http://jerryknight.com/wp This Internet thing is just a fad. Wed, 08 Jul 2009 18:04:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 en hourly 1 http://jerryknight.com/wp/2006/07/30/hooray-scangauge-ii/ http://jerryknight.com/wp/2006/07/30/hooray-scangauge-ii/#comments Sun, 30 Jul 2006 05:48:59 +0000 Jerry http://jerryknight.com/wp/2006/07/30/hooray-scangauge-ii/ (Those stupid Red Stripe commercials…) I finally decided to order the new and improved ScanGauge automotive computer, since a friend might be interested in the other one. I ordered direct from Linear Logic, the designer and manufacturer (smart folks if you ask me), instead of Think Geek, because LL included shipping in the price. I’m fairly certain that Think Geek would have charged for shipping, and their price was the same as buying direct. That, and since I knew I’d be thrilled with the ScanGauge II, I figured I’d let the extra profit margin go to the designers instead of the retailers. Nothing personal, Think Geek (There’s no way they’re reading this). So, as advertised, the Mk2, as I’ll call it, is about one fourth the overall size of the Mk1. This makes it much easier to fit in more visible places, such as on the dash. The Infiniti has a very low-angle windshield, so there is not much room for a box to sit on the dash. The Mk2 fits nicely. Another big improvement: on the cable, they hardened the OBD2 plug (no more loose wires) and put an RJ45 jack to plug into the ScanGauge box. Not only that, but they put two cable ports on the box: one on the back and one on the right side, so it might be possible to panel-mount it. Very nice. However, the adhesive-backed velcro strips they provided would not stick to the dash at all. Didn’t even slow down when I tried moving the ScanGauge after applying the velcro. I’m pretty sure it’s because I put a generous coat of protectant (like Armor-All) on the dash not too long ago. I had seen those non-skid, non-permanent pads that they make so you can put your phone or iPod on the dash and not have it slide around, so I picked one up. It too can slide across the dash, but it provides enough friction that I can lodge the ScanGauge between the dash and windshield and it stays put under normal driving conditions. Besides the smaller size and the improved screen and backlight (it can be a number of different colors), the biggest change is the addition of fuel tank capacity. Since it knows how much gas you’re burning (it has to for the MPG meter to work), if it knows the capacity of your fuel tank, it can approximate how much gas you have left in the tank. From that, it can give you an estimate of how far you can travel on the current tank (based on an average fuel consumption rate). Since you have to tell it when you fill up, it can also keep a separate set of statistics for the current tank of gas: things like average MPG, average speed, etc. The Mk1 could do this for the current trip, current day, and previous day, but the Mk2 adds the gas tank feature. So all in all, it’s a worthwhile upgrade. The price is a bit more, from ~$130 to ~$170, but given the improvements, I think the increase is justified. It’s a much more professional form factor than the brick that was the Mk1. They claim that they’ll also soon release a USB cord so that the Mk2 firmware can be updated and some kind of information can be transferred off of the ScanGauge. Not sure what that means, but I’m all for firmware upgrades. So go get one today. Read my other ScanGauge post if you haven’t already. Note: The Mk1 and Mk2 designation is entirely my own. The official product title is the ScanGauge II.]]> http://jerryknight.com/wp/2006/07/30/hooray-scangauge-ii/feed/ 3 http://jerryknight.com/wp/2006/06/22/new-and-improved-scan-gauge/ http://jerryknight.com/wp/2006/06/22/new-and-improved-scan-gauge/#comments Thu, 22 Jun 2006 13:42:54 +0000 Jerry http://www.jerryknight.com/wp/?p=39 Scan Gauge people have come through! That little device I use in my car to tell gas mileage, read engine sensors, etc – just got much littler. It’s a smaller unit, and it has a bigger screen, but other than that, it’s pretty much the same device. Anyone want mine so I can upgrade? I’ll give you a good price.]]> http://jerryknight.com/wp/2006/06/22/new-and-improved-scan-gauge/feed/ 2 http://jerryknight.com/wp/2006/04/11/gas-mileage-efficiency-driving/ http://jerryknight.com/wp/2006/04/11/gas-mileage-efficiency-driving/#comments Wed, 12 Apr 2006 03:31:58 +0000 Jerry http://www.jerryknight.com/wp/?p=21 ScanGauge. The instant mileage is nice, but it averages only over the ~1 second between readings. I’ve been keeping it on the trip average, which averages the mileage from the start of the engine (it can also keep the current day and the previous day averages for long trips). At first, it fluctuates wildly, but after a few minutes, it settles on a fairly consistent gas mileage reading. The EPA estimates for the 2004 Infiniti G35 Coupe are 18 city, 26 highway. I have found this to be quite accurate. My last trip home, I decided to see how high I could get the average mileage. I began an experiment to determine if there are any long-term driving habits that can improve gas mileage on long drives. I was able to get 28 MPG on the first efficiency experiment. The only thing I tried was avoiding acceleration up hills. Amazingly, the more you push on the gas pedal, the more gas gets burned. Cruise control is not the most efficient driving. It may be annoying to other drivers, but allowing the natural slowdown going up hills saves gas, The Infiniti is not as efficient as a Saturn or equivalent car. I know that. I’ve accepted that. It has all the grin-inducing power I could want, but that doesn’t mean I go peeling out all the time or pass moderately slow cars just because I can. Bad driving habits are the biggest factor in gas mileage. A lead-foot driving my car would have gotten much lower mileage than 28 MPG on the same drive, and they’d probably get more incidents and tickets than I do. I learned several years ago that no good comes from being in a hurry, either through external circumstances or the mind-boggling tendency for people to drive fast and aggressive for no reason. Avoiding those things prevents stress, accidents, tickets, and LFGBS (lead foot gas bill syndrome). I highly recommend the ScanGauge for any lead foot who needs something to keep track and show their gas mileage. Note: The engine’s speed sensor that the ScanGauge reads is about 3% slower than the speedometer, which seems to be close to 2% slower than the speed reported by the GPS on the straight-and-level. This may affect the gas mileage reading, but it would almost certainly be an adverse affect, since the car is going faster than the ScanGauge thinks. (i.e. Actual gas mileage is better than that reported.)]]> http://jerryknight.com/wp/2006/04/11/gas-mileage-efficiency-driving/feed/ 2 http://jerryknight.com/wp/2006/03/06/off-to-a-better-place/ http://jerryknight.com/wp/2006/03/06/off-to-a-better-place/#comments Tue, 07 Mar 2006 06:10:02 +0000 Jerry http://www.jerryknight.com/wp/?p=16 http://jerryknight.com/wp/2006/03/06/off-to-a-better-place/feed/ 1 http://jerryknight.com/wp/2006/01/27/newer-cars-are-nice-2/ http://jerryknight.com/wp/2006/01/27/newer-cars-are-nice-2/#comments Sat, 28 Jan 2006 00:37:22 +0000 Jerry http://www.jerryknight.com/wp/?p=13 My sister has the first online pictures of the new car. Once I can get it spiffed up, I’ll get more pictures up. My nephew seems to like the comfy driver’s seat. A few years too soon, James…
]]> http://jerryknight.com/wp/2006/01/27/newer-cars-are-nice-2/feed/ 0 http://jerryknight.com/wp/2006/01/26/got-the-car-pictures-to-follow-soon/ http://jerryknight.com/wp/2006/01/26/got-the-car-pictures-to-follow-soon/#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2006 20:58:47 +0000 Jerry http://www.jerryknight.com/wp/?p=8 ]]> http://jerryknight.com/wp/2006/01/26/got-the-car-pictures-to-follow-soon/feed/ 1 http://jerryknight.com/wp/2006/01/19/behind-this-curtain-a-new-car-well-used-actually/ http://jerryknight.com/wp/2006/01/19/behind-this-curtain-a-new-car-well-used-actually/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2006 19:43:59 +0000 Jerry http://www.jerryknight.com/wp/?p=4 I started the loan paperwork with USAA to purchase this car, a 2004 Infiniti G35 Coupe (image shamelessly pulled from the AutoTrader.com page). After a great deal of thought and research, this is the best available option for what I’m shopping for. I test drove this and other cars, and the Infiniti was the most enjoyable. Although the Nissan 350Z had a great deal of vroom, it was a bit too “sporty” for a long term only-car. The Honda Accord Coupe was a close second in the 4-seat coupe line. Hopefully USAA will make the entire process smooth. The private seller has been very nice and helpful with everything (Thanks, Mike!). This means I’ll be selling the gray ‘96 Saturn, which would have been traded in, had I bought from a dealer. One option is CarMax.com, which has a location in Austin. I’ve enjoyed having such a reliable, non-descript car for my college life, but it’s time to move on.]]> http://jerryknight.com/wp/2006/01/19/behind-this-curtain-a-new-car-well-used-actually/feed/ 1