Hey, I’m about to buy a wideband o2. I was looking at the aem gauge and controller combo thing. I also saw one by ngk. i was just wondering which one you guys recommended. Also do you think the innovative is worth the extra money. I liked the aem because it was in the round gauge format. all opinions welcome
innovative makes a good one.
plx or innovative
I love my aem but ive heard great things about innovative.
im running and innovative lc-1. great wide band , and great price
PLX here 
M500 w/ wireless datalog
If anyone needs an Innovate unit…please email me before buying anywhere else.
I will give anyone here a 10% off MSRP (Retail) to start…and beat anyone else posted pricing if its lower than that!
The Innovate units are the best and here is why:
- They use the standard Bosch 5-wire O2 and connector, replacement parts are cheap and readily available…the competition uses a Bosch 5-wire with a DIFFERENT plug so you can ONLY buy if from them (ghey).
- They have (2) configurable analog outputs…the competition sometimes has two, but generally they are static or there is only one output and it is static…or in the case of the AEM, there are two, static and they are NON-linear which makes using them with anything but the AEM EMS a major pain in the ASS
- They are a fully digital unit with the most samples per second, they also use their own patented technology to calibrate the sensor accurately and even account for wear and age on the sensor to give you the most accurate readings possible.
- They have the best customer service of any other wideband company out there
Hello Xenocron,
I am trying to learn and compare here so can I question some of your description and sales arguments for the Innovative Motorsports units;
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Can you not purchase the Bosch 5-wire O2 sensor form anyone that supplies them and all you need to do is change the old connector over to your new O2 sensor wires?
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How fast do the Innovative units update the corresponding air/fuel ratio? You wrote “They are a fully digital unit with the most samples per second” I read through their manuals and specification but did not come across any information. The PLX Devices units update the corresponding air/fuel ratio 10 times per second (10Hz) with a 100 KHz sampling rate.
Edit; found some for the LM-1, 12 samples/second
- With the Innovative Motorsports units are you able to replace your stock narrowband sensor and “feed” the analog signal directly into your ECU at the same time you are measuring the wideband information? You can with the PLX Devices Units.
Is this what you mean by; “They have (2) configurable analog outputs”?
Edit; OK, found this, see the Attached Image at the bottom, two channel so it should output both signals at the same time, correct?
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When you say the other units have outputs that are static could you provide an example of what you might want to use non static outputs for?
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The PLX devices appear to provide self sensor calibration where the Innovative Motorsports units seem to require a manual initiation for calibration. Is this correct?
The PLX Devices are also digital, and have these additional features
Work with standalone engine management systems.
Accurate Air/Fuel Ratio <0.1
Wideband LINEAR Analog Output (0-5V)
Narrowband Analog Output (0-1V)
32 MHz Advanced DSP Technology
Built in Resettable Fuse (No external fuse needed)
Sensor soft start circuitry prolongs o2 sensor life.
Compact
ISO 9002 Certified Assembly
Wireless or USB interface
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Are you mainly describing the LM-1 digital Air/Fuel Ratio Meter and Datalogger. I feel it is to big and bulky with a small unreadable display while driving or the Standalone LC-1 Wideband Controller?
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When you say “give you the most accurate readings possible”. Can you provide some accuracy information? Again could not find any data on their WEB site referring to the meter itself only the capability of the Bosch O2 sensor.
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The Innovative LM-1 appears to have recording time limit of 44 min. while the PLX M500 has a 1 hour recording capability. Is this correct?
Sorry, Edit; 9) What type of signal for data logging can the LM1 utilize? Both analog and digital?
Again the info did not seem to be available on their WEB site beyond don’t try more than 5 Volts. The PLX devices M500, valid high voltage is 2V-25V with respect to ground and a valid low voltage is 0-0.8V with respect to ground.
OK if you purchase an additional cable; $100.00 or box; $240.00 for the LM1 you get 4 or 5 additional inputs to tap into and log other 0-5 V analog sensors from your vehicle. So no external data logging without the cable or box, correct?
Thanks!
Hmm… the details of that LM-1 is on your website right xenocron?
i think plx offers nicer controllers/displays than innovative but if you don’t need a display and all the extras go with innovative. i think if i wasn’t running my aem setup i would go with the r500.
im running aem ems w/ external uego, im getting ready to buy a set of (2) aem serial gauges.
Hello KraZEtEggIE,
You wrote;
“i think plx offers nicer controllers/displays than innovative”
I have friend with the R500 and the display is almost unreadable in most light conditions. He had to make a shade to read it on top of his dash.
I looked at the LC-1 Meter indoors, unlit and I personally like the visual appearance of the Innovative LC-1 guage better than the PLX guage.
good to know.
I have the LM-1 and love it. BTW, the LM-1 will output to any of the digitals guages plus it will output in realtime to a laptop display. I like to make the guage fullscreen on my laptop when I’m street tuning alone.
The LM-1 seems to be the pretty popular choice.
I personally have a PLX M-300 and am just as happy with it. I think both are going to be similar pricewise.
for those of u thought about the NGK wideband. The unit is only a display box that reads in numerical number no swipeing leds. There is no digital or analog output. U have to calibrate it before u install it and have to calibrate it periodically meaning (u have to remove the o2 sensor and operate it on the open air to calibrate) not to convenient. It is not a bad unit if u just want to use the unit to street tune. Set it up with a tailpipe clamp and tune away.
Personally thats what i would use this unit for, not for permant installation.
I use Aem uego, if i were to purchase a new wideband i would get the innovate.
AEM wide band all the way. works great and the price has come down on it finaly. a plus for it to fit in the gauge pods. looks nice a works great.
Me like!
i have the aem uego gauge right now but i am going to get the uego controller w/o the gauge. then buy 2 of the aem serial gauges. the uego controllers aren’t really that good tho compared to plx and innovative.
I’m not sure I understand this question…do you mean hooking it into your stock wiring? Or do you mean when using the AEM WB unit?
If you need a replacement 5-wire O2 for any of the WB units that use the standard connector, you can pick them up from any VW dealer, in fact that is where I get most of mine.
Yes, it will output both signals at the same time, as well as through serial channel for connecting to a gauge or laptop. They are both configurable too though…so if you wanted to output two narrowband or two wideband signals for whatever reason (V8 models with two O2 sensors), you could do that…no other wideband offers this that I know of…
The one just above, another might be feeding an ECU and feeding an external data acquisition unitthe same wideband signal your ECU is seeing. But also there are various conditions I couldnt even think of where a signal may need to be tweaked to work with whatever application you need it to, everything always seems to need some ‘massaging’ when dealing with highly modified cara and the various products out there that interface with these vehicles…
I dont know about the PLX calibration capabilities, but the LM-1 offers both, automatic and push button calibration. When it senses a need to recalibrate it will (how, i have no idea) or what I do whenever I go to tune a new car is recalibrate before putting the unit in the vehicle so that I know everything is functioning properly and is as accurate as it can be before.
44 minutes is correct for on board storage for the LM-1, but remember it can store more signals with the extra attachments offered. Recording time is limitless with a laptop connected live though…
I’m not sure I understand what you are asking here, maybe my limited understand of the PLX…
With the extra box, you can log (5) 0-5v signals. Things like TPS, MAP, IAT, ECT, RPM…things that are important for tuning purposes. These are the voltage ranges most year makes and models use for critical ECU sensors such as these…where you would ever see a 25v signal in a 12v electrical system is beyond me…which is why I am a little confused.
- Are you mainly describing the LM-1 digital Air/Fuel Ratio Meter and Datalogger. I feel it is to big and bulky with a small unreadable display while driving or the Standalone LC-1 Wideband Controller?
I am describing their entire line, each piece has its own application. In my opinion the LM-1 is better for a tuner, someone who will transport it from car to car or take it to the track or dyno and use it on occasion.
The LC-1 is for the beginner tuner with not a lot in their budget, they dont need a constant display.
The XD-16 is someone who likes looks and the functionality of having a full time WB in their car, but not someone who wants to tune others cars…
- When you say “give you the most accurate readings possible”. Can you provide some accuracy information? Again could not find any data on their WEB site referring to the meter itself only the capability of the Bosch O2 sensor.
I remember reading somewhere where they did a test against the Motec and the FJO, supposedly the ‘most accurate’ ($1000+) widebands at the time and they were just as accurate if not more…I cant remember where I read that, it might be in there monthly newsletter section from a ways back…