Velocitek Prostart User manual

Made by Velocitek in San Mateo, California
Firmware Version v40
Revision Date May 4, 2022 Rev0

Contents
INTRODUCTION 4
FEATURES 5
INSTALLATION 6
BATTERIES 8
BATTERY LIFE 8
RECHARGING THE BATTERY 8
BUTTONS 9
ICONS 10
MODES 10
START MODE 11
TIMER 11
DISTANCE TO LINE 11
START LINE PACING GUIDES 12
RACE MODE 12
SPEED 13
MAGNETIC HEADING 13
COURSE OVER GROUND 13
WHEN THE PROSTART’S DIRECTION OUTPUT IS SET TO COG, THE PROSTART’S TOP LINE WILL SHOW COG WITH NO LEADING
ZEROS,I.E.ELEVEN DEGREES WILL BE SHOWN AS 11° AND THREE DEGREES WILL BE SHOWN AS 3°. 14
RACE MODE BAR GRAPH 14
HEEL ANGLE 14
SHIFT TRACKING 14

BONUS MODE 16
OPERATION 17
POWER ON AND OFF 17
ACQUIRE A GPS SIGNAL 17
USING THE BACKLIGHT 18
SHOW OFF YOUR MAXIMUM SPEEDS 18
KEEP YOUR HAND ON THE TILLER 19
SET THE START LINE20
USE THE TIMER 21
USING ‘LINE SQUARE TO’22
CONFIGURATION 23
CONFIGURING YOUR PROSTART 23
SETTING DIRECTION OUTPUT 25
SETTING RACE BAR GRAPH 25
SETTING COMPASS DAMPING 26
SETTING HEADING OFFSET 26
SETTING MAGNETIC DECLINATION 27
THREE RESOURCES FOR FINDING YOUR LOCAL MAGNETIC DECLINATION 28
SETTING BOW OFFSET 28
SETTING DISTANCE TO LINE PRECISION 28
DISABLING DISTANCE TO LINE 29
ENABLING BONUS SCREEN (ON OR OFF) 29
SELECTING BONUS SCREEN TOP AND BOTTOM METRICS 30
SELECTING BONUS SCREEN BAR GRAPH METRIC 30
ZEROING PITCH AND HEEL ANGLES 30
UNDERSTANDING ‘DISTANCE TO LINE’31
PINGING WITHOUT THE BOW OFFSET 31
PINGING WITH THE BOW OFFSET 31
SETTING THE ENDS 32
HOW TO USE TIME AND DISTANCE 32
UNDERSTANDING ‘LINE SQUARE TO’33
HOW TO USE ‘LINE SQUARE TO’33

UNDERSTANDING SHIFT TRACKING 34
HOW TO USE SHIFT TRACKING 36
DATA STORAGE 37
DOWNLOAD DATA 37
SOFTWARE 37
VELOCITEK CONTROL CENTER 37
REPLAYS 37
FIRMWARE 38
INSTRUCTIONS FOR CHANGING PROSTART: 38
MAINTENANCE 39
WARRANTY 40
CONTACT 41
COMPLIANCE 42
FCC COMPLIANCE STATEMENT 42
CANADIAN COMPLIANCE STATEMENT 42
EUROPEAN COMMUNITY COMPLIANCE STATEMENT 42
INDEX 43

Introduction 4
Introduction
The new ProStart is the distillation of more than a decade of experience and customer feedback building
stand-alone, GPS-based, distance-to-line starting aids. It’s all about time and distance.
Now, the best distance-to-line tool ever just got better. The new ProStart has the same great user
experience you know and love and now features crystal-clear optics, zero-latency navigation, and
multicolor backlight.
Made by Velocitek in San Mateo, California.

Features 5
Features
Only essential features used by professional sailors are included in the product.
•High-contrast LCD bonded to Gorilla® Glass anti-reflective / anti-glare lens
•4 Hz screen update rate (4 times per second)
•Red and white LED backlight
•72 channel, 18Hz multi-constellation GPS receiver
•100 Hz solid-state 6-axis inertial measurement unit (IMU)
•High-precision 3-axis geomagnetic sensor (compass)
•100-hour Lithium-ion battery
•GPS Speed, magnetic compass, and distance to line updated four times a second
•Countdown start timer
•Maximum and best 10 second average speed recall
•Over 1000 hours of data storage at a 4 Hz (4 times per second)
•Data download through USB link
•Automatic or user configurable magnetic declination
•Shift tracking
•Line Square To
•Heel angle
•Fully customizable bonus mode
•Waterproof (IPX8) to 3m
•Two-year warranty

Installation 6
Installation
The ProStart comes with a cradle that interlocks with it. Install the cradle permanently on your boat.
Press the tab on the cradle to unlock the ProStart from it.
The ProStart Cradle works with M4 Metric flat head countersunk machine screws. Alternatively, you can
use Imperial No. 6 flat head countersunk machine screws in place of M4 fasteners. Always use Marine
Grade fasteners when mounting the ProStart Cradle and/or Mounting Brackets.

Installation 7
Do not use rounded head screws with the ProStart cradle. Non-countersunk screw heads will interfere
with mounting the ProStart in its cradle.
The ProStart now features a magnetic compass. If you intend to use the magnetic compass feature,
mount the back of the cradle perpendicular to the centerline of the boat. The cradle should be installed
at least 1.0m away from steel, iron, other ferromagnetic metals and permanent magnets.
If you only intend to use the GPS features of the ProStart, the cradle can be installed anywhere on the
boat with a view of the sky.
For instructions on changing the ProStart from magnetic compass to course over ground, see the
Configuration section on page 22.
Several mounting options are available for the ProStart. For details, go to
https://www.velocitek.com/collections/accessories.

Batteries 8
Batteries
The ProStart is powered by an onboard Lithium Polymer battery.
Battery life
The battery indicator is located on the bottom of the LCD screen. When the battery is fully charged, the
device will last 100 hours in normal operation with the white or red backlight on. From a full charge with
the backlight off, the ProStart will run for 200 hours with no additional charge. When the battery is
empty the device will go into low battery mode and flash the battery outline.
When the battery is exhausted, connect the ProStart to a USB port or a phone charger using the supplied
cable. From low battery the ProStart takes approximately 11 hours to charge completely using a 5 volt, 1
amp wall adapter (iPhone or similar) or 55 hours to charge completely via a USB port on a computer.
Recharging the Battery
To recharge the battery, connect the ProStart to a USB port or a phone charger using the supplied Micro
USB cable. The ProStart uses a standard Micro USB cable.
While the ProStart is charging, the LCD will display “>USb” on the lower data line and battery voltage on
the upper line; 3.6V is empty and 4.2V is full. The USB trident logo will be visible at the bottom of the
LCD screen and the battery icon will show the charging progress (see illustration below). USB pitchfork
icon will flash when wall-cube fast charging is taking place.
When the battery is completely charged the cycling animation will stop and the battery will show full
with both bars showing.
Full Battery
Half Full
Low Battery
Low battery
< ½ full - One
bar flashing
> ½ full - One
bar solid, one
bar flashing
Full battery -
both bars solid
Full charge.
Go sailing!

Buttons 9
Buttons
There are a total of eight buttons on the ProStart as illustrated above. The buttons will be referred to
in capitalized blue text throughout this document as follows, PWR,MODE,MAX,RESET,+1,PIN,RC and
GUN.
Pin
Sets current
location as
pin end of
start line
Mode
Max Speed
On/Off
Timer Reset
Timer +1
Gun
Timer Start/Sync
Race Committee
Sets current
location as
boat end of
start line

Icons 10
Icons
Modes
The ProStart has three modes: Start Mode, Race Mode, and Bonus Mode. Start and Race Mode provide
you with the essential information at different stages of the race, before and after the gun. Bonus mode
is a great tool for tuning and speed testing.
The mode indicator can be found at the upper left-hand corner of the LCD screen. There is no indicator
for Bonus mode, therefore, the lack of either the Start Mode or Race Mode icon indicates that you are in
Bonus Mode
Start Mode: time & distance
Race Mode: speed & heading
Speed
Heading
Timer
Distance
Max
Speed
Best 10
Sec.
Speed
USB
Battery
GPS
Available

Modes 11
Start Mode
Start mode combines a timer and perpendicular distance to line display to provide the information
necessary for a perfect start at the gun.
The semi-circles next to the PIN and RC buttons indicate if the respective ends are set. When both ends
are set a line appears between them to illustrate that the line is set.
Timer
The count-down timer displayed as mm:ss. The timer can be set from 1:00 to 15:00.
Distance To Line
‘Distance To Line’is the perpendicular distance to the user defined line. Refer to Set Start Line on page
20 for detailed information on setting the start line. ‘Distance To Line’ is displayed in meters.
A negative ‘Distance To Line’ means that the boat is over the line. Three hyphens ‘---’are displayed when
the line is not defined and a GPS signal is available. When the ‘Distance To Line’ is larger than 1000
meters ‘>999’ is displayed.
‘Distance To Line’ can be displayed with either 0.1m or 1m resolution. Refer to ‘Setting Distance to Line
Precision’ on page 28 of the Configuration section
Line End is
Set
Start Mode
Indicator
Distance-
to-line
Display
Indicator
Timer
Display
Indicator
Line Ends
Set
Indicator
Distance
Timer
Pacing
Guides

Modes 12
Start line pacing guides
In the final two minutes of the countdown the bar graph segments will display ‘Pacing Guides,’ giving you
an indication of whether you are on track to be early or late to the line given your current boat speed
and heading. Below is a description of how this algorithm works so that you can employ this feature in
your starts with confidence.
The early / late bar graph provides a graphical representation for your estimated location at the gun
based on your current position, speed, Course Over Ground, and the time remaining in the countdown.
The bar graph extends above the illustrated line if the calculated future location is over the line and
below the illustrated line if your future location is under the line. When no bar graph segments are
showing - the “0” display - your estimated future location at the gun is between the line and 2 meters
below the line. Each segment shown represents +/- 2m from this “0" location. For example, 2 bar graph
segments showing above the line represents that you are predicted to be between 2m and 4m over the
line at go. For simplicity’s sake this algorithm assumes the line to be of infinite length so it does not
compensate for any situation where your current heading would not take you through the starting line.
The goal is to eliminate all the bar segments around the perimeter and only have the semicircles
showing. This indicates that at your current speed and heading you are expected to be within 2 meters
of the line at the gun.
Race Mode
Race mode displays information crucial during the race: speed, magnetic heading or COG, and heel angle
or shift angle (on bar graph).
Heading / COG
Speed
Race Mode
Indicator
Speed
Display
Indicator
Heading
Display
Indicator
Bar Graph
(Heel or Shift)

Modes 13
Speed
Speed is calculated by the GPS unit by measuring the Doppler shift in GPS signals. It is displayed in Knots
(Nautical Miles per Hour).
Magnetic Heading
With the addition of a solid-state geomagnetic (compass) sensor, the ProStart’s factory default direction
output is magnetic heading. The default heading is magnetic heading of the device expressed in degrees
with 360˚ being North.
When the ProStart’s direction output is set to magnetic heading, the ProStart’s top line will show
compass heading with three digits at all times. Leading zeros will be displayed when the heading is not
three digits, i.e. eleven degrees will be shown as 011° and three degrees will be shown as 003°.
If you are not mounting your ProStart facing forwards on your boat you can set a “heading offset” in the
device settings.
See the Configuration section on page 22 for instructions on changing the heading offset or the
ProStart’s direction output from magnetic compass to course over ground.
Course Over Ground
The user has the option to substitute Course Over Ground (COG) in place of Heading. COG is calculated
by the GPS unit by measuring the Doppler shift in GPS signals.
Either true or magnetic COG can be displayed by entering your local magnetic declination into the
ProStart. “True COG” is referenced to true north. “Magnetic COG” is referenced to the local magnetic
north. When using a magnetic compass in conjunction with the ProStart, displaying COG in degrees
magnetic can be useful since both measurements will be referencing magnetic north.
By default, COG is displayed in degrees magnetic. This is done by automatically using the GPS location to
compensate for the local magnetic declination wherever you are in the world. To display COG in degrees
true the magnetic declination must be set to zero in the device settings. See ‘Setting Declination’ in the
Configuration section on page 27 for instructions on adjusting the magnetic declination setting on the
ProStart.
The ProStart displays COG only when your speed is greater than 0.5 knots. If your speed is less than 0.5
knots the ProStart will display ‘- - -’ for COG regardless of which direction you are moving.
Unlike the magnetic heading from a compass, COG requires movement. COG depends only on the
direction you are moving, not the direction the device is pointing. If your ProStart is configured to display
COG, the ProStart will give you accurate COG information regardless of the orientation in which it is
mounted on your boat (i.e. mounted on the sides of a boom, or a tacking bracket on a Moth).

Modes 14
When the ProStart’s direction output is set to COG, the ProStart’s top line will show COG with no leading
zeros, i.e. eleven degrees will be shown as 11° and three degrees will be shown as 3°.
Race Mode Bar Graph
The user has the option of either displaying heel or shift angle on the bar graph while in Race Mode. By
default, the ProStart displays the heel angle. See ‘Setting Race Bar Graph Mode’ in the Configuration
section on page 25 for instructions on switching between heel angle and shift angle.
Heel Angle
Heel angle is displayed on the bar graph with each segment representing 2.5° of heel. To zero out the
heel angle, press RESET when the ProStart is in Race Mode (this will also zero the pitch angle which is
accessible only in Bonus Mode).
Heel angle is also recorded in the ProStart’s data storage. Heel to starboard is shown as positive degrees.
Heel to port is shown as negative degrees.
Shift Tracking
In Race Mode, the user has the option to substitute shift angle in place of heel angle on the bar graph.
See ‘Setting Race Bar Graph’ configuration section on page 25 for instructions on switching between heel
angle and shift angle.
Each segment represents 2.5°of heel
-12.5°
12.5°
0°

Modes 15
When the race bar graph is configured to show shift angle each bar graph segment will represent 3°
degrees of heading deviation from a device determined ‘trim angle’. The trim angle is set automatically
by the device once the boat is detected to be steering a relatively stable course for a specified length of
time. The trim angle is automatically reset anytime the current heading deviates from the trim angle by
more than 45°.
The trim angle can be manually reset by pressing the RESET button while in Race Mode with shift
tracking activated (see ‘Setting Race Bar Graph’ in Configuration section). This will clear the previously
used trim angle and start a fresh measurement cycle for the ProStart to find the new trim angle.
See the ‘Understanding Shift Tracking’ section on page 34 for more detail on how the shift tracking
algorithm works.
Each segment represents 3°of heading deviation
*Press the RESET button to clear trim
angle

Modes 16
Bonus Mode
Bonus Mode allows you to display any two metrics on the top and bottom displays as well as an
additional metric on the bar graph.
By default, Bonus Mode is disabled. To enable Bonus Mode see ‘Enabling Bonus Screen’ on page 29 in
the configuration section.
The options for metrics to display on the top and bottom display are: Magnetic Heading, Course Over
Ground, Speed Over Ground, Heel, Pitch, or Shift Angle.
The options for metrics to display on bar graph are: Heel, Shift Angle, or Off.
When enabled, you can access the Bonus Screen at any time in either Race or Start Mode by pressing
both the MODE and ‘+1’ buttons at the same time (in either order). Pressing any button while in Bonus
Mode will exit Bonus Mode
Bar Graph (Heel
or Shift)
Race Mode and
Start Mode
Icons are not
displayed in
Bonus Mode
Magnetic Heading
(default)
COG (°Magnetic
default)

Modes 17
Operation
Power On and Off
Press the POWER / LIGHT button (top-center) to turn on your ProStart.
Press and hold POWER / LIGHT for three seconds to shut down your ProStart.
Acquire a GPS Signal
The operation of the ProStart relies on low-power radio signals from GPS satellites that orbit the earth at
an altitude of approximately 20,000 km. As a result, the ProStart must be outdoors with a clear view of
the sky to function properly. Stay away from tall buildings and forests when acquiring a signal off the
water since these obstacles block or reflect the signals making it difficult to obtain signal.
When the ProStart is first turned on, it must download information from GPS satellites before it can
acquire a GPS signal.
GPS Found
GPS Lost
Searching for GPS signal
Searching indicator is displayed
at the bottom and bar segments
travel around the circumference
of the LCD.
GPS Signal Acquired
GPS Search
GPS Acquired

Modes 18
The satellite acquisition process can take up to 5 minutes.
Using the Backlight
The ProStart features a white or red LED backlight.
With the ProStart powered on, press POWER / LIGHT to cycle the backlight between: off, white, and red.
If your ProStart has a low battery, the backlight will automatically turn off to reduce power consumption
and extend the runtime of your ProStart.
Show Off Your Maximum Speeds
Everyone likes to know how fast you went. The ProStart max speed recall pulls your best speeds up with
the click of a button.
Display both your instantaneous and 10 second average maximum speed by pressing the MAX button.
Your maximum speeds will display for 5 seconds before returning to the previous mode. The maximum
speeds are stored in non-volatile flash memory and are stored until overwritten with higher speeds or
the user resets the maximum speeds.
The ProStart’s max speed Instantaneous Max is a two second average and the Ten Second Average Max
is self-explanatory. These max speeds are calculated from Doppler speeds.
The maximum speeds are not limited by track storage capacity.
To reset the maximum speeds, press RESET while holding MAX.
Press RESET while max speeds are
displayed to reset the max speeds
Maximum 10
second Average
Speed
Maximum
Instantaneous
Speed
Press MAX to display max speeds
temporarily on a 5 second timer.

Modes 19
Keep Your Hand on the Tiller
Modes switch automatically to minimize the need for your input. The mode switches from Start to Race
mode when the timer expires. The mode switches from Race to Start mode when any of the start related
buttons, RC, PIN, GUN, RESET and +1, are pressed.
when timer expires
when RC, PIN, GUN, RESET, +1 is pressed