The vLinker FS USB is Vgate's wired FORScan adapter. It finds HS-CAN and MS-CAN by itself, moves full 4095-byte packets at up to 3 Mbps and can supply about 18V for programming select older US-market vehicles.
A basic FORScan cable makes you do the switching. The program stops, asks you to move a toggle to MS-CAN, and waits while you fumble under the steering column. The vLinker FS USB spots which bus FORScan wants and changes over by itself.
That switching exists because Ford spreads its modules across two networks on many models. The engine, transmission and ABS sit on high-speed CAN, while the cluster, audio, climate and body modules often live on medium-speed CAN on different pins of the port. A plain ELM327 only ever sees the first network.
With automatic switching, a full FORScan scan runs straight through. Modules no longer disappear because the toggle was left in the wrong position, which is the most common mistake owners make with switched cables.
Vgate adds a fair caveat: module access depends on the car's network design. FORScan shows which bus each module uses, so the software is the final word on what your model exposes. The FS USB simply makes sure the adapter is never the thing standing in the way.
Owners new to the whole idea of two Ford networks will find the background in the FORScan guide, including which comfort features usually live on MS-CAN.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Brand | Vgate |
| Model | vLinker FS USB (Windows) |
| Link type | USB; works in USB 2.0 and 3.0 ports |
| Computer | Windows PC or laptop |
| iPhone / Android | No |
| Command set | ELM327 protocol |
| Bus access | Automatic detection of HS-CAN and MS-CAN |
| Programming voltage | Up to about 18V for select older US-market vehicles |
| Data rate | Up to 3 Mbps |
| Packet size | Full 4095-byte packets |
| Named software | FORScan (optimised), AlfaOBD, VCTool and other ELM327 programs; not included |
| Vehicle voltage | 12V and 24V |
| Vehicles | OBD2 petrol models typically from 1996, diesel typically from 2004; select CAN flow-controlled EVs |
| Regions | US- and EU-spec models; varies by year and configuration |
| Dimensions | 4.33 x 1.77 x 0.79 in |
| In the box | Adapter, user manual |
Some older US-market Ford computers need a raised programming voltage on the diagnostic port before they accept new software. Ford calls it FEPS, and FORScan asks for it on those jobs. The vLinker FS USB can deliver up to about 18V for that purpose, which most ELM327 cables cannot.
The second half of the story is data. The FS USB handles full 4095-byte packets at up to 3 Mbps, so long answers from a module arrive complete instead of being cut short. Vgate ties that to full trouble-code retrieval, large transfers without truncation and steady live-data streams on long sessions.
| Job | What the FS USB brings |
|---|---|
| Reading every module's codes | Complete answers in full-size packets |
| Configuration backups | Fast transfer at up to 3 Mbps |
| Long live-data logs | A wired link that cannot drop out |
| Reflash on select older US models | About 18V programming voltage |
Programming is still the riskiest thing you can do with a laptop and a car. Vgate itself says to consult service documentation or a qualified technician first. A short routine keeps the odds on your side:
Set the laptop side up at the kitchen table before you ever walk to the car. Most USB adapter trouble is a driver or port setting, not the car, and a kitchen chair beats crouching in the footwell while you sort it out. The vLinker FS USB is sold as a Windows device, and FORScan is the program it is tuned for.
Unlike most ELM327 cables, the FS USB is rated for 24V as well as 12V electrical systems. That makes it one adapter for a Ford pickup and a 24V commercial vehicle, as long as the software supports the vehicle in question.
Keep the lead loose rather than wrapped tight around the plug when you store it. Most cable failures start where the wire enters the housing. For drivers and laptop choices across every wired adapter, see the ELM327 USB guide, and the ELM327 commands page shows how to test the link from a terminal.
Vgate makes the FS in two forms, and OBDLink sells the EX for the same FORScan crowd. All three reach MS-CAN. They differ in how they connect, how they switch and what they cost.
| Adapter | Link | Switching | Stand-out point |
|---|---|---|---|
| vLinker FS USB | USB, Windows | Automatic HS/MS | About 18V output, 12V and 24V |
| vLinker FS Bluetooth | Bluetooth: iPhone, Android, Windows | MS-CAN supported | FEPS 18V in FORScan Lite, 3 mA sleep |
| OBDLink EX | USB, Windows | Electronic, all buses at once | FORScan team's recommendation |
| Generic switched cable | USB, Windows | Manual toggle | Lowest cost |
The USB version suits owners who do their FORScan work on a laptop and want a link that cannot drop. The Bluetooth twin adds FORScan Lite on a phone and can stay in the port. The EX goes further on multi-bus jobs and carries FORScan's own endorsement.
Whichever you pick, your setup has to pass three tests. Your laptop must run Windows, since that is where FORScan's full version lives. Your model should appear in FORScan's supported vehicle list for the job you have in mind. And the feature you want must match modules your car was built with, because no adapter can add hardware the factory left out.
A manual toggle cable remains a fair choice for one evening of comfort tweaks. Once you find yourself opening FORScan every few weeks, the automatic switch pays for itself in saved hassle and fewer confusing scans.
For a broader view of the two brands, the Vgate and OBDLink comparison covers their Bluetooth models too.
No. It detects HS-CAN and MS-CAN on its own and changes over when FORScan needs the other bus.
No. It is a USB adapter for Windows. For FORScan Lite, Vgate's vLinker FS Bluetooth is the matching wireless model.
Some older US-market vehicles need a raised programming voltage to accept new module software. The FS USB supplies about 18V for those jobs.
Yes. Vgate rates it for 12V and 24V systems, provided the software supports the vehicle.
No. FORScan, AlfaOBD and VCTool are installed separately on the Windows laptop.