Good first scan tool to learn on

[cgrutt]

oh man my internet is spotty sometimes, do any of the standalone tools require constant internet to work?

I have the Autel MP808P and two Innovas none of them require internet service while scanning. The autel needed internet connection for initial registration and for updates but works fine standalone. My son has an oDBII scanner that works with his phone not sure which one he has but he keeps it plugged into his car don't think it needs internet.

 

[Wrench97]

oh man my internet is spotty sometimes, do any of the standalone tools require constant internet to work?

For the "secure gateway" connections on Mopar and newer Fords yes.

 

[richfinn]

oh man my internet is spotty sometimes, do any of the standalone tools require constant internet to work?

It will repeatedly ask you to log in to the Scan Tool app if it can't recognize your wifi connection, and some functions won't always work like VIN recognition.

I have a mini router in my van with a SIM card on a cheap £20 a month contract that lets me do everything I need including tech info websites, YouTube etc.

Unfortunately the Launch/Lenovo tablet doesn't have a port for the SIM like my Panasonic Toughbook does.

You can work around it, but it's a bit of a PITA when your working on 4-5 cars per day.

 

[turner66]

You mentioned not knowing what you need until you actually need it. Well, I'll just share my path to prove your not wrong, and sometimes ya just gotta pay and play until you figure it all out... You can watch lots of youtube and other training video's but you never get to see every detail until you try it. I bet I'm not the only one that has learned this stuff the hard way... One thing this has taught me though is how automotive components and systems actually work and it has given me a good background into how to troubleshoot without an electronic device telling me what to do. This is probably considered a ridiculous amount of gear, and it doesn't even include all the Fluke and other meters i started with and stuff I've accumulated. The moral of my story is ---- you probably won't ever get out of this with 1 or 2 devices. Technology evolves! (My background is 35 yrs experience and retired Electrical Engineer) I wish you the best of luck in your journey, remain committed and persistent if you decide this is what you like!

Here's just the last 3 years of diagnostic stuff i've acquired and played with:
BlueDriver Pro OBDII scan tool (2018) $100
Autel MaxiPRO MP808K (2021) $865
PicoScope 2205A (2022) $270
Topdon Pheonix Plus (2023) $1012)
Topdon BT600 Battery Tester (2023) $152
Topdon Topscan (2023) Free for being a product tester ($60)
Topdon T-Ninja Pro (2023) $499
ZT-702S Oscilloscope Multimeter (2023) $70
Innova 5610 (2024) $350

As you might notice, 2023 was a busy year for me with Topdon equipment. COVID and working from home gave me a chance to "experiment" even more than normal

In the end, learning was more important than any specific diagnostic tool, but in hindsight there are some I would/could skip and others that could be combined to a single tool. Expense really drives things, especially when you're just starting out. Inexpensive is not a terrible thing when you want to learn and don't have the funding to take the short cut. But, the Snappy scanners are pretty nice

 

[mikey03]

It will repeatedly ask you to log in to the Scan Tool app if it can't recognize your wifi connection, and some functions won't always work like VIN recognition.

is that any scan tool or just the phone app dongles?

I usually work outside and WiFi is spotty and I rather not deal with mobile cell hotspots. If you’re saying it’s any scan tool that will not work or annoy you with popups when it cant find internet then which one is the least annoying about it, topdon or autel?

 

[P0234]

I'm gonna be that guy, but its pretty clear OP wants a new toy and is prepared to throw $500-1000 into a dumpster, kind of the norm when spending Dad's money.

 

[richfinn]

is that any scan tool or just the phone app dongles?

I usually work outside and WiFi is spotty and I rather not deal with mobile cell hotspots. If you’re saying it’s any scan tool that will not work or annoy you with popups when it cant find internet then which one is the least annoying about it, topdon or autel?

Pretty much anything Chinese/Android based requires an Internet connection for full functionality.

I've only really got experience with Launch X431 and Windows based tools though, Windows tools all seem to work well regardless of internet connection (unless your dealing with SGW/Autoauth.

My Windows based tool is a version of Auto-com/Wurth Snooper, kind of old fashioned but fairy reliable (no graphing though unless you record the data and play it back)

 

[mikey03]

I'm gonna be that guy, but its pretty clear OP wants a new toy and is prepared to throw $500-1000 into a dumpster, kind of the norm when spending Dad's money.

Thanks for your contribution to my education.

 

[mikey03]

Pretty much anything Chinese/Android based requires an Internet connection for full functionality.

is that because it’s checking the license of the software or because it doesnt have the memory to store all of the files locally? I’ve played video games in the past where it had some nonsense requirement to have an internet connection just to keep checking the game wasn’t stolen.

I watched a bunch of videos on these scan tools and it looks like you have to download car specific files to the device but it seemed like you could do it in advance.

 

[theoldwizard1]

In the end, learning was more important than any specific diagnostic tool, but in hindsight there are some I would/could skip and others that could be combined to a single tool.

Please take some time and explain this in more detail.

Expense really drives things, especially when you're just starting out. Inexpensive is not a terrible thing when you want to learn and don't have the funding to take the short cut. But, the Snappy scanners are pretty nice

I have thought about picking up a USED MODIS (like a EEMS300) but people on eBay still want the proverbial "arm and a leg" for a 20 year old scan tool !

 

[richfinn]

is that because it’s checking the license of the software or because it doesnt have the memory to store all of the files locally? I’ve played video games in the past where it had some nonsense requirement to have an internet connection just to keep checking the game wasn’t stolen.

I watched a bunch of videos on these scan tools and it looks like you have to download car specific files to the device but it seemed like you could do it in advance.

I think maybe a little of both, some features like the DTC lookup link to YouTube videos obviously don't work

VIN search is very patchy without a connection so you have to manually input some data

Google saves your password so there's that to manually enter when you're not connected

It will still communicate but nowhere near as slick

 

[f121]

is that any scan tool or just the phone app dongles?

It varies depending on the dongle/scan tool.

I have a Bluetooth VAG specific dongle that only works if it can phone home to some server in Russia. I have one Bluetooth dongle for jaguar/Land Rover that works just fine with no internet connection, provided the app is already installed on your device.

My snap on scanner works fine without an internet connection, it just doesn’t let me access the online resources or do updates.

I bet a large chunk of the $500 cost is the tablet itself.

I’d bet that the majority is in the IP of car protocols, fault codes and fixes. At least it is according to SO: https://glassbytes.com/2024/02/autel-settles-proprietary-date-theft-suit-for-33-62-million/

 

[Wrench97]

My Autel doesn't fuss over not having a connection unless it's a secure gateway Mopar vehicle then it needs to get the authorization for the scan tool.

 

[2ndGearRubber]

My Autel doesn't fuss over not having a connection unless it's a secure gateway Mopar vehicle then it needs to get the authorization for the scan tool.

I can't speak for the phone/tablet tools, but this and occasionally downloading a data-packet for some module coding is all I -need- the internet connection for on "full function" scan tools.

 

[richfinn]

Shameless plug for this Scottish YouTuber (hopefully you won't need subtitles )

Using Topdon and Micsig equipment

 

[mnglocker]

oh man my internet is spotty sometimes, do any of the standalone tools require constant internet to work?

I just hotspot my phone.