2 hours ago, john999boy said:

So @Bertie90 have you tried this cable on another computer with newly downloaded software yet as that should prove it one way or another? 

Yes I did. I use a MacBook Pro with windows installed on it and I just downloaded what was in the Ross tech website. Plugged it and worked fine. I don't use the laptop that came with it as its massive and heavy. The owner said he will take it back if I want to or give me a partial refund if I'm not happy, but to be honest I have already changed some options on both my Skodas and I can happily report I haven't "bricked" my cars. I agree with everyone here by the way, I'm not endorsing what I bought and what I did. To me so far, the only proof I have that is fake is Ross tech telling me so. The previous owner said he never had a problem and he also bought it second hand a while ago. Again, not endorsing not reccomending. 

Maybe it is a genuine lead but something has been hacked to change a one vehicle licence to unlimited vin licence, which may be what makes Ross-tech say its a fake (licence)

 

 

 

If its been sold as a genuine interface and Rosstech say it isn't, I'd send it back.

 

The laptop looks like a Dell Latitude E4200 which is about 10-13 years old now and probably only worth £30-40. Given you've paid a decent chunk of money, I'd expect to get what you actually paid for rather than a knock-off. It doesn't really matter if it's a fake or if it's a interface that's been messed with, you expected and paid for a genuine legit interface with future upgradability and that's not what you've been sent. It might work for the moment but future releases of VCDS might not work.

 

Unfortunately for Rosstech, the clones are getting much harder to spot these days.

I don't think the cable is a clone. I think the license might be. 

As far as I'm aware, it's not currently possible to bypass the VIN restriction on genuine cables.

 

It's only possible on non-genuine cables

 

If you really want to know, grab a T10 screwdriver and open it up. Add a picture of the PCB from both sides and I'll dig my genuine one out to compare it to

The case of Bertie's looks more granular than a genuine one, doesn't it?  Like it's 3D printed faster/cheaper? Not sure, just going by some google image results.

 

 

Might be just t&cs

 

Quote

Registration:

In most cases, interfaces purchased directly from Ross-Tech will be pre-registered. Interfaces purchased from our authorized resellers must be registered within 10-15 uses to remain functional.   Registration is accomplished on-line using a utility supplied with VCDS.

Resale:

This interface acts as a "dongle" for VCDS, so the software should be fully functional on any PC you use with the HEX-V2.  However, product support is provided only to the original registered user.  If you buy a second-hand HEX-USB+CAN from someone and want support, you'll still need to pay $99 to re-register the interface in your name..

 

Can't do the other side, I don't want to damage it 

Actually. 

Nice solder splat just near VR1! 

Can't see Ross-Tech writing nothing but VAG ver: 2.01 on theirs. Or using "VAG" at all?

That's 100% a fake, it's one of the 'better' fakes but it's definitely not genuine

 

This is what my genuine looks like:

 

And mine appears identical to another genuine one shown here:

 

Well that has confirmed it lol it does look very similar not gona lie. So not cheap Chinese **** but an expensive one haha 

By charging £99 (or is it $99?) to register a new user license agreement they are effectively helping the cloners and preventing owners of genuine leads of getting any money back by selling them if they change to a non VAG vehicle.

 

Have I understood correctly, someone can buy a cloned cable with unlimited VIN capability & then download the software free from RossTech but they would not be able to get any support from the Rosstech community?

 

I paid for a 3 VIN VCDS, after changing vehicles 2 are used up, the 3rd was to change a parameter on a neighbours car that it turns out he could have done using the Maxidot.

 

The time will soon come where I want to help someoneelse with their vehicle but will have to pay for the upgrade to 10 VINs which is actually only 7 VINs or to the unlimited one which will cost more than had I had the foresight to have bought an unlimited one in the first place, given that the support I have requested from the Rosstech forum was not forthcoming but my problems were resolved each time by the good members of this forum there would be temptation to try a cloned interface.

Its a little ironic that a hacker like Uwe Ross makes loads of money hacking VW protocols and puts a load of barriers in the way to stop people hacking his hacks.

 

Although OBD2 protocols may be public domain, VAG proprietary coding and protocols are most certainly not.

 

Imo Rosstech, Obd eleven, carista  and others are all hacker products, relying on information on forums or insider contacts to develop their products further

 

What I find objectionable is when someone finds a successful hack to add or change features on their car, then publishes it on their or other public forum, firms like OBD eleven just grab this information and monetise it as a one touch function. And not giving any guarantee it will work or not brick/damage something in your car.  Just a disclaimer buried in the small print to cover their backs.

 

 

That has certainly made me think of the subject in a different light, - thankyou

I was going to say at this point, it got me thinking. How is the clone that I bought any different than carrista or Carly or obd11. Had it not said Ross tech on it and had a different interface than it would have been a different product. And yes Ross tech itself helps users activate and change codes on their vehicles for features that were not activated at a dealer. If anyone is wondering, I got a partial refund from the seller as I decided to keep it. I was not educated on the subject and thanks to this experience I have accelerated my knowledge on what is deamed as an original VCDS cable+license. When the time comes to sell it. I'll auction it for £1 on eBay and state exactly what it is. A Chinese ***** (it might be French just guessing) 

Edited 16 April, 20215 yr by Bertie90

2 hours ago, Bertie90 said:

How is the clone that I bought any different than carrista or Carly or obd11.

 

Functionally? Probably not much, Morally? Massively...

 

Carista, OBDeleven, Ross-tech and VCP are creating, updating and supporting their own product. It takes money and resource to keep these things working as VAG change protocols/modules. When buying a genuine version of any of these tools, you're effectively helping that company survive, profit and continue supporting/developing their product in to the future. When genuine, I don't mind which interface people use, they all have pros/cons.

 

A cloned version is someone stealing the hard-work and investment that one of these companies have made, reproducing and then selling it for their own profit.

 

That's where the difference lies. Even more so when they claim their cloned version is genuine as they did with you 

 

6 hours ago, xman said:

Although OBD2 protocols may be public domain, VAG proprietary coding and protocols are most certainly not.

 

Imo Rosstech, Obd eleven, carista  and others are all hacker products, relying on information on forums or insider contacts to develop their products further

 

Ross-tech and others have certainly have done lots of reverse engineering to understand the VAG protocols, I'm not sure if they have any insider knowledge or have purchased an official dealer tool to figure it out. I expect the latter as they tend to play catch up and the next VCDS version will add support for newer vehicles. I certainly wouldn't class it as a 'hacker' product.

 

I believe that some 3rd party diagnostic companies have used Ross-techs label files in the past which is why they are now encrypted. I'm not sure if Carista, OBDeleven or VCP have ever been accused of this but I expect there will always be a degree of copying and reverse engineering between these companies. It's always easier to copy...

 

You also need to remember that VCDS is primarily a diagnostic tool, the fact we can change coding and adaptions which makes enabling various hidden features or retrofits possible is pure luck

 

As you may have seen, VAG are introducing ways to prevent any none-dealer tool from changing things with SFD tokens. Hopefully Ross-tech can come up with a solution to this, I know other companies are although they are of questionable legality and my be short lived.

 

6 hours ago, xman said:

What I find objectionable is when someone finds a successful hack to add or change features on their car, then publishes it on their or other public forum, firms like OBD eleven just grab this information and monetise it as a one touch function. And not giving any guarantee it will work or not brick/damage something in your car.  Just a disclaimer buried in the small print to cover their backs.

 

That I agree with completely

 

The one touch functions are terrible in my opinion and destined to mess up many cars given the lack of checks! A well written set of instructions are much better, if nothing else, it should be clear when something isn't matching which is a sign to stop