- Calibrations
- Quick Guide To Utilizing An Ostrich Emulator
We have the option of getting an Emulator, which turns our computers into an program on the fly setup, ala a true standalone for penny's. We have another thread with how to do it but I will simply link the parts needed to get it done.
You need the Ostrich, the best part is, it comes with a cable which does double duty.
http://www.moates.net/product_info.php?products_id=169
So if you want to also play with chips, then this will clip onto the Ostrich cable so no more computer re and re's, so much easier.
http://www.moates.net/product_info.php?products_id=172
This is also a wicked burner, no pin changing etc, just use any laptop computer with a USB port, needs NO external power, but only works with certain chips so check to be sure before you buy.
http://www.moates.net/product_info.php?products_id=197
And if you want a spare cable, this is the longer one-
http://www.moates.net/product_info.php?products_id=65
You will want this software http://tunerpro.markmansur.com/download/EmUtility.zip This is basically the program that communicates with the ostrich, first plug the emulator in with the USB cable then unzip the "EmUtility.zip" file and run the "EmUtility.exe" program.
If you get an error message when trying to run the program, download this http://tunerpro.markmansur.com/downl...redist_x86.exe and install it also
You may also have to install this http://www.moates.net/zips/CDM_Setup.exe if you are having issues with EmUtility detecting your ostrich.
When EmUtility starts up wait a second and it should beep and show that the Ostrich has been detected. Now you will be able to choose an operation. You can read the contents of the emulator to a file, write a file to the emulator, verify(I never really use this), and monitor a file and update the emulator when changes are made (this one is awesome). Ill explain these individually
Read from emulator to file
This is if you have a cal on the emulator and you want to read it to your computer. This is helpful if yo lost you .bin file on your computer but had already flashed it to the emulator. When you use this function look down where it says "Size 0x0000", change this to "0x8000", since the emulator can hold more data than what our cals are it needs to know how much data to read. I always used "0x8000" and never had a problem. I havnt used it in a while but I dont think you have to mess with the "file start address". Hit execute and it should ask you what to save the file as.
Write from file to emulator
This is if you want to write a new cal to the emulator. Select this and then click the "..." box next to "Input/Output File". Now you can choose a .bin file to flash to the emulator. I don't believe you have to mess with the "Size" setting as it usually gets set automatically according to the file you choose. Then just hit execute and it will flash the .bin file to the emulator. Note: Check the filesize of your .bin file, it should be either 16kb or 32kb. If your .bin is 16kb you need to set the "File Start Address" to "0x4000". If your .bin is 32kb then leave this setting at "0x0000". Read this article to understand what this means --> http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/vb...&articleid=126
Monitor file for changes and upload
This is the setting you will probably use most for tuning. This sets EmUtility up to watch a specified .bin file and if any changes are made to it (as with D-Cal or Chem) EmUtility will automatically re-flash the cal to the emulator with the new changes. This lets you keep EmUtility running in the background. All you have to do is make an adjustment with D-Cal or Chem and when you save the file, EmUtility will detect the change and upload the new cal to the emulator. You can make changes while the car is running and when you hit save they will immediately take effect. Set this up the same as writing a file to the emulator, choose a file with the "..." box and hit execute. To stop monitoring you can click "cancel op" or just close EmUtility.
Hooking the Ostrich up to the SMEC/SBEC
To hook the Ostrich up you will want to find a place to put the ostrich (close to the computer case). I put it to the rear of my SMEC against the body of my engine bay. You will have a 28pin ribbon cable, one of the wires will have a red tracer that indicates pin-1. Put the end of the ribbon cable into the socket as you would with an EPROM. Installed correctly, the ribbon should extend towards the 60-pin connector on the SMEC. I filed off the ridge at the edge of my SMEC case to allow the ribbon cable to exit between the two halves of the SMEC case, another option is to just run it out the opening for the 14-pin plug on the power module. Then just plug the other end into the ostrich. Now you need to connect the USB cable to the ostrich and run it up towards the firewall, you will need to buy a USB cable extender which is basically a USB cable with a female end and a male end. Connect the extender and run that into the passenger compartment. Now you can just hook the USB cable into your laptop and pretty much tune as you drive.
This pretty much turns an SMEC/SBEC into a full standalone engine management system. With the availability of the relocatable codes you can pretty much reprogram any aspect of the computer, I started to get comfortable with it and actually added a couple extra little functions that were pretty handy. That combined with the functions already available thanks to people like Shel-Game and Geoff Allen (staging, detonation light, anti-lag) made this setup pretty versatile.
A big thank you to Shel-Game and Geoff Allen for digging through these calibrations so much and making all this possible. I know there are other guys that contributed especially back in the day but these two guys have been making most of the contributions since I have been into this stuff
Other Q and A
Q: Do you need the laptop hooked up in order to drive the car?
A: The emulator will function(run the car) without the laptop plugged into it, also its battery supply will last pretty much forever. I never had to replace the batteries and I used mine for about 2-3 years.
Q: Can this be used permanently?
A: Yes, there is nothing wrong with using the Ostrich as a permanent EPROM replacement. But most people burn the cal to an EPROM when the tuning is finished and then install the EPROM.
You need the Ostrich, the best part is, it comes with a cable which does double duty.
http://www.moates.net/product_info.php?products_id=169
So if you want to also play with chips, then this will clip onto the Ostrich cable so no more computer re and re's, so much easier.
http://www.moates.net/product_info.php?products_id=172
This is also a wicked burner, no pin changing etc, just use any laptop computer with a USB port, needs NO external power, but only works with certain chips so check to be sure before you buy.
http://www.moates.net/product_info.php?products_id=197
And if you want a spare cable, this is the longer one-
http://www.moates.net/product_info.php?products_id=65
You will want this software http://tunerpro.markmansur.com/download/EmUtility.zip This is basically the program that communicates with the ostrich, first plug the emulator in with the USB cable then unzip the "EmUtility.zip" file and run the "EmUtility.exe" program.
If you get an error message when trying to run the program, download this http://tunerpro.markmansur.com/downl...redist_x86.exe and install it also
You may also have to install this http://www.moates.net/zips/CDM_Setup.exe if you are having issues with EmUtility detecting your ostrich.
When EmUtility starts up wait a second and it should beep and show that the Ostrich has been detected. Now you will be able to choose an operation. You can read the contents of the emulator to a file, write a file to the emulator, verify(I never really use this), and monitor a file and update the emulator when changes are made (this one is awesome). Ill explain these individually
Read from emulator to file
This is if you have a cal on the emulator and you want to read it to your computer. This is helpful if yo lost you .bin file on your computer but had already flashed it to the emulator. When you use this function look down where it says "Size 0x0000", change this to "0x8000", since the emulator can hold more data than what our cals are it needs to know how much data to read. I always used "0x8000" and never had a problem. I havnt used it in a while but I dont think you have to mess with the "file start address". Hit execute and it should ask you what to save the file as.
Write from file to emulator
This is if you want to write a new cal to the emulator. Select this and then click the "..." box next to "Input/Output File". Now you can choose a .bin file to flash to the emulator. I don't believe you have to mess with the "Size" setting as it usually gets set automatically according to the file you choose. Then just hit execute and it will flash the .bin file to the emulator. Note: Check the filesize of your .bin file, it should be either 16kb or 32kb. If your .bin is 16kb you need to set the "File Start Address" to "0x4000". If your .bin is 32kb then leave this setting at "0x0000". Read this article to understand what this means --> http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/vb...&articleid=126
Monitor file for changes and upload
This is the setting you will probably use most for tuning. This sets EmUtility up to watch a specified .bin file and if any changes are made to it (as with D-Cal or Chem) EmUtility will automatically re-flash the cal to the emulator with the new changes. This lets you keep EmUtility running in the background. All you have to do is make an adjustment with D-Cal or Chem and when you save the file, EmUtility will detect the change and upload the new cal to the emulator. You can make changes while the car is running and when you hit save they will immediately take effect. Set this up the same as writing a file to the emulator, choose a file with the "..." box and hit execute. To stop monitoring you can click "cancel op" or just close EmUtility.
Hooking the Ostrich up to the SMEC/SBEC
To hook the Ostrich up you will want to find a place to put the ostrich (close to the computer case). I put it to the rear of my SMEC against the body of my engine bay. You will have a 28pin ribbon cable, one of the wires will have a red tracer that indicates pin-1. Put the end of the ribbon cable into the socket as you would with an EPROM. Installed correctly, the ribbon should extend towards the 60-pin connector on the SMEC. I filed off the ridge at the edge of my SMEC case to allow the ribbon cable to exit between the two halves of the SMEC case, another option is to just run it out the opening for the 14-pin plug on the power module. Then just plug the other end into the ostrich. Now you need to connect the USB cable to the ostrich and run it up towards the firewall, you will need to buy a USB cable extender which is basically a USB cable with a female end and a male end. Connect the extender and run that into the passenger compartment. Now you can just hook the USB cable into your laptop and pretty much tune as you drive.
This pretty much turns an SMEC/SBEC into a full standalone engine management system. With the availability of the relocatable codes you can pretty much reprogram any aspect of the computer, I started to get comfortable with it and actually added a couple extra little functions that were pretty handy. That combined with the functions already available thanks to people like Shel-Game and Geoff Allen (staging, detonation light, anti-lag) made this setup pretty versatile.
A big thank you to Shel-Game and Geoff Allen for digging through these calibrations so much and making all this possible. I know there are other guys that contributed especially back in the day but these two guys have been making most of the contributions since I have been into this stuff
Other Q and A
Q: Do you need the laptop hooked up in order to drive the car?
A: The emulator will function(run the car) without the laptop plugged into it, also its battery supply will last pretty much forever. I never had to replace the batteries and I used mine for about 2-3 years.
Q: Can this be used permanently?
A: Yes, there is nothing wrong with using the Ostrich as a permanent EPROM replacement. But most people burn the cal to an EPROM when the tuning is finished and then install the EPROM.
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