Video and Data Logging Systems

[BobbyButton]

Hi

I am currently running an AIM Mychron XG data-logger set-up - details here http://www.aim-tec.co.uk/pages/car/s...r_mychron3.htm. It has a dash mounted display which monitors time and performance data through 4 channels (temp, RPM, speed and brakes) and has a set of LED's along the top for shift warning lights

The system is clunky - in particular the software and I am thinking of junking it in favor of an integrated video and data logger like the system that Race-keeper ( http://www.race-keeper.co.uk/) offer

Anyone have a view or any experience?

Thanks

Bob

[John Turner]

Welcome, Bob. I'm not sure this is the best forum for this enquiry. Do you own a car which runs in historic racing? This maybe likely to get a better response in the Racers forum, where I'm moving it to.

[tristancliffe]

Do you already have a camera system? If you do, and it's any good, then you might be better off upgrading the datalogger, and then using something like Trackvision to overlay logging onto the video.

[BobbyButton]

Thanks - I hadnt realised I could upgrade my current set up - do you have any experience of that?

[BobbyButton]

By the way - yes I race a 65 Sunbeam Tiger

[tristancliffe]

By upgrade I mean buy a new datalogger, but leave the camera system alone (if you already have a good/okay one). This would almost certainly give better results than a cheap 'combined' system that isn't very good as either a camera or a datalogger.

If you don't have a camera system and want to get a new logger and camera on a budget then it might be the way forwards.

[Chris Y]

If I could recommend anyone for this sort of thing, I would recommend speaking to John at DriveData - http://drivedata.com

[John Turner]

Originally Posted by BobbyButton

By the way - yes I race a 65 Sunbeam Tiger

Excellent, but I still think that these guys probably have been able to help more.

[pdreams]

Hi,

Have you considered something from Racelogic?

Cheers

[MaxxUK]

Bee's Knee's would be Race Technology DL1 (data-logger) which integrates with VIDEO4 (2/4 channel solid-state video system) which both integrate with a DASH3 (lap-timer, shift lights, warning lights, remote start/stop).

Maxx

[RF_Racer]

http://www.smartycam.com/on-board-camera.htm

This seems a good one, any one tried it?

[MaxxUK]

A friend of mine is a reseller and they work as described on the tin. A very simple to use system, not a great data logger (as i think you'd expect for the price) but the video is generally quite good.

There is quite a divide between the various video+data products and it really depends what is the most important aspect to the buyer.

Maxx

[Orange Ears]

Hi - sorry to hi jack this thread but also have a data logger question. I am looking for a data logger with video and could really do with some help in deciding which to chose.
The 3 I have shortlisted are Race Logic, Race Keeper and Race Technology.

Does anyone have any experience/views on any of these 3 ?(Pi, Mo tech and Stack are all too expensive).

Thanks - Julia

[RF_Racer]

You cant go wrong with an AIM setup with a Smartycam

[MaxxUK]

Julia,

As I mentioned above, it really does depend on what you want and whats important.

I am a fan of the Race-Technology stuff. I bought it and have since helped them develop the Video4 so I am biased and totally up front about it. The Race-Tech products is trickier to set up but thats partly down to the flexibility of it. Once you've got over the first couple of hours of working with it then it is no more difficult than the rest.

I work with many instructor/driver coaches and drivers and it really is generally regarded that the RT product (DL1) is the better more fully featured and mature data-logger. You may not need or use all it's features now but they are all there if and when you do need them.

The video4 really is very impressive and the integration with the data logger is I think class leading.

As I said though, I am biased so please bear that in mind.

If you'd like to see some output from the DL1+Video4 there are lots of onboards on my youtube channel, just search for "maxxuk video4".

This one shows the video comparison within the analysis software. Note that the video is synch'd by POSITION, not TIME so even if 2 sectors are a few 10ths apart you are always looking at the same section and position on track. You can of course do it by time also if you wish.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UIkBoa58Kmc

Note that the videos start out as DVD quality and aspect (4:3) but many of mine have been cropped to appear widescreen. I prefer the look but it does lose a little quality, esp when youtube has also done its encode.

Maxx

[RF_Racer]

Here are some features that I like in the Smarty Cam over many other video recorders:

It starts and stops itself. You can set it to sense G force and turn on only after movement. With a 8 Gbit card, you can go all day (4 hours of video) without ever thinking about whether you turned it on or off. At the end of the day swap the card for an empty one and go home and watch the video

You can point the camera using the built in LCD. Many other cameras are very cumbersum to aim. You can also plug in to a laptop and view full screen using the "online" option, which makes pointing even easier.

The latest firmware has a much beter G-G (lat and long) meter so you can watch the trail braking and throttle application in the corner even without a dash data stream

Before the event starts, you walk the camera to the start finish line (pit lane works) and set the GPS beacon location. You are now done. Much easier that the GPS module for the AIM dash. Once you do this, the lap timer works on the video screen.

If you have an AIM or Motec dash, almost any data item can be dragged and dropped onto the video screen