How to Set Up Lap Timer & Telemetry at the Track (the Best Budget Lap Timer)
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- Опубліковано 8 лют 2025
- I get asked a lot of questions about how I get track data/data telemetry and setup onboard footage with data overlays so here's a quick guide to get you started. I use a combination of Racechrono Pro, an external gps, and an obd2 reader to make all of my overlays work.
racechrono external gps article: racechrono.com...
obd2 reader: racechrono.com...
trackaddict: racerender.com...
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good video! How do you create HUD in you video based on GPS data? Wondering which application can build a hud based on GPS data from whatever the source is (alfano, aim, phone etc..)
thanks! I use racerender on pc, but you can also use the built in version in racechrono. I think Harry's laptimer and I'm sure lots of other lap timers offer similar in app functionality. I've also seen gopro footage that does something similar
@@dadhats whats the best way to export data from your phone into race render?
@@AmirHussain-rm8po are you asking how to export data on your phone or what file format it needs to be in?
@@dadhats Thanks for replying. To specify, I've been doing some test runs before my track day this Saturday.
What i've been doing is exporting the video with the overlay via RaceChrono app, uploading to gDrive or iCloud, downloading the video to PC and then importing into racerender.
Is this the best way to do it?
P.S Your videos are extremely helpful! Keep up the good work.
@@AmirHussain-rm8po if you like the overlay from racechrono I wouldn't bother with racerender
if you want to use racerender's features without racechrono's overlay, export your data from racechrono into a csv. you import both the video you took and the data file into racerender and use the sync tool to match it up.
racechrono > sessions > pick a session > export (up arrow icon next to trash can) > application drop down - csv V2/racerender > add to queue > start > share
This is a great beginners guide to what you need to improve on track days. Make more stuff like this if you feel comfortable doing it. I didn’t even know this existed or where I would’ve started to look.
thanks glad you appreciated it! I could def do more what would you like to see?
Thanks for making this video. I definitely didn't want to spend 400 dollars on a gps. 250 is way more sensible. Can't wait to see more of your track videos
same! I've never used an aim solo but seems hard to justify the price difference 🤷♂️
Yes! Been waiting for this video
Answering the questions I didn’t know I needed to ask. Wanted the solo 2 dl but couldn’t justify the price. Thanks for the heads up of an economic version ! Love the videos
awesome glad it was helpful!
Great video man! the nice thing about the AIM is you get access to their data analysis SW which can be pretty powerful for chasing the last few seconds for a laptime :)
thanks! yea I have seen that. I think I mentioned this in the video but with racechrono you can do something similar and export data into data analysis tools for free
Great write up, thanks!
Thanks for info and effort!
thanks a lot mate, i'll debut this summer on trackday. Thank you !
Great tutorial vid dude! I'm new to the track, I just want to put all the UIs like timer, speed, g-force on the videos I record during my lap, how do I do that? I now know I have to have a GPS device like racebox you mentioned, and what about the OBD2 reader? what does that do? Is that a must have? and other ppl are kind enough to tell me i need Telemetry overlay to put all the UI later in editing, so much stuff's going on, hard to comprehend for a rookie
I have used both TrackAddict and RaceChrono as well. TrackAddict corrupts my video every single time, so I swore it off. I met some guys that were also running TrackAddict last time out at Mid Ohio, and their GPS didn't work at all. RaceChrono Pro for me.
yea it can be super glitchy for some reason. it's funny to me that I think there's only one developer for racechrono but he put out a better product than an entire company 🥴
Great info, thanks
Hi - Didn't see a question about transferring date to something like Circuit tools
Great video and information! Can you go into more detail on what you use for video and how is mounted to your helmet, etc?
glad you liked it! I just have a gopro hero 8 mounted with an adhesive stuck to the front of my helmet
Thanks for the response! One last question, do you have it mounted above your helmet visor or below?
Does the EcuTek bluetooth OBD2 port work for this or still need to get a separate one?
I'd appreciate a video on the data analyzing tool
will probably do one over the winter when I run out of track footage 👌
@@dadhats second to this.
is there any testing report for the Qstarz LT-8000GT 25Hz standalone GPS timer and comment accordingly ?
I don’t know if this has been brought up already but AFAIK the Solo 2 ($400) does not record OBD data. The true comparison against your set up would be with the Solo 2DL (@$800) so the cost/features gap is much larger.
good info!! don't think I ever realized the difference. knowing that now, I can't imagine paying $800 for a similar level of data
I guess you also need a camera? are you using a GoPro? Also, I note on the telemetry display no indicator for brake? is that correct? thanks and sorry about all the questions - your videos and information are awesome and appreciated.
depends what you want. if you want to make a video how I am you def can use a gopro and sync up the footage or I think it connects over Bluetooth too. pretty sure you can just record with your phone at the same time as you collect data but I never bothered with it
as for the brake you def can record that it just takes some messing around with some of the formulas to get an accurate representation of brake pressure. I have it on screen in some of my newer videos
Phones and cameras in the UK have to be clamped to something or tethered. Also they don't allow timing so they have to be hidden. So they don't become missiles in the car according to them.
I got the track addict app. I am unsure if I am satisified with it or I should try Race Chrono. However I am not using any GPS and only using it on Iphone8plus. I wonder if my experience would be better with the GPS added.
depends on what issue you're having I suppose but I would highly recommend an external gps if you care about accurate times regardless of which app you use.
I can recommend racechrono 100%. the $20 for the reliability and features is unmatched. myself and others have had issues with trackaddict recording laps in one giant lap and lots of gps/obd2 reader disconnects. save yourself the headache and just get racechrono imo 👍
Does the GPS receiver work if you replace the toll tag with it?
not sure what you mean. the toll tag/ez pass has nothing to do with this setup
@@dadhats Sticking it up there instead of on the dash. I'm trying to preserve my sweet leather.🤣
@@johnmuir8305 ohhhh I gotcha!! I would imagine it's fine yes!
may be slightly too close to the roof which could effect the signal. you could always use the tape I did but put it towards the front of the windshield instead of the top
@@dadhats Wasn't sure if the antenna was highly polarized or something. Hopefully I can get down to NJMP one of these weekends!
Is it possible we can get a video of how your car is setup for the track?
definitely! I've been planning on doing a walk around for the car just haven't gotten to it yet
Do u NEED the obd2 port reader?
no not for the lap timer. the obd2 reader can show you brake and throttle inputs as well as what rpm and gear you're in. you could always buy it later if you wanted
Thanks for sharing this helpful information. I would be interested in a video with the circuit tools and a video with the video rendering. Unfortunately, my vehicle does not have an OBD port, I may have to do without or find another option until I go standalone. I have Sub'd and looking forward to more content. 👍
appreciate the support! I'll see what I can do 🙏
Would this work with a car with only an OBD1 port?
I have no experience with that so can't help there sorry
I think that the accuracy AIM claims comes from the fact that you can interpolate between two data points.
wym? interpolate what between 2 data points?
@@dadhats In the segment where you compare to the AIM specs it seems like you weren't sure on how it gets a lap time accuracy of 0.02s with the GPS updating only every 0.1s. It only needs to know at what moments you cross the position of the start/finish line. If it has one datum point before and one after you can interpolate between the two and find the time of that crossing. You can do a linear interpolation which only takes into account how much distance there was in the earlier and how much distance there is in the later, or also include speed and acceleration (at the earlier point). That would then account for the fact that the speed is not constant over every 0.1s step.
Or was that not what you were asking?
@@erikschmidt476I understand the linear interpolation bit. so you're saying they do use the gyro or accelerometer that polls every 0.2s and take that into account for the calculation of the lap?
@@dadhats It'll definitely need some sensor fusion. The GPS will have more noise and doesn't update as frequently, the accelerometer will cause cause any errors to integrate (compound) over time causing drift. In the past, when GPS (and user-friendliness!) wasnt that common yet, we used to generate trackmaps purely from the accelerometers and timing from a beacon at start/finish and a receiver in the car. So i think that is the main source of information, adjusted by gps data every so often.
But there are many different ways to fuse the information of the GPS and accelerometer together.
As I understand it, now there are apps that can rely purely on GPS data. I think that the trackmap will not be accurate when only plotting all your position data on a map, as the precision of gps is several meters. They get the velocity as derivative of postion (position(t)-position(t-1))/timeBetweenDatapoints, and the acceleration as a derivative of the speed. This can then help you predict where the next point is going to be. So basically you use all the information the signal can give you.
The fact that the update frequency of the accelerometer is 50Hz and the claimed laptime precision is 0.02s does not mean they are the same number. The precision is a statistical calculation based on refresh rates, accuracy, lost data, etc that just works out to be also 0.02s
BTW, nice video and setup you made!
this video could have not come at better time, after having done a few track days I think ready to start timing track days
Me too I soon want to take my car to the track
you won't regret it! it helps so much as a learning tool
@@dadhats yeah gonna do it for next track day in about a month. You should do also a video on recording with the go pro, curious on your setup.
@@oficina_moomoo just have an adhesive gopro mount stuck to the front of my helmet. I'm in the process of trying to get the gopro lower for a more accurate pov
@@dadhats I will have to try that. I have the go pro mounted behind me and its ok but makes for some boring ass videos that is for sure, too much stabilization (also just too much helmet in the field of view which I can fix). I just saw this racebox 10hz, have you heard about that thing? I have an iphone can't get the gps box for cheap so looking at the racebox but at $275 maybe just smart to pay the extra $100 and get the solo2.
Even if I’m not right, I will take the credit as to why this video was created! Check previous video comments to see why
In minute 3.29 you show data that is many times overlooked. If you have an iPhone, you wil NEVER get higher tham 4hrz refresh rate, which is bonkers. You can buy a RaceBox device of USD 350 to get a 25hrz refresh rate and you will be throwing you money in the toilet. Then, which android devices to you knowledge can support or take the data of high regresh rate devices? That deserves a separate video IMHO.
what do you mean never higher than 4hz? on what?