The Autonerdz Community Forums - Have I wasted $$ on a Pico??

autosparky

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Have I wasted $$ on a Pico??
Nov 10^th, 2021 at 11:16pm

Investing heavily into Pico over the years, I'm now onto my 4th scope including a new 4425A to go with 2 x WPS and other accessories, now I'm having serious thoughts on my investment with the direction of Pico software.

Looking around and I discovered this, just look at the prices on some of their gear.
8Ch scope for $US220.

Check out this COP test lead and watch the video, the software is displaying Parade!!!

https://rotkee.com/en/product/lx1-sensor

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autosparky Super Nerd Picogroup Offline blind worker Posts: 2,537 Porirua New Zealand Gender:	Re: Have I wasted $$ on a Pico?? Reply #1 - Nov 11^th, 2021 at 12:36am This even displays misfire counter
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kicksbutt Guru Member Picogroup Offline I'm an Autonerd Posts: 252 litchfield park az Arizona USA	Re: Have I wasted $$ on a Pico?? Reply #2 - Nov 11^th, 2021 at 6:22am autosparky Yes I have come across this site also. They have an awesome probe you can attach to diesel fuel lines to get injector firings. their FLS probe is very nice and compact also. The only downside is that not alot of English support. I am also very interested in the software of the scope they have also.
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crackerclicker

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Re: Have I wasted $$ on a Pico??
Reply #3 - Nov 11^th, 2021 at 10:31pm

autosparky wrote on Nov 10^th, 2021 at 11:16pm:

Check out this COP test lead and watch the video, the software is displaying Parade!!!

You could likely do that parade with Pico, but you would need a lot of COP probes (or maybe just tape your secondary probes onto the COPs Undecided

). You'd connect some sort of sync for whatever cylinder you wanted, usually #1, on one particular channel. Next connect whatever amount of those BNC three way connectors you needed to get all the COP probe signals onto one channel. Or, maybe just buy their inductive cables for those ridiculously low prices to connect to Pico Cool

. Unfortunately you wouldn't get the very cool looking raster or the misfire counters that their software offers. Hmmm . . . you think Pico would ever offer the ability to trigger each individual channel so we could make our own raster waves? Nah, probably no money ignition waves anyway Cheesy

.

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autosparky

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Re: Have I wasted $$ on a Pico??
Reply #4 - Nov 11^th, 2021 at 10:50pm

crackerclicker wrote on Nov 11^th, 2021 at 10:31pm:

lot of COP probes (or maybe just tape your secondary probes onto the COPs

Did you see the probes on their website? or watch the video?? it comes with a roll of double sided tape Wink

Not only does it have misfire counter but also the stats on each cylinder for each cylinder is quite cool feature.

Sort of like Pico diagnostics

Now buying stuff from Russia with a credit card...what could go wrong Grin

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kicksbutt Guru Member Picogroup Offline I'm an Autonerd Posts: 252 litchfield park az Arizona USA	Re: Have I wasted $$ on a Pico?? Reply #5 - Nov 12^th, 2021 at 5:22am Autosparky, Thats the other thing. Payment kind of a hassle. Have to do a money gram. then email Rotkee to let them know you purchased something. Then the money never exactly matches up. IE the conversion rates I guess. I have ordered twice from them got both orders but took about two months.
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HarleyMike Super Nerd Picogroup Offline Posts: 1,308 Dinwiddie County Virginia USA Gender:	Re: Have I wasted $$ on a Pico?? Reply #6 - Nov 12^th, 2021 at 12:38pm I'm considering an 8 channel, anyone using an ATS scope?
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Steven McGrew

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Re: Have I wasted $$ on a Pico??
Reply #7 - Nov 12^th, 2021 at 3:09pm

HarleyMike wrote on Nov 12^th, 2021 at 12:38pm:

...anyone using an ATS scope?

The shop I work at uses one. I don't like the software, because the layout is not very user friendly, in my opinion. I think Bernie Thompson designed the software, so it probably suits him perfectly fine, but I get the feeling he did not get any feedback when designing it, so it's intuitive for him but not for others. That's my hunch, anyway. I would suggest test driving the software first, if that's possible.

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autosparky Super Nerd Picogroup Offline blind worker Posts: 2,537 Porirua New Zealand Gender:	Re: Have I wasted $$ on a Pico?? Reply #8 - Nov 12^th, 2021 at 10:29pm HarleyMike wrote on Nov 12^th, 2021 at 12:38pm: I'm considering an 8 channel, anyone using an ATS scope? You could buy this Russian unit and give a review, it's only $220 Or the Chinese Hantek for like $130 Might run like a steam engine
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kicksbutt

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Re: Have I wasted $$ on a Pico??
Reply #9 - Nov 13^th, 2021 at 6:38am

I was on the fence between the ATS 8 channel and the Pico 8 channel. You can download the ATS software and play with it. Like Steven said just a whole lot going on in such a small space. I did not like it. If you watch Bernie's videos even he has a hard time working that screen. I ultimately went with the Pico. BUT the Rotkee and ATS both have some nice software features. You would think Pico would be eyeing the competition and have something similar. What do I know though. Just my two cents

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Tom Roberts

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Re: Have I wasted $$ on a Pico??
Reply #10 - Nov 13^th, 2021 at 9:08am

Quote:

I was on the fence between the ATS 8 channel and the Pico 8 channel

Unless they came out with something new I am not familiar with, the ATS scope, while it has interesting features, is a low end performance scope. ADC is too slow to do CAN for example.

I'll never forget the look on Bernie's face when he discovered that the Snap-On Modis was out performing his ATS. I am sure I had a similar expression when I found the Modis out performing the first PicoScope automotive offering which was the 212/3.

Of course, PicoScope has evolved where the ATS has not. The ATS has been repackaged many times but the performance has not improved in the last couple of decades.

Now, of course, the PicoScope is literally over a thousand times more powerful than the Snap-On scopes.

The PicoScope 8 channel is also very high performing and can actually out perform the Pico four channel models using only four of eight.

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Tom Roberts
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Logic

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Re: Have I wasted $$ on a Pico??
Reply #11 - Nov 13^th, 2021 at 6:52pm

Tom Roberts wrote on Nov 13^th, 2021 at 9:08am:

Quote:

I was on the fence between the ATS 8 channel and the Pico 8 channel

Unless they came out with something new I am not familiar with, the ATS scope, while it has interesting features, is a low end performance scope. ADC is too slow to do CAN for example.

I'll never forget the look on Bernie's face when he discovered that the Snap-On Modis was out performing his ATS. I am sure I had a similar expression when I found the Modis out performing the first PicoScope automotive offering which was the 212/3.

Of course, PicoScope has evolved where the ATS has not. The ATS has been repackaged many times but the performance has not improved in the last couple of decades.

Now, of course, the PicoScope is literally over a thousand times more powerful than the Snap-On scopes.

The PicoScope 8 channel is also very high performing and can actually out perform the Pico four channel models using only four of eight.

Welcome home Tom.

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autosparky

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Re: Have I wasted $$ on a Pico??
Reply #12 - Nov 13^th, 2021 at 11:48pm

Hi Tom, has retirement got boring already??

Here's a screen shot of intake using piezo sensor
again a parade pattern, really nice clean layout, cylinder identification and not shall what going on the right side screen but guessing stats

This is what Pico diagnostic should be like, what do you guys think??

This is giving me ideas, Trevor should start learning to speak Rusky and get Rotkee engineers to make the new Pico/autonerdz software Grin

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TrevorSchlientz

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Re: Have I wasted $$ on a Pico??
Reply #13 - Nov 14^th, 2021 at 2:49am

autosparky wrote on Nov 13^th, 2021 at 11:48pm:

This is giving me ideas, Trevor should start learning to speak Rusky and get Rotkee engineers to make the new Pico/autonerdz software

Ya know, that’s not a half bad idea. I can probably connect you with some of the hackers that try to break into these forums on a daily basis.

Seriously though, Pico distributes SDKs freely so a programmer should have all the tools they need to make custom software to be used with a PicoScope. The big issue I can see us running into, is the idea of paying thousands of dollars per user for the software. If you're bored Look into MATLAB and LABView. If you think scantool subscriptions are insane you should see what other industries have to pay to make their tools work.

Actually, when you think about it... If Pico were to implement subscriptions or licenses for the software they should make more than enough cash to be able to hire the Russian software engineers.

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Logic LSD Guide Picogroup Offline Posts: 4,147 Bentleigh Victoria Australia	Re: Have I wasted $$ on a Pico?? Reply #14 - Nov 14^th, 2021 at 11:22pm autosparky wrote on Nov 13^th, 2021 at 11:48pm: Hi Tom, has retirement got boring already?? Tony, Tom only comes back here to read your posts. Keeps him alive Good work mate, keep it up.
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