I have been using the Hypertech since it came out for the JK and it works great for me! The new stuff they added just blow me out of the water.

 

Have owned both and now using the Flashpaq. Power differences were dramatic although I am not sure what improvements there have been since I owned the Brand H. New updates places features near what the Flashpaq was delivering a few years ago. Brand h is slow, very slow and a tune would take nearly 30 minutes to install and 5 minutes for the Superchips Flashpaq which did a lot more.

Never had a "pinging" issue with my Flashpaq although I was running lean with the brand h. Got it resolved of my own accord and no help or even sympathy from the manufacturer. For those who have had a lean issue with the Flashpaq there is a tune for those users. There are actually very few users who have had the "pinging" issue with the Flashpaq but it gets parroted as as if it's an epidemic. Keep in mind that an engine makes it's most power on the verge of knock and all programmers make their power by advancing timing.

Getting ready to install my new Superchips Vivid which will do away with the need of my Flashpaq and Aeroforce Interceptor. Same feature set of the Flashpaq, plus real time gauge clusters fed remotely to an Archos tablet. In all the biggest difference is the availability of the Superchips automatic transmission package which allows control of shift points, shift firmness and torque management. I have a manual JK, but on my Dodge Ram it's made a world of difference.

 

Does the Vivid have the ability to adjust the throttle like the Hypertech? The Vivid's auto tranny adjustments sound pretty appealing. Both have features that require them be active while driving the jeep, do either of them offer a reasonable mounting feature (Seems like Hypertech does not)?

One issue I have with the vivid is when you check out the SC Vivid web page it talks so much more about the functionality it has outside of the actual performance enhancements (like games and GPS). With Hypertech, they list and have a video of what it does exactly.

 

Yes, the Vivid has throttle pedal settings and windshield mount hardware. The hardware does not need to be present once a tune is installed.

As for performance features of the Vivid it has all the same things the Superchips Flashpaq does, plus the touch screen display and a variety of gauge clusters. First day out and about with it, and thus far I'm pretty stoked.

 

I'm kicking around different options myself. And since I've already got a few Android devices, I'm leaning towards the Superchips Vivid Linq.

On the other hand, I've heard nothing but good about Hypertech support, whereas there's been some people complaining about Superchips taking a long time to respond to issues. (How much of that is Superchips fault v.s. the end-user being overly ornery, there's no telling)

Now if Hypertech comes out with their own bluetooth module for Android devices, well now... That might just make my mind up for me.

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krynn

I'm kicking around different options myself. And since I've already got a few Android devices, I'm leaning towards the Superchips Vivid Linq.

On the other hand, I've heard nothing but good about Hypertech support, whereas there's been some people complaining about Superchips taking a long time to respond to issues. (How much of that is Superchips fault v.s. the end-user being overly ornery, there's no telling)

Now if Hypertech comes out with their own bluetooth module for Android devices, well now... That might just make my mind up for me.

I've had nothing but great support from Superchips. I didn't get the same from brand h. In fact there were fundamental issues with their company and the means by which they were handling my support issue that I bought a Superchips the very first day it was available. Sold my brand h within a week and the person I sold it to also flipped it and bought the Flashpaq.

Known issues with Superchips support. They close up shop at the end of the business day on Fridays not to return until Monday. That's a hard nut to swallow when you have your shiny new programmer, it doesn't recognize your vehicle because of updated PCM firmware or the like and you need to wait out the weekend. The PC based upgrade software can be frustrating if you're running an older OS. It can also get held up with firewalls and virus protection software. There can also be server traffic issues when some new tire melting update comes out for a Hemi Ram. If I have fallen into any of those issues I just wait for a time of day when I know there will be less traffic on their server (not a friday evening) and if for any reason I need to call support I call them first thing in the morning (they open 8am EST).

I have now owned 4 Superchips products. They've all been great with feature sets that have expanded while I owned them. I deal with Ron Rapp in their support department (very infrequently) and if he can't resolve my issue I have always got a same day email from their lead Chrysler engineer. I have never been out of service for more than a 24 hour period and it's usually been an issue on my end, ie computer/router issues or an incomplete download of an update.

The only other tuner I have considered is the DiabloSport. Superchips is bound by a 50 state legal mandate of their parent company (MSD) and there are some hardware upgrades that really require a custom tune. If I were to throw long tube headers on my JK, that's the route I'd run.  At the same time, if I had an automatic transmission no way I am running any other direction than Superchips as their advanced transmission package is far beyond what anyone else has to offer for Chrysler vehicles. The Dodge Ram guys who have bounced around with flavor of the day programmers from DiabloSport and SCT have largely found themselves back in the Superchips camp since the advanced trans package has been available.

Lastly I believe there are plenty of smash and grab used Flashpaqs out there for Jeeps as they get plucked by thieves in unsecured vehicles. These wannabe hoods can grab a few bucks chooching ipods, GPSs and whatever other electronics they can grab. These items get thrown up on ebay to unsuspecting buyers who receive them vin locked, without the USB cable and a manual. Certainly leads to a lot of support issues and ends up with 3 victims, Superchips, the guy that got pinched and the guy who unknowingly bought a lifted Flashpaq.

I hope this is helpful.

 

Thanks! Yeah, I can see how those issues would lead people to complain heavily about Superchips not being available for support and/or having to jump through lots of extra hoop to get their used Flashpaq working.

The auto transmission features of Superchips are neat to know about, but they're not going to be a major concern of mine - I'm a diehard manual tranny fan.

So, just curious here. What fundamental issues do you see with 'brand H'? I can certainly understand about being frustrated with a lack of assistance in troubleshooting your problem, as well as the speed of applying a tune. The reason why I ask is that I hear Hypertech is going to be the primary point of contact for support for Sprintex in the US when their supercharger kit for the JK is released, and I'm very interested in the Sprintex over the Ripp. I'd very much rather know what I'm getting into ahead of time.

 

I have to agree with Jpop. I have called a few times with some questions about my Vivid and they have been more than helpful, actually staying on the phone and talking me through things. I do wish they stayed open later on Fridays though.

 

I really don't want to open this can of worms again. It was as simple as receiving the internal emails regarding my case and enough for me to go another direction.

With Superchips, their penetration into the JK market is assuredly greater than all their competitors combined. There's simply a ton of volume out there and likewise a larger number of support cases. There are also more features and a greater number of incremental add ons. This suggests that customers are not only doing more with their Flashpaqs, but are also interacting more with their Internet updaters.

If you want to end up with a Supercharger, I would go the DiabloSport route and eventually RIPP. They suffer from their own success just as many companies do, and the quantities they have installed lead to having more support issues. If seven people have success with a product perhaps one of them will tell some one. If one person has an issue they will tell seven people and more and more we see these people using the internet as a megaphone followed by a plethora of people parroting the same.

Like I said, I'm stoked with my new Superchips Vivid and I don't plan on doing any updates that would require a custom tune such as long tube headers. Line up the feature sets, read the end user reviews, know where you're heading with your JK and make your choice. At this point all of the products are much more mature than when I initially jumped. There isn't the same frequency of PCM firmware updates, the individual vehicle specific calibration files are done and nearly everyone has a touch screen interface. Much is the same on the surface, and it really boils down to performance and features.

BTW, I will do a review of my Vivid as soon as I get some more road time with it. A lot more to it than a Flashpaq and I'd like to be pretty complete in going over the features.

 

Ok, thanks for the info. A supercharger is probably still a year or more out at the moment, so I might just pick up the Vivid Linq in a month or so. Can't wait to see your review!