JSCAN

[LSJKU]

I spoke with Jscan earlier today by email. I think Piotr Bialik, its inventor answered, but in fairness the answer wasn't signed so I can't be sure. His firm is small. He may (or may not) be the only one at it.

Anyway, not that it's been said otherwise, but according to Jscan there is no less functionality when using it with 12+8 cables versus a security gateway bypass device. As stated prior, the latter may be slightly easier and slightly more costly, or even in the case of Z Automotive's offerings, provide additional functionality, and can't speak to the quality of every FCA 12+8 cable out there. Mine's in as good shape as the day I got it years ago but in fairness I'm not using Jscan but to reset proximity locks when the dealer "blows them out" after a service visit. Fairness would also find me saying that many are happy with the ECRI device too.

I suspect most of you don't use Jscan that often either to make 12+8 cable wear or installation harder much a factor: the real benefit here lying in use an SGW extension regardless of direction taken.

I think which way to go here may be a little like the argument for @Redline Tuning's hood struts or @Genesis Offroad's non-relocation kit offerings. Both make excellent products but are best for the owner, respectively, popping their hood frequently or going offroad.

(Disclaimer: I own a 12+8 cable acquired before, and now rendered obsolete by my Z Automotive JL Tazer mini.)

Andy, thanks for both your shares. Very good info. But I think we are using the 12+8 jumper in different ways. I follow Rhinebeck's line of reasoning and have my Tazer plugged direct into the factory SGCs, not the 12+8 jumper. I plugged one end of the Z-auto 12+8 into the SGM with the dead-head end tucked way up under the dash and tie-wrapped in place for future use. Like having to remove the Tazer for dealer warranty work. In that case, I remove the tazer, cut the tie-wrap and plug the factory SGCs into the dead-head end of the 12+8. Back to factory w/o any evidence of the Tazer or difficulty at all.

I don't think there is any limiting factors to using the 12+8 jumper to plug the Tazer into the factory SGCs, that's just not the way I envisoned using the jumper. I believe the main purpose of the 12+8 jumper was to make pulling the SGCs out of the SGM a one-time event, and make it much easier to remove/install the Tazer before and after dealer visits. At least that's the way I use it.

I have to say the Z-auto 12+8 has a factory-looking loom around the cables instead of a shiny black finish. It's stealth. No dealer tech is going to spot that cable apart from a factory wire. I like that.

Maybe Rhinebeck can chime in here. He's waaaay more knowledgable than my dumb ass on this subject.

Lastly, I have the proximity locks activated on my JLR, including the tailgate. But I cannot remember if I activated them thru the dash menu, Tazer or JScan. But all three work on their own.

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[ym0bc1]

The JSCAN, cable, adapter and license runs about $190.

How's that possible? adapter is around $45, cable $15, license $20, app $0. Total $80.

 

[Terrymo]

yes, @THAW is right

@AndySpill I think someone might have hacked your account

 

[AndySpill]

Andy, thanks for both your shares. Very good info. But I think we are using the 12+8 jumper in different ways. I follow Rhinebeck's line of reasoning and have my Tazer plugged direct into the factory SGCs, not the 12+8 jumper. I plugged one end of the Z-auto 12+8 into the SGM with the dead-head end tucked way up under the dash and tie-wrapped in place for future use. Like having to remove the Tazer for dealer warranty work. In that case, I remove the tazer, cut the tie-wrap and plug the factory SGCs into the dead-head end of the 12+8. Back to factory w/o any evidence of the Tazer or difficulty at all.

I don't think there is any limiting factors to using the 12+8 jumper to plug the Tazer into the factory SGCs, that's just not the way I envisoned using the jumper. I believe the main purpose of the 12+8 jumper was to make pulling the SGCs out of the SGM a one-time event, and make it much easier to remove/install the Tazer before and after dealer visits. At least that's the way I use it.

I have to say the Z-auto 12+8 has a factory-looking loom around the cables instead of a shiny black finish. It's stealth. No dealer tech is going to spot that cable apart from a factory wire. I like that.

Maybe Rhinebeck can chime in here. He's waaaay more knowledgable than my dumb ass on this subject.

Lastly, I have the proximity locks activated on my JLR, including the tailgate. But I cannot remember if I activated them thru the dash menu, Tazer or JScan. But all three work on their own.

I think we do much the same thing.

I also think that I'm getting a little confused with some jargon. There's the SGW Extension Cable, which is nothing more than an extension cord that extends the reach of the security gateway, and which I too own and have connected (to nothing most of the time,) and there's the FCA 12+8 cable which, instead of a security gateway bypass being plugged into these two factory cables pulled from the security gateway, the FCA 12+8 cable snaps into them instead, and presents an ODB 2 port at its other end, to which a Jscan compatible Bluetooth ODB device can attach and write changes. via Jscan.

As you must appreciate, with the factory 12 and 8 pin cables connect to the security gateway, such a Jscan compatible Bluetooth ODB device plugged into the factory ODB2 port cannot write changes.

Like you I have a JL Tazer, not an FCA 12+8 cable attached to these factory male 12 + 8 plus at all times but when at the dealer, rendering need for the FCA 12+8 cable I bought first obsolete.

All this jargon said, which much sound like a foreign language to the first timer (I'll gladly explain on request) for the OP, on a budget, and very infrequently making Jscan changes, probably in the light of day and not on the side of the road the "cheaper than a security gateway" FCA 12+8 cable should be fine.

 

[LSJKU]

I think we do much the same thing.

I also think that I'm getting a little confused with some jargon. There's the SGW Extension Cable, which is nothing more than an extension cord that extends the reach of the security gateway, and which I too own and have connected (to nothing most of the time,) and there's the FCA 12+8 cable which, instead of a security gateway bypass being plugged into these two factory cables pulled from the security gateway, the FCA 12+8 cable snaps into them instead, and presents an ODB 2 port at its other end, to which a Jscan compatible Bluetooth ODB device can attach and write changes. via Jscan.

As you must appreciate, with the factory 12 and 8 pin cables connect to the security gateway, such a Jscan compatible Bluetooth ODB device plugged into the factory ODB2 port cannot write changes.

Like you I have a JL Tazer, not an FCA 12+8 cable attached to these factory male 12 + 8 plus at all times but when at the dealer, rendering need for the FCA 12+8 cable I bought first obsolete.

All this jargon said, which much sound like a foreign language to the first timer (I'll gladly explain on request) for the OP, on a budget, and very infrequently making Jscan changes, probably in the light of day and not on the side of the road the "cheaper than a security gateway" FCA 12+8 cable should be fine.

Agreed, you are correct. I do not have the FCA 12+8 to ODB2 cable, only the Z-Auto 12+8 jumper. My Tazer is connected to the factory SG cables full time and the jumper is only connected to the SGM with the other end free for when I need to quickly remove the Tazer and easily reconnect the factory SG cables. Saves my fingers from trying to access that tight area above the factory ODBII connector.

I plug the ODBLink MX+ directly into the factory ODBII port but only when I need to access the ECM for data logging and such. The Tazer stays connected to the factory SG cables full-time.

And i take full responsibility for trashing proper names and acronyms. I know full well what I want to say, but when my mouth opens, I usually slaughter most everything I try to describe. And I cannot draw pictures worth a shit, even though it's crystal clear in my mind.

You say tomato, my wife says tommaato, and I say potato but mean tomato.

 

[JL ME]

The JSCAN, cable, adapter and license runs about $190.

I'm only going to do passive entry on the driver door using the kit. That runs $250.

I wanted to make sure the $190 I spent on JSCAN would also work on the auto headlamps and the passive entry.

I just dropped 82k on a new F250, so I am spacing out my mod dollars every month.

Jscan license and this will get it done.

 

[billjr]

You should be able to get it all for under $100 ($20 JScan license, plus sub-$20 12+8 cable, plus ~$60 compatible OBD-II Bluetooth adapter).

Not to steal your thread but what is a good compatible OBD-II Bluetooth adapter, there's so many and I'd like one that is really JScan friendly and just as important, user friendly.

 

[THAW]

Not to steal your thread but what is a good compatible OBD-II Bluetooth adapter, there's so many and I'd like one that is really JScan friendly and just as important, user friendly.

JScan maintains a list of supported adapters:
https://jscan.net/supported-and-not-supported-obd-adapters/.

I have the OBDLink MX+; it's great, but there are less expensive options.

 

[Terrymo]

JScan maintains a list of supported adapters:
https://jscan.net/supported-and-not-supported-obd-adapters/.

I have the OBDLink MX+; it's great, but there are less expensive options.

@billjr
Two years ago I bought the less expensive model which is on the list recommended by JSCAN and have had no problems. Vgate VLinker MC+
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088LW211V?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_3&th=1

 

[Rhinebeck01]

@billjr
Two years ago I bought the less expensive model which is on the list recommended by JSCAN and have had no problems. Vgate VLinker MC+
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B088LW211V?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_3&th=1

@Terrymo
@THAW
@others

Yes, JScan maintains a list of supported adapters but not all adapters on the supported list are lets say created equal. Some do the job but can't handle all that JSCAN can throw at them. Some do their deed more slowly then others..

Last time I had a FB messenger back and forth with the guy in Poland named "Piotr Bialic" who brings us JSCAN, he talked very highly of both the Vgate VLinker MC+ and the OBD Link MX+ .
He said both, unlike some adapters could handle all that JSCAN threw at them and in a timely, non-problematic manner.

With that said, I always tell JL/JT guys/gals to go with either or.... either a Vgate VLinker MC+ or the OBD Link MX+ . I do though lean heavily toward going with the firmware up-gradable OBD Link MX+ . Jason from OBD Link is a forum member here is quite on top of things lets say... and he is known to communicate with JSCAN to assure the OBD Link MX+ iis on top of things JSCAN wise..

Read here:
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/-important-update-your-bluetooth-obd2-scanner-firmware-updates.97511/

 

[billjr]

@Terrymo
@THAW
@others

Yes, JScan maintains a list of supported adapters but not all adapters on the supported list are lets say created equal. Some do the job but can't handle all that JSCAN can throw at them. Some do their deed more slowly then others..

Last time I had a FB messenger back and forth with the guy in Poland named "Piotr Bialic" who brings us JSCAN, he talked very highly of both the Vgate VLinker MC+ and the OBD Link MX+ .
He said both, unlike some adapters could handle all that JSCAN threw at them and in a timely, non-problematic manner.

With that said, I always tell JL/JT guys/gals to go with either or.... either a Vgate VLinker MC+ or the OBD Link MX+ . I do though lean heavily toward going with the firmware up-gradable OBD Link MX+ . Jason from OBD Link is a forum member here is quite on top of things lets say... and he is known to communicate with JSCAN to assure the OBD Link MX+ iis on top of things JSCAN wise..

Read here:
https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/-important-update-your-bluetooth-obd2-scanner-firmware-updates.97511/

Is this the same as the Vgate VLinker MC + you and others mention? About 60 bucks on Amazon but that sounds like it works well with JScan. Is it user friendly, do they come with instructions or do you kind of self teach yourself and learn as you go? Do they have any safe guards that would prevent me fro accidently doing something really bad to the electronics in my Jeep? Sorry for all the questions but other then just reading codes I'm ignorant to all of this.
Vgate vLinker MC+ Bluetooth OBD2 Car Diagnostic Scan Tool for iOS, Android

 

[Rhinebeck01]

Is this the same as the Vgate VLinker MC + you and others mention? About 60 bucks on Amazon but that sounds like it works well with JScan. Is it user friendly, do they come with instructions or do you kind of self teach yourself and learn as you go? Do they have any safe guards that would prevent me fro accidently doing something really bad to the electronics in my Jeep? Sorry for all the questions but other then just reading codes I'm ignorant to all of this.
Vgate vLinker MC+ Bluetooth OBD2 Car Diagnostic Scan Tool for iOS, Android

@billjr

Yes, same one and right now there is a discount coupon that brings the price down for Vgate offering even lower.... to about $50. Buy here on Amazon.. Works well with JSCAN. A recommended by JSCAN tool.

Lots of info on the forum regarding using JSCAN with BT adapters. You will also need security bypass hardware.

Again do forum research as there is a learning curve. Do your homework, ask ? before proceeding and you will be aok.

 

[billjr]

@billjr

Yes, same one and right now there is a discount coupon that brings the price down for Vgate offering even lower.... to about $50. Buy here on Amazon.. Works well with JSCAN. A recommended by JSCAN tool.

Lots of info on the forum regarding using JSCAN with BT adapters. You will also need security bypass hardware.

Again do forum research as there is a learning curve. Do your homework, ask ? before proceeding and you will be aok.

Sounds good, thank you for responding and your helpful information, going to AMazon now.

 

[Rhinebeck01]

Sounds good, thank you for responding and your helpful information, going to Amazon now.

Read here in regard to other hardware you should buy..

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/fo...need-jscan-adapter-advice.149620/post-3102282

 

[billjr]

Read here in regard to other hardware you should buy..

https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/gremlins-in-the-can-bus-2020-jlur-acting-up-—-need-jscan-adapter-advice.149620/post-3102282

Thanks that's the kind of info I need before I get started.

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