Opinions Re Data Systems

[JEDD]

Does anyone mind sharing opinions regarding the current data system options? I believe most people use an AIM product in Spec Boxster racing but am not sure if this is true and, if so, which one(s). I would like to be able to share / exchange data with others. Also, I have heard that the ECU in the 97-99 Boxsters do not provide much information, so additional sensors are necessary. Does anyone have thoughts on which sensors are the most important.

Thanks in advance and I apologize if this has been covered before. I did not find much recent information in my search.

[MJP911]

I use the Racelogic VBox HD2 in a 99 SPB and love it. I have a microinput module set up to get throttle, steering angle and brake pressure (estimated using brake light signal and longitudinal G). I think it is the best system all around, but not too many people use the system in SPB, at least not here on the East Coast.

[Lemming]

Racelogic VBOX lite, fantastic unit, easy to use, less expensive than the HD. Video quality is not that of the HD, but I'm more interested in the data that showing nice vids and price point was a factor for me. I also have the microinput module and can get all the data that I'm really interested in easily.

[JEDD]

Originally Posted by MJP911

I use the Racelogic VBox HD2 in a 99 SPB and love it. I have a microinput module set up to get throttle, steering angle and brake pressure (estimated using brake light signal and longitudinal G). I think it is the best system all around, but not too many people use the system in SPB, at least not here on the East Coast.

Originally Posted by Lemming

Racelogic VBOX lite, fantastic unit, easy to use, less expensive than the HD. Video quality is not that of the HD, but I'm more interested in the data that showing nice vids and price point was a factor for me. I also have the microinput module and can get all the data that I'm really interested in easily.

Great information. Thank you very much!

[MaxD]

JEDD,

What are your primary goals for a data system. Are you after great videos, driver development, chassis development or just monitoring your car vitals. How much $$$ are you willing to lay out.

AIM is popular because it offers many of the features of Pro systems (Motec, Pi/Cosworth, Bosch, etc.) at significantly lower cost. The VBOX systems have significantly better video capture and functionality than AIM.

There are pro's and con's to them all.

The K-line output from the Boxster ECU is far too slow to really capture meaningful data. It has many of the right channels. TPS for instance would not even remotely show you accurately where you were full throttle on corner exit. That why additional sensors are the way to go, or taping the signal from the TPS in this case.

[JEDD]

Originally Posted by MaxD

JEDD,

What are your primary goals for a data system. Are you after great videos, driver development, chassis development or just monitoring your car vitals. How much $$$ are you willing to lay out.

AIM is popular because it offers many of the features of Pro systems (Motec, Pi/Cosworth, Bosch, etc.) at significantly lower cost. The VBOX systems have significantly better video capture and functionality than AIM.

There are pro's and con's to them all.

The K-line output from the Boxster ECU is far too slow to really capture meaningful data. It has many of the right channels. TPS for instance would not even remotely show you accurately where you were full throttle on corner exit. That why additional sensors are the way to go, or taping the signal from the TPS in this case.

Thanks Max and great information! I'll do some more research on those options.

My highest priority is driver development, then chassis development, vitals and video quality.

I don't want to spend too much, but I also don't want to throw good money into a system that doesn't advance my goals. Does this change anything in your opinion?

[AZ986S]

If keeping cost down is important, then look into Autosport labs.
Pretty decent capability and data analysis but you need to get down and dirty with programming and setup. You can run it on virtually any tablet or phone.

[MaxD]

Originally Posted by AZ986S

If keeping cost down is important, then look into Autosport labs.
Pretty decent capability and data analysis but you need to get down and dirty with programming and setup. You can run it on virtually any tablet or phone.

That looks like great bang for buck. Do you have one?

Like the Raspberry Pi option.

[AZ986S]

Originally Posted by MaxD

That looks like great bang for buck. Do you have one?

Like the Raspberry Pi option.

Yes, I have a Race Capture MK1 and dedicated oil pressure sensors with the Accusump. The rest of the parameters I log through the OBD2 adapter on canbus. If youd like more details I have documented almost everything. The new RC MK2 can now run shift lights and sync video cams over canbus and Wi-Fi.

[Lemming]

Here's a screenshot from Circuit Tools, the analysis program for VBox. Very simple to use, pull the SD card and load. I really like the compare lap feature for learning. You can also build custom dash scenes, I made the on in the photo to look like a 986 dash.

[Greg Holmberg]

Originally Posted by MaxD

Like the Raspberry Pi option.

I know what a Raspberry Pi is, but tell me more about using it as data logger.

How to you connect all the sensors?

What software do you use?

Thanks,

Greg

[MaxD]

Originally Posted by Greg Holmberg

I know what a Raspberry Pi is, but tell me more about using it as data logger.

How to you connect all the sensors?

What software do you use?

Thanks,

Greg

They have a version of their RaceCapture App for Raspberry Pi. In fact they seem to support just about any OS for their software.

The logger is separate hardware.

I'm just a geek.

[Greg Holmberg]

Originally Posted by MaxD

They have a version of their RaceCapture App for Raspberry Pi.

For anyone else who's interested, I found this information on the product. The company calls it "experimental" at this point.

RaceCapture on Raspberry Pi

The Raspberry Pi does not do the actual data capture. You still have to buy their proprietary black box to connect all the sensors and record the data. The Raspberry Pi just runs an app that provides the display of data on a touchscreen.

There's a 7" touchscreen you can mount as a dash for $69 + $25 for the case. The Pi 3 is $35. The RaceCapture/Pro is $600 or the RaceCapture/Track is $400, both with GPS.


Greg

[jsceash]

Originally Posted by MaxD

JEDD,

AIM is popular because it offers many of the features of Pro systems (Motec, Pi/Cosworth, Bosch, etc.) at significantly lower cost. The VBOX systems have significantly better video capture and functionality than AIM.

There are pro's and con's to them all.

The K-line output from the Boxster ECU is far too slow to really capture meaningful data. It has many of the right channels. TPS for instance would not even remotely show you accurately where you were full throttle on corner exit. That why additional sensors are the way to go, or taping the signal from the TPS in this case.

My experience with Aim is this exact thing. My speedometer show one thing on track and on replay is often 5 MPH lower Tack is similar. So you never see your peek speed on video. and my gas pedal was often 40 to 60 % when I know it was matted.

[MJP911]

Originally Posted by jsceash

My experience with Aim is this exact thing. My speedometer show one thing on track and on replay is often 5 MPH lower Tack is similar. So you never see your peek speed on video. and my gas pedal was often 40 to 60 % when I know it was matted.

The difference in speed is due to the way car speedometers are set up. Most manufacturers, Porsche included, set the speedometer to read a little faster than actual. If you get speed data from GPS or an actual speed reading from the CAN bus, it is likely to be about 5mph slower at speed than what you see on the speedo. I have 2010 BMW M5 and using an aftermarket coding tool I can disable this speed "correction" on the speedometer.

[Topless]

Data systems are wide open and you can literally spend $5k on a cutting edge 4 camera system or go dirt cheap with Harry's or RaceChrono iphone apps and anywhere in between.

The app based systems software is continually being updated and offer lap times, predictive lap, lateral /g comparisons, best lap comparisons, corner by corner comparisons, sector times, water temp, oil pressure, and multiple camera input. They don't do everything a fully integrated race system will but may get you 90% of the way at around 1% of the cost. Best bang for the buck these days. Great tools for driver development.