AEM Display?

[mx5]

The AEM software has gauge screens built in! Of course it is part of the tune application and not a standalone program.

Alas, I can't look at a Notebook while driving fast.
I want to have some adjustable mono display with custom alarms in front of me.

And if AEM doesn't want to make a better one than the GaugeTech, I will just go with the GaugeTech some day soon. I've heard that there is a waiting line for that one though ...

actually the fact that aem doesnt have some sort of display, or even a windows based program that will display outputs that look like guages on the screen blows me away. obviously you want to see whats going on with your car and everyone wants gauges for that purpose, I for one want to integrate a carputer with a tv out going to a motorized 7 inch lcd din display so I can tune the thing but it almost kept me from buying an ems over a few other brands because there was no windows based gauge simulating program available or nice looking AEM display for a reasonable cost. How hard could programming something like that be?  375$ to me is more than im willing to pay for something when I can get physical gauges for what i need for less than that. if aem sold the gauge software for 40$ or something and required a serial for it then I would be more than willing to pay for it. something to look at while tuning or driving.

[MrBob]

Ya I just ordered one to see if I like it and well I'll be waiting for a few months I guess!! I wish AEM did make a display off the laptop but here is a better idea.... how many of you have in-dash monitors in your cars? Well there should be a video input on the back and on the back of the laptop might be a RCA video out if not you can get a db15 to RCA converter at Radio Shack. Load the displays you want and close the laptop and go. For those of you with SUV's you can get a bigger monitor!!

Just my idea! I'll see if I can do that just to show you all!! I get bored on weekends and just think up ideas on what I can hook up to my cars!!!

 

[BLKMGK]

Patience is a virtue. AEM has been working on important things like new features and solidifying existing features. Given a choice between a nice gauge and a better working EMS I go for the better working EMS.

AEM knows folks want this and they may want it for themselves but it won't happen overnight. I know AEM has wanted to do a MOTEC type dash for awhile, hopefully they will do it soon or give us the ability to interface with that kind of dash In the meantime Kevin's setup is pretty sweet!

[Kevin Hoare]

Normally I don't speak up when people start discussing the LCD display I made, however this time I will.

I made the GaugeTech display to give people an affordable way to monitor their EMS's without having to always have a laptop in the car. It doesn't have a flashy colour display and it wouldn't win first prize in any industrial design competitions, however it is functional. It does much more than conventional gauges, allowing you to setup complex warning triggers based on multiple parameters. The display's functionality is constantly evolving as well since I'm always implementing features that customers request. Additional hardware is also coming soon including a long overdue window mount, and a 3 stage programmable shift light.

As far as the cost of the unit goes, I think it's fair considering the amount of work which goes into one of these units. The housings are made from aircraft quality CNC machined aluminum and are powder coated black. The units are hand made, and the firmware is continually updated and offered for free. Considering you could probably only get 2 decent quality conventional gauges for the same price, I think it's quite fair.

A big thanks to you who support what I've done.

[JPI]

I heard JS talked about this thing when I was at AEM for training last year.  Hopefully they will hear us.  
            JPI

[ReaverEVO]

Actually there is a display you can use with your existing laptop. I have it in my Supra and its touch screen , very easy to use , I use the digital dash in the AEM to make my own Digital Gauge cluster. I use a stylus to run through the AEM soft. , by far the best way in my opinion to have full access to your tuning , logging , monitoring and so forth. I also use my laptop to run my stereo in full surround , I have access to GPS , XM Radio , DVD's , all my music on the H.D. , Internet and its all at my fingertips with my touch screen dispaly thats built into my dash. By far the best tuning access I could have given my car. If anyone wants to see a pic of it Ill email some to you. I just dont have the ability to host the pics to post them here unless someone wants to host them for me.

[badkarma]

Normally I don't speak up when people start discussing the LCD display I made, however this time I will.

I made the GaugeTech display to give people an affordable way to monitor their EMS's without having to always have a laptop in the car. It doesn't have a flashy colour display and it wouldn't win first prize in any industrial design competitions, however it is functional. It does much more than conventional gauges, allowing you to setup complex warning triggers based on multiple parameters. The display's functionality is constantly evolving as well since I'm always implementing features that customers request. Additional hardware is also coming soon including a long overdue window mount, and a 3 stage programmable shift light.

As far as the cost of the unit goes, I think it's fair considering the amount of work which goes into one of these units. The housings are made from aircraft quality CNC machined aluminum and are powder coated black. The units are hand made, and the firmware is continually updated and offered for free. Considering you could probably only get 2 decent quality conventional gauges for the same price, I think it's quite fair.

A big thanks to you who support what I've done.

Hey Kevin,

I think your display's great. I haven't used it personally but I was just trying to gauge my options as I hear a "rumoured" AEM display will be released. I don't think a window mount will be enough for me since I'll be at the track(roadcourse), I don't believe they allow suction items on the windows nor would I want to try it. I would probably have to ask someone to build a temporary mounting bracket from the stock dash where the fan and clock is. The biggest thing I'm wondering about your unit is visibility in direct sunlight. Alot of gauges/displays are nicely legible at night or when there's no sunlight on the display but even with the AEM UEGO it's unreadable in sunlight. This almost renders the gauge useless at the track where sunlights spilling in from everywhere.

[Kevin Hoare]

The display is very easy to read in bright sunlight. It's a transreflective display so it's similar to a watch or solar powered calculator display. On the website there's a picture of the display mounted in my car on a bright winter day. You can also see the windshield mount in the photograph. It's a pretty sturdy mount.

[mx5]

How are you going to implement the shif light? By another LED or are you just changing the firmware so the warning LED do shift light indication too? (If so, different colors?)

The display is very easy to read in bright sunlight. It's a transreflective display so it's similar to a watch or solar powered calculator display. On the website there's a picture of the display mounted in my car on a bright winter day. You can also see the windshield mount in the photograph. It's a pretty sturdy mount.

[Kevin Hoare]

The shift light uses an additional 6 LEDs. 2 Green, 2 Yellow and 2 Red. You can setup what RPM range the LEDs come on through the windows configuration software. The display's firmware drives the shift lights. The additional hardware and LEDs are small enough to be installed into the display's housing vertically along the left side of the LCD, or they can be mounted in a small external case which can be remotely mounted.

[mx5]

The shift light uses an additional 6 LEDs. 2 Green, 2 Yellow and 2 Red. You can setup what RPM range the LEDs come on through the windows configuration software. The display's firmware drives the shift lights. The additional hardware and LEDs are small enough to be installed into the display's housing vertically along the left side of the LCD, or they can be mounted in a small external case which can be remotely mounted.

Wow. Sounds great. I should postpone wiring a shift light in my car and probably wait for your unit.

What about moving the shift lights along the display but to the top of it?
And on the left side to add 5-6 more warning LEDs which can be configured from the windows software - I see the current unit has 1 warning LED and it is not enough to instantly tell you what's wrong if one has multiple parameters being set for an alarm.

Something like the display in this Miata on the picture below.

Btw, when looking at the pictures at your site I see it uses one of those LCD with the blueish/grayish tint which don't have much contrast (compared to some other LCD displays - with a more greenish tint - like the one on the picture below).
The guy who makes the GTech Pro Competition had both in his units - the difference between a unit using the one and the other was a day and night, but I remember him mentioning that the greenish more contrast LCD was much more expensive.  

[Kevin Hoare]

The lights could be moved along the top with additional lights placed along the side. The current design allows for up to 14 LED's in addition to the one current warning LED to be controlled by the unit. It's simply a matter of customizing the display to suit. I just finished a display for a customer with shift LED's setup in a seperate enclosure which can be remotely mounted.

The single warning light currently lights to indicate any of the setup warnings. Whichever warning has been triggered will then be shown on the LCD. I'm working on upgrading the firmware now to accept a large number of warnings, (20+) so I don't see it being feasible to add an LED for each one. I can see that some people may want that functionality though, and it would be possible with a bit of work.

The LCD display has pretty good contrast. I'm not certain if the type that I use is available in the higher contrast version. Whatever the case may be, monochromatic LCD's are much better than colour ones in daylight.

[badkarma]

Wow. Sounds great. I should postpone wiring a shift light in my car and probably wait for your unit.

What about moving the shift lights along the display but to the top of it?
And on the left side to add 5-6 more warning LEDs which can be configured from the windows software - I see the current unit has 1 warning LED and it is not enough to instantly tell you what's wrong if one has multiple parameters being set for an alarm.

Something like the display in this Miata on the picture below.

Btw, when looking at the pictures at your site I see it uses one of those LCD with the blueish/grayish tint which don't have much contrast (compared to some other LCD displays - with a more greenish tint - like the one on the picture below).
The guy who makes the GTech Pro Competition had both in his units - the difference between a unit using the one and the other was a day and night, but I remember him mentioning that the greenish more contrast LCD was much more expensive.  

That display in that Spec Miata concept is a MXL display from AiM Sports.

http://www.aimsports.com/products/mxl-pista/index.html

When my AEM goes back in I'll be giving Kevin a call. =D

[mx5]

That display in that Spec Miata concept is a MXL display from AiM Sports.

http://www.aimsports.com/products/mxl-pista/index.html

At this site there is a nice, detailed picture of the display:

[Erich Moraga]

That thing is pretty cool, but since it isn't a gauge replacement, I think having the speed and tach. readout is a bit of a waste.
I'd be buying that to augment an already well placed speedometer/tachometer layout on my dash.

-Erich