Data Loggers, who uses one???

[SKYHI]

Hey guys,

After the recent track day at Lakeside, my interest in getting a data looger has been renewed. I use to have a Race Technology DL1 data logger but sold it with my previous race car. I've seen a few people mention that they use the Performance Box and I'm tossing up between one of these or another DL1.

Certainly one of the pros of a Performance Box would be the fact that other MX5 racers and track day attendants would have similiar data to share and compare. That being said, who here uses either a Performance Box or other data logger, and would you be willing to share data for comparison?

Any other general comments on the subject would also be welcome.

Paul.

[Guran]

I've had a PerformanceBox for two and a half years now. They're fantastic! But before you consider buying one you might like to try RaceChrono if you have a compatible mobile phone. Does pretty much the same thing and also allows you to check your lines/times live on the phone. Happy to share my data if you want any.

[oztrackdays]

I have the VBOX Mini virtually identical to the PBOX and DriftBox.

The new circuit tools that work with a Performance box make it the winner.

For example a 1:01.1 second Lap of Wakefield compared to a 1:07.5 Lap
takes like 10 seconds to generate.

[Hammer]

I've seen what the Performance Box of Guran can do and I'm mightily impressed.

I particularly like the way you can overlay your exact racing lines over a map (ie. GoogleMap). Allowing you to review each lap in more detail - post race. And if you compared your fastest with the so and so lap, you can quickly gain valuable insight on where those few tenths were gained and can be gained.

I just wish they get cheaper.

[D-Train]

I got myself a Perfomance box at the start of the year to coinside with starting a new season in a new car. It has helped dramatically in reducing my times. Every sprint day i've been to this year i've dropped my times so far i haven't taken a backwards step due to the fact i can now see what i am or not doing right. Even for the next one i've already analised my data and and know what i have to do to reduce my lap time this w/end. Prepare to shave another second!

[manga_blue]

x2 for Racechrono. I've used it for 2 years now. The main thing is that you can use it at the track - it takes about 10 secs to set up a new session and you can read the results before you even get out the car after the session while everything's still fresh in your mind. It's rare for Racechrono lap times to differ from the offical times by more than 0.1secs.
My setup is a Nokia E51 (free on the plan), a Qstarz QT818extreme bluetooth GPS Receiver ($100) and the free software. The image is the Google Earth export. On the Nokia itself you get laptimes, splits, optimal lap and plots of speed on graphical location.

Racechrono eg.jpg

[hamx5ter]

I've had a PerformanceBox for two and a half years now. They're fantastic! But before you consider buying one you might like to try RaceChrono if you have a compatible mobile phone. Does pretty much the same thing and also allows you to check your lines/times live on the phone. Happy to share my data if you want any.

I've just picked up a qstarz GPS receiver (yesterday) to go with my N73 and am plannning to run RaceChrono on it for the track-day on the 20th.

Haven't had a chance to see how well it works with RaceChrono, but I had the GPS logging away my travels all day yesterday (at 1Hz) and it seems to have managed to hold on without too much drift and weird readings. Will try and run it at 5Hz today on the road and see how well it plays with the N73/Racechrono.

I've downloaded wakefield onto the N73, but not sure what use the setup will be for random driving today (unless I do a few hot laps around my street and check for consistency and cornering speed / lines )

Guran, it would be great if you could perhaps send me a few sample files from the performance box, and I could see how things work out with my racechrono set up. Are the file formats compatible? or can they be exported to a common platform (like Google Earth / Maps)? Sorry, still trying to learn about this.

[Guran]

hamx5ter, the Racechrono data is 100% compatible with the PerformanceTools software. Don't know if you can import PerformanceBox data into Racechrono. The user manual for the PerformanceTools software is available here. You can also download circuit overlays from here. The Wakefield file includes a DBOX.DSF file (start line and splits), a circuit map (showing the track edges), and some sample data. I've also created a DBOX.DSF file with the club's start/finish line marked in the fishhook (approximately) - get it here. This ZIP file includes the data from my PB run at Wakefield Park so you can play with that too if you like.

If you want to practice using Racechrono for laptiming, just drive around the block and set a start/finish line somewhere random. Don't drive at track speeds obviously, since you're just testing the operation of the system. You will probably find that it's best/safest to set the start/finish line AFTER you've dríven around your "circuit". It can be distracting to set it on the fly.

[hamx5ter]

wow... thanks guran.

I'll download these and have a place with them over the w/e. The qstarz also came with the QSports program that includes some lap-timing software too... So that's THREE different software I'll be playing with. It's great that they all play well together though.

Thanks for the links, that's awesome. I'll download them right away.

[hamx5ter]

hamx5ter, the Racechrono data is 100% compatible with the PerformanceTools software. Don't know if you can import PerformanceBox data into Racechrono. <snip>

If you want to practice using Racechrono for laptiming, just drive around the block and set a start/finish line somewhere random. Don't drive at track speeds obviously, since you're just testing the operation of the system. You will probably find that it's best/safest to set the start/finish line AFTER you've dríven around your "circuit". It can be distracting to set it on the fly.

There are two downloads there... CircuitTools and PerformanceTools... which one do you think? (I''ve downloaded them both for now anyway). They've also got some great videos there apparently... hmmm... play with this stuff? or do my tax work?

I'll do a couple of laps around my block to bed in racechrono..

[Guran]

I use PerformanceTools. CircuitTools was released fairly recently and I've not tried it yet. I think it's mainly designed for those who have the Video VBox which combines GPS datalogging with video capture into the one dataset. Would love to have a Video VBox but at ~$2000 for the entry level version, it's an exxy plaything.

[SKYHI]

Guran et al,

If you are looking for a way to integrate video footage with your data, then take a look at Trackvision. I had an old version of it that I used with my video camera footage and DL1 data about 5 years ago and it worked pretty well back then. Compatible with a lot of different data loggers including Performance Box.

A free trial version is available and the full version can be purchased for $195US.

http://www.trackvision.net/

Performance Box + Trackvision video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpTkEnyuaTs&hd=1

[SKYHI]

I've had a PerformanceBox for two and a half years now. They're fantastic! But before you consider buying one you might like to try RaceChrono if you have a compatible mobile phone. Does pretty much the same thing and also allows you to check your lines/times live on the phone.

I have looked into RaceChrono and it certainly looks like a good starting point for most, especially if you already have a compatible phone. Unfortunately I don't, and I'm also looking for a minimum of a 5Hz sampling rate and an RPM input. I know I can purchase a seperate 5Hz receiver but it still lacks the RPM input, which I believe is very important when analysing data.

In saying that, I read on the Driftbox forum that someone is currently testing a data logging unit that has been designed to work with the RaceChrono software. It's called a RaceLogger and has 5 Analogue inputs, an RPM input, 2 accelerometers and will be worth around 110 GBP. There is also an upgraded unit that will have a built in 5Hz receiver, which would eliminate the need for a seperate receiver. Depending on final price that may be attractive to me.

Info here:

http://www.racelogger.com/

The only downside of the more expensive Performance Box, is that lack of RPM input but that could also be fixed with their new external input module.

Personally though, I do like the idea of everything being in one box, which is why the DL1 appeals to me at this stage.

[Guran]

I haven't heard of the Race Technology DL1 before but after having a quick look at it, must admit that it's a very attractive option. For a starting price of USD859, you get the advantage of multiple external inputs and integrated accelerometers for improved G force measurement. Compared with the PerformanceBox, you miss out on a live display screen (can be added on), and half the GPS sampling frequency (5Hz in DL1 vs 10Hz in PB). The latter appears to be offset by combining the GPS data with the accelerometer data to give a claimed frequency of 100Hz! Without the benefit of trying the DL1 software, it looks to me like it's a better system than the PerformanceBox.

[SKYHI]

It is definitely more of a dedicated data logger and offers a lot more flexibility that say a PB.

It does lack the live display, but I'm usually too busy watching the track and other cars to be worried about checking out split and lap times on the go

There is also an option to upgrade to a 20Hz sampling rate for another 150GBP, which is well worth it in my opinion.