Feature Request - Logging Improvements

[SportsCarRacer]

Hi Guys,
Mark & Jamie no doubt you will have heard me discuss this before, but could we PLEASE have a few more logging channels available (currently set to 16). I understand the business model of M84, replacing M4/48 et al, but there is a significant gap between M84 and Mx00 series...16 vs 64 channels.
At the moment, a large proportion of the max of 16 are taken by mandatory (ie: can't be changed) diag channels, so your effective chnnels avaialabel is much lower at around 8 or 10...inadequate for the excellent capabilities of this well-priced and otherwise well featured ecu.
For example, if you are logging a single bank turbo engine, and running CL lambda and CL boost, you would want as a minimum:
rpm
TP
Lambda Aim
Lambda La1
MAP
Boost Aim
Boost ERR
Aux duty % for WG channel
Boost Comp
Ign ADv
EGT.......................11 channels minimum, and this is only one lambda!
It does not include coolant temps, inj duty, fuel/ign at/et comps...etc....simple stuff even for a club racer than are required for accurate logging at the track/dyno to ensure safe operation....

If we can't have any more than 16 (even only 24-30 would do), can you make it so you can turn the diag channels off to temporarily free up some more? Even the ability to pay a nominal fee to unlock 20 more or something, although not desirable, would be better than the current limiting situation! It wouldn't take up much extra tech support (i know that is the main cost rolled into option costs), and allow at lot more usefulness to an otherwise adequate-at-its-price-point ECU...and not canibalise Mx00 ECU sales (no DBW, no CAM, no customisable table axes, etc).

You did a good job with putting the RS232 messages back in, please add this easy one to the next SW upgrade!

Last ditch alternative: At the moment, i use a Mx00 as an "tuning ECU" with the options enbables, and lots of logging channels whilst on the dyno, but covert the cal from Mx00 to M84 software manually to put into customers ECU to test before letting it out the door. I have made an Mx00 confi that matches the non-changeable table configs of the M84.
However, could you guys come up with a file convert (or table convert) utility to take a Mx00 file config and put it into M84 format?? At the moment you have to do it tabel by table, export csv, import csv, etc. But you also have to manually enter the single variable paramters one by one---very time consuming!!
Much easier with convert utility from Mx00 to M84, or just allow another 10-14 logging params in the M84!!



Over and out for now:

T.

[RossB]

Thanks for the feedback. I can't promise we will do anything about the logging but we will take your comments in to account when we next do a revision of M84 software.

As far as the file conversion path is concerned we did give this some serious thought when we introduced the M84. The reason we did not provide a conversion path from M800 to M84 id because it would be virtually impossible to test all of the possible combinations of M800 configurations because of the vast amount of parameters you can adjust. The risk of a conversion not working correctly was something we decided was unacceptable.

I know this probably doesn't help you very much at least it should help you understand why we do not provide the conversion path.

[SportsCarRacer]

Agreed Ross!

Yes, the file conversion utility i appreciate is quite difficult given the findamental software and feater differences between Mx00 & M84...is was merely suggested as a second-tier solution!

If the M84 even had a small increase in it's flexibility for logging some additonal params, conversion utility would be moot point....

Appreciate any improvement to the number of logged M84 channels for this otherwise well-specced, versatile and good value ECU!

T.

[ahobbs]

It would be great if this could happen. I bought the m84 because I could afford it and I thought it would be similar to the m800. Im happy with it, but if I could do it all over again I would have saved a little more for an m800. My tuner is well versed when it comes to the motec software and we had to make TONS of "workarounds" to make the m84 sorta perform like an m800. But not I've lost other options that I could use in the future because of what the m84 lacks.

Ive been watching since this ecu came out and I honestly wish i made a diff decision.

[MarkMc]

Everyone must remember that the M84 was a replacement for the M4 and M48 ECUs so in that light you must admit the M84 is a big leap forward. The M84 is not supposed to be an M800.

My advise to all customer who talk to me is always think of what you want to do in the future when choosing an ECU.

[SportsCarRacer]

Agreed MarkyMArk, but M4/M48 is nigh on 20 years old now... Time flies.

I agree that it "shouldn't do what an m800 does" becasue it is not priced as such, and in most cases an M400 is a better bet for most 4cyl "advanced" applications...but M84 is great in all other aspects for v8's, efi conversions of older engines and some simple race cars....EXCEPT FOR THE POOR LOGGING CONFIG...most of the available channels are locked to diag channels...leaving only a handful of the 16 (pls see my top post)

One should not compare it agaianst the venerable M4/48....one should comapre it to what people would cross-shop it against at this price point....it still is good value, but even 8 more logging channels would largely alleviate most of the concerns expressed, and make it a far more useful tool, for the costomer AND the tuner! unfortunately, most of the people charged with selling them don't understand all the limitations / differences...it's NOT a cheaper Mx00 series....it's similar architecture on a "value-lite" platform...albeit one that has all the best Mx00 class-leading features...accurate ref/sync inputs, and mode flexibility, good fuel algoritms, accurate spark timing, good CL boost, etc....just needs a bit more logging capacity (logging has always been motec's strong point!) to be able to truly make optimal use of the great foundation it is built on.....


PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSE!!!