Time for some overkill.

[Enki]

Because I will eventually run my car at the ragged edge, I aim to make damn sure I know what's going on with it.

So, with a couple of goals in mind, I did some research and wound up buying a Nook Color, and dropping a custom ROM (OS) on it. Combined with the Torque app, I have some pretty decent monitoring going on.

First, the PLX Kiwi Bluetooth:


Next, how it's wired/routed:


Sunny Nook:


Shaded Nook:


RAM mount:


Torque UI:


So, it works, but I'm running into issues with the speed of updating which is looking to be a problem with the adapter (as I've tested everything else). I guess all that remains is to get on the horn with PLX and find out some info about this device, as I really need the high speed resolution in logging.

[Old Tele man]

...interesting, so you're "blue-tooth" transmitting the OBD-II signals up to a Nook Color and using what software display package?

[Fat Charlie]

That's a good size for a Torque display. Very nice job.

[Enki]

The Android app is called Torque. There is a free version, but I'm rolling with the paid version.

More info on the Nook Color:
Fully rooted and flashed
Running CyanogenMod 7 (latest nightly alpha build)
Overclocked from 800 Mhz to 1100 (with room to grow)
16 gig class 10 SD card
And yes, I can still read books on it.

Like I said before, there is a problem with my setup; the data rates aren't exactly stellar. According to PLX's support forums, their dongle runs at full bluetooth 2.0 speed, so that shouldn't be the issue; I'll be doing one more test this afternoon to figure out if it's the bluetooth radio on the Nook or something else.

It's decent, but not yet perfect.

[deathtrain]

I got a nook color and want to root it bad but have not found a good step by step on how to do it. I dont care to OC though.

[Enki]

It is a little tricky, but basically you need a MicroSDHC reader (or a cell phone will do) and a few files to put on it. Essentially, the Nook will boot from the SDHC card natively, so you don't technically have to root it I don't think.

XDADevelopers has a whole section on the Nook color; you should start there and read up.

[JasonG]

I am using a "cheap ebay" ELM327 unit.
No data stream issues.
Torque is running on a Tmobile MyTouch Slide.
I hope its not the nooks bluetooth transmitter as I hope to do the same when I have a few loose $$

[Enki]

I did a mountain of testing; long story short, it isn't the Bluetooth kit in the Nook Color. If anything, the hardware it has is actually overkill on a fairly significant degree for what Torque needs.

Ian (the Torque developer) has some improvements in store for CANBus interaction which should significantly improve polling/logging rates, so time will tell.

For those of you that care, on the latest nightly I was able to transfer a file from Windows to the Nook via Bluetooth at just over 100 KBps; My HTC Evo running the same nightly (different kernel, obviously) clocked only a few KB faster.

Basically, I'll just let Torque auto-update and one day it will grow a mohawk and start headbanging data out.

[Fat Charlie]

Ian does a good job. It's a great app.