Yeah yeah yeah, we all know that the full-boat standalone computers are the best way to go. Thing is, Honda motors ain't really all that complex or hard to run and for the majority of setups out there a Hondata or ZDyne is more than enough tuning capability, especially considering the price advantage they have. Of course the AEM and Power FC are more versatile, it's just that most folks out there don't really have any use for their extra capabilities.

 

DSMLink has a major strength: it's based entirely on stock maps & sensors.
DSMLink has a major weakness: it's based entirely on stock maps & sensors.

The ideal target market for DSMLink is the average tooner looking to bolt on some basic power upgrades (air filter, increase intercooler size, mildly larger fuel injectors, exhaust, etc.) while still trying to squeeze a little more power out of their particular setup. DSMLink replaces several engine management devices all in one shot:

• APEXi Super-AFC : but unlike the AFC, DSMLink directly modifies the fuel maps including dwell time
• APEXi ITC : direct control over timing
• Nitrous Control : on/off conditions including rpm, throttle, knock, and more
• Datalogger : most loggers see 10 to 50 samples per second, with DSMLink it's 250+/second
• Ignition Control : three stage rev limits
• Misc. ECU Features : can be programmed to never flag certain check engine lights, to toggle ECU outputs (fans, fuel pump, solenoids), etc.

DSMLink retails for $615, a steal compared to purchasing the other devices individually. If you're planning on modifying your car within a given distance of stock, this is perfect.

But here's the catch: what happens when you complete a purpose-built racer? I personally have a relatively stock motor but with cams, sheetmetal intake manifold, General Motors 3" mass airflow sensor, fuel injectors approaching twice stock size, water injection, and much more. My setup has so many particular quirks that it's hard to define it as a variation of stock when in reality it's truly it's own animal. Sure there are ways to tweak things but it's still a bandaid kind of fix, not a hard & fast permanent solution.

At this level or higher is where Haltech / AEM EMS begin to show their strengths. Does this make an AEM a good choice for the backwards visor kid with an airfilter & wing? Contrary to whatever AEM might say, the answer is still hell no.

All of the Honda ECU options mentioned have their purpose. Hondata for someone comfortable with their setup as is, not looking to make any major changes in the near future. EMS for a real tuner who needs it. But what about the empty middleground? An on-the-fly programmable Hondata with fuel & timing management? I know I could sell a few...

 

I'd like to see something with all of the features of the AEM, without the high price. If you can do all of that with a stock OBD-II ecm and NO chip burning, I think you'd have a winner. If you do a standalone setup, do it as AEM has, make it plug and play with the connectors, and firmware upgradable.

If you could make one for an SR20DET I'd be REALLY happy. Project car... long story. Aftermarket electronics options for those are worse than the chip burning vs high dollar standalone Honda issue.

 

Which product would you choose for your Honda if you can make only one choice?

Programmable on the fly ECU as you mentioned in your reply
LCD screen with data logging and performance measurement capacity
A system that logs performance and data and sends it to a website which you can access
Supercharger/Turbocharger

Any thoughts?

 

Sounds like a power FC to me. . .

 

You don't want much huh? Top notch product for low cost . . . You get what you pay for most of the time.

 

That's why I bought the AEM for my Teg back in the day. :driving:

I welcome someone else bringing one of these to market though. On-the-fly tuning is standard in most systems on the market. So is datalogging. Boost control generally only requires a solenoid for the wastegate. The HTML datalogging feature would be cool, but I think that sending the data to a website is bad. People on the track (where telemetry is allowed) use datalogging to tune on the fly. Taking the data to upload to the internet is sorta tedious. Having it display in an HTML format offline webpage format though would be pretty slick. The addition of the "digital dash" in lcd would also be pretty cool... but a lot of people with turbos use aftermarket boost controllers with some sort of telemetry display already, so it could be sorta redundant.

 

[sidenote]
wats wrong with a good ole MBC :eh:
[/sidenote]

~boom

 

I'd say the first one would be the priority and then the lcd screen and the datalogging website thing could be add-ons. The main thing people want is some kind of ECU which can be programmed on the fly that will plug into their stock harness, and cost maybe $1000 tops.
Depends on the application.

Also even the best MBC can't compensate for things like changes in altitude.