# how to start? **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [February 22, 2021, 12:00pm UTC](https://forum.realdash.net/t/how-to-start/906 "2021-02-22T12:00:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![xenom](https://forum.realdash.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/x/c77e96/32.png) [@xenom](https://forum.realdash.net/u/xenom)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 12:00pm UTC](https://forum.realdash.net/t/how-to-start/906/1 "2021-02-22T12:00:09Z")
good morning everyone! I want to start a project for my opel vectra c. i bought an ELM327 and found realdash soft. It was incredible. I have seen how with the obd2 I read correctly rpm and speed, setting the gear ratio correctly indicates the gear engaged. I found Adam Varga’s project in which using an arduino and a shield sniffing the can bus and taking out the codes for the actions. in fact I have the CSV with the codes and addresses. I also have the arduino and its MCP2515 CAN module. my question is … with all the hardware i have, how do i start the project? as I edit the XML for example simbol door closed, 255,00,00,08,07, AE, 06,01,01,00,08,00 to the format compatible with real dash? It is difficult to start from scratch and want to face a project like this. I also have another painting of my car that can help me to carry out the project if necessary. Thank you all very much for your help! ---
**Author:** ![realdashdev](https://forum.realdash.net/user_avatar/forum.realdash.net/realdashdev/32/6_2.png) [@realdashdev](https://forum.realdash.net/u/realdashdev)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 12:15pm UTC](https://forum.realdash.net/t/how-to-start/906/2 "2021-02-22T12:15:45Z")
You could start with a Seeedstudio CAN adapter so you don’t have to build any custom hardware. Once you get your vehicle CAN mapped with that, you can proceed to build custom hardware for extra sensors etc. Supported direct CAN adapters listed here: [http://realdash.net/manuals/supported\_can\_lin\_analyzers.php](http://realdash.net/manuals/supported_can_lin_analyzers.php) ---
**Author:** ![xenom](https://forum.realdash.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/x/c77e96/32.png) [@xenom](https://forum.realdash.net/u/xenom)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2021, 1:27pm UTC](https://forum.realdash.net/t/how-to-start/906/3 "2021-02-22T13:27:42Z")
If its posible, i would use the hardware that i have now. Exist any tutorial to sniff the can bus or what the extensión that i must use to use for hack? ---
**Author:** ![realdashdev](https://forum.realdash.net/user_avatar/forum.realdash.net/realdashdev/32/6_2.png) [@realdashdev](https://forum.realdash.net/u/realdashdev)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2021, 10:27am UTC](https://forum.realdash.net/t/how-to-start/906/4 "2021-02-23T10:27:39Z")
Start with RealDash CAN monitor. That should show you all the information to get started. ---
**Author:** ![xenom](https://forum.realdash.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/x/c77e96/32.png) [@xenom](https://forum.realdash.net/u/xenom)\ **Post date:** [March 6, 2021, 1:53pm UTC](https://forum.realdash.net/t/how-to-start/906/5 "2021-03-06T13:53:27Z")
Hello, while I learn more about the can-bus I would like to ask a question. What data can be taken from obd2 elm327? for example. turbo pressure, speed, rpm … no problem. with the instantaneous consumption other programs and devices if it reads them directly (or does the calculation with the MAF, etc) RD does not and gives very different values. How can I see the data coming out of the obd2 via bluetooth with the ELM327? ---
**Author:** ![realdashdev](https://forum.realdash.net/user_avatar/forum.realdash.net/realdashdev/32/6_2.png) [@realdashdev](https://forum.realdash.net/u/realdashdev)\ **Post date:** [March 8, 2021, 7:40am UTC](https://forum.realdash.net/t/how-to-start/906/6 "2021-03-08T07:40:16Z")
There are some standard PIDs, most listed here: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OBD-II\_PIDs](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OBD-II_PIDs) Unfortunately many manufacturers do not use the standard PIDs but custom, vehicle specific ones. For that reason RealDash cannot read all data from all vehicles automatically. ---
**Author:** ![marnor](https://forum.realdash.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@marnor](https://forum.realdash.net/u/marnor)\ **Post date:** [May 12, 2026, 3:36pm UTC](https://forum.realdash.net/t/how-to-start/906/9 "2026-05-12T15:36:22Z")
Is it possible to pull the data directly off the existing instrument cluster and display it using RealDash? ---
**Author:** ![realdashdev](https://forum.realdash.net/user_avatar/forum.realdash.net/realdashdev/32/6_2.png) [@realdashdev](https://forum.realdash.net/u/realdashdev)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 9:17am UTC](https://forum.realdash.net/t/how-to-start/906/10 "2026-05-18T09:17:16Z")
Not 100% sure what you mean, but CAN and OBD2 connections basically do that. ---
**Author:** ![marnor](https://forum.realdash.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@marnor](https://forum.realdash.net/u/marnor)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 2:45pm UTC](https://forum.realdash.net/t/how-to-start/906/11 "2026-05-18T14:45:16Z")
Thank you for your response. I am asking if instead of connecting to CAN or OBD2 interfaces, can I just pull the data off the existing instrument cluster connector/wiring and use that data for a realdash. Make sense? ---
**Author:** ![realdashdev](https://forum.realdash.net/user_avatar/forum.realdash.net/realdashdev/32/6_2.png) [@realdashdev](https://forum.realdash.net/u/realdashdev)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 7:31am UTC](https://forum.realdash.net/t/how-to-start/906/12 "2026-05-19T07:31:36Z")
> [@marnor](#): > > Make sense? Unless you want to tap into instrument cluster CAN lines (if available), no, I do not know how you could otherwise read your instrument cluster data directly.