Rick

Personally, it'll never effect me too much. I was under the impression that Mtech had now licensed the code from Bowling & Grippo, but apparently not.

Mtech were dropped from the MS dealer network due to some abismal build quality issues. They did rectify this, and their builds were actually quite nice.

I was on the phone to the main devloper/coder for MS2Extra and now MS3 who told me that there has still been no licensing agreement. He was understandably very deflated by this, as his hard work is being exploited by others in order to make a quick profit. The source code for MS3 may now be released for this reason, which is a great shame.

For info, if build quality worries you, there are two options. First is the 3.57 board which uses surface mount machine soldered components. Secondly, there is the microsquirt module which is an MS ECU in a sealed package for those that don't want to/don't need to mod the internals. Look familiar?:





These have the full support of the community, with continually evolving firmware.

Rick

ECU Monitor Enthusiast

iTrader: (1)

I am not getting into the whole argument of who own what rights but.....

This is a good example of free software that has been taken advantage of because the source code has been in the public domain.

Software can be truly free without the need to give away hard work and secrets.

*** I do know that MS is a comunity based develeopment and understand that within that community, source code will be available.

1223456

Mine


Its nothing like mine Rick, yours has microsquirt written on it, mine is slealth black.lol

(that was a joke)

Does that other ecu have the map sensor tho as I cant see the input for it?

I bet Beefy's head is battered now with all these options

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Autoflock, the map sensor is an option on the mtech too, not all of them have it.

On the microsquirt they dont offer it as an option as far as im aware, you have to run an external one like an L8 does.

The Mtech also has USB with the microsquirt doesnt.

Fundamentally though, they are very similar.

1223456

so thats another tick on the v4 box

1223456

not seen a comment from the big fella on these ecu's yet, this may be totally away from what he is after???

Chip

iTrader: (3)

There are advantages and disadvanges to internal or external map sensors TBH, I would happily use either.

The USB option is a real bonus though, given how few laptops these days have a 9 pin lead on them, but to me personally its acedemic as I have to have a laptop with 9 pin for using on my autronic etc anyway.

The microsquirt has a few less available channels though IIRC, so that might be a bit of a downside to someone like beefy who wants to put as many things as possible onto the engine "just because"
Cant remember the exact differences but IIRC the microsquirt is a couple less pins on the ampseal connector (35 instead of 37 iirc) and a couple of them are used up on the serial interface which is part of it.

So for beefy the mtech is probably the better option of the two, but thats not me slagging off the microsquirt, they are actualy very capable units.

M-Tech Automotive

Chip, it has 4 coil drivers and can run COP on a 4 cyl :P

Chip

iTrader: (3)

Oops, sorry about that Matt, I really should proof read things better when its actually something important like that, I of course meant it only has 2 injector drivers (which is only an issue if he wants to run massive injectors of course) not coil drivers!

-beefy-

iTrader: (6)

totally undertsand what your saying fella, is a discussion ive had with karl today ,

its more a case of , if im going to the expense of buying an ecu , wether it be 200 -1200 i want it to emcompass the features previously stated ,granted i may not plan to use them ,but then i may for me id rather have them incorporated to save me further expense in the future ,

all i was trying to get at , is if it takes say 250-300 for stock l8 and an addional 600 quid to add the features , is the a cheaper new option out there , after all i dont have the ecu or loom yet ??

if the mtech v4 does everything i want , and with fitting and mapping is sub 1k then it seems to me like a very very good deal




not batterd mate , i appriceate all the abouve opinions ,

you going to be at central day fella , ill pop over for a natter

beef ,


again , thanks for all the posts ,

1223456

No probs Beef, I will be there in my RS200 flying the Autoflock Motorsport Flag high and supping the Amber Necter from Sat onwards

1223456

p.s. the rs200 is ltd edition too!

Chip

iTrader: (3)

The other good thing about a new unit is at least you get a warranty then too Beefy.

In the case of the Mtech is two years for example.

-beefy-

iTrader: (6)

ill deffo be finding you then lol

never a bad thing chipper ,

Mark Shead

No Vipec is another string to my bow and as the V44 is £500+vat cheaper than the SM4 and the V88 is £200+vat it gives people another option.

Mark