23 replies to this topic

[manthony121]

It looks like this scab hasn't been picked for a while....

 

I just bought my very first SM car, a 1991 1.6L, and I'm still working toward finding the limits on the track.  I'm also a nerdy-techy-computer minded guy, so, I'd like to get a data system installed and working sooner rather than later.  Last year, there was some discussion, on this forum, of problems with Traqmate and their GPS processing algorithms.  There was also some debate about the relative cost/value of AIM vs Traqmate.  The team I used to rent from uses a Race Technology system, which seems to work well, but doesn't seem to be very popular.

 

I live in the Northeast, and will be doing most of my driving, for the foreseeable future, at Watkins Glen, Pocono, Lime Rock, etc, in SM and ITA classes.  So, if you are also an SM/ITA/STL driver in the NE, what system do you use?  Would you buy it again?  What do you like about it?  What do you hate about it?  Any noteworthy experiences with Customer Support?  What do you wish your system could do that it can't do now?

 

Also, if anyone has any videos, preferably with speed/RPM overlay, of the new track at WGI to post on Youtube, I'd like to see them.

[Eric Orton]

http://mazdaracers.c...sic/#entry90481

[Eric Orton]

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[Ron Alan]

Bang for your buck you cannot beat the Aim Solo or DL Solo(can collect data from OBD2 among other things).

 

Will give you everything you need in car and everything you need after the fact uploading data for analysis. I dont think the aim software is super intuitive but with a little time you can set it up to your liking! 

[Tom Scheifler]

RT - nothing but trouble with hardware. Liked the software pretty good.

TM - generally happy with hardware, mostly disappointing software. Ceasing sales. If you can get a used one dirt cheap or free, worth trying for awhile.

AIM - did not choose because of price and lack of video integration with analysis software.

[Jeff Wasilko]

I have an AiM MXL2 and SmartyCam HD. They're both great. Very easy to use and very reliable. Video always starts, data always records.

 

You can see some samples of the overlayed data on the Smartycam Video at https://www.youtube....NJcwcvxLgwBh6kQ

[Steve Scheifler]

RT - nothing but trouble with hardware. Liked the software pretty good.

TM - generally happy with hardware, mostly disappointing software. Ceasing sales. If you can get a used one dirt cheap or free, worth trying for awhile.

AIM - did not choose because of price and lack of video integration with analysis software.

Adding to that:
RT - video options limited, bulky and expensive to do well. Plenty of inputs available. Higher speed GPS sampling rate available. Dash so-so and not as configurable as it could be. It DOES do predictive by predefined sector which IMO is a huge step above comparing only to best lap. Software is very powerful but fewer predefined quick-look options than TM, and always one or more frustrating bugs to contend with. Interface does not follow some common Windows standards. Little things like moving and resizing windows drive me crazy. But at the same time, interface to select laps and segments, and then move to a point in time are way easier than TM. AND, you can display the video for each of the sessions being compared. (TM handles jut 1, AIM zero). Some of their newer hardware really sucked, especially the combined "budget" GPS & video box. Had a loaner and it constantly lost GPS signals. Turned out to be a common problem with those. I think they sourced a new cheaper GPS module. There also seem to be problems with interference from ignition and other systems, or at least that's what they often speculated. I don't think it ever was with us. All I know is if things aren't well enough shielded to work in these cars then there's a real problem.

All said, I don't need the greatest video quality so if RT cleaned up their software and fixed the hardware issues they would still be my first choice.

[Todd Lamb]

Very happy with AIM MXL2 dash and SmartyCamHD setup.

 

The AIM SoloDL will not be able to get much useful data from the OBDII - you need to be at around 2006 or later to get a decent sample rate off OBDII.

[Todd Green]

Adding to that:
It DOES do predictive by predefined sector which IMO is a huge step above comparing only to best lap.

 

I'll just add that in addition you can do real-time prediction as well, but has a few bugs to work around in the equation you need to put into the software.  There is also the "reference" sector time that they recently added, where you can hard code sector times, so technically you now have three variables and predictive times to choose between.  I would have vastly preferred that the "ref" sectors were part of the normal sector times and just got overwritten as you lapped and if/when you set better times.

[Steve Scheifler]

Real-time is what I meant, but didn't know about the new ref time option. Very, very good, but agree that it should be optional to have it overwritten by a better time.

[Todd Green]

Real-time is what I meant, but didn't know about the new ref time option. Very, very good, but agree that it should be optional to have it overwritten by a better time.

I should add this is for a DASH4Pro.  It's under configuration->reference sector times of the "DASH4Pro Configuration" program.  Don't know if the other products support it.

[manthony121]

Thank you everyone for the useful info.  Especially the part about Traqmate ceasing production.  That doesn't usually happen until just AFTER I have purchased a system!

 

Speaking of which, my car has a Stack ST791 G Sensor mounted in front of the stick shift.  Is Stack still in business?  Their web page has a 2013 copyright.  JEGS has some of their tachometers listed, but not much else.

[davew]

I may be mistaken, but I believe STack was purchased by Autometer a few years ago.

Todd is correct. The SOLO dl does not give much usefull info on a pre 2006 car. The issue is what the car puts out, not what the SOLO can read.

I recomend you use whatever brand the people you are going to be sharing data with use. Each brand has its own software and is not compatable with each other.

We use AIM almost exclusively. The latest Smarty-cams intigrate very well with their data. Not like a few years ago.

Dave

[Danny Steyn]

Are any of the Smarty Cam versions 1080p or better, or are they still 720p?

[Duncan]

Are any of the Smarty Cam versions 1080p or better, or are they still 720p?

 

They are still 720p

[ChrisA]

They are still 720p

 

And still $1000... 

[Tom Scheifler]

Yes. The camera price is ridiculously high. I guess if you can sell $89 cameras for $1000, you do.

EDIT
I've been reminded that the "smart" aspect of the camera overlays data on the video as it is recorded, which certainly has value, but I'm not convinced it's worth the premium cost.

[Bruce Wilson]

Been a loyal user of AIM since early SM days, so I still have the Mychron 3 Auto, using O2, brake, throttle, steering, coolant, and oil pressure sensors.  I recently bought a Mobius HD cam (wide) on Amazon for $75.  Been playing with both picture in picture and data overlay software and here's where I'm at:  Liking the Microsoft Expression Encoder to do pic-in-pic.  And just gave RaceRender3 a try.  Here's my first try with the eval video -- It took about 1 minute to synchronize the video with the data.  Rather than purchase a new MXL, I'll likely go with the Solo unit (for gps and predictive) and keep my Mychron for sensors, shift and warning alerts.  And paying for the RacRender3 software now!

 

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=uaGjn4p0njo

[Steve Scheifler]

Which of the AIM models do predictive/time-slip by sector rather than just entire lap?

[manthony121]

I just bought my AIM SOLO for the upcoming season.  I've been playing with it in my street car, seeing how many lateral G's I can pull on the expressway ramps, etc.  It looks like a very nice system.  Does anyone have Race Studio 2 data for various tracks in the NE (WGI, LRP, NJMP, etc) they are willing to share?  If you are fast, and get annoyed by having to lap me about half way through a 30 minute race, I could use your help!