Being a Mac evangelist I want to see if this could work. I'm not sure how specific my serial-to-usb set up is, but it works. I'm using a Prolific converter and drivers in Virtual PC, and I also installed the Mac OS X driver. Not many usb-serial converters have both XP and Mac drivers and getting a good match to transfer data seems crucial.

There are some bug in the latest Hydra software, but those don't seem related to running in VPC 7. I can upload and download maps and log data.

I can give more info to those who want it.

Know of any retail establishments that sell this converter? Any quirks in the setup? I'd be looking to use VPC on my Powerbook G4 to tune my UTEC for now and perhaps to run DeltaDash in the future.

I bought my converter from Ram Electronics over the internet. I bought this one in particular because I was trying to get a GPS unit to work with VPC. Someone on the net reported that the Prolific with the two drivers, Mac and XP, worked for the Garmin GPS device. I was able to upload the Hydra maps and view the data "live" as the car ran (RPM, fuel, every variable shows up in the dials, and logging data works great).

At this point, I would not recommend using a Mac and VPC to tune the Hydra. I'm still using a PC-XP to work in my car. I will continue to test VPC out, and post when I'm more convinced that everything is working just as it does on a native PC.

The only buggy thing I found with the VPC-Mac was that I could not export log data to Excel or save the data. I don't have Excel within VPC so that could be the problem (probably is). This same feature works just fine on my PC laptop.

Values in the maps can be changed/edited by holding the "fn" key and using the up and down arrows to "pageup" and "pagedown". Hit "return" to save change(s).Save map as normal to save all changes during an "open file" session.

Maps successfully download to ECU. Seems to work like a charm. Now to figure out how to export log data. I'll install XP Excel into the VPC7 environment and see if the Nemesis software ports the data directly to it.

VPC7 on my G4 laptop with the USB-DB9(RS232) cable plugged into the right side of the machine, uses COM3 port. You can determine which port the USB cable is using by going to ControlPanel-->System-->HardwareTab-->DeviceManager-->Click on plus sign next to word 'Ports'-->Look for USB converter name and note (COMx) in parentheses.

I talked with a developer friend and he said if the USB cable is generally sharing data, that it will not be different in VPC as long as it's simple data sharing. Since the Hydra maps are a text file encoded in hexadecimal, I think everything is OK. It seems to work fine for up- and down-loading. :D

The key to communication seems to be interaction between the XP driver and the Mac driver. On either end to the line of communication it's the same: XP on one end, USB cable on the other. It's the drivers in between that permit the transfer of bits and voltages.

I'm very happy how things are going. My Mac laptop will last for hours compared to the paltry minutes on my Windows laptop. Excel testing soon.

not to hijack, but i am installing all my stuff right now, and i am trying to figure out what to do with the stock o2 sensor and the auto tune 02 sensor. There is one hole in the DP, i am assuming that the auto tune sensor goes there and i just leave the other one hanging?

There are two O2 sensors on the STI. One is in the down pipe and the other is about halfway to the rear under the car. I'd put the WB in the down pipe. Make sure the connector is securely kept away from anything hot.

Don't ask me about my Hydra.

PM me when you have everything (parts) installed and I'll send you a checklist of stuff to do because it's not all in the install notes.

There are two O2 sensors on the STI. One is in the down pipe and the other is about halfway to the rear under the car. I'd put the WB in the down pipe. Make sure the connector is securely kept away from anything hot.

Don't ask me about my Hydra.

PM me when you have everything (parts) installed and I'll send you a checklist of stuff to do because it's not all in the install notes.
Well, I am almost done with the DP install, I still have injectors, fuel pump, reinstall the new TMIC, and of course the Hydra.

Hey All,
Since my new laptop (HP, not Mac) didn't have a serial port, I went and grabbed a Keyspan USB->Serial connection. When trying to download a map from the Hydra, it would get 6 blocks and stop with an error. I tried several variations of the settings on the COM port, but nothing would work. I'm probably going to return it this afternoon. I might try to pick up one of the above mentioned converters to see if it works ok. BTW, this is of course going to a Hydra. For now I have my crappy laptop doing the logging though :(

lol die hard mac users... gotta love em...

good to know...