There are controllers that 409 can't access. Certain adaptions can't be done....

See here for version history info;

Ross-Tech: VCDS: Revision History

Thank you for the above link.

Whilst i fully understand that to be able to get the most out of VCDS you need the latest version, i think in this case that the op is looking for a basic code reader and should he wish to extend into more detailed areas he would purchase the genuine Ross-Tech equipment.

BTW When i purchased my cable and registered it it was cheaper than buying a 3rd party code reader. As mentioned above i have used it on a fair cars, admitedly not ones with CAN, but then i never bought it for that. I have also been able to carry out adaptions like Auto lock etc. which my local independant wanted to charge me £25 for one code change for so i see it as having been money well invested.

Why do you get your hump over 3rd party cables? Have you had one? I guess you did and you had a bad experience so therefore warn everyone else of them.

Nope never had a 3rd party cable, only had 2. Both ross-tech. And where do you get the "hump" bit from ? Just pointing out the facts.

Nope never had a 3rd party cable, only had 2. Both ross-tech. And where do you get the "hump" bit from ? Just pointing out the facts.

Touchy Touchy! Was just an observation. Never mind lets just leave it at that.

lmfao... touchy ... lol

are you saying that the ebay cable will not be compatible with the lastest ross-tech software (ie. that I pay for at a cost of $99)? and that the only fully working version I can get it 409 (not shareware version)?

so to get version 805.1 to work, I can ONLY use a genuine cable and an ebay one will definately not work with them ?

as presumably if the ebay one works with the shareware, i can happily buy version 805.1 for $99 and it will work too. saving a fair £££!

are you saying that the ebay cable will not be compatible with the lastest ross-tech software (ie. that I pay for at a cost of $99)? and that the only fully working version I can get it 409 (not shareware version)?

so to get version 805.1 to work, I can ONLY use a genuine cable and an ebay one will definately not work with them ?

as presumably if the ebay one works with the shareware, i can happily buy version 805.1 for $99 and it will work too. saving a fair £££!

The eBay cable will not be compatible with the latest version of VCDS or Vag-Com. The eBay cable will only work with shareware version 409.1. This is listed as being NOT compatible with Windows Vista.

You can download the shareware version for FREE and if you want to unlock version 409.1 to add additional functions then it will cost you $99. The unlocked or registered version of 409.1 will NOT give you the same function as the latest version of VCDS.

If however you decide that you want more from VCDS you can buy the latest dongle direct from Ross-Tech and as you have already paid $99 to become registered this is deducted from the price of the new dongle.

HTH

Need I say more. This is what I was getting at.... what a lot of people don't understand when they think $99 covers the latest version.

Need I say more. This is what I was getting at.... what a lot of people don't understand when they think $99 covers the latest version.

I am sure if they went onto the Ross-Tech site they would see that $99 didnt infact get you the very latest version. Whilst i understand you argument for the genuine Ross-Tech equipment i do not think you should ignore the shareware version or 3rd party cable, especially if you have had no experience of them.

Surely when you go and buy something you only buy what you need or are you one of these types that spends thousand on features you'll never use?

Nope not at all. I make sure I buy what I need my checking the product spec against what I actually want.

I've seen it time and time again when people buy a cheap ebay cable then complain that they have problems doing something in vagcom. And nine times out of ten it's because the software is the old 409 version or because the cable is a cheap knock off and would never work properlly in the first place.

Hi there,

I cant afford the £250 for the full vag com, so I would like to get a 3rd party lead from ebay and then get the vag com software to work with it.

Having searched, these leads look like they will work fine on a mk1 Octavia L&K TDi:

lonelec:

VAG-COM 409.1 USB LEAD FOR VOLKSWAGEN AUDI SEAT SKODA on eBay, also, Diagnostic Tools Equipment, Garage Equipment Tools, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 15-Dec-08 22:15:29 GMT)

alpha-bid:

USB Vag-Com Cable/Interface/Scanner VW Audi VagCom^OBD2 on eBay, also, Diagnostic Tools Equipment, Garage Equipment Tools, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 23-Nov-08 03:49:49 GMT)

the alpha-bid ones have been reported to work well, so I would go with one of those I think.

what software is it I need from the Ross-tech site? There are so many options its pretty confusing!

I primarily want to check and clear error codes, but am doing my timing belt next week so checking the TDi pump timing would be awesome.

any help much appreciated!

To remind you what the OP was after... Which the lead I have posted does perfectly well, trust me, I have reset my light quite a few times before I sorted out the (possible) air leak.

I have also managed to change the lock opening so that I only open the drivers door and all at a 2nd push. I will be getting the registered version so that I can set the autolock feature (which is in 409 btw)

Yes..... as your's is an old mk1 vrs.

hmmm... Same as the OP no???

The eBay cable will not be compatible with the latest version of VCDS or Vag-Com. The eBay cable will only work with shareware version 409.1. This is listed as being NOT compatible with Windows Vista.

You can download the shareware version for FREE and if you want to unlock version 409.1 to add additional functions then it will cost you $99. The unlocked or registered version of 409.1 will NOT give you the same function as the latest version of VCDS.

If however you decide that you want more from VCDS you can buy the latest dongle direct from Ross-Tech and as you have already paid $99 to become registered this is deducted from the price of the new dongle.

HTH

yeah mine is a 2002, mk1 TDi

right, thank you very much for clarifying the 409 and 805 version issue. That makes it much clearer - a sticky of that info would be good!

So what are the major drawbacks / differences between 409 and 805?

I mean, what exactly can i not do with it, on my mk1 octy?

As that will make a big difference to whats useful, having said that, i would still only be £14 down as i can use the $99 towards the real thing price anyway. so its still not exactly money wasted to try the ebay cable

what do you need to do? and what would you like to do? thats the question.

A trip to a stealer costs how much for a reset (unless your lucky).

I figured it would cost me more in petrol & then the reset than £14.00, I didn't care what else it could do.

Since then, like I said, I have done the door lock, diagnosed the faults & reset my light looooads of times lol.

You can also use the scope side of it which can log different blocks and plot them so you get to see what the car is doing real-time. I have only just started fiddling and I will learn as I progress and the weather gets warmer.

There are things you can't do until you pay the registration but there are a lot of things you can use and start learning how to use before you start getting further into it. Not bad for £13.99

With the $99 registration fee you can log things like the Maf, boost pressures, n75 duty cycle infact read info on most of the sensors. Also if you have excel you can make lovely plots of your cars readings such as boost pressure.

You can also change adaptations such as turning off the anti theft auto lock and reset the throttle body among others.

Another thing with fleabay cables is that most if not all do not have the k-line protection built in. So say good by to your lead or even your laptop if you have an aftermarket stereo installed which pumps any form of voltage down the k-line.

Danny tbh i have never heard of any problems with k-line, do you have a link to someone who has had a problem with k-line voltage? it would be very interesting to see

Ross-Tech: VAG-COM: Afterrmarket Radio Problem

Remind me to make sure i wire a new radio up propely Lol.

thanks thats handy info. I dont have an aftermarket stereo, so i dont need to worry about that issue.

so what stuff can 805.1 do, that 409 registered cannot do? As if i bother with the ebay cable it would be nice to know exactly what stuff i would ultimately miss out on!

thanks thats handy info. I dont have an aftermarket stereo, so i dont need to worry about that issue.

so what stuff can 805.1 do, that 409 registered cannot do? As if i bother with the ebay cable it would be nice to know exactly what stuff i would ultimately miss out on!

Auron posted a link earlier to the differences between them. TBH mate if you did buy the eBay cable and you wanted to move up to the genuine Ross-Tech version your not going to lose much. £14. Look at it the other way what if you go spend over two hundred quid for the Genuine Ross-Tech stuff and you only use the features that you could have got in the registered shareware version. Its up to you.

Good luck whatever route you decide to go down.

i looked at it this when when i bought my genuine cable. Steelers price £50+ per hour plus vat, each job is a min of 30 mins and involves for me a 50 mile round trip and time (which usually involves a saturday morning wasted travelling there sitting there and coming back)..

Once worked out for the above and seeing (thanks to vrstu) what it can do I bought it and probably saved tons since then too.

On 25/11/2008 at 19:50, Guest said:

I bet the Gendan one comes from the same assembly line as the Alpha Bid one!

Gendan one is the official Ross-Tech cable, they are one of three UK official Ross-Tech re-sellers.

 

They do have the most appalling looking ancient design true eyesore of a website however!

 

here are the four UK distributors as listed on the Ross-Tech website.

 

U.K.:

Gendan Limited
Unit 8 Llys Caer Felin
Felinfach
Swansea SA5 4HH
+44 0 1792 588002

ilexa Onboard Diagnostics
Truro
Cornwall
TR2 4YF
UK
p: +44 01726 884 010
email: [email protected]

Marshall's Industrial Ltd.
Volkswagen Power Systems & Components IMPCO Gas Systems
Beadle Estate
Hithercroft Road, Wallingford,
Oxfordshire, UK
OX10 9DG
p: +44 (0) 1491 834666
f:  +44 (0) 1491 839777
email: [email protected]

V-Tech UK Ltd.
181 Forest Road
Hainault
UK IG6 3HZ
Tel: +44 0800 195 1245