Decipering OBDII readers: questions

Post by **JimBee** » 08 Aug 2019, 11:09

8 years ago, I used the ELM327with Torque app on a cross country trip in my 850 base. It was fine for what I needed, accurate speed, MPG, a couple of other things.

Now, I'm looking at the ELM327 again and found this recent post by esl-97-850-T5 on what appears to be the latest fully featured 850 updated reader, but it's not obvious to me how I might use his info with a simple Blue Tooth set up with a phone or tablet.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=56686&p=513131&hilit=elm327#p513131

Guidance appreciated.

callahanoffroad · Post by **callahanoffroad** » 09 Aug 2019, 05:07

JimBee wrote: ↑08 Aug 2019, 11:09 8 years ago, I used the ELM327with Torque app on a cross country trip in my 850 base. It was fine for what I needed, accurate speed, MPG, a couple of other things.

Now, I'm looking at the ELM327 again and found this recent post by esl-97-850-T5 on what appears to be the latest fully featured 850 updated reader, but it's not obvious to me how I might use his info with a simple Blue Tooth set up with a phone or tablet.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=56686&p=513131&hilit=elm327#p513131

Guidance appreciated.

It's an app for your smart phone that does very specific diagnostic functions for the Volvo 850's that other smart phone based apps like Torque don't do. It's more than a code reader it's a diagnostic tool kind like Vida but on your smartphone. For mpg and gps speed stick with torque (or Google maps which now has your speed on the map).

You can download it in the play store on Android. Not sure about iPhone as I don't use them.

Hope that helps.

Post by **JimBee** » 09 Aug 2019, 08:37

Got it. Thanks. Will it be obvious how to set it up?

Post by **Goupil** » 09 Aug 2019, 11:38

I've planned on trying to setup the Windows Volvo850diag this weekend using a laptop and a cheap bluetooth ELM327.

I don't think the 850 OBD-II Android app ( https://play.google.com/store/apps/deta ... i&hl=en_US ) is made by the same guy

Post by **ZionXIX** » 09 Aug 2019, 11:52

The 850 OBD-II app is made by a guy in sweden. He used Jonesrh's program to write the app since it was free for public use.

Post by **JimBee** » 09 Aug 2019, 17:44

It would be great if somebody would set this up on an android phone and give us a walk-through with demo!

callahanoffroad · Post by **callahanoffroad** » 09 Aug 2019, 20:39

JimBee wrote: ↑09 Aug 2019, 17:44 It would be great if somebody would set this up on an android phone and give us a walk-through with demo!

I would totally do that for everyone but my car is too old. No obd2 port.

Post by **ZionXIX** » 10 Aug 2019, 05:43

Post by **esl_97_850_T5** » 10 Aug 2019, 14:13

1. As of 2019-08-10, this section on one of the jonesrh Volvo 850 OBDII portal pages is an evaluation of the same "850 OBD-II" app V1.1.6 version that rspi's video demonstrated. In some ways, it goes into more detail than Robert did in that very useful demo.

The jonesrh written instructions might still serve as a useful "How To" of some core features of the latest version of xiaotec "850 OBD-II" app, since the instructions list the buttons to press for a lot of "850 OBD-II" functions.

2. There is an MVS thread which is dedicated to "850 OBD-II" app:
xiaotec "850 OBD-II" Android app on Google Play for '96-'98 850/S70/etc

It would be a good place for someone to add a concise "cheatsheet" and/or a link to a very thorough YouTube demo of how to use the latest version of "850 OBD-II" -- going into a lot more detail on a lot more functions.

Post by **JimBee** » 11 Aug 2019, 14:47

Robert's video, as we've come to expect from him, is well done and very useful! Surprised to see a different scanner he used, I guess b/c it works with both Apple and Android phones.

On the Android platform, does anybody know if whether Veepeak is superior to ELM327?