Help with waveshare can to usb adapter

Hi everyone, I am new to realdash and I am currently having connection issues, all of my own fault no doubt.

I have a audi a7 4g 2013 and trying to connect the waveshare can to usb dongle to realdash with no luck, I set up the device by choosing can/lin adapter then serial/usb and selecting waveshare adapter, but after i set this is just keeps saying connecting, the can high and low and signal ground all spur off the obd 16 socket.

Am i missing something obvious or is there more setup please.

thanks in advance, Nick

Some checks that may help:

  • In RealDash connection settings, go to CAN Monitor to verify that you are receiving CAN frames. If you are, then its a matter of RealDash not understanding the CAN frames and requires custom XML file to describe the CAN bus.
  • If there is no data in CAN Monitor, try
  • Check CANH can CANL wires that they are wired correctly
  • Check the resistance of the CAN bus to verify if terminal resistor is needed on the adapter.
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Thank you I will check this, a quick question , should the waveshare rxd and txd lights flash when the car is giving can signals.

Yes, RXD will flash when its receiving data.

Thanks for quick reply

So i have tried again with no luck, i am using can high and can low from obd socket, is that ok, i have definitely got the correct wires connected and they work with my autel diagnostics, if i set connection to obd2, serial usb, choose usb serial in list, keep baud rate at 2000000 and set to generic sae compatible vehicle and obd protocol automatic it will pick it up and say its atd protocol on obd2 monitor screen

If i choose waveshare at baud rate 2000000 it wont pick it up, also unsure what can description file and can speed to choose for audi a7

I think i might try this tommorow, on the gateway module there is direct canbus for powertrain(engine) the diagnostic port has its own canbus, so fingers crossed i will get feedback to waveshare dongle that way.

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So i have managed to get canbus reading, which can description file would work for audi please.


Tried 3 more hours lost now, might give up as i can see can but nothing works from list :frowning:

Sorry to go on, my android headunit has a built in app like this that reads rpm,speed,indicators,battery,lights and gear change, it must get its feed from the canbus infotainment, could i use this can bus to see if it would read from this like android inbuilt app does?

We do not have CAN description files for Audi. If you can find a DBC file, we could help you make one. That would require help from you with testing and quite a lot of patience.

More info about Android head units and their build-in CAN:

Problems with Android headunits - General / Frequently Asked Questions - RealDash Forum

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Here is a couple for audi i found on internet, hope they help.

So to learn from this, even though i just want to read eobd type data not audi specific, it still needs audi dbc files.

CAN connection is always vehicle specific. OBD2 connection is ‘unified’ to extent, but in most cases still requires vehicle specific PIDs.

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Those are Racologic REF files that to my understanding does not contain clear description of vehicle CAN frames.

ah ok, I will keep looking, cheers mate.

So i purchased this device as well and it doesnt show up in the list inside realdash. I installed the driver (had to search the company website) and still nothing. Im running Windows 10.

Choose can/lin adapter and its at the bottom if its the waveshare one