Text Message Displays

[Rob Navin]

Ok boys this is well off topic but bear with me.

We are not allowed to use phones or pit to car radio’s in the race cars for this year so I am trying to think of new ways of driver signalling through the 25hr race.

First thought was a pager unit on the dash that I can send a text through to but I have discounted this due to this not being a direct instant message.  

Second thought is a small led display that can be programmed via a text message.

I have had a search through Google but can’t seem to find anything.

Does any one know if such a thing exists?

The only two things it needs to have is that it must be able to receive a text and display it on a screen that is illuminated.

Any ideas for anything that could work would be gratefully received?

Thanks

Rob

[M11 BRD]

Far to technical Rob............

think out of the box.........what about  

Flash the head lights using morse code as you pass the pits or........

Carry a few carrier pidgeons with pre written messages attached      

Sorry , couldnt resist

[Blatman]

Is this instead of, or as well as a pit board?

[Rob Navin]

Instead of if I can

During the nigh even with illuminated boards they are very easy to miss.

If its on the dash in front of them in the car they can't miss it.

[Hammy]

Just a thought..

there is some technology around , such as data loggers that use the GSM technology to transmitt data - there might be something around to this effect and Google might help you out if you modified your search to look for this sort of thing ?

I know some industries ( e.g the gas) were looking to use mobiles  powered by solar panels  to txt out alarm signals - I know its the wrong way around, but there might be something in this area

Is it still against the spirit of the regs tho' and likely to  get banned within 5mins ?

[peterg]

I'm not sure the organisers would want a driver reading text messages on the dash during the event...

[Mark Stanton]

Surely there must be something like a wireless set of coloured lights that could be activated by a transmitter

This could perhaps work both ways driver to pit and pit to driver

red means come in next lap green means .............. and so on

Maybe check out Maplins for wireless transmission systems and then look for something more "industrial and higher spec"

[Azzacat]

What about a wirless PDA could use MSN

[highwayman]

Have several mobiles on your person in different pockets eg. left trouser pocket means come in next lap just switch them all off and stay out until the tanks dry!!

[jos]

Hows about something like oryZ36631QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem" target="_blank">http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RED-REA....iewItem

[CrashBangWallop]

What about a wirless PDA could use MSN

That's what I was thinking. However, as you beat me to it...

How about a couple of Nintendo DS hand-helds?  They're wifi-enabled and the touch-screen and stylus means that you can receive scrawled pictures as well as messages.

[swapped I and E in 'receive']

[amc_black]

Some of the higher end Tom Tom Sat Nav's will display texts on screen via bluetooth.... Suppose thats still using a phone. Is it??

[Blatman]

What about adding one of those scrolling message displays to the pit board? For sending single or short messages (IN, FUEL, TYRES etc) it would be easy to see, and you would only need to illuminate the top of the pit board to display your number, rather than the whole thing to display the instructions as well...