I am completely nul when it comes to computers so will probably struggle to even explain what it is I am proposing but here goes.

 

I know some people find it a pain to drag their laptop to the car to use VCDS, I dont have a problem with it but if there is a solution to the question I will ask then it would be of interest to them also.

 

I have a licensed VCDS 3 Vin (big mistake on my part) one of the vehicles registered is my UK neighbour who is currently having problems but I am stuck in another country.

 

I know the software has to have the dongle between my machine & the vehicle it is connected to, is there any way that a device could be used that makes the "connection" between the dongle and the vehicles OBDII port over the internet with of course a corresponding device at the other end?

 

In these days of remote diagnosis and especially the working from home CV19 régime it would be of great value to garages & professionals to do remote diagnostics of customers vehicles. Also there are those that hire out the unlimited VIN versions using ebay etc, each time they send out the dongle they are running the risk of losing it either via the transport or a dishonest customer, were the device I speak of to exist they would only need to send out the recieving device and keep the licensed dongle, they could also run all the diagnostic checks and the renter would not have to learn the whole system.

 

I could also see myself running my own diagnostics from the comfort of my kitchen table and not risking dropping my laptop each time, its a bit of a squeeze using it behind the steering wheel especially if you are long sighted.

 

Could it be done and if so would it be disadvantaging anyone?

 

Have I missed something obvious?

Edited 11 December, 20205 yr by J.R.

Typically, when people offer remote coding, you (the customer) is expected to have a laptop and a suitable dongle (VAS5054a). They then use teamviewer or similar to take control of your laptop and do their magic. The guys I've used install some remote USB software which makes the VAS5054a appear like it's connected directly to their laptop.

 

However, this won't help you. You're describing a remote OBD port that would effectively make the OBD port appear in your kitchen. I'm not aware of anything like this existing at the moment

 

Depending on distance, you might get away with some active USB leads (5m each with a max of 5, so 25m) but to be honest, a HEX-NET might be a more reliable solution. Not that either would help your neighbour in another county

The requirement would be for me to sit here with VCDS on my computer & the dongle plugged in, my neighbour in the UK with something plugged into his computer (The VAS505 thing?) and my VCDS commands being sent through the dongle then over the internet to hos computer and out through whatever to his OBDII port if that makes any sense.

 

If it meant I could do my scans from my kitchen it would be a bonus benefit but not the aim, to do so would mean me having to have both of the hardware devices.

 

It must be something that RossTech would have thought of which is why I asked if it would in any way disadvantage them?

 

I guess I can answer my own question, if it were available then many of us would not have bought VCDS.

The VAS5054a is an older official dealer tool, it's not designed to be used remotely. However, given that VAS5054a clones are cheap, easily available and work with ODIS (dealer software), they seem to be the normal tool for 'remote coding services' etc. They allow coding, adaptions, immobiliser matching, firmware updates and parameterising modules so are ideal for remote use.

 

I'm not sure Rosstech would have considered making a remote-able OBD dongle, not so much as it might disadvantage them, more that it's unlikely to advantage them. It would add an extra layer of complexity, increase software costs and probably not make the hardware any cheaper

 

If it were a viable and profitable product, I'm sure VCP, ODBeleven or Carista would have released something. Especially given the hardware cost of the latter two options as it would make them an ideal price point for remote coding...