The echo check just checks wether communication works and the K-line is powered.
If you don't get an echo while connected and ignition on, one possibility is
that the wrong serial port is selected (default is COM2), use option -p <COMPORT>
for the correct com port. Or you need to specify option -f (to use an FTDI based cable).

So what is needed to make this work with a Porsche 996T ECU?

For those who are having error -8 issues, like me was a while ago, I found that the problem was my notebook. It is a IBM Thinkpad which cames with an accelerometer and a technology to protect your HD when the notebook get shockes... When it's "on" and you're trying to log data from your car, the me7logger will stop random because your car shakes too much

Who have IBM/Lenovo notebook's go to: http://support.lenovo.com/en_US/detail.page?LegacyDocID=MIGR-53150 and install the application. When installed, you can disable APS protection and have fun with your logging

This drove me crazy for like 2 days without logging success... hope this can help someone too.

Pushing a little bit forward on the logging front ...
Here is my ME7Logger package now available for everybody,
has been tested successfully on different cars.

It consists of two tools: one to generate ecu characteristics files
(similar to properties) out of ecu images, second to log data.
No GUI for klicky guys, no graphics, just console programs.

/sales_mode=on  
Will outperform commercially available tools on speed & flexibility:
 - Up to 50 samples per second possible.
 - Up to 127 independent variables can be logged at same time.
 - Open for expansions: whatever you want to log, you can define it.
 - No fiddling with licenses/hacked programs needed.
/sales_mode=off

- It's free for hobby use,
- It's NOT for noobs. Not a connect-and-log tool,
  before logging you should have your ecu image available.

Last but not least: buy a commercial program if you want
to make someone liable for damages/not working logging tools  

Update 12.08.2011, some fixes/changes done:
- Experimental FTDI native driver support added, option -f
- Logger start time synchronization added, option -t
- Logger absolute timestamp added, option -a
- Allow TAB's also in trace config files
- Variables zwbasar_<xx> for all available cylinders
- Variables wkraa_<xx> limited to available cylinders
- Minor changes, some variables added

Update 09.09.2011, some of the requested changes/fixes done:
- Single sample option added (result is output just to the window)
- More variables determined for images with code variant (missing tans(IAT) for one image)
- zwbasar_<xx> now really available for all available cylinders
- Some more variables added
- Some alias names added, some changed


Update 02.04.2012 to version 1.17:
(Updated 04.04.2012 the ME7Info in the .zip, fixed path error)
Changes in ME7Logger:
- Reworked general timing calculations, timestamps, sync to full second
- Fixed local time in absolute timestamps (option -a)
- Supress logfile writing when output goes to stdout (option -R)
  useful if output is piped to external evaluation tool/filter
- Added option -m: Timestamp format milliseconds
- Added option -h: supress printing header information in logfiles
- Added option -b: set logging baudrate for communication,
                   override baudrate from ecu file
- connection method "double slowinit" added (helps with "instrument cluster" problem)
  To use double slowinit set in the [Communication] section of the .ecu file:
    Connect      = SLOW-0x00
    DoubleDelay  = 12           ; Possible values 1 .. 100 (delay in 100ms)
  This only allows to connect while engine not yet started.

Changes in ME7Info:
- Reverted back to zwbasar_0 .. zwbasar_3
  (Array size NOT dependent on number of cylinders)
- Some variables added:
 + zwoutar_0 .. zwoutar_3
 + zwsol
 + redist / evz_austot
 + lamfaws_w / lamfawkr_w / lamfaw_w / lamfwl_w / lamrlmn_w
 + perffilt_w / perfmax_w   => This is CPU-Load
    It helps in finding out the max. logging capabilities of your ECU.
    Around 90% CPU-Load might be a limit for the ECU.