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COO86L · 04-17-2017, 07:37 AM

Just to add, this is the write up I send confused customers (of which there are a few)..

There are 5 components of the ecutek end user/retail system.

1. EcuTek OBDII cable
2. EcuTek dongle/usb key or its correct name "DESkey"
3. ProECU software
4. License
5. Tune file

All of these are separate things. The software and license are both software items and aren't physical.

The OBDII cable is used for transferring data from the ProECU software/laptop to your cars ECU.

The DESkey is a software encryption key that allows you to open ProECU on your computer. It is like a password for a program but it is physical and impossible to crack/hack. It's purely used so you can't copy the ProECU software, kind of like how some games etc used a product key.

The license is a string of code that attaches to your ProECU software until you write it to the cars ECU. The license, once applied to an ECU, is no longer connected to your particular EcuTek programming kit. You are free to use whatever cable and dongle you wish, otherwise people would be locked to one tuner and one tuner only.

The tune file is created by your tuner. If they are doing it in person, you won't see a copy of it. If you are doing it remotely, they will compile it and "key" it to your dongle ID (DESkey ID). This allows you to flash it to your car but not allow you to open, view or change any mapping. This doesn't lock your ECU either, but using EcuTek means you are locked to EcuTek's software UNLESS you flash a stock tune file, which will allow different programs access.

04-17-2017, 07:37 AM	#3
COO86L Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Drives: 2015 86 GTS + Mitsi Lancer GSR Location: Lismore AUS Posts: 215 Thanks: 127 Thanked 93 Times in 68 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Just to add, this is the write up I send confused customers (of which there are a few).. There are 5 components of the ecutek end user/retail system. 1. EcuTek OBDII cable 2. EcuTek dongle/usb key or its correct name "DESkey" 3. ProECU software 4. License 5. Tune file All of these are separate things. The software and license are both software items and aren't physical. The OBDII cable is used for transferring data from the ProECU software/laptop to your cars ECU. The DESkey is a software encryption key that allows you to open ProECU on your computer. It is like a password for a program but it is physical and impossible to crack/hack. It's purely used so you can't copy the ProECU software, kind of like how some games etc used a product key. The license is a string of code that attaches to your ProECU software until you write it to the cars ECU. The license, once applied to an ECU, is no longer connected to your particular EcuTek programming kit. You are free to use whatever cable and dongle you wish, otherwise people would be locked to one tuner and one tuner only. The tune file is created by your tuner. If they are doing it in person, you won't see a copy of it. If you are doing it remotely, they will compile it and "key" it to your dongle ID (DESkey ID). This allows you to flash it to your car but not allow you to open, view or change any mapping. This doesn't lock your ECU either, but using EcuTek means you are locked to EcuTek's software UNLESS you flash a stock tune file, which will allow different programs access.