Over the years, we have accumulated experience, and we would like to share it with everybody interested in the topic of SAE J1939. Here is the result:
ARD1939: A Portable SAE J1939 Protocol Stack for Arduino, ESP32, and Embedded Systems
Developing an SAE J1939 application has traditionally required a substantial investment—not only in hardware and engineering time, but also in software. Commercial SAE J1939 protocol stacks are often expensive, frequently ...
Choosing the Right Hardware for Embedded SAE J1939 Development
One of the first questions engineers ask when starting with SAE J1939 development is: “Which hardware platform should I use?” The good news is that there is no shortage of ...
Understanding J1939 PGNs Without Getting Lost in the Standard
In this post, I would like to address what is arguably the most important concept in the SAE J1939 standard: the Parameter Group Number (PGN). PGNs are the heart and ...
Why I’m Writing a Completely Different J1939 Book
When I published Comprehensible Guide to J1939 several years ago, I honestly didn’t know what to expect. Today, it continues to sell well, and I still receive emails from engineers ...
The Evolution of J1939: From Heavy-Duty Trucks to Autonomous Systems
When the first versions of SAE J1939 emerged in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the objective was straightforward: provide a standardized communication protocol for electronic control units (ECUs) in ...
J1939 Reverse Engineering: Decoding Proprietary PGNs and Unknown CAN Messages
If you spend enough time working with heavy-duty vehicles, agricultural equipment, construction machinery, or industrial engines, you will eventually encounter proprietary J1939 messages. At that point, many engineers ask the ...
Why J1939 Communication Fails: 10 Troubleshooting Steps That Solve Most Problems
If you’ve worked with SAE J1939 long enough, you’ve probably experienced the frustration of connecting two devices to a CAN bus and seeing… absolutely nothing happen. No engine data. No ...
SAE J1939 VIN Simulation and Request Demo – Understanding PGN 65260 (VIN)
In previous quick demos, we focused on SAE J1939 parameters that are transmitted periodically, such as engine speed, vehicle speed, fuel level, and engine temperatures. These messages are broadcast automatically ...
SAE J1939 Engine Speed Simulation (PGN 61444 / SPN 190) with JCOM1939 Monitor
Engine speed is one of the most frequently monitored parameters in any SAE J1939 network. Whether you are developing a dashboard, testing an engine ECU, validating telematics software, or learning ...
How to Develop J1939 Software Without Access to a Vehicle
If you are new to SAE J1939 development, you may believe that access to a truck, engine, generator, or agricultural machine is required before you can write any meaningful software ...
Why Your New Dashboard Won’t Talk to Your Old Diesel Engine (And How to Fix It)
Modern digital dashboards are amazing. They offer colorful displays, engine diagnostics, fuel consumption data, trip information, and customizable gauges that make a 20-year-old truck feel like a brand-new vehicle. Unfortunately, ...
Embedded SAE J1939 Development: ESP32 vs. Raspberry Pi + PiCAN HAT
SAE J1939 development has evolved far beyond traditional automotive Electronic Control Units (ECUs). Today, engineers can build J1939-enabled systems using low-cost embedded platforms such as the ESP32 and the Raspberry ...
Connecting J1939 to IoT, Cloud, and Fleet Management Systems
As heavy-duty vehicles become increasingly connected, engineers are looking for ways to integrate vehicle data into fleet management systems, cloud applications, industrial control systems, and enterprise databases. The hardware needed ...
Can Multiple SAE J1939 Nodes Transmit the Same PGN?
One question that appears regularly in SAE J1939 discussions is whether multiple Electronic Control Units (ECUs) can transmit the same Parameter Group Number (PGN). At first glance, the answer seems ...
J1939 vs. ISOBUS: Similarities, Differences, and Compatibility
For engineers working with agricultural machinery, one question comes up repeatedly: "Is ISOBUS just another name for J1939?" The short answer is: Almost—but not quite. Both protocols share the same ...
Can You Use a J1939 Gateway to Monitor ISOBUS Networks?
One of the questions that recently crossed my mind was whether our existing SAE J1939 gateways and monitoring tools could be useful in the agricultural sector, specifically for monitoring ISOBUS ...
CAN 2.0B with a 29-Bit Identifier Does Not Automatically Mean J1939 Compatibility
One of the most common misconceptions in the heavy-duty vehicle and industrial control markets is the assumption that a device using CAN 2.0B with a 29-bit identifier is automatically SAE ...
SAE J1939 Development Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated: From Monitoring to Full ECU Simulation
If you have recently started working with SAE J1939, chances are your search history looks something like this: How do I monitor J1939 traffic? What hardware do I need for ...
CAN Bus and J1939 on Raspberry Pi: Linux Flexibility vs. Embedded Reliability
If you spend enough time around CAN Bus and SAE J1939 discussions, you'll eventually encounter a statement along these lines: "Why implement a J1939 stack in firmware when Linux already ...
NEXAS NL102 Review: Heavy-Duty Truck Diagnostic Scanner for J1939 and J1708 Diesel Trucks
The NEXAS NL102 Heavy Duty Truck Diagnostic Scanner is a practical and affordable diagnostic tool designed for diesel truck owners, fleet operators, and technicians who need quick access to fault ...
A Comprehensible Guide to J1939 is the first work on J1939 besides the SAE J1939 standards collection. It provides profound information on the J1939 message format and network management combined with a high level of readability.
The information in this book is based on two documents of the SAE J1939 Standards Collection:
- J1939/21 – Data Link Layer
- J1939/81 – Network Management
This book attempts to create an enjoyable and readable J1939 reference for everybody. The information provided in this book is, besides the SAE J1939 Standards Collection, based on publicly available information such as, but not limited to, websites and printed literature, as well as contributions by engineers familiar with Controller Area Network and the J1939 protocol. The information in this book, while based on the J1939 standard, is not a reproduction of any copyrighted SAE document. More Information…
