EDIT: 12/07/2017 @12:30 PM
I just received a text message from the local DHL Carrier that the ETA for the "GYMKO" Tech-II and TIS2000 SW W/Dongle has been scheduled to arrive on 12/11/2017 by EOD... Bumped ahead by them from the original ETA of 12/17/17. I went on line to the DHL Shipping Management Screen and easily adjusted the date up to 12/12/2017 by EOD instead due to Dr's Appt conflict... Once again, this response from DHL bears out
@Mooseman 's earlier comments about how reliable AliExpress have been in his experience...and so far...this has been echoed here with my own experience.
I Like It! :>)
This issue might be at the heart of any reluctance one might have in getting a “GYMKO” Tech-II Unit. But even if mine arrives in a completely DOA condition… I will not be worried about it in the slightest. Here is why:
Earlier...I used the expression “De-Mystify” when referring to the impressions made after watching the Video linked down below about the “GYMKO” Dis-Assembly-Assembly during the R&R over to the 15W 9-18 Volt-→ 5Volt @ 3,000 mA Power Converter. My confidence in the potential performance of the “GYMKO” Device went Sky High because of my understanding of how certain Solid State Electronic Board based components are manufactured.
I mentioned a distinction of the Main Logic Board as being “Dark Green” vs any “Pale Green” board residing inside of the “GYMKO” Unit. The reason for this goes back to my experience with having to learn how to scavenge parts and pieces of the earliest DOS and Windows based PC computers ever made… starting with the Original IBM Desktop Computers running at a mere 4.77 Mhz (That is right… Mega-Herz...NOT Giga-Herz) and gradually cycling on through the 8086 base designs for their gradual improvement over the generations that followed in the manner of speed... (286,386,486, 586-- ad infinitum). Along the way, I discovered that Main Board and Sub-Board components that were manufactured using the thicker Dark Green Phenolic Resins and Thicker Circuit Board Blue Print Architecture that had much more robust Gold Ribboning and Silkscreen methods for their designs, were invariably...Bullet Proof.
The Solid State Circuitry of those “Dark Green” components could attenuate much more heat and resist flexing and impacts that would cause their less robust brethren to fail with predictable regularity. But If you look inside something like that of a Mike Dell Server Machine… the Dell Precision 690 and T-7400 Server Work Stations for example, that kind of strength, sturdiness and resilience is quite obvious. And the reasons for this are simple: Companies relying upon such Machines for constant, hard and demanding service will NOT do regular business with a company whose products Fail at the Drop of a Hat.
When you get up close and personal with such technology and examine it with a Magnifying Glass...you can see that even Surface Mounted variety of Resistors, Capacitors, Coils and Tiny Diodes, etc. are also installed and soldered onto such boards with very solid connections, made thus for the sake of long life and consistent performance. However… There IS a weakness involving each and every one of these “Green Boards” that may or may not show itself over time when it comes down to their Peripheral Component Interfaces. These items are but a small fraction of the whole device and are usually attached or soldered onto the boards AFTER they arrive in distribution for sub-assembly…
BASED UPON ADDITIONAL COST PER COMPONENTS CHOSEN BY THE CUSTOMER AND SLIGHT MODIFICATIONS DEPENDING UPON WHAT THE CUSTOMER EXPECTS FROM THE “GREEN BOARD” IN THE WAY OF ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONALITY.
Now take this “GYMKO” Green Board for example … When compared to the GM OEM Vertronix one made by Hewlett Packard or Bosch, the GM OEM Green Main Logic Boards should have their Peripherals “Wave Soldered” onto their various connections; thereby making their builds much more consistent and reliable than having those peripherals Willy-Nilly Hand Soldered in place. The other differences of importance might also be in the aspect of the GM OEM Tech-II being able to investigate Vehicle Component Performances off of the vehicle and "On The Bench"; a very distinct advantage for a Mechanic to have. And if that feature is NOT present in the ”GYMKO” Tech-II… it will only be due to the the difference of one or two very small Surface Mounted Diodes and Resistors that COULD be enabled to allow for ordinarily SW Restricted ability of performing that Bi-Directional Communication necessary during Bench Checks and Tests of the GM sub-components. Still, even without having this feature working, it is not The End of The World for the “GYMKO”, considering it being priced at 1/12th that of the OEM HP Vertronix-Bosch Tech-II.
Nonetheless… I have read that some people have indeed spent their money on getting a New “GYMKO” System... only to have it arrive and once fired up… fail to ever operate again. Another complaint is the problem of having only partial Data Writes onto the PCM where the RS-232 Modem is running at somewhere between 300 and 1,200 BAUD Speed...and while the Data Write Progress is being times by the scrolling Dots walking slowly across the bottom of the blue screen… it suddenly Freezes. Obviously, these kinds of problems are very vexing, frustrating and disconcerting…
BUT THEY ARE NOT BEING CAUSED BY ANYTHING FAILING WITHIN THE GREEN LOGIC BOARD, ITSELF!
The Real Culprits in this case invariably turn out to come from The Post Manufacture Installation of Peripheral and/or Power Components. And in that same Power Converter R&R Video, the VOP (Video Original Poster) shows you where each and every one of them are located. So by opening up the "GYMKO" Tech-II Case and performing a very careful (Non-Static Electricity), partial dis-assembly just as he did to gain access to the “Green Board”… you too can use a Magnifying Glass and inspect each and every one of the following components for signs of any poor soldering of specific contact points. They will reveal themselves where the specific problem contacts(s) are situated. Then, using a Fine Point Soldering Tip Iron, some Copper Mesh Solder Wick, some Liquid Flux, a small length of Non-Lead Fine Component Solder and a Tooth Brush with some CRC Electronic Circuit Cleaner spray, most or perhaps even all of any inoperative “GYMKO” Units can be revived and made perfectly serviceable once again: Here is a list of the Usual Suspects to examine for problems:
(1) The 10W 18V→5V @ 3k mA Power Converter (R&R to 15W 9-18V→5V @ 3k mA unit)
(2) External Power Connector
(3) VCI Main Board DLC Cable Interface & Tester Connector
(4) RS-232 Modem Connector
(5) PCMCIA Dual Card Holder Connector
(6) Mis-Aligned LED Screen to MOBO Ribbon Cables
(7) Failing LED Screen Inverter (Screen R&R via Common LED Unit)
Bear these items in mind when watching THIS: