Having a Dongle Serial Cable copied... how?

G

GiJO

Guest
I have some software for my laptop that i plug into the engine management
system to tune the car. It uses an RS232 cable and when i open up the serial
plug to see where the wires connect there is a little chip in it. I presume
this is like a dongle for the software so as to stop piracy. The thing i'm
worried about is losing the cable (not really likely), having it stolen (a
bit more likely) or damaging it (quite likely). The software is not cheap
and i in order to get another cable i would have to buy the software again
so i would like to have another cable made up that i can use, and keep the
original one tucked away. That way if the copied cable gets damaged etc, i
can just take out the original and have another made up again.

Any idea where i can get this done in Melbourne?

--
Thanks
Andrew
 
"GiJO" <newsgroups@THEOBVIOUSmutestyle.com> wrote in message
news:vOduc.17516$L.1095@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
I have some software for my laptop that i plug into the engine management
system to tune the car. It uses an RS232 cable and when i open up the
serial
plug to see where the wires connect there is a little chip in it. I
presume
this is like a dongle for the software so as to stop piracy. The thing i'm
worried about is losing the cable (not really likely), having it stolen (a
bit more likely) or damaging it (quite likely). The software is not cheap
and i in order to get another cable i would have to buy the software again
so i would like to have another cable made up that i can use, and keep the
original one tucked away. That way if the copied cable gets damaged etc, i
can just take out the original and have another made up again.

Any idea where i can get this done in Melbourne?

--
Thanks
Andrew

If it really is a dongle and not just a level/protocol converter, and if
Click to expand...
they're not complete morons, the answer should be that you can't do this
without a *lot* of effort. That's what dongles are for! If you damage it,
the original manufacturer would probably exchange it for a new one at only a
nominal cost. Losing it or having it stolen is a bit like losing an MP3
player or having it stolen, you've got to buy another one. Owner onus
applies. The manufacturer may be sympathetic to a sob story, but is not
compelled to replace your lost property under any jurisdiction I know of.

To avoid this kind of dilemna, ask the manufacturer beforehand if their
software is dongled, and if they answer yes, tell them you'll look for an
alternative product. I worry more about node locked software locked to a
particular PC. What happens when you want to upgrade after the software
manufacturer has gone bust, or been swallowed up by a competitor (Borland,
Adobe, etc) who no longer has any interest in, or knowledge of the product.

Caveat Emptor,
--
Alf
alfkatz@remove.the.obvious.ieee.org
 
On Sun, 30 May 2004 04:54:51 GMT, "GiJO"
<newsgroups@THEOBVIOUSmutestyle.com> wrote:

I have some software for my laptop that i plug into the engine management
system to tune the car. It uses an RS232 cable and when i open up the serial
plug to see where the wires connect there is a little chip in it. I presume
this is like a dongle for the software so as to stop piracy. The thing i'm
worried about is losing the cable (not really likely), having it stolen (a
bit more likely) or damaging it (quite likely). The software is not cheap
and i in order to get another cable i would have to buy the software again
so i would like to have another cable made up that i can use, and keep the
original one tucked away. That way if the copied cable gets damaged etc, i
can just take out the original and have another made up again.

Any idea where i can get this done in Melbourne?
Click to expand...
Chances are the chip will just be a RS232-ttl converter. Has the chip
got any numbers on it? How about a photo of the device so we can hav a
look?
 
aaahhh... fantastic. It is an RS232 - ttl cable. I was trying to remember
the other type!!!

I'll find out what numbers are on it tomorrow and post it up.

--
Thanks
Andrew



The Real Andy wrote:
On Sun, 30 May 2004 04:54:51 GMT, "GiJO"
newsgroups@THEOBVIOUSmutestyle.com> wrote:

I have some software for my laptop that i plug into the engine
management system to tune the car. It uses an RS232 cable and when i
open up the serial plug to see where the wires connect there is a
little chip in it. I presume this is like a dongle for the software
so as to stop piracy. The thing i'm worried about is losing the
cable (not really likely), having it stolen (a bit more likely) or
damaging it (quite likely). The software is not cheap and i in order
to get another cable i would have to buy the software again so i
would like to have another cable made up that i can use, and keep
the original one tucked away. That way if the copied cable gets
damaged etc, i can just take out the original and have another made
up again.

Any idea where i can get this done in Melbourne?

Chances are the chip will just be a RS232-ttl converter. Has the chip
got any numbers on it? How about a photo of the device so we can hav a
look?
Click to expand...
 
yeah... that's the thing. If it's a proper dongle then chances are it's
going to be hard to replicate anyway. But like The Real Andy said it could
just be a RS232-TTL convertor. I'll get some chip numbers off it as soon as
i can get the cable.

--
Thanks
Andrew



Unbeliever wrote:
"GiJO" <newsgroups@THEOBVIOUSmutestyle.com> wrote in message
news:vOduc.17516$L.1095@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
I have some software for my laptop that i plug into the engine
management system to tune the car. It uses an RS232 cable and when i
open up the serial plug to see where the wires connect there is a
little chip in it. I presume this is like a dongle for the software
so as to stop piracy. The thing i'm worried about is losing the
cable (not really likely), having it stolen (a bit more likely) or
damaging it (quite likely). The software is not cheap and i in order
to get another cable i would have to buy the software again so i
would like to have another cable made up that i can use, and keep
the original one tucked away. That way if the copied cable gets
damaged etc, i can just take out the original and have another made
up again.

Any idea where i can get this done in Melbourne?

--
Thanks
Andrew

If it really is a dongle and not just a level/protocol converter, and
if they're not complete morons, the answer should be that you can't
do this without a *lot* of effort. That's what dongles are for! If
you damage it, the original manufacturer would probably exchange it
for a new one at only a nominal cost. Losing it or having it stolen
is a bit like losing an MP3 player or having it stolen, you've got to
buy another one. Owner onus applies. The manufacturer may be
sympathetic to a sob story, but is not compelled to replace your lost
property under any jurisdiction I know of.

To avoid this kind of dilemna, ask the manufacturer beforehand if
their software is dongled, and if they answer yes, tell them you'll
look for an alternative product. I worry more about node locked
software locked to a particular PC. What happens when you want to
upgrade after the software manufacturer has gone bust, or been
swallowed up by a competitor (Borland, Adobe, etc) who no longer has
any interest in, or knowledge of the product.

Caveat Emptor,
Click to expand...
 
GiJO wrote:
I have some software for my laptop that i plug into the engine management
system to tune the car. It uses an RS232 cable and when i open up the serial
plug to see where the wires connect there is a little chip in it. I presume
this is like a dongle for the software so as to stop piracy. The thing i'm
worried about is losing the cable (not really likely), having it stolen (a
bit more likely) or damaging it (quite likely). The software is not cheap
and i in order to get another cable i would have to buy the software again
so i would like to have another cable made up that i can use, and keep the
original one tucked away. That way if the copied cable gets damaged etc, i
can just take out the original and have another made up again.

Any idea where i can get this done in Melbourne?

Let me guess, you have a OBDII scanner hooked to you laptop with
Click to expand...
software. Something like an autotap maybe?

If you have obdII, its NOT just rs232 serial data. Its a protocol all to
itself. Do a google search if you want to know more. So, the
microcontroller is a protocol convertor to usb or RS232 that the laptop
can handle. Now, the microcontroller may have a masked register that the
software reads to confirm that the dongle is "legit".

Just what exactly do you have?

Bob



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as i stated originally it's an engine management computer. It controls
everything in a car to run it. I have software which allows me to change the
way it runs this. The cable is RS232-TTL but i wasn't sure if there is a
dongle in it as there is a chip in the RS232 plug end. As somone mentioned
it is probably just a signal convertor. I won't know anymore till i actually
get hold of the cable

--
Thanks
Andrew



Bob Urz wrote:
GiJO wrote:
I have some software for my laptop that i plug into the engine
management system to tune the car. It uses an RS232 cable and when i
open up the serial plug to see where the wires connect there is a
little chip in it. I presume this is like a dongle for the software
so as to stop piracy. The thing i'm worried about is losing the
cable (not really likely), having it stolen (a bit more likely) or
damaging it (quite likely). The software is not cheap and i in order
to get another cable i would have to buy the software again so i
would like to have another cable made up that i can use, and keep
the original one tucked away. That way if the copied cable gets
damaged etc, i can just take out the original and have another made
up again.

Any idea where i can get this done in Melbourne?

Let me guess, you have a OBDII scanner hooked to you laptop with
software. Something like an autotap maybe?

If you have obdII, its NOT just rs232 serial data. Its a protocol all
to itself. Do a google search if you want to know more. So, the
microcontroller is a protocol convertor to usb or RS232 that the
laptop can handle. Now, the microcontroller may have a masked
register that the software reads to confirm that the dongle is
"legit".

Just what exactly do you have?

Bob



-----= Posted via Newsfeeds.Com, Uncensored Usenet News =-----
http://www.newsfeeds.com - The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World!
-----== Over 100,000 Newsgroups - 19 Different Servers! =-----
Click to expand...
 
"GiJO" <newsgroups@THEOBVIOUSmutestyle.com> wrote in message
news:edCuc.19488$L.2223@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
as i stated originally it's an engine management computer. It controls
everything in a car to run it. I have software which allows me to change
the
way it runs this. The cable is RS232-TTL but i wasn't sure if there is a
dongle in it as there is a chip in the RS232 plug end. As somone mentioned
it is probably just a signal convertor. I won't know anymore till i
actually
get hold of the cable
Click to expand...
Until you actually get hold of the cable? Thought you said you owned it and
wanted to replicate it....
If you have a mate with the software and cable you want to copy why not just
come out and say it. After all you both bought the same ECU of them so why
would you want to worry about the expense of purchasing two programming
leads / software, hell they can afford not to sell you a new one.

Sarcasm withheld
James
 
I don't want a copy of it, no use to me. It's my business partner who owns
it, currently OS with all his gear on a tuning run. He's the tuning guru, I
don't tune cars (even though i'd like to learn). Only reason we're using the
software is cos so many cars come into the country with this ECU. If we are
upgrading engine management on a car we would use something more redily
available like the Power FC or Autronic.

--
Thanks
Andrew



James wrote:
"GiJO" <newsgroups@THEOBVIOUSmutestyle.com> wrote in message
news:edCuc.19488$L.2223@news-server.bigpond.net.au...
as i stated originally it's an engine management computer. It
controls everything in a car to run it. I have software which allows
me to change the way it runs this. The cable is RS232-TTL but i
wasn't sure if there is a dongle in it as there is a chip in the
RS232 plug end. As somone mentioned it is probably just a signal
convertor. I won't know anymore till i actually get hold of the cable


Until you actually get hold of the cable? Thought you said you owned
it and wanted to replicate it....
If you have a mate with the software and cable you want to copy why
not just come out and say it. After all you both bought the same ECU
of them so why would you want to worry about the expense of
purchasing two programming leads / software, hell they can afford not
to sell you a new one.

Sarcasm withheld
James
Click to expand...
 
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