[crussell85]

I have been reading up on this aldl data logging with a laptop. I was looking at buying a set of aldl cables for my 1993 K1500 with the obd1 setup. I have a snap on scanner that I can scan with and bring up engine codes, and it also tells me a various amount of different information. My question is if I buy the aldl cable and software am I going to get more and better in depth information from the aldl cable than my snapon scanner.

[Soul_Hunter]

im guessing you have the MT2500.
i've used one on the job for years and its not a bad scanner.

for most things its fine for repairing your truck.
if your looking to tune the chip, its a little on the slow side for data logging.
also, the length of a recorded movie is short which can sometimes make it harder to diagnose an intermittent problem.
there are a number of different programs you can use.

WinALDL, i used it a long time ago. but was some what limited.
im not sure if there is any support for it or not.

i've used the free version of Data Master. its a nice program and seems to work well. it has support from the makers of the program.
http://www.ttspowersystems.com/DataMaster.html

next is Tunercat. i've use the free version of it and its not a bad program.
it has support from the maker.
http://www.tunercat.com/

the program i use and know the most about is TunerPro V4.
http://www.tunerpro.net/

with a laptop, cable and software such as TunerPro with the right definition files you can record much longer data logs. i have some that are well over an hour long.
also, TunerPro records at a higher frame rate than than the MT2500.
you have 4 different screens to choose from when looking at the data.
the ALDL dash, which lets you select 6 different parameters.
ALDL values and ALDL flags, the number of parameters varies depending on how much is defined in the definition files. with both of these your generally limited by your screen size.
last is ALDL monitors, where you can select up to 4 data items for viewing.
when viewing the ALDL monitors, its almost like watching a live scope.
in addition to pulling codes and data logging, TunerPro is also capable of editing the bin file. and it will also burn chips with the right hardware.

TunerPro has some limited support from the maker, but most definition files are user made and supported.
its free to down load and use. its fully functional with no time limit.
there is only a 10 second nag on startup.
to get rid of the nag, its a $30.00 donation for a registration key for V4.
Tunerpro has always been a work in progress with updates coming out when ever the arthur gets them done.

recently he has released a public beta of TunerPro V5 which has a good number of enhancements other V4.
for registered users of V4, there is an additional donation of $15.00 for a registration key for V5 to get rid of the startup nag.
for new users, its $39.00 for a registration key for V5 RT.

i liked TunerPro enough that i was more than willing to make the donations for the registration keys.
IMO, its the best program out there.