd think it would get the right file, but once again the next day I can't do the reflash.

 

My IDS is up to date on software level and updates calibrations daily. How can I get it to download all of the 6.0 cals and keep them on the HD on a daily basis?

 

Yesterday I had to drive the truck back to my house and use my wireless network to do a reflash. There's got to be a better way.....

 

Thanks!

[Jim Warman]

I see you've had several views to your post but no suggestions. I have no solution, but I do have some suggestions.

 

Years ago, I tried doing "field work" and found that I never, ever took what I needed for tools and/or parts. I soon gave that up - I either need a fully equipped service truck or a tow truck..... There is no middle ground.... well there is, but we'll leave that for the iATN crowd (how can I fix this without investing in training and tools?).

 

On site, there is the chance that you can hi-jack an unsecured wireless internet gateway.... Without getting into the morality of this, let's pretend that this gateway is a door. This door has been left unlocked. It becomes a question of "am I allowed to open this unlocked door or not?". When I go to school in Edmonton, I can always find an intenet gateway..... heck, drive around your community and you can find lots of them.

 

Another option is for the site you are visiting to allow internet access - one way or another. Your IDS should seek out the proper URL given the access to the internet - either through dial up, broadband or wireless. If you have the savvy (and I don't doubt that you do), all they need to do is show you where to plug in and supply you with access info....

 

From my first intenet connection in the early 90s using a 9600 baud modem and "SuperKermit".... not to mention exhorbitant long distance charges - I currently find it hard to discover anywhere that internet access isn't easy to find. The few timnes I bring my laptop home from work, it tries connecting to the neighbours network rather than my own....

 

HTH

[Bruce Amacker]

Jim:

 

Thanks for responding. As for your comment about "field work", I agree totally. I started my career doing mobile repair 30 years ago and am quite familiar with how much gear it takes to get the job done, and how impractical it is these days. We have seen the day come and go where a service call could be successfully completed with the tools kept in an E-style van.

 

I have a unique situation: I'm not doing field work as most would see a service truck doing. If I need help wrenching when on a worksite, I have at my disposal 10-15 able bodies, and enough Snap-On tool boxes and shop equipment to overload a large truck. I actually try to avoid this, and rarely get involved in more than a 5 minute procedure. My focus is not on how to change the part, but rather the diagnostics involved in getting there. Upgrading calibrations is part of this diagnostics.

 

Yes, I'm familiar with using other people's wireless when it has no security on it, but here's the usual situation: I'm doing a 2-3 day 6.0 class at a government agency, and conclude showing them all of the bells and whistles of the IDS. It's an impressive tool and I want to build it up. After a classroom Powerpoint, we go into the shop and I hook the IDS to a truck and project it on a screen for all to see. I try to use a sick 6.0 and do live diag on it to elaborate on what we covered in class. Reflashing with the IDS is so easy that this is a strong selling point, and most of the trucks do not have the latest calibration in them. If the student/tech authorizes a flash, (which is a whole separate discussion!) it's nice to blow it in for them. Unfortunately, this is where the hiccup comes in- all gummint agencies have such heavy security on their networks that it takes an act of God and half of their IT dept to get my laptop through their firewalls (either wired or wireless). After trying this at several different places, I have resigned myself to the fact that my accessing the internet with my PC is not possible at these locations. Usually I am in some huge campus, so hijacking someone else's wireless is not possible because there's no signal. I always look, and have never found an unsecured network in such an area. Because of security issues, I find it's rare to even have a wireless network in a government building. Driving to another location to do a reflash with 15 students, a PP projector, screen, etc. in tow is not a realistic solution.

 

PS- I do not sell tools, but would like to have all my customers have an IDS. It's hard to get a gov't agency to understand that this is practically a required tool, not a luxury when repairing 6.0's.

 

Back to the calibrations- it seems like a crap shoot- sometimes the files are on my HD, and sometimes they're not. The files are small, and it seems like there should be an easy way to get all of the diesel files and keep them on my HD. Oops, there I go saying "seems" again.... /forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

[DwayneGorniak]

Bruce, do you have any cellular companies down there that can supply you with a cellular internet wireless card? Out here in the oil patch, we have all kinds of oil field consultants that need access to the internet for their laptops in their trucks. their business and office is literally in their trucks. Therefore, I am suggesting a wireless cellular card. You will have the internet wherever you go. Hope this helps.

[DieselD]

thats a good idea, they are pretty affordable to. most major company's have them too like sprint and verizon.

[dieseldoc]

You should try the wireless card from your cell phone company. We have two service trucks set up with it and this works real slick. Assuming you are somewhere you can get reception. Which from what you are saying wont be a problem. Seeing how you are not in the sticks like we are usually.

[Jim Warman]

You guys just joggled the old memory card.....

 

Somewhere around my house, I have a cable that patches my LG phone to a USB connection... this cable and the software that goes with it cost very little from my cell service provider. Never did have the chance to use it before my wife "put it away" for me.... ("put it away" usually means it is going to be in an "odd" spot keeping my "junk" well away from her valued possessions).

[DwayneGorniak]

And you should be able to write it off for taxes too.