Quote Originally Posted by higsy98 View Post
for vcds what do you have to do to use it?
You need a Ross-Tech cable, https://store.ross-tech.com/shop/vchv2_ent/ , and then download (VCDS itself is "free"; the licensing is implemented in the cable itself) and run VCDS on a Windows device. I use my Windows 10 laptop that sits here; I always take it with me on road trips anyway. Note, you can do scans without committing a car to the license history of the cable, but if you want to do anything like go into specific control modules to read values or perform operations, you have to commit the VIN to the license history. But at least this way you can do scans of say cars you are considering buying without burning up your licenses.

I have a HEX-NET device since that was the only upgrade path they offered for my HEX-CAN device; it allows me to access it with Safari on my iPhone and perform some level of interaction. Enough to pull codes impromptu in the field should I get a sudden light with no indication of the problem. But I wouldn't pay for it new. You'd get better results for your money from having a HEX-V2 for real work and an OBDeleven starter pack in the glove box for impromptu DTC and live data reading. I find it a bit curious that OBDeleven only provides DTC freeze frame data in the Pro version; and that doesn't even work yet apparently on iOS anyway.