Looking for Data Device!

[Mmagus]

I have been considering gtting a data device I have found some used but they are still in the $700 range (eeeek). What brands do you all use and or reccomend? It seems that there are some that just collect the info, which you look at later, but it would be nice to have one with some sort of in car read out. lastly, does anyone have a spare sitting around you might be willing to part with?

Thanks!
Mark

[Cajundaddy]

The poor mans data logger/lap timer is GPS/smartphone based. If you don't have a smartphone a compatible used PDA or ipod touch could be had for $100 and work with Harry's lap timer, Racechrono, or other apps. Racechrono also has a stand alone GPS system starting at $400 new. Google is your friend. Let your mouse do the walking and learn about the many GPS laptimers available and pick one you like. I looked at the fully integrated competition dash units but they just seem like overkill for most of the games we play. Here is a lap by my brother that included video, real time lap timing,and integrated data logging all with one iphone and Harry's lap timer. A lot of bang for the buck!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwGlrzO7Q1I

http://www.racechrono.com/
http://web.me.com/hschlangmann/LapTimer ... /Home.html

[mrondeau]

I use Harry's Laptimer as well. You can use the video on the phone which will do the overlay and sync it automatically, or you can use a program like RaceRender to input your video from any source and data and sync it yourself. The data is not as accurate, but the cost is about 50 times less.

[martinreinhardt]

AIM, Pi and Stack are the world leaders in data acquisition and timing systems. Personally, I love my AIM MXL Pro 05 and any AIM systems http://www.aim-sportline.com/pages/car/section_car_mxl.htm

There is another GPS based data acquisition all in one for less than the systems above, the IQ3 which is pretty good too http://www.racepak.com/Components/IQ3_Display.php

Otherwise I also recommend the Harry's LapTimer Pro iPhone app, it's great and now you can also connect to the ODBII with a WiFi ODBII plug.

[Jad]

If you are looking for cool graphics/videos to play with, the droid/iphone apps are great and cost virtually nothing. However, you get what you pay for. If you are trying to improve your driving, you need an accurate real data system in the $750+ range. The phones margin of error is WAY greater than driving variations, so you can't really learn much from them, just great conversation items.

I highly recommend a good system to anyone trying to go faster. Let good drivers take a few laps in your car and then study how and where they are faster. You will go faster - I believe it is about the best way to get better.

If you are just out having fun, then the phone apps are great. For <$10 you get very fun videos showing speed, g's, spins etc that are great conversation pieces.

I have both

[Cajundaddy]

If you are looking for cool graphics/videos to play with, the droid/iphone apps are great and cost virtually nothing. However, you get what you pay for. If you are trying to improve your driving, you need an accurate real data system in the $750+ range. The phones margin of error is WAY greater than driving variations, so you can't really learn much from them, just great conversation items.

I think this is true with the very basic smartphone apps using internal phone GPS. The Racechrono uses a high resolution GPS receiver at 5 or 10hz with position accuracy within 1 meter and lap times within a few 100ths of the transponder times. Lap comparisons also give a great deal of graphic detail so you can learn from your data. The gap is closing quickly between high res GPS smartphone systems and stand alone competition Dash units that cost $1000 plus.

[Jad]

Agreed, if you have a smartphone, and buy the bluetooth/WiFi OBDII interface and buy an external GPS with high sampling rate (and it is supported by the phone software) and a good mount, they can be almost as good. Though other issues I have with the phones are battery life must be monitored if they are not in a charger, the internal memory fills quickly in a one hour race, or a full day of timetrialing and they simply are not as stable. I have had misc. issues where things simply go wrong. Also, the touch screens don't work so well with gloves on...

Guess what I am saying is the smartphone systems are cool, but they are not nearly as good as the dedicated systems.... YET.

Here is a link to the video for lap 1 at Fontana created purely on my Android with no external devices. The data does ok until I start turning between 1 and 2 at high speeds and it loses the satelites and can't lock on fully until after 6 because of all the directional changes. I suspect it would work better on other tracks and in slower cars.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iApB5ReG8TU

[Mmagus]

Thanks for the replies all. I currently have a Hot Lap Timer so that gives me the basic times as I run at a TT. I had my eye on a MSD Racepak G2X with the "dash" but I just didnt want to step up to the price. What interested me a lot was the recording of your time for each 200ft. At every TT I have attended there have been several corners where I could run in one gear or another and have been left wondering which is the quickest. It would be very cool to run it both ways during a session, nab the data off a device, and KNOW "third gear there was .75 seconds faster than fourth" etc. I already run HD video in the car for later review and that helps greatly, but having speed, tach, gear combined with it seem that it would be a real asset at a TT.

Until a very affordable one pops up I will stick with my current method.

Ask others what they are doing,
Staying in tune with the Seat of my pants,
and getting Paul to ride with me running a stop watch for given sections (we did that at Streets to great effect!)

Mark

[M-tinker]

I have a G-tech Fanatic G-meter. It does lap and ax timing using 10hz GPS so no need for beacon. It maps the track automatically for you and stores lap times. You can divide the track into segments and it'll measure per-segment time. So far it's fairly accurate. It also does hp and 1/4mi pull g-force measurement and other boyracer stuff which I don't care for. But all that for $300 it's not too bad.

I also have a cheap Aiptek camera for video. Ususally I take the fastest 2 laps from G-tech and go back to video to compare the lines etc. It's a poor man's way of data analysis but it's ok for my level.

-Fred Yip

[Cajundaddy]

Thanks for the replies all. I currently have a Hot Lap Timer so that gives me the basic times as I run at a TT. I had my eye on a MSD Racepak G2X with the "dash" but I just didnt want to step up to the price. What interested me a lot was the recording of your time for each 200ft. At every TT I have attended there have been several corners where I could run in one gear or another and have been left wondering which is the quickest. It would be very cool to run it both ways during a session, nab the data off a device, and KNOW "third gear there was .75 seconds faster than fourth" etc. I already run HD video in the car for later review and that helps greatly, but having speed, tach, gear combined with it seem that it would be a real asset at a TT.

Until a very affordable one pops up I will stick with my current method.

Ask others what they are doing,
Staying in tune with the Seat of my pants,
and getting Paul to ride with me running a stop watch for given sections (we did that at Streets to great effect!)

Mark

Yes Mark,
Most of the smartphone/GPS lap timer data loggers will allow you to set up and compare critical sectors on the track so you will know quickly if you "need second gear or can carry third". Some can be set up to flash green when you run a new fastest sector time so you get instant feedback while on course. Using a high resolution GPS receiver ($60) will yield the best results for sector times. This is a very valuable tool to explore and learn new ways to run a difficult section.

[gulf911]

Hey mark , take a look at gpx pro by xt racing. You can't beat it for the money. Half the cost of most and with many features. I use it at the ax's and it works great.

[Greg Phillips]

No experience but a cheap option:
Racechrono.com
Reviewed at:
http://www.sccaforums.com/forums/forumi ... cope/posts

Runs on smartphones or PDA or PC
Needs a GPS, external bluetooth GPS preferred with 5-10 Hz but can use internal on some phones.

Seems similar to the MaxQdata system I have used in past.

Greg