Drew Technologies has a tool which raises the bar when it comes to digital accessories for automotive enthusiasts.  Their all-in-one Linux based device, the DashDAQ Series II features gauges, diagnostic trouble codes, fuel economy, performance (1/4 mile), GPS (optional add-on), a variety of "skins", data acquisition and OBDII / CAN data logging.  Let’s take a close look at this handy product....

First and foremost, this is not a simple device.  Those of you used to gauge tools from the competition will be delighted with the extensive set of additional features the DashDAQ Series II carries.  The DashDAQ is true Linux based computer and not a simple microcontroller device, and requires a little patience getting setup but the results are worth it. This doesn’t mean it is hard to use, far from it.  What this means is that instead of the few simple selections found on lesser devices you have a much wider array of features, options and customizations available to make it look best in your vehicle, display the gauges the way you want them, etc.

The DashDAQ mounted on the center console using the supplied mounting kit.  The suction cup allows you to mount it to any smooth flat surface such as the windshield.  The DashDAQ uses industry standard mounting so you can use many GPS, satellite radio and cell phone mounts for a more custom fit.

To use the DashDAQ you first need to mount it using the included window mount and then plug it into the OBII port of just about any OBII or CAN compatible vehicle.  The unit lights up and immediately shows its roots with a boot up sequence that will look vaguely familiar to Linux users.  After the initial boot-up the splash graphic is displayed for a couple of seconds.  This splash graphic image can be replaced with the image file of your choice (you must save it as TGA format) so you can give the boot up a custom look. 

Booting up isn’t required every time you use the DashDAQ.  If you press the power button it goes into a low power "sleep" mode and turns off the screen.  Hit the power button again and the device instantly comes to live where you last left off.  If you hold the power button down for a couple of seconds the system will completely shut itself down, requiring a boot up the next time you power it on.

After booting you are presented with the main screen.  If you haven’t spent some time reading the manual, turn off the unit and read the manual now.  You’ll save yourself some time later on wondering nothing seems to work right.  The DashDAQ comes ready to read OBDII DTCs and data log OBDII items, but it must allow it to scan your vehicle’s computer to obtain a list of which codes are available.  Additionally, for Ford owners, there are extended Ford specific DTCs and data log items.  You must setup the Ford license and have the DashDAQ scan your computer for these as well.  The manual walks you through these steps and it takes about a minute to setup the OBDII and Ford specific devices, and about 10 – 15 seconds to scan your computer.

Now, about licenses.  The DashDAQ comes with several licenses for free, such as OBDII, Dyno and Fuel economy calculators, analog data input (for data logging external devices), Innovate LC1 wide band O2 and more.   Additionally there are several premium licenses included on the unit, with the top signals activated for free.  When you purchase and download a full license all the signals in that group become available.  For example, the premium Ford specific license data logs over 300 signals on my F150. The most commonly used 40-50 of these are free.  So, the hobbyist will find that the base package gives them plenty to work with and most likely they’ll never have a need for more signals while the hard-core tuner, for a small fee, can unlock even more features.

One of the cooler licenses, for the hard core users, is the USB Phidgets.  What are USB Phidgets?  They are lost cost USB sensors and controls.  Using the Phidgets license gives your DashDAQ the ability to data log from the sensors.  These devices range from a few dollars to a hundred dollars or so.  The variety is astounding and keeps growing.

I mounted the DashDAQ in a gauge mount available from Edge Products.  These are normally used to house their tuner/gauge package.  I used a Dremel tool to make the opening larger.  I created a backing out of black silicone and used door edge trim along the edges of the mount.  The look is nearly OEM and it holds the DashDAQ securely yet still allows easy removal so you can remove the SD memory card, plug in a USB cable to update the unit or download logs.

A CircularTouch "Phidget", one of the numerous devices the DashDAQ can sample data from.

 At time of publication the following Phidget input devices were available:

Distance, reflective, vibration, force, magnetic, rotation, touch, motion, slider, joystick gas pressure, voltage, current, temperature, humidity, light, sonar, linear touch, circle touch, accelerometer, ph sensor, 3-axis accelerometer and thermocouple.

Chances are if you need to measure something in your vehicle’s environment there is a Phidget to handle it, the DashDAQ is already setup to handle it directly (such as an Innovate LC1 wide-band O2 sensor) or you can configure the DashDAQ’s analogy input for it.

I’m going to walk you through the various menus below.  Sorry if the backgrounds aren’t always clear – due to the proximity of the camera my hands and the camera reflected in many of the photos.

Here is the main screen when the unit is first booted.  The gauges screen takes you to your last used gauge screen.  The Data Logging screen allows you to view graphs of previously saved data logs.  The Diagnostics screen reads, and optionally clears, generic and Ford specific Diagnostic Trouble Codes.  This is more than just a basic code reader which only gives a number.  Most of the codes have enough text associated with them to allow you to have an idea of any problems which exist without having to reference an OBDII code chart.  The Performance screen allows you to measure the truck’s 0 – 60, ¼ mile and other performance items, plus you can define your own performance measurements.  The Setup screen allows you to setup the various features, splash screen, licenses, gauge themes and copy items to/from the SD memory card.

Here are some sample gauge layouts.  The second is from the default theme, and the others are using a Roush F150 theme (colors, graphics, background). I created the Roush F150 theme using the DashDAQ Skin Editor to match the Roush gauge layout in my truck.  The second is the default theme (notice the text is much smaller in the default theme). 

The Exit button takes you back to the main menu.  The forward and backward buttons move you through the selection of available gauge layouts.  There are numerous layouts, including one layout that lets you data log about 24 items at once this is bumping the bandwidth limit of the OBDII bus on some older vehicles. On Ford vehicles the DashDAQ uses Ford’s "Rapid Packet" which allows even higher bandwidth.  Newer Ford vehicles such as the 2004-2008 F150 support the 6x CAN mode making the sampling rate very fast.  In other words, you’re not likely to run into a situation on the DashDAQ on a  newer Ford where data-logging cannot be done in near real-time.

There are number gauges, needle gauges, graphs, "LED" bar gauge and more.  If you use the Skin Editor you can combine these for a limitless variety of layouts.

Another display feature is the auto-dim.  The front of the unit has a light sensor and will automatically change the back lighting based on ambient conditions.  The nice thing is it does this gradually (sort of like your eyes adapt slowly) so you wouldn’t have to deal with the unit flashing from bright to dim rapidly if you were driving under road side trees which intermittently shaded the road.  Drew Technology obviously put a lot of thought into this unit.

You can assign each individual gauge by clicking on the gauge.  This brings you to the "Set Gauge Properties" screen.  This screen lets you assign a signal to the gauge, the minimum/maximum values as well as the high and low/high warning values.

When you select "Assign Signal" you then select the signal driver (OBDII, Ford Specific, analog, Innovate LC-1, dyno, economy, etc.) and can then scroll through the list of signals available for that driver.  The photo to the right shows the "Transmission Fluid Temperature" signal available under the "Ford Specific" driver.

Here is the value entry screen for Maximum value.  The Minimum value, Low Warning and High Warning screens look the same except for the title).   The buttons are nice and large with is useful when trying to operate a touch screen in a vehicle.  On a side note, do yourself a favor and never operate the device while the vehicle is moving!

Data logging is extremely easy.  To start data simply tap the "Start Log" button ("End Log" when you are finished).  The DashDAQ will create a new file name each time you start data logging.  The log can be played back in a different screen located off the device’s main menu.

On the right is the playback from the log viewer.  Different items can have different colors (I didn’t assign them for this screen).  Due to the screen size, and the enormous amount of data which can be collected I prefer to copy the log files from the SD card to my computer where I can view them with Microsoft Excel or the Innovate Motorsports Logworks program.  Though I don’t use it much, it is nice that DashDAQ includes this screen so you can quickly check a log without resorting to using your PC.

Where things get very interesting.... the "Performance" screen!  Naturally many of us modify our vehicle and we want to know how it helps performance.  Or, maybe your vehicle is stock and you’re just curious.  The DashDAQ comes to the rescue.

It includes 0-60 MPH, 0-100 KPH, ¼ mile times and speeds, 1/8 mile times and speeds.  You can also setup and define your own tests using pretty much every signal source the DashDAQ is capable of reading.  Naturally some of the hundreds of available parameters won’t be very useful as performance measures but the DashDAQ allows you to use them.

The DashDAQ has a nice looking staging "Christmas" tree similar to what you’ll find at most tracks.  You can view reaction time, top speed, etc.  The last photo in the group is an example of the 0 – 60 times.  (Yeah, not the greatest for this truck, but the only close straight place with a stop sign that’s free of traffic is uphill).

Let’s take a look at the data logging capabilities of the unit.  The device stores data logs on an SD card you can insert in the side of the unit.  A 512MB card will hold literally days of data logging for most folks, so there is no need to get multi-gigabyte cards for it (though with prices coming down as fast as they are that may soon be the only option).   In early September Troyer Performance installed a BC Automotive transmission in the truck.  This monster transmission is built to take massive amounts of power.  Initially the 1-2 shift was pretty hard, and here is where the DashDAQ came in very handy.  Sure, I have an SCT Xcal 2 and was able to use that for specific, preplanned tests, but it’s really not very useful when a symptom comes and goes.

With the XCal 2 I’d be forced to pull over, plug in the tuner and start data logging.  I’d be limited to a very small amount due to the size of the XCal’s RAM.  Or I could carry a laptop around, plug the XCal 2 into the OBDII port and then plug the laptap into the Xcal 2 and data log as much as I need.  That’s still not an optimal solution unless you pre-plan all your data logging.

DashDAQ comes to the rescue.  I have a set of gauges set up in advance that has all the items I need to data log.  Now, during daily driving I use a different set but if the transmission starts showing symptoms I can push one on screen button to switch to my data logging gauge set and another to start data logging.  Presto!  Instant data logging!  This was extremely handy!  Even better... the DashDAQ buffers up to 90 seconds of data before you even press start.  So, if something happens which you wished you "could have" data logged simply press the start button and it’s already captured for you in the log file!  Sweet!  You’ll find items these pre-buffered items in the data log with negative time values.

A DashDAQ data log file viewed with Microsoft Excel.

This "any time" data logging capability helped to diagnose that the issue is not with the transmission itself.  The rear end on the truck is a little loose and that’s going to be addressed, and there is also a strong possibility that the output shaft to the transfer case needs to be looked at.

One of the nice things about the CSV files the DashDAQ creates is the output is not simply a list of values.  Instead, the top of the file contains information about the file.

The DashDAQ features are superb and its only going to get better.  New features are now being released or soon will be released (existing users will be able to update their DashDAQs via the Internet).  Drew Technologies just announced the release of the GPS capabilities and has video and MP3 capabilities in the works.  This is one of the most appealing things about this unit.  I can replace an MP3 player, gauges, external data logging tools, GPS unit and video player with a single unit, cleaning up the interior appearance of the truck and simplifying control.  A couple of companies have written Linux programs for DashDAQ that allow it to do Ford diesel PCM programming, and perhaps we can expect to see widespread support for Ford tuning available in the future for this unit.

I believe it’s only a matter of time before we start seeing many new features for the DashDAQ, both from Drew Technologies and its user base.  The fact that it runs Linux means that with a little work pretty much any open source Linux project (and there are thousands of them) can be ported over to the DashDAQ.  In the upcoming months I hope to have a follow-up article show-casing MP3, video and GPS capabilities.  Without these features the DashDAQ is a great little system with a price that’s comparable to many lesser products.  With these new features... other devices aren’t even in the same league.

Suggested retail price is $549 without navigation and $695 with 50 state GPS navigation. More information about the DashDAQ can be found at www.dashdaq.com .

DashDAQ Specifications Overview