Serial Gauge and PC connected at the same time Solutions

After talking to many People which will work with AEM Ecu´s we found a few Options we may get with a new Software Release of AEMPRO / Tunerpro.
Heres the Requests:

1. Many People / Drivers start to run Incar Pc´s and have the AEMPRO / Tuner Pro connected most of the time.
We also do Pc logging at any ride we do ( also on drag strips and Round tracks ) for the reason to overlay the data later to the incar video recordings of the drives.

Since we had the software connected, we are not able to use a Serial Gauge the same time, and also not able to use telemetry in any way.
So, we figured out a way to do this. But we need an Software with an additional feature.
Since the Software knows, what parameters have to transmitted with telemetry, it would be nice that the AEMPRO / Tunerpro will request these parameters in addition to the Parameters which will be selected inside the Software selected PC Log parameters.
Then the AEMPRO / Tunerpro can recalc these telemetry Parameters ( because the data format of the PC log parameters is different than the 8 Bit resolution of the Telemetry protocol ) to the Serial Gauge protocol and put these out to an seconday Serial RS232 Port where the Gauge is connected to.

Then it will be possible to Log to the PC with only selected channels, but still have the Serial gauge for the Driver information.
Example:
Oil Temp and OIl pressure sensors connected to the EMS EGT 2 and 3 Channels should show up at the serial gauge during driving.
They also will be logged at the PC, but since there will be no scaling possible, they will show only as Volt in the PC Dash or in the Parameters window.
With the serial Gauge connected, we can Scale it at the same time to real Temp and Pressure for Drivers convenience.
Also, we can do the same with any data we need for the driver.
This will reduce the number of Gauges the driver will see / have to check, because we can also use all the Warning functions of the Serial gauge.

I assume, its easy to add these Software portion to the current Software. It will increase the possibilities of the EMS without a change to the EMS firmware

2: THIS is a Hardware change request to the Serial Gauge, but mentioned here for the Fact that it is related to "1"
There should be an external Switch input ( maybe 2 inputs ) to wire in two Steering Wheel buttons. The reason is, that during Round track racing it isnt possible to use the small buttons at the Gauge itself. It would be useful to use two buttons at the Steering Wheel to scroll trough the Gauge channels.
It can be easily modified at the Gauge by soldering, but if it comes from factory makes the live easier ( maybe an separate connector at the rear end, so no hassle when not using this function )

3: A very future request:
May bee its possible to ad a function for an USB or Serial GPS receiver? So we can also log GPS data together with the EMS Parameters.
For Round Track Racing ( esspecially at the 21 Km long Nuerburgring / Germany ) it would be nice to get these positioning data, because we sometimes need that for mapping the cars to better suit the Engine to special regions there.
There are free Addons for GPS receivers, which will be easy integrated to any Software project ( C++, VB )

In Summary:
I know that some of these requests will be not needed for the standard User of an EMS.
But for Racing applications it will be required, also knowing that the competitors of AEM will only Offer that as separate units or at an additional Price.
Since there is no Dash from AEM out now, and the aftermarket Dash lacks the Logging options sometimes, it would be usefull to improve the Software in a way that we can use it like i described above.
But since the AEM Tunerpro is in the process, its a good time for thinking about that.

Also Adding other Logging or datarecording Equipment to the cars isnt a option, because we need then double Sensors, Boxes, Wirings... which will increase Weight to the race car and reduces reliability ( every wire in addition CAN fail and makes trouble )

Steffen Thormann
Just Solutions
Germany