Date: Wed, 14 Jun 2006 08:36:01 -0400
Reply-To: Christopher Gronski <gronski@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Christopher Gronski <gronski@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Digitool vis a vis Van-Cafe tool - origins,
availability - do it yourself or new source
In-Reply-To: <448F5942.3040003@verizon.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Sam depending on price I7d be interested in a group purchase of Darrell's tool.
Chris
On 6/13/06, Sam Walters <sam.cooks@verizon.net> wrote:
> First, let's have a history lesson. Shawn Feller wrote about Darrell
> Boehler's Digitool, saying that it is "basically a simplified version of
> the great tool available for rent from van-cafe.com."
>
> It would be better for people to know what they are talking about before
> writing. The first draft of manual the analysis tool that Van-Cafe
> rents and sells was written in late September 2003. The first release
> of the manual was in November of that year. It is reasonable to assume
> then, that the product was developed and released in 2003.
>
> On the other hand, Version 3.0 of Darrell's Digitool was released in
> 2000. It had been around for several years before that. I know I had
> been looking at his web pages and giving consideration to building one
> before version 3.0 came out. Darrell did not create a simplified
> version of the Van-Cafe product. To the contrary, the Van-Cafe, then
> Volks Cafe, tool was recognized as something that followed in the line
> of the Digitool when it was released long after the Digitool had been
> around and publicly available for sale or for free if you made your own.
>
> Complete instructions on how to build your own Digitool were always made
> available on the net by Darrell. They still are there today if you just
> go look. Explanations of how to use it are there also. Check the link
> found on the list today - which is in the archives dozens of times.
> Darrell wasn't trying to create a secret product and make a great
> profit, he was just trying to help people learn how to keep their vans
> running well. He used to be a regular contributor to the list,
> responding to requests for help quite frequently.
>
> It is the Van-Cafe tool that is a variant of the Digitool. It is
> certainly not the other way around. It does appear the Van-Cafe tool
> has added a few more information points to those that are found on the
> Digitool. The Van Cafe tool has a nice pdf file for instructions.
> Darrell's web site has instructions and references to pages in Bentley.
>
> Look at the pictures of the units. They aren't that different.
>
> But, again, it would be nice if folks would try to keep the facts
> straight and not shoot from the hip or guess and post it as they know
> something that they don't.
>
> Second, there are questions about the availability of the Digitool.
> Darrell Boehler no longer makes them. Why, I don't know. this was
> discussed just last week. The only current way to buy one is to buy a
> used one if anyone wants to let go of theirs, but why would they unless
> they did a conversion.
>
> You can get all of the instructions for how to make one for yourself
> from Darrell's web site.
>
> http://www.loam.org/vw/Vanagon/DigiTool/
>
> I exchanged pmails with a list member who has the technical skill and
> resources to make these things just a few days ago when all of these
> same basic questions about the Digitool were being discussed here
> (doesn't anyone read the list) and he said he might be interested in
> making them if there was enough interest and a few other issues could be
> dealt with. We haven't exchanged any further emails.
>
> Sam
>
> --
> Sam Walters
> Baltimore, MD
>
> 89 Syncro GL, Zetec Inside
> 85 Westy Weekender
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>
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