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ANCEL AD310 Classic Enhanced Universal OBD II Scanner Car Engine Fault Code Reader review


REVIEW – While I am not a mechanic, I am quite handy as a jack of all trades, and over the years I have tinkered with many of the used vehicles that I owned before I started to lease new vehicles. I was always interested in the devices that I would see at the mechanic shop and when I first heard about the incorporation of the ODB Connector in newer vehicles, I was intrigued about its function and capability. Although my current vehicle is new, I was excited to see what insight I can gain via the ANCEL AD310 Classic Enhanced Universal OBD II Scanner Car Engine Fault Code Reader when I connect it to my vehicle. Here is how it turned out!

What is it?

The Ancel AD310 scanner is a well-built device with a nice size LCD display (128 x 64 pixels) that has a white backlight and contrast adjustment. It is able to display the test results directly on the screen which makes it a very mobile all-in-one package. This is also true because it gets the power directly from the OBDII Data Link Connector in your vehicle, so there is no need for batteries or an external power supply.

What’s in the box


1 x ANCEL AD310 Classic Enhanced Universal OBD II Scanner Car Engine Fault Code Reader
1 x User Manual

Design and features

Specifications
Display: Backlit, 128 x 64 pixels display with contrast adjustment
Operating temperature: 0 to 60 °C (32 to 140 °F)
Storage temperature: -20 to 70 °C (-4 to 158 °F)
External power: 8.0 to 18.0 V power provided via vehicle battery
Product weight: 300g

Features

  • Works on all 1996 and newer OBD II compliant US, 2000 and newer OBD II
    European, 2005 and newer OBDII Asian vehicles
  • Reads hard (memory) / pending (intermittent) and historic codes and shows definitions
  • Turns off Check Engine light, clear codes and resets monitors
  • Reads live data stream
  • View freeze frame data
  • I/M monitor readiness test
  • Retrieves vehicle information
  • Supports CAN (Controller Area Network) and all other current OBD II protocols Built-in OBD II Fault code lookup library


The Ancel Scanner comes with a built-in 2. 5’ long cable that is well insulated. There are 4 buttons on the scanner that include the Up and Down buttons for scrolling the menu, and the Enter and Exit buttons for accessing and exiting menus and settings.

On the other end of the cable, there is the OBD Connector.

Performance

When I plugged in the Ancel AD310 to the OBD Connector in my truck the screen lit up immediately and the logo ANCEL appeared on the screen. After a couple of seconds, and just as indicated in the manual, the following screen appeared. This just required me to turn the ignigiton to the on position and not to actually start the vehicle. (Please Note: all of the following pictures in this section were taken with a cell phone camera in the dark underneath my dashboard):

I am no expert on this type of device, but what I like is the amount of information it provides and its ability to erase codes, clear the check engine light and diagnose system issues which I am assuming includes faulty sensors, etc. Since my vehicle is new, it is not a good test subject to truly validate the capabilities of this device. However, as soon as I hear from one of my friends that their check engine light is on or that their vehicle is not performing properly, I will be on my way to them with this device and will post an update after should my visit yield any relevant information. The following are screenshots of some of the screens/options that are available:









Once I was done playing around with the options and screens, I selected exit and the folloing screen appeared:
Of course I started my truck afterwards to make sure that I did not create an issue with all of my playing around. LOL.

What I like

  • Its build quality
  • The display
  • The ease of use
  • No need for external power

What can be improved

  • The User Manual print is too small (At least for my naked eyes)

Final thoughts

The ANCEL AD310 is a very handy tool that simplifies much of what we see mechanics do when we take our cars to the shop. Years ago, it seemed like such a device was too technical for the average person and required a qualified mechanics with a complicated tool to clear a check engine light or to diagnose a faulty sensor. Paying for a part to be replaced was one thing, but paying expensive shop rates for simple diagnosis was hurtful. Now, with a device like this, you can have a bit of change left in your pocket to purchase the over-priced replacement part. This device is reasonably priced and in my opinion, is a great bang for the buck. (Disclaimer: my opinion is subject to change if it does not actually perform as advertised once I get to check the next faulty vehicle that I get my hands on)

Price: $34.99
Where to buy: Amazon
Sample: The sample for this review was provided by Ancel

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ANCEL AD310 Classic Enhanced Universal OBD II Scanner Car Engine Fault Code Reader review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 11, 2019 at 11:00 am.

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RESCUE A6 Emergency 6-In-1 Tool is a convenient life saver

NEWS – I’m typically pretty skeptical about all-in-one tools designed for emergencies because I’ve found that in most emergencies I don’t have any tools near me that would do any good. Also, not many of these devices really catch my attention for car-related uses as most of my tools just float around the inside of my truck independent of where I may find them useful.

However, the RESCUE A6 seems like it would be in the perfect place for me to use it should I find myself in a vehicle-related incident: in the standard power plug/cigarette lighter found in every vehicle.

This multi-tool boasts the following features:

  • Charger – being able to be connected to the car power plug, it can charge mini-USB, USB-C and lightning connection devices
  • Seat Belt Cutter – allows you to cut the seat belt in case of a jam after an accident
  • Flashlight – 130-lumen flashlight in case of a nighttime emergency
  • Flashing Red Beacon – to alert people to your location
  • Glass Breaker – allows you to break out a window with one tap on the glass
  • Power Bank – if fully charged, will give 3-4 hours of charge time to your mobile phone

Overall, I think this would be highly useful and much more likely for me to plug in and keep in place, within reach in case something bad happened. These can be found on Amazon for $27.95.

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RESCUE A6 Emergency 6-In-1 Tool is a convenient life saver originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on April 2, 2019 at 12:00 pm.

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Keep your head up and be safe with Hudway Drive


CROWDFUNDING NEWS – These days we live in a world that is dominated by technology that has found its way into just about every area of our lives. One of the most popular devices is our addictive smartphone and in recent years it has been blamed for many vehicle-related accidents. Despite the integration of smartphones with the navigation systems in our cars, on many occasions, one glance sideways has been proven to be a fatal mistake. It is critical that we are able to use the services offered via our phones in a safe and effective way.




Enter the Hudway Drive Head-Up display!! This device installs in the logical position that places it right in front of your view as you drive. With an easy connection via Bluetooth between your phone and the Hudway Drive, you have easy visual access to directions, calls, texts, and notifications without looking at your phone or without taking your eyes off the road. It also works with your favorite apps including “Google Maps, Waze, or any other app you want to use behind the wheel — mirrored over AirPlay or Miracast.” Features also include audio integration and driving widgets that you can select and customize to enhance your driving experience.

If you would like to learn more about the Hudway Drive, you can head over to the Hudway website and check it out. You can also pre-order the device for $169 on Indiegogo. Shipments will begin in the 2nd quarter of 2019.

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Keep your head up and be safe with Hudway Drive originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 28, 2019 at 8:00 am.

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FIXD Automotive puts a VIZR heads up display in your car

NEWS – Many new cars come with a heads up display built into the top of the dashboard. What do you do if you don’t have that option on your new car, or have an older car? Enter the VIZR, a smartphone adapter that creates a virtual display using your phone and an app to give you navigation directions without having you look down at your phone.

The VIZR consists of a base, where you place your phone, and a translucent screen. The base has a non-slip coating so it doesn’t slide around when you’re executing hard turns. Your phone projects onto the screen allowing you to see a virtual HUD for your navigation app. It’s important to note that, because the phone’s display is mirrored, the orientation will be flipped. You will, therefore, need an app that has a HUD setting. The one recommended by FIXD is Hudway Go, although there are others.

The VIZR is large enough that FIXD states that it will work with any smartphone. The base is 6 3/8 inches long with the reflective part being 2 5/8 by 5 5/16. Although large, the VIZR is not big enough to fit tablets or tablet phones.

The VIZR is available directly from FIXD. It’s priced at $39.99 and discounts are applied if you order more than one.

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FIXD Automotive puts a VIZR heads up display in your car originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 19, 2019 at 8:00 am.

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Miccus Swivel Jack RTX review

REVIEW – My niece just got her drivers license but her car stereo doesn’t have built-in Bluetooth. The Miccus Swivel Jack RTX device is a perfect solution for her. She just needs to plug it into her car’s aux connection to pair with her phone. Or if her sister or boyfriend wants to switch to a playlist on their phones, it has easy, wireless pairing.

What is it?

The Swivel Jack RTX is a pocket-sized long-range wireless transmitter/receiver.

What’s in the box?

  • The transmitter/receiver
  • Instruction manual
  • USB cord for charging
  • 3.5 mm female to RCA male audio cable

Specs

  • 3.5mm Stereo Audio Input and Output
  • Operating range of up to 100ft
  • 2.10 Hour battery life
  • USB Power: DC 5V @500mA or higher
    Dimensions: L 1.9in x W 0.8in x H 0.5in
  • 4 GHz operating frequency

Design and features

There’s a single jack on a swivel, for easy positioning no matter which device you plug it into. And the jack tucks back into the body when not in use.

Its blue light flashes rapidly when it’s pairing and glows solid blue to confirms if it’s working.

We found it very fast and easy to pair with a Bluetooth device.

A toggle switch lets you easily alternate from transmitting to receiving.

First, we tried using it as a receiver. We connected it to a portable, mini speaker and paired it with a smartphone in just a few seconds on the first try.

Our speaker didn’t have an aux input but that didn’t matter since the Swivel Jack RTX came with an RCA cable, which worked like a charm. We appreciated being able to connect with devices that don’t come with an aux input.

The Swivel Jack RTX boosts an operating range of up to 100 feet. We tested it at 75 feet, outside on a crummy day, and it worked quickly. However, it was a less stable connection than the closer range audio. We were still impressed with the quality of the receiver at that distance and plan to use it this summer to play music in our backyard and pool area.

Next, we tried using it a transmitter, which worked equally as well. In fact, we thought the sound quality was just as good as our wired connection without any noticeable delay.

Size wise, we found it fine for plugging into a car or speaker. However, it’s about twice as wide as a typical smartphone, which we found bulky when attached at the headphone jack. It wasn’t a big drawback but ideally would have fit within the phone’s edges.

The Swivel Jack RTX glows red when charging and turns off when it’s done. It took about 40 minutes to fully charge and lasted more than three hours on one charge, which was a pleasant surprise since the manual says it only lasts two hours.

What I like

  • Fast pairing
  • RCA cord came in handy
  • Swivel design made it easy to plug in anywhere

What needs to be improved

  • We found it a little bulky when using with a phone

Final thoughts

It’s a powerful little receiver and transmitter with many practical uses.

Price: $39.99
Where to buy: Miccus.com and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Miccus.com.

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Miccus Swivel Jack RTX review originally appeared on The Gadgeteer on March 4, 2019 at 9:00 am.

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