Key benefits

• The DPA series are network bus adapters and analyzers for: CAN (ISO 11898), Single Wire CAN, J1939, GMLAN, J1587, J1708, J1922, J2284, KWP2000, J1850 Class 2 (GM) plus others.
• Designed for the heavy truck and bus market plus off-road construction, agriculture, marine and similar uses.
• Supports: RP1210A & B, J1939, J1587, J2534, and ATEC1.
• Useful for diagnostics, fast reflashing, development, end-of line testing, data acquisition and hardware-in-the-loop.
• RS-232, USB and Wireless RF PC interfaces.
• PC software: OEM diagnostics, Dearborn Group’s DLM, Labview and user custom using supplied DLLs.
• Supports proprietary diagnostics software from Cummins, Detroit Diesel, Wabco/Meritor, Caterpillar, Mack, Allison, Eaton, Navistar and many others.
• Portable and rugged with a sturdy metal case.
• Deutsch connectors, OBDII and custom cables available.
• Designed and made in the USA. Supported everywhere.

The DPA series is designed to connect a PC to various serial target networks as listed above. Normally a standard 6-pin or 9-pin Deutsch, OBDII (J1969) or custom connector is used. Network messages and data can then be transmitted to and received from the vehicle. PC software is supplied by the systems manufacturers, Dearborn Group or by customer developed software. Applications include diagnostic, data acquisition, development and end-of-line testing. The DPA supports equipment without Windows such as PDAs, PLCs and custom hardware. Windows CE will run on a DPA III/i and /iSW. Typical targets include engine, transmission, HVAC, body plus other systems that are not automotive. DPAs are useful anywhere a protocol they support is used including industrial automation, medical, CANopen, DeviceNET or any other general application. The DPA series is designed for private branding with the addition of proprietary protocols, hardware, features and logos. Many firms have chosen this route to provide their own branded diagnostic hardware. This provides a validated platform that can also be conveniently used on other manufacturers’s sub-systems and DG maintains compatibility.

Physical layer protocols supported

All DPAs support CAN (two wire) and J1708. Specific DPA models add support for single-wire CAN (SWCAN), J1850 (VPW - GM and Chrysler) and specific versions of ISO 9141.

Higher-layer protocols supported

Higher-layer protocols use a physical layer such as those previously mentioned, to transport messages. The main truck and bus protocols are J1587, J1922 and the newer J1939. Cars and light trucks use GM Class 2, GMLAN, KWP2000 plus many others. CANopen and DeviceNet are used in industrial applications and these two use the CAN physical layer. J1939 uses the CAN bus and J1587 and J1922 use J1708 which is a UART-based physical layer.

Pass-through and analyzer modes

The DPA has two modes of operation: Pass-Through and Analyzer mode. The DPA Pass-Through mode provides a signal translation from the PC to that protocol used in the target. The Dearborn Group holds U.S. Patent # 6772248 on Pass-Through devices. In the Analyzer mode, most processing is done in the DPA hardware providing response times much faster than if done in the PC facilitating more powerful features and faster operation.

Analyzer mode

The DPA hardware intelligently manipulates data to/from the target system. Messages can be sent and received using a program such as DG’s DLM (Data Link Monitor) for CAN, J1939, J1850 and J1708 or a custom application using the DPA API drivers. RP1210A & B for Truck and Bus Diagnostics TMC (Technolgy & Maintenance Council) maintains a standard called RP1210A and the newer RP1210B that are used to define the interface from the DPA to the manufacturer provided diagnostics software that runs on a PC. The DPA’s Pass-Through mode is used. The DPA supports RP1210A, RP1210B and other truck, bus and other proprietary protocols. The RP1210A & B diagnostic software is available from each system’s manufacturer and interfaces directly to the DPA software.

Custom pass-through protocols

Some companies bypass RP1210A or B and write their Windows diagnostic software to directly access the target though the DPA using its API drivers. Custom applications can be developed using a DPA to read and write to a vehicle or network system using programs such as C, Visual Basic, Visual C and LabView. The DPA III/i accepts ASCII commands from non-Windows devices such as PDAs, PLCs, data acquisition or other proprietary hardware. Win CE will run on the DPA /i series.

DPA model categories

There are four current categories: DPA III, DPA IIIPlus, DPA RF and DPA 4. The DPA III and Plus and the DPA RF connect to the PC with a RS232 (COMx serial) link and the DPA 4 connects with USB 2.0. The DPA 4 is an advanced version of the DPA III with more features and a more powerful processor (Freescale Coldfire vs. Intel 196).

• All DPAs support J1939 in hardware for higher throughput.
• The Plus designation and the DPA 4 provide backwards hardware compatibility for Kenmore, Cummins, Inline I, Bendix and others.
• All DPAs can be ordered with single wire CAN (SW CAN).
• All DPA firmware is field upgradeable.
• The DPA III/i and DPA III/iSW are ASCII based DPAs for systems with WinCE or without Windows. SW is Single Wire CAN.

DPA 4 - provides USB 2.0 support.

The DPA 4 supercedes the DPA III family except for RS-232 and ASCII support. The DPA 4 supports RP1210A and B, CAN, J1939, J1850, J1708, SW CAN, GMUART and Pass-Through. It supports all the higher level layers that run on these physical layers.

DPA RF - a member of the DPA 4 family.

This DPA has a proprietary RF system designed for extended distance, security, reliability and freedom from interference. It has a range of up to 2 miles and consists of a Base and a Remote station as shown below.

Please contact us for the DPA RF datasheet or visit www.dgtech.com.

DPA III and DPA III Plus (DPA 3)

• All DPA IIIs support RP1210A & B, CAN, J1939, J1708 and Pass-Through physical layers. Specific models add additional protocols as described below and in the preceding chart.
• Physical layer:
  • DPA IIIPlus/T: adds J1850.
  • DPA IIIPlus/C: adds ISO 9141-2.
  • DPA IIIPlus/MH: adds J1850 and ISO 9141-2.
  • DPA III/i adds J1850.
  • DPA III/iSW: adds J1850 and Single Wire CAN (J2411).
• Higher layers:
  • DPA IIIPlus/T: adds GMLAN, GMUART, J1587, GM Class 2, J1922, J1979, J2284, J2411 (GM SW), KWP2000
  • DPA IIIPlus/C: adds ISO 9141-2.
  • DPA IIIPlus/MH: adds GM Class 2, Haldex and ATEC1.
  • DPA III/i & /iSW: adds GMLAN, J1587, J1979, J2284, GM Class 2 and Ford SCP. DPA III/iSW adds SW CAN.

Data Link Monitor (DLM) software

DLM is a Dearborn Group program designed to provide a convenient method of reading, writing and displaying messages from a CAN, J1850 or J1708 network. DLM is J1939 aware. DLM connects to the DPA via RS-232 or USB. Messages can be filtered for specific IDs. The DLM screen displays ID, data, a timestamp, transmit/receive status, filtering, flags and triggers

For more information:

For more information regarding the DPA Series, other DG products and services, to find technical specifications, pricing, information on unlisted protocols or to locate your local representative, contact the Dearborn Group at sales@dgtech.com, visit www.dgtech.com or call our offices at (248) 488-2080 .