Aim MXG 1.2 Strada User manual

MXG 1.2
MXP
MXS 1.2
USER GUIDE 1.00
Made in Italy
www.aim-sportline.com
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MXG 1.2 - MXP - MXS 1.2
1  MX SERIES IN FEW WORDS
2  WH T IS IN THE KIT?
3  POWER
4  WH T YOU C N DO VI KEYBO RD
4.1  SET D TE/TIME
4.2  SET B CKLIGHT
4.3  SET VIDEO INPUT
4.4  COUNTERS M N GEMENT
4.5  GPS & TR CKS M N GEMENT
4.6  WIFI M N GEMENT
4.7  SYSTEM INFORM TION
5  WIFI CONFIGUR TION
5.1  CONFIGURING MX SERIES LOGGERS S N CCESS POINT  P
5.2  DDING MX SERIES LOGGERS TO N EXISTING NETWORK
5.3  WIFI NETWORK SETTINGS
5.4  THE INTERNET CONNECTIVITY
5.5  CONNECTION ISSUES
5.6  WORKING ON M CTM WITH VIRTU LIZED WINDOWSTM
5.7  CONNECTED DEVICE VISU LIZ TION ISSUES
6  MX SERIES ND THE PC
6.1  CONNECTION TO THE PC
6.2  CONFIGUR TION OF MX SERIES
6.2.1  CH NNELS CONFIGUR TION
6.2.2  ECU CONNECTION ND CONFIGUR TION
6.2.3  RPM
6.2.4  C N2 STRE M CONFIGUR TION
6.2.5  C N EXP NSIONS CONFIGUR TION
6.2.6  M TH CH NNELS CONFIGUR TION
6.2.7  ST TUS V RI BLES CONFIGUR TION
6.2.8  P R METERS CONFIGUR TION
6.2.9  SHIFT LIGHTS ND L RMS CONFIGUR TION
6.2.10  TRIGGER COMM NDS CONFIGUR TION
6.2.11  ICONS M N GER CONFIGUR TION
6.2.12  DISPL Y CONFIGUR TION
6.2.13  SM RTYC M STRE M SETTING
6.2.14  C N OUTPUT CONFIGUR TION
6.3  M N GING TR CK ON MX SERIES WITH R CE STUDIO 3
6.4  ECU DRIVER BUILDER
6.5  THE DEVICE WINDOW
6.5.1  LIVE ME SURES L YER
6.5.2  ONLINE V LUE FORCING
7  ON THE TR CK
8  D T REC LL
9  D T DOWNLO D ND N LYSIS
10  NEW FIRMW RE UPGR DE
11  CONNECTION WITH THE EXP NSIONS
11.1  RE R C MER S CONNECTION ND M N GEMENT
12  TECHNIC L SPECIFIC TIONS ND DR WINGS
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What is MX Series?
Anything else?
MX Series is the new iM range of dashes
that offers different dimensions, flexibility,
usability and that may manage a wide
range of channel inputs.
It features:
n ECU connection (C N, RS232 and K-Line)
n 4 speed inputs
n 1 RPM input
n 8 analog inputs
n 2 analog video camera inputs
n up to 8 configurable display pages
n a huge tracks database to automatically
select the track you are racing on
n from 5 to 8 alarm LEDs
n 10 RGB LEDs that you may configure for
clearly showing if you are improving or
not.
Yes. MX Series can be connected to various
iM expansions like GPS Module, Channel
Expansion, TC Hub and LCU-One C N to
maximize your engine performances and to
iM SmartyCam to see your track perfor-
mances on your PC with all the values you
need in overlay.
You may connect up to two additional optio-
nal back cameras to the dedicated input in
order to show a reverse mirror image directly
on its display.
MX Series manages C N, K-Line and RS232
ECU communication lines. Its huge data-
base including more than 1500 ECU proto-
cols is available.
The table here below shows the difference among the loggers.
What about
ECU connection?
Is MX Series an
expandable logger?
MX SERIES
1. MX Series in a few words
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2. What is in the kit?
MX Series kit includes:
n MX Series logger
n 37 pins Deutsch connector harness with
mini USB cable
n USB adapter cable
(from mini to standard USB
n GPS08 Module
n CD for software installation
n MX Series user manual
MX SERIES
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08 09
AM Connectors
Aluminum Body Camera Input
Configurable Alarm LEDs 1-3 Configurable Alarm LEDs 4-6Shift Lights
MX Series
MX SERIES
Multifunctional ushbuttons
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3 ower
The power is managed by two pins of the
37 pins connector:
n Pin 1: Power (9-15 Volts)
n Pin 2: Ground
They must be connected as shown in the
following diagram.
MX Series needs to be configured via soft-
ware but there are some functions you can
manage via the device lateral buttons,
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MX SERIES
4 What you can do via keyboard
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MX SERIES
Press “Menu button and this page appears. Here you can:
n set time zone
n enable/disable Daylight saving time
n set time and date format
Bottom of the page current time and date
are shown.
The icons are to manage:
Date/Time Backlight CountersVideo in GPS and
Tracks
Wi-Fi
connection
System Info
4.1 Set Date/Time
The brightness of the display and LEDs may
be adjusted in two ways, depending on the
light captured by a dedicated sensor
integrated in the dash
n UTOM TIC:
in case ambient light is higher than a defi-
ned threshold, the brightness is reduced;
you can set day and night brightness level
as well as the brightness threshold value
that switches from day to night mode
n M NU L:
you may define the brightness of the di-
splay and LEDs choosing among some va-
lues: 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 100%
4.2 Set backlight
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4.3 Set video input
Video In page manages up to two additio-
nal optional back cameras (that cannot be
logged).
They are to be connected to the Binder 712
female connector rear central of MX Series
logger, as shown in the pinout you find at
the end of this user guide.
Features to set are:
n Input: Video 1 / Video 2
n Format: NTSC/P L
n Brightness and Contrast from 10 to 100%
Use “CH NGE” button to set each feature
and “NEXT” to scroll the features.
Please refer to paragraph 11.1 (“Rear came-
ras connection and management”)
for further information.
MX Series features 4 user odometers, label-
led User 1 – User 4, plus a non-resettable
System Odometer. ll odometers are
shown on the configuration software Race
Studio 3 too (see chapter about MX Series
and the PC).
Each odometer can be activated/deactiva-
ted and/or reset. To manage an odometer
select it and press “CH NGE”.
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MX SERIES
4.4 Counters management
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MX SERIES
4.7 System Information
MX Series can be used on track thanks to iM GPS08 Module included in the kit. This is used
for:
n Lap time calculation
n Speed calculation
n Predictive lap time calculation
To calculate these data the system needs to know the start/finish line coordinates of the race-
track you are racing on; MX Series comes with a long list of the world main tracks, constantly
updated by our technicians and automatically loaded to your PC when you run Race Studio 3
software and a connection to the Internet is available.
MX Series provides two track selection modes: automatic and manual.
Automatic:
MX Series automatically recognizes the track you are running on, loads the start/finish line and
the possible splits coordinates and calculates lap and split times without optical/magnetic re-
ceiver. This is the best mode in most cases.
Manual:
llows to manually select the track from the internal database.
This mode is to be preferred when multiple track configurations are available nearby. In this
case MX Series would anyway recognize the track but would need at least one complete track
lap. You can scroll the list of available tracks choosing among these options:
n nearest: shows only tracks in a 10 km distance
n all: shows all tracks stored in the system in alphabetical order
n custom: shows only the tracks you have previously created (learning mode)
4.5 G S & Tracks management
This page shows serial number as well as fir-
mware and booter version of MX Series log-
ger.
4.6 Wi-Fi Management
Here you can manage Wi-Fi as well as select
the channel to be used (expert users only)
and reset its configuration.
Wi-Fi modes are:
n ON
n uto: switches Wi-Fi on when the vehicle
is stopped and automatically switches it off
when MX Series starts recording according
to the setting you performed in “Parame-
ters” page of Race Studio 3 software (see
paragraph 6.2.8 for further information)
n OFF
Select Channel function is for expert users
only; here it is possible to select which Wi-
Fi channel to use; available option are:
n UTO (default – recommended)
n 1
n 6
n 11
“Wi-Fi reset CFG” resets Wi-Fi configuration
and is very useful if you do not remember
Wi-Fi password.
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MX SERIES
Two possible Wi-Fi connection modes are available.
1 – As an access point (AP – default)
This is the ideal configuration for one only device and one only computer. In this situation MX
Series creates a Wi-Fi network and works as an ccess Point the PC can be connected to.
5 Wi-Fi configuration
2 – Existing network (to connect to an existing Wi-Fi network – WLAN)
This mode is complex and implies an external access point ( P) but it is also more flexible and
powerful because allows the communication among more than one device and more than
one computer in the same network. MX Series and the PC must connect to an existing Wi-Fi
network made by a device that works as an external access point.
When working in WL N mode MX Series has two available security levels:
n network authentication: network password
n device authentication: MX Series password
Both levels allow you the use of different strategies. PC in WL N, for example, can see several
iM devices but can communicate only with those he knows the password of.
Forgetting the password Wi-Fi configuration can be reset from MX Series menu as explained
before.
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MX SERIESCHA TER 5
This is MX Series default configuration and is the easiest and most direct connection mode,
ideal to communicate with one MX Series logger using one PC. It is free and so completely ac-
cessible by anyone. Please set an access password as soon as possible.
To establish a Wi-Fi connection:
n ensure that the Wi-Fi is enabled
n read MX Series Name (4202523 in the image below)
n run Race Studio 3
n click Wi-Fi icon and select your device
n in a few seconds the connection is established
5.1 Configuring MX Series loggers as an access
point (A )
To set other parameters create a unique password to protect the device/ network. With a pas-
sword the communication is safe and encrypted using WP 2-PSK standard.
Characters allowed in the password are all letters, also capital, all digits and these characters:
‘+-_()[]{}$£!?^#@*\\\”=~.:;/%"
“Space” type can be used if it is not the first one because this could cause incomprehension in
some WindowsTM versions.
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MX SERIES
This P or SSID name is unique for the device.
n example of name is:” iM-MXS12-02523” where:
n “ iM” is the prefix of all iM devices
n “MXS1.2” is the device identifier
n “02523” is device serial number assigned by the factory.
To make a device more recognizable a name can be added to the SSID. With the limit of eight
characters. llowed characters are all letters, capital too, all digits and these characters: ‘+ - _
() [] {}!.
“Space” type can be used provided that it is not the first one because it can cause incompre-
hension in some WindowsTM versions.
dding, for example, the driver’s name, Tom Wolf, the network name (SSID) becomes:
” iM-MX12-02523-TomWolf”
Once all parameters set click “Transmit”. MX Series logger reboots and is configured with the
new parameters. If MX Series logger is protected by a password, as recommended, Race Studio
3 will ask that password to authenticate.
Please Note: the same Wi-Fi connection can be created with the operative system tool.
Once the device has been authenticated in the Wi-Fi network it can communicate using Race
Studio 3.
To complete this procedure use Race Studio 3 software as here explained.
Here above is shown a device “MXS 1.2 ID 4202523” that switched from P to WL N mode
(Existing Network).
Network name is “network_2” and does not work with free access because is protected by a
password
This situation is ideal for a team with multiple drivers and staff members and is desired to com-
municate with one or more iM devices using the same PC network. Each MX Series logger
can have its password that adds another security and privacy level to the network.
Race Studio 3 will show all MX Series loggers connected to the same network under “Connec-
ted devices” label, bottom left of the software page: click the device.
Enter “Wi-Fi and properties” tab and set it on “Existing Network”; fill in network name, network
password and device password.
Transmit the network settings to the device clicking “Transmit”: it reboots and joins that net-
work.
Please note: the only admitted password are those following WP 2-PSK standard.
5.2 Adding MX Series loggers to an existing
network
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MX SERIESCHA TER 5
To obtain connectivity on the device the PC has to be authenticated to the same network as
shown here below.
When the PC is authenticated to the network called “network_2” it can see all devices you con-
figured to access the same network. In the image below three iM devices are connected to
the same “network_2” WL N.
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In this chapter is a short description of how to configure a WL N including iM devices and a
PC.
Here below is an example of configuration.
For better network performances, we suggest the use of a network device equipped with a
DHCP server and using 3x3 MIMO technology like, for example a Linksys S3200.
To maximize the bandwidth the Internet should not be allowed on this WL N; this means the
DHCP server should be configured without any DNS address nor gateway by default.
The parameters for the device network configuration in this example are:
n Wireless network name: Network_1
It means that the WL N network name is “Network_1.” PC has to be authenticated
in this network to interact with any iM device of this network.
n Gateway address: 192.168.0.1
primary DNS server: 0.0.0.0
secondary DNS server: 0.0.0.0
(These settings prevent Internet connectivity on this WL N.)
n Subnet mask: 255.255.255.248
Enable DHCP server: yes
DHCP IP address range: 192.168.0.2 to 192.168.0.6
These settings enable a DHCP server running on this WL N and provide an IP address in a 2-6
range. This means that this network allows 5 network hosts.
The number of devices on a WL N network depends on the subnet mask. Here below are ty-
pical examples of network masks and IP addresses range.
The configuration in bold is the one we suggest (if a greater number of devices is not needed),
being the one that makes it easier and quicker for Race Studio 3 the identification of the devi-
ces in the network.
Subnet mask: I address range: Number of devices:
255.255.255.0 192.168.0.1 - 254 254
255.255.255.128 192.168.0.1 - 126 126
255.255.255.192 192.168.0.1 - 62 62
255.255.255.224 192.168.0.1 - 30 30
255.255.255.240 192.168.0.1 - 14 14
255.255.255.248 192.168.0.1 - 6 6
5.3 Wi-Fi network settings
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MX SERIESCHA TER 5
It can occur that MX Series logger is correctly connected to Race Studio 3 via Wi-Fi but the user
interface does not show it. This may be because Wi-Fi port setting is set with a static IP. To switch
it to dynamic (DHCP):
n open “Network and sharing centre” in the WindowsTM research engine
n right click on the Wi-Fi connection and a panel shows up
n select “Properties” option
n double click on “Internet Protocol version 4 (TCP/IPv4)”
n verify that option “Obtain an IP address” is active
For further information refer to F Q section, Wi-Fi of www.aim-sportline.com.
For an optimal speed of iM device(s) it is recommended not to allow the Internet on the same
network and to set the WL N in the same way.
The Internet access can of course be allowed on the network but this would degrade the com-
munication.
This slightly slower speed can be suitable but a second Wi-Fi connection through an additional
hardware (NIC) is to be preferred.
This configuration would provide an optimal speed of the data network of your iM device(s)
and at the same time would provide an internet connectivity with the second NIC.
Press “Hardware” – top on the page that
shows up – and select “Network” in the
drop-down menu on the left.
Right on the configuration panel set
"Type" field on “Wi-Fi”.
Then select the device to communicate
with.
Configuring Parallels(™)
Select “Menu –> Configure…” in Parallels.
Race Studio 3 only works on WindowsTM operative systems; Mac users can use a virtualized
WindowsTM machine. The main problem is that the host OS (Mac) must share its Wi-Fi interface
with the virtualized operative system (Windows) as Ethernet interface and not as Wi-Fi inter-
face.
5.4 The Internet connectivity 5.6 Working on MacTM with virtualized
WindowsTM
5.5 Connection issues
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To ensure that the communication works
select “Open Network preferences…” menu.
Verify that the status in the window that
shows up is “Connected” and that the IP ad-
dress associated is, for example, 10.0.0.10
(could be 10.0.0.11, 10.0.0.12, or generically
10.0.0.x).
To enable Race Studio 3 correctly working on a Mac with virtualized WindowsTM.
n press Wi-Fi icon ( )
n select “Wi-Fi Settings” option
n enable the checkbox shown here below.
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It may occur that using Race Studio 3 on an iMac with virtualized Windows the device connec-
ted via Wi-Fi takes some time to be shown in the network or is not shown at all. This is why we
always suggest using an Wi-Fi (WL N) router.
This router work as an ccess Point allowing more external devices to connect to its network.
MX Series logger Wi-Fi configuration is to be set on Existing Network as explained before.
Using iM Race Studio 3 software you can configure MX Series, manage its tracks database as
well as check other device functions through Race Studio 3 device window.
5.7 Connected device visualization issues 6 MX Series and the C
MX Series can be connected to the PC via Wi-Fi or using the USB cable included in the kit: plug
it in the cable labelled “USB” of MX Series 37 pins connector harness and in the PC USB port.
6.1 Connection to the C
Once MX Series connected to the PC
n click “Configurations” icon and configurations page appears
n click “New” and new configuration panel appears: select “MX Series” logger and press “OK”;
when performing subsequent configurations “Select Configuration” panel shows on top the
last four devices you configured.
6.2 Configuration of MX Series
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To set all the device channels.
RPM channel is by default enabled: since direct RPM connection is used when the vehicle does
not have an ECU, the software automatically disables it when an ECU protocol is selected.
See paragraph 6.2.3 for further information about the hardware RPM signal connection
To set a channel just click on its line and the related panel shows up.
This is the list of the features to be configured:
n Channels: analog and digital sensors directly connected to MX Series loggers.
n ECU: the Engine Control Unit of your vehicle. MX Series logger manages C N, RS232
and K-Line protocols
n C N2: in case the system is connected to other C N devices, beside the ECU, they have
to be connected to C N 2 port
n C N expansions: other iM C N Devices, like, for example, Lambda controller,
GPS Module, Channel expansions etc.
n Math channels: some calculated channels that may be helpful in some situations
n Some other calculated variables, useful for managing alarms, icons, LEDs.
6.2.1 Channels configuration
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The first two channels in the list are RPM and Speed, than we have the configurable channels,
that can be managed as analog or as digital according to what you connect them.
Typically, analog sensors are pressure sensors, thermocouples, potentiometers etc… while di-
gital inputs are used for managing pushbuttons, that may eventually be used for activating
the Digital outputs.
Selecting “Analogic” options to be set are
n Channel name
n Function: this parameter is useful in the data analysis process
n Sensor type
n Measure unit
n Sampling frequency
n Display precision: it configures how many decimal digits you will see in your dash
n Specific parameters
In the following image you see two different channels configuration windows.
In case you need to use an input as Digital Input you have to configure its parameters as
follows:
n Working mode: a Digital input can work in two different ways:
nThe pushbutton closes to ground (with or without pull up resistor – left image below)
nThe pushbutton closes to VBattery
(with or without pull down resistor – right image below)
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6.2.2 ECU Connection and configuration
MX Series can be connected to the vehicle ECU. Documents explaining how to connect MX
Series to the vehicle ECU are published on our website www.aim-sportline.com and a PDF file
with protocols updates history can be loaded clicking on the question mark as shown here
below. MX Series can communicate through C N, RS232 and K-Line communication lines.
The ECU protocol includes 1500 different protocols and is constantly updated by our techni-
cians. In case of a C N based ECU whose protocol is not in the database, the ECU Driver Builder
function (paragraph 6.4) allows to develop it.
To load the ECU protocol in MX Series configuration:
n enter “ECU Stream” tab
n press “Change ECU” button
n select “ECU Manufacturer” and “ECU Model” (in the example FORD/ MUST NG 2010)
n press OK
n Active/Not active labels: according to the status, a Digital channel may assume the values:
0/1, High/Low, ON/OFF, Closed/Open, True/False, etc.
The two different labels can be defined and eventually shown on the display, used by Math
channels, Icons Management, alarm managements and in general, any time a digital channel
is required; the labels appears in Device page too.
n Signal type: can be monostable or bistable, to say
nMonostable: the channel is active when the pushbutton is closed
n Bistable: the channel is activated the first time you close the circuit and deactivated
the second time the circuit is closed as shown here below
n Logged: if active, the system records the digital values, else they can be used and shown
but they are not recorded.
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