T4 Testbook & cables?

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mattstevenson2005

mattstevenson2005

Active Member
Posts
548
Location
Manchester UK
Hi all

I have managed to get hold of a copy of Testbook T4 version 7 software installed on an old laptop and I am now looking for a copy of the diagnostic cd for my range rover L322 if anybody has a copy that you wouldn't mind sharing could you upload it to a download site I would be very grateful. :D

I am also looking to where I can get hold of a set of cables for the T4 software I know it runs over ethernet and not USB but if anybody knows of anywhere I can get these from for a reasonable price I would be very grateful. If I get hold of a set of cables and a disc I would be willing to share the system with people for free just to help out others. :)


Thanks
Matt
 
Matt, I could supply you with a copy of absolutely any diagnostic disk for TestBook that you might require from our library of about 50 or so, and to boot, i could also supply you or MHM with any cabling schematic for any TB lead, in fact as we have all the parts including all connectors and custom made adaptors, i could in fact supply you with not only any lead you wish, but i did also develop a really cool item called a leadmate that has a button pad and LCD and could be used to replicate any of the many TB leads. But that project got canned.

And i will also tell you that for an L322 (pre 05 at least) you need a DTC0065 (Red OBDII) lead

But, regardless of any degree of nobility you may have, let me tell you catagorically and out right that you will be totaly wasting your time if you think either will produce a workable diagnostic system. You must appreciate to some degree that you cannot directly plug ethernet or USB into a vehicles OBDII socket and as such you will be missing a most vital interface part.

I am sorry that it is me being the fly in the ointment of your plan, as we produce LR diagnostic equipment, and as such i might well be expected to say as much, but then that is exactly that reason why i uniquely have such a very detailed knowledge of the both the TestBooks hardware and software, now spanning over 15 years.

In my time i have upgraded and repaired loads of all different versions, modified and updated them and even built one in a standard PC on a couple of occasions. Even now i am freely helping a chap called Matthew In SA rebuild one from scratch, updating it's CD drive and fitting a floppy drive to it, so i really do know what i am talking about.

Re producing TestBook hardware is not actually a new idea and has been the holy grail of so very many since the TB was first introduced. It was in fact where it all started for me, and i had TB software running on a Toshiba Tecra laptop almost 15 years ago for all the good it did.

To all common knowledge and understanding, re producing a working set of TestBook or T4 (its later incarnation) interface hardware has proved simply impossible, and to date, to everyones knowledge (else we all would have heard about it) no one has ever managed it and released it.

I phrase that last paragraph quite carefully, because i myself do actually know of just one guy who has actually managed to do it very sucessfully, to the degree that it actually works much faster and better than the origional equipment ever did.

If you or anyone is interested i will happily spend some time explaining everything you might ever wish to know about Testbook and T4's interface hardware and exactly how I managed to duplicate it.
 
So you are saying that all the leads are dedicated and use special one off components? ie not replicateable?

That reminds me - must do you a sample soon ;).
 
BBS Guy said:
Matt, I could supply you with a copy of absolutely any diagnostic disk for TestBook that you might require from our library of about 50 or so, and to boot, i could also supply you or MHM with any cabling schematic for any TB lead, in fact as we have all the parts including all connectors and custom made adaptors, i could in fact supply you with not only any lead you wish, but i did also develop a really cool item called a leadmate that has a button pad and LCD and could be used to replicate any of the many TB leads. But that project got canned.

And i will also tell you that for an L322 (pre 05 at least) you need a DTC0065 (Red OBDII) lead

But, regardless of any degree of nobility you may have, let me tell you catagorically and out right that you will be totaly wasting your time if you think either will produce a workable diagnostic system. You must appreciate to some degree that you cannot directly plug ethernet or USB into a vehicles OBDII socket and as such you will be missing a most vital interface part.

I am sorry that it is me being the fly in the ointment of your plan, as we produce LR diagnostic equipment, and as such i might well be expected to say as much, but then that is exactly that reason why i uniquely have such a very detailed knowledge of the both the TestBooks hardware and software, now spanning over 15 years.

In my time i have upgraded and repaired loads of all different versions, modified and updated them and even built one in a standard PC on a couple of occasions. Even now i am freely helping a chap called Matthew In SA rebuild one from scratch, updating it's CD drive and fitting a floppy drive to it, so i really do know what i am talking about.

Re producing TestBook hardware is not actually a new idea and has been the holy grail of so very many since the TB was first introduced. It was in fact where it all started for me, and i had TB software running on a Toshiba Tecra laptop almost 15 years ago for all the good it did.

To all common knowledge and understanding, re producing a working set of TestBook or T4 (its later incarnation) interface hardware has proved simply impossible, and to date, to everyones knowledge (else we all would have heard about it) no one has ever managed it and released it.

I phrase that last paragraph quite carefully, because i myself do actually know of just one guy who has actually managed to do it very sucessfully, to the degree that it actually works much faster and better than the origional equipment ever did.

If you or anyone is interested i will happily spend some time explaining everything you might ever wish to know about Testbook and T4's interface hardware and exactly how I managed to duplicate it.
Click to expand...

Hi BBS, thanks for the great reply! I would really appreciate you explaining the T4 system. If I explain how I understand it maybe you could let me know if I'm on the right track. Ok here we go,

I have a 8 year old laptop running windows 98 se and have installed a copy of RDS 7.0 I downloaded from the internet. When it finished installing it now boots to a white screen that reads "Welcome to IDS Main Menu" and below that is a button that's says "T4 Diagnostic System 7.0" when I try can click the T4 button it dosnt do anything, I'm presuming it needs the diagnostic cd for it to load (or may be it needs the T4 hardware connected before it loads)

Does this sound like I'm on the right track? If you wouldn't mind explaining how you got the hardware/cables to work that would be BRILIANT!!! I have spent the last few weeks searching the internet trying to find detailed information on the system but without luck so finding you is great

Thanks
Matt
 
Hiya MHM

The main connector the TB uses was from a now defunct company and it uses a PG type thread, which is now apparently outlawed under EU legislation.
Each TB lead therefore has a custom made plastic adapter body that also converts it to a regular metric thread for strain relief, which i not only had to have specially made, but i actually had to have a range of PG taps made to do it with.

The leads also have a number of pins that are connected in such a way as to configure the system, as well as an electrically isolated resistance loop for identification purposes.

Most annoyingly, the resistance step was not that big and the resistors used in the standard leads for identification, would, in extremes of temperatures, drift so far off value that the TB could not recognize them correctly.

To sum up, i initially started off in this business, with the idea to replicate the TB hardware only, So i sure as hell have no wish, desire or right to deride anyone else with the same notion, however after spending less than 10 minutes looking and studying the detail of the so highly regarded holy grail of Land Rover diagnostic equipment, i was so stunned, shocked and out right appalled, i decided right there and then that i was going to dedicate the rest of my life to producing something far better, and if i could not do so, i should bloody well shoot myself.

I guess since i am writing this i don't think i am doing such a bad job after all.
 
Sorry BBS, forgot to finish explaining the T4 system as I understand it, with the laptop with T4 installed the T4 hardware is then connected to the laptop with an Ethernet cable then from the T4 hardware box a OBD2 cable to the car. Does this sound right to you?

Thanks
Matt
 
Matt, you aint going to do it on the cheap - simple as. The web is awash with threads on this subject and they all end the same.......

Get a Faultmate, it will easily outperform the T4 in speed and function.
 
rewmer said:
Matt, you aint going to do it on the cheap - simple as. The web is awash with threads on this subject and they all end the same.......

Get a Faultmate, it will easily outperform the T4 in speed and function.
Click to expand...

Yer I thought about the faultmate its looks a really good product! but I have just got the car (literally 2 weeks ago) and can't really afford to pay £900+ for a diagnostic tool at the moment. Plus I find it really interesting to try and get things to work, I'm a IT Network Manager during the day so tech and computers really interest me and it would be great to try and get my T4 system working that then could help others

Matt
 
have you got the comunication interface?
laptop and all the software is useless with out the interface speak to omitec they make it
but as said a cheaper option is out there
me i will just stick with testbook never let me down and i have t5,and sdd the new diagnostic system too which means i can do any model upto 2010 and software updates to latest spec
 
The cables and the software are the easy bit, but unless you can get an interface box cheap or borrow one to reverse engineer you are seriously wasting your time. Its not just a matter of having a set of leads.
 
vougese39 said:
have you got the comunication interface?
laptop and all the software is useless with out the interface speak to omitec they make it
but as said a cheaper option is out there
me i will just stick with testbook never let me down and i have t5,and sdd the new diagnostic system too which means i can do any model upto 2010 and software updates to latest spec
Click to expand...

That's the main bit I'm looking for is the interface and cables, will speak to omitec and see how much it would be. Is T5 the one that gives you the option for IDS and T4 on a White main menu screen?

Thanks
matt
 
Matt,

You also have to make sure you've not downloaded a Trojan either, since as yet no one has agreed with your experience. I as an individual I would never download anything that purported to be the 'original' even more so when the source in the Internet.

Maybe it's my own paranoia or I'm to cynical for my own good but in either case I wouldn't let this software anywhere near my network or install it on other workstations, I simply wouldn't trust it as far as I throw a Pen Drive.
 
it is because of that i bought a brand new testbook and t5 and sdd cost me 15K but got dealer level tech and i was trained to use it
 
never had a problem can either speak to lr tech or omitec!
just not intrested in doing becm unlocks so whats the point every time i have a becm fault it is because it has a reconned or unlocked unit so fit gen lr never a problem i have to think of fix and forget first time in my position
 
BBS Guy said:
Hiya MHM

The main connector the TB uses was from a now defunct company and it uses a PG type thread, which is now apparently outlawed under EU legislation.
Each TB lead therefore has a custom made plastic adapter body that also converts it to a regular metric thread for strain relief, which i not only had to have specially made, but i actually had to have a range of PG taps made to do it with.

The leads also have a number of pins that are connected in such a way as to configure the system, as well as an electrically isolated resistance loop for identification purposes.
Click to expand...

rewmer said:
The cables and the software are the easy bit, Its not just a matter of having a set of leads.
Click to expand...

:confused: easy, difficult, impossible? :confused:
 
vougese39 said:
never had a problem can either speak to lr tech or omitec!
just not intrested in doing becm unlocks so whats the point every time i have a becm fault it is because it has a reconned or unlocked unit so fit gen lr never a problem i have to think of fix and forget first time in my position
Click to expand...

Totally disagree. The BBS stuff does more than just unlocks.
Why is it that LR Main Stealers send new Becm's to myself and others rather than suffer the embarrassment of sending it back to LR for unlocking because they have ballsed up the programming.
Your answer relating to only fitting genuine new LR Becm's at over £800 a pop is a joke..the majority of owners on here would not even consider it. The Becm's from LR are not new, they have been reconned by the manufacturer.
 
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