WiCAN Pro and ESPNetLink Unlock Next-Level DIY Car Hacking and Diagnostics

MeatPi Electronics has introduced two new products targeting electronics engineers and automotive enthusiasts. WiCAN Pro is a successor to WiCAN-OBD, which promises to enhance vehicle diagnostics and data log capabilities with expanded OBD-II support. Additionally, MeatPi is introducing a companion called ESPNetLink, which adds LTE and GPS connectivity to WiCAN Pro (or other IoT devices.) Both products are open-source and will launch soon on Crowd Supply

WiCAN Pro is a follow-up to the WiCAN-OBD. Both devices plug into a vehicle's onboard diagnostics (OBD-II) port. These ports are universal across all automobiles manufactured after 1996. The most considerable difference between the two products is that WiCAN Pro contains an OBD-II (unspecified) interface IC, which gives it full compatibility with the protocol. According to meetPi, it supports:

• ISO 15765-4 CAN J1962
• SAE J1939 CAN J1962
• ISO 11898 raw CAN J1962
• Medium-speed CAN MS-CAN J1962
• GM high-speed J1962
• Single-wire CAN GMLAN J1962
• SAE J1850-PWM
• SAE J1850-VPW
• ISO 9141-2
• ISO 14230-4 slow/fast
• ELM327 instruction v2.3
• ELM329 instruction v2.2
• STN instruction
• VT instruction

Both tools use the same versatile WiCAN firmware, which is already available and runs on an ESP32. This firmware can send MQTT messages about the vehicle's health, integrate with Home Assistant, or drive a RealDash display with real-time information. A microSD socket provides additional flexibility for logging data directly to a card when wireless connectivity is unavailable.

The original WiCAN came in an OBD or CAN-based version. The WiCAN Pro only has an OBD interface, but another significant difference from the previous product is that it is a host USB port. This port can power USB devices up to 1.5 amps at 5 volts and enables capabilities like adding GPS or cellular-based radios, like with meatPi's ESPNetLink add-on.

ESPNetLink is an LTE and GPS module designed to connect to IoT devices. Combined with a WiCAN Pro, it provides a powerful vehicle tracking platform. The ESPNetLink contains an ESP32-S3 controlling a Low-power Wide-Area network (LPWA) Modem (Quectel BG95) and a Quectel LC76G GNSS module.

The BG95-M5 modem in ESPNetLink supports global cellular connectivity on Cat-M1 and Cat-NB2 bands. While it also includes an integrated Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) module, the BG95 cannot use both the cellular and GNSS radios at the same time! So, ESPNetLink contains an LC76G GNSS module that can operate concurrently with cellular and connect to multiple satellite constellations simultaneously.

GNSS encompasses multiple satellite systems. For example, the LC76G supports GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, and QZSS. It can receive data from two systems concurrently for improved accuracy and reduced lock-on time. In addition to the radio modules, ESPNetLink has internal antennas, making it a straightforward plug-and-play option for adding capability to WiCAN Pro.

WiCAN Pro and ESPNetLink are open-source products. The meetPi Github already hosts the wicam-fw repository. The product creator says they will make the open-source hardware documentation available after the projects go live.

Both products are in the pre-launch stage. To be notified when the pre-sales campaigns go live, visit the WiCAN Pro or ESPNetLink product pages on Crowd Supply and subscribe to updates.

Edit: The WiCAN PRO Campaign is now live. Purchasing options start at $80.