Start!!!!

Hello all, I would like to start seriously this activity, for the moment, for educational purposes, or as a pastime, then you will see!
I downloaded some pdf found on the net to begin studying something, then I'd start to practice with just a few software on the pc. I guess there is some emulation, no? Let me explain: from software would like to load standard maps (found at random in the network or in the software itself), then edit it and finally test it without loading anything on the drive, then using an emulator that checks if the parameters entered are working correctly.
There is something of the kind?

How to instrumentation what would you recommend for me? Of course, you will spend little ... a clone?

emulator....never heard..
to get started first you need a soldering station to the air.*****and tool if you take the little cock-you can do both in the bdm than in the serial...or the kess you make only in the serial but much more easy to use.
to edit the file in the ecm...so with all the ecu's that are there you will miss always something