$5 Traqmate competitor ...

[TouringBubble]

... if you have an Android device.

Trackmaster just released an update that allows CSV export that is compatible with many data to video solutions, such as RaceChrono2AVI. This means you can now export Trackmaster data, make it in to a video and overlay it on your race footage. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8_v8...layer_embedded

Trackmaster is the application I use for logging my autocross runs. With the basic $5 app, you get 1hz GPS logging, g-forces, lap times, splits and speed logs, all of which are graphable and exportable from your device for review.

For more accurate results, you can purchase an external GPS unit which increases the resolution of the data to 5hz (5 samples per second) which is much more precise for autocross use. These run around $55 or so, and an additional $3 piece of add-on software is required for compatibility. Add a $20 vehicle mount and you've got a really nice data logging unit.

[aMaff]

Do you use the external antenna? And have you added it on to any video? I'm just curious how hard it is to sync up, and how hard it is to compare runs

Hmm, the more I look at this, the cooler it gets.

Anyone know where to get a roll-bar mount for cell phones? You know, for those of us who may not have windshields, and don't want to suction cup a phone to our helmets......

[rodhx]

You might be able to use velcro straps to attach it to a roll bar. Maybe put a small rubber pad under the phone to reduce vibration.

[aMaff]

So I downloaded this tonight and played around with it to verify that it would work with my "system" (specifically the fact that I wear gloves while autoxing). So, the touch screen obv won't work with gloves. But I found out that you can use the track ball on my TMobile MyTouch3g (T-Mobile's "customized" Android phone) to trigger the start, which is important.

I also played with the "Start on Movement" feature. Turns out the way this works, I can have the phone mounted, drive to the start line, then hit the trackball to start it. It will then wait from there until the car moves, then it'll start timing.

So far I like it. I'd LIKE to find a roll bar mount for a cell-phone (since in a couple months I won't have , but so far I'm having a hard time. Gonna poke around some UTV sites, as I've gotten some promising preliminary hits there in my search. Anyone have any suggestions?


And no, I'm not lashing my $200 Android phone to the roll structure with Velcro LOL. I'd rather it be in 1 piece at the end of the run.

On a related note, my car killed my co-driver's wide angle lens for his video camera at the last event. Gotta love stiff Prepared class cars.

EDIT: It's not $5, it's $8.99, but still a hell of a deal if it works well.

[rodhx]

I use it by setting the first "beacon" at the start line. You can then use the "start at first beacon" option. This allows you to start the software in grid before heading to start. That means one less thing to fiddle with at start.

[aMaff]

While I like that idea, it's 1 more thing to do during your course walk that I'm not a fan of. pressing a button before a run as part of a routine isn't a huge problem IMO, and start on movement also takes into consideration your run-up to the start, which while it doesn't count as part of your time, is definitely a part of the run that affects your time.

[TouringBubble]

Yes, I use an external GPS unit. For autocross, it's kind of required as the 1hz internal GPS response time isn't fast enough to catch the fast motions. A slalom, for instance, looks like a straight line.

Here are some images that show how you can compare data ...

Line comparison based on GPS. Includes colors for accel/decel/coast and data for speed and time. You can click a split for split data.



And zoomed in ...



Lap time comparison graph. Shows times for each lap with top speed and average speed. You can also view this data in text form.



Split comparison shows split data for each lap. You can view the details in text format here as well. This shows time and speed comparisons for [X] split for each lap.



And I use the "Start at first split marker" option at autocross. I start the log in grid and then put on my gloves. I sometimes get a false start trigger if I approach the start position too quickly or if the start location is too close to the lights. The application does interpolate between samples, so if you roll up too quickly, it can trigger the start at times.

[TouringBubble]

This is a quick render of the video overlay. You can customize the data but this is some of the stock stuff. The video is a different lap than the data, so it doesn't match perfectly ... didn't really care since it's just a demo.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9TInMIKKHE