Racelogic VBOX LapTimer User manual

VBOX LapTimer User Manual
•01 - VBOX LapTimer - Introduction
•02 - VBOX LapTimer - GPS
•03 - VBOX LapTimer - Speed/Max Speed/Speed Bar
•04 - VBOX LapTimer - Lap Timing
•05 - VBOX LapTimer - Predictive Lap Timing
•06 - VBOX LapTimer - Lap Count
•07 - VBOX LapTimer - Lateral/Longitudinal g
•08 - VBOX LapTimer - Menu Options
•09 - VBOX LapTimer - Square Button Functions
•10 - VBOX LapTimer - Using as an OLED Display
•11 - VBOX LapTimer - Technical Properties
•VBOX LapTimer - EC Declaration of Conformity
•VBOX LapTimer - PIN OUTS
•VBOX LapTimer - Standard Inventory
•VBOX LapTimer - Technical Specification
•ow to Update the VBOX LapTimer Firmware
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01 - VBOX LapTimer - Introduction
Features
• 10 z GPS data logger.
• Live delta-t on screen display.
• Delta-V LED indicators.
• Live / max speed display.
• Live speed bar.
• Static / rolling lap times and lap counter.
• Live / max G display (Lat and Long).
• Live G bar (Lat and Long).
• Combo G LED indicators.
• Can be used as an OLED display.
Compatible media
VBOX LapTimer can record to MMC, SD, SD C and SDXC media cards that are formatted in a FAT or FAT32 format.
SDXC cards will be formatted as exFAT by default, a format type not supported by VBOX LapTimer. They can still be
used, as long as they have been reformatted to FAT32. Various free third party applications are available online to
format SDXC cards.
Memory Usage
If the SD card used has less than 10 MB of space remaining a warning symbol flashes periodically to indicate the
amount of memory remaining.
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Display Modes Overview
VBOX LapTimer has different display modes, which can be accessed using the Up and Down buttons.
The data on each screen is calculated at all times, even if it is not displayed.
Live Speed Lap Timing
Max. Speed Lap Count
Speed Bar Predictive Lap Timing
Lateral G Longitudinal G
Lateral G Bar Longitudinal G Bar
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ardware Connections
Standalone
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With Video VBOX Pro
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With Video VBOX Lite
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With Video VBOX Waterproof
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02 - VBOX LapTimer - GPS
Obtaining the Best GPS Quality
Placement of the GPS antenna is crucial to the quality of the data recorded by VBOX LapTimer. Any metal close to a
GPS antenna can disturb the signal in an unpredictable way due to interference from reflections of weak GPS signals.
For the best results, use the antenna in the centre of a metal roof at least 5 cm away from any metal objects such
as roof bars or radio antennas. Do not mount the antenna close to the edge of the roof as reflections from the ground
may interfere with the signals. Avoid the edges as reflections from the A-pillars will cause problems.
Mount the antenna as high up as possible and keep above any roll bars. Pieces of metal close to and above an antenna
will badly disrupt the GPS signal.
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If the vehicle being used does not have a metal roof, then place the GPS antenna on a flat piece of metal at least 10 cm
in diameter. If this is not possible, copper or aluminium foil can be used to create a shaped ground plane underneath the
antenna. For example, on a fibreglass roof, mount the antenna on top of the roof, and place some adhesive backed
metal foil underneath, on the inside of the roof.
Acquiring Satellite Lock
Tall buildings or trees can block GPS signals, causing a reduction in the number and quality of satellites being tracked,
leading to inaccurate position measurements and a noisy velocity signal.
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GPS works best in open areas/ Avoid tree lined roads
GPS Coldstart
If VBOX LapTimer is struggling to acquire satellite lock, a GPS coldstart may be required. This may be necessary when
the unit hasn’t been used for a number of days or has dramatically moved location since its last use. To perform a cold-
start, select MENU >GPS OPTIONS >COLDSTART.
Note: The GPS Options menu cannot be accessed when the LapTimer is being used in OLED mode. In this instance,
the coldstart must be done on the connected unit.
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03 - VBOX LapTimer - Speed/Max Speed/Speed Bar
Speed
In this mode the screen will display a large clear speed value to 2 decimal places. The speed can be set to display in
kph, mph or knots. The number of decimal places displayed can be adjusted through the VBOX LAPTIMER menu.
Logging control
To start or stop the VBOX LapTimer logging data, press the square button when in Speed Display mode.
Max speed
In this mode the screen will show the highest achieved speed value to 0, 1 or 2 decimal places.
Max speed reset
If the square button is pressed then the unit will reset the displayed maximum speed value.
Speed Bar
In this mode the screen will show a set centre speed with a bar graph indicating the speed between the set speed and
the actual speed.
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Bar graph settings
If the square button is pressed, the user can set the desired speed and configure the speed display range of the bar
graph.
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04 - VBOX LapTimer - Lap Timing
All lap times and split times are interpolated to 0.01 second resolution.
In this mode the screen can display either a live rolling lap time or a static last lap time and the lap count. This is set
from within the menu screen.
Fastest lap
The difference between the new lap time and the best lap time will be shown with a + or – sign. A ‘–’ is shown when a
faster than best is achieved and a ‘+’ is shown for a slower than best.
Split line display
If split lines have been set via the VBOX LapTimer main menu, then split times will be shown for between 2-20 seconds
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when the split line is crossed. See ‘split time display period’ section for setup info.
Setting a start/finish line
In the lap timing screen a new start/finish line can be set by pressing the square button. If this is selected by mistake, it
can be cancelled by pressing the ▼button within 5 seconds.
If split lines or a separate finish are also required, then use the ‘set start finish and splits’ option in the main menu.
Note: The vehicle must be moving >10 km/h to set a Start/Finish Line.
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05 - VBOX LapTimer - Predictive Lap Timing
For this mode to work, a start/finish line is required. Make sure that a track layout is selected through the main menu, or
set a start line manually.
• Until the start line is crossed, the screen will show
‘Waiting for start line’ and the distance from current
location to this point.
• When the line is first crossed and during the first
lap, VBOX LapTimer will create a reference lap.
• The second crossover of the start line will allow
VBOX LapTimer to start predicting.
• The reference lap will be replaced with any
subsequent quicker lap time.
• To fix this comparison lap time at any point, press
the square button.
• Fixing a reference lap prevents any faster lap time
from replacing it.
• Power cycling the unit, clearing laptiming data or re-
setting the start/finish will remove the fixed
reference lap. If you wish to retain a fixed reference
lap, please ensure the lap is saved to the SD card.
This can then be loaded to the unit if required.
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•Pressing and holding the square button for 4
seconds when in this mode will clear the stored
reference lap and clear all lap timing data.
Delta-V LEDs
The two front panel LEDs are used in predictive lap timing mode. They indicate if the current vehicle speed is faster or
slower than the speed was at the same position in the reference file.
The LEDs will show RED if the current speed is slower than the reference, or GREEN if the current speed is faster.
The value defined within the ‘Delta-V range’ setting dictates the min and max speed values to full brightness.
The two LEDs act as a gauge, filling up from the left to right. Once the current speed is slower or faster than the
reference, the left LED will illuminate. Once the current speed is above 50% of the defined positive or negative range,
the LED on the right will also illuminate.
Combo G LEDs
While the screen still displays the Delta-T for each lap, the user has an optional mode which takes over the function of
the LEDs in the predictive lap-timing screen.
If the Combo G is greater than a selected minimum threshold (50 % LED minimum %, 0.5 g default), the LEDs will light
up various colours dependent on the maximum g threshold selected (1.0 g default).
• The LEDs will show RED where the Combo G has reached the LED minimum % selected (i.e. 50% by default).
• Above this minimum Combo G selected, the LEDs will show a colour gradient between RED and GREEN, giving a
changing YELLOW/ORANGE colour, dependent on the live Combo G.
• The LEDs will show GREEN where the Combo G is equal to or greater than the maximum g threshold selected.
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Default settings example:
Save reference lap
This feature allows the user to save a reference lap for future use, insert an SD card into VBOX LapTimer and use the
menu options shown below. Note that the vehicle must be stationary to make this transfer.
Once this is selected, the following messages show saving has been successful. This will be stored on the SD card as
LAP.REF in the ‘Data’ folder.
Load reference lap
To load a reference lap file stored from a previous session, put the desired file onto an SD card and load the card into
VBOX LapTimer. The file can have any name, however it must be saved in the Data folder and only one .REF file should
be present. Select the menu options as shown above – but select LOAD REF LAP instead of SAVE. Note that the
vehicle must be stationary to make this transfer. Reference laps will be reset when either a new start/finish is set, or if
the ‘reset lap timing data’ option is selected from the lap timing menu within main menu.
Live timing
The main predictive screen shows a continuously updated bar graph with the +/ - to previous. When a lap is completed,
it will give a final lap time and total time difference to reference lap. If a faster time is achieved than the reference, a
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negative time will be shown.
The amount of time shown on the bar graph can be altered in the main menu to 2, 5, 10 or 30 seconds.
Additionally the LEDs on the front of the VBOX LapTimer indicate Delta-V. Red indicates that velocity is slower than the
reference point and green faster. The brightness indicates how much slower or faster velocity is relative to the same
point in the reference lap. The range over which this brightness will change can be defined in the 'Predictive Lap Timing
Settings' menu.
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06 - VBOX LapTimer - Lap Count
The lap count screen will display two lap counts. On the left hand side of the screen the total lap count is displayed – this
counter will only be reset by a power cycle of the VBOX LapTimer. The right hand side of the screen displays the current
laps and will be reset by removal of the logging media from VBOX LapTimer.
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07 - VBOX LapTimer - Lateral/Longitudinal g
Lateral g
Displays the current g within the vehicle as a live display whilst also displaying the maximum lateral g reached. This
helps the driver push their vehicles that little bit harder during cornering.
Peak g reset
If the square button is pressed, the unit will reset the displayed maximum g value.
Longitudinal g
Displays the current g within the vehicle as a live display whilst also displaying the maximum longitudinal g reached.
This helps the driver push their vehicles that little bit harder during braking.
Peak g reset
If the square button is pressed, the unit will reset the displayed maximum g value.
Lateral g Bar Display
Shows a target, maximum and minimum range of lateral g on a bar graph display.
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