Circuit Board on Consult cables

[makeuw3t]

Hey guys,

im looking to buy a consult cable and everywhere i look, i see all the cables available have some sort of small circuit board on it. anyone know what this board does? from reading a few post and websites, it might just be a serial to usb converter. can anyone confirm that?

if all it is, is just a serial to usb converter, then cant we just tap wires to the ecm and use a $15 serial to usb converter (sold at any electronics store)?

thanks.