TrackMaster

[Andy Banks]

Anyone tried this http://trackmaster.trackaroo.com/web/trackmaster?

Or any of the other Android apps. Sounds like a larf but don't want to pay for something that simply does not work (I don't expect it to a pro system, just interesting...).

[LocoR1]

I have only ever searched through the free apps. Never found anything useful, That looks interesting though but for £6.20 like you i don't think i would bother without a recommendation.

[dave_t]

I've recently installed this ... but not yet tried it on track.

It looks pretty simple to use (you just set up split timing points wherever you want on the track and the app/ GPS takes care of all the timing/ acceleration/ braking/ g-force recording).

I plan to test it round our local one way system very soon ... obviously at sensible road speeds! just to see how well it works/ records.

I'll post what I find.

[Andy Banks]

That would be great, look forward to your review.

[Tom Frankland (T3OMF)]

Has it got all the UK tracks on it ?

[dave_t]

It doesn't need track data. You simply mark split timing points on a map of the track using Google Maps. It then times you as you cross over these points ... as well as logging all the associated GPS data in between.

It also appears (from the Trackmaster forum) that you can export the data into some other software to allow you to overlay it on video. I've not looked into that at all yet, though. Has anyone else any experience with this?

[AdamR]

Keen to hear your experiences - was looking into this also

[S2T]

I have used this software on my Android Smartphone.

When it works. it works well

However it is a bit hit and miss, mostly down to operator error!!!.

The downside is you don't know if it is recording until after the laps are completed, also the last thing you want to do is fiddle with it when on the track.

I have found their back up support to be good.

I have data from a few laps at mallory if you want to see what data is captured - PM me

Lets put it this way I have moved onto another data logging system (just evaluated it this morning on the road) when there are fewer things to go wrong/think about when at the track

For c£7 it is good value but if you wish to be serious about logging then maybe you will end up a bit frustrated (as I did) on the other hand you may set it up better than I!!!!

[Tom Frankland (T3OMF)]

Just downloaded it........ its not that much

Im at Llandow this weekend, ill let you know how it goes...  fingers crossed

Just need to hide the phone in the car    

[dave_t]

Just downloaded it........ its not that much

Im at Llandow this weekend, ill let you know how it goes...  fingers crossed

Just need to hide the phone in the car    

Any feedback?  How did you get on?

Yesterday, I ran a little test around the 1 mile loop of our estate ... setting Trackmaster going and then doing three laps.

It was easy to set up (by simply identifying an appropriate start point waymarker in the mapping function) and it worked well. It recorded all the key info I need, including instantaneous speed, elapsed time and lap times.

I also downloaded 'RaceChrono2Avi' ... to see how easy it would be to use the export of my lap data from Trackmaster to generate an overlay that I could put onto my track day videos.

Again, this was very easy to use, but does require you to have some video editing software in order to overlay the produced video file onto any track video file.

All-in-all this package together seems to do what I want (very simple data logging that I can then place onto a track day video).  I'll be trying it out on my next track day to see how I get on (and to see if I have any of the issues mentioned by S2T above )

[Tom Frankland (T3OMF)]

Its not bad for the price of the App

Once you have messed out setting it up the way you want it to work, your ready to go

You can add the slits in after you have done the run/s, exporting the info is easy into an excel file

One bit of advice is to put your phone into flight mod, this is because if someone phones you it stops recording

[AdamR]

Slight bump... Have also downloaded this and had a little play around.

The 1hz logging doesn't seem particularly accurate, so have just purchased a separate bluetooth GPS device which will give 5hz (but cost another ~£2.50 for the app to use it).

However, for the money (about £40 all in), I'll be happy to see some sort of indication of speed, G (and how effectively I'm 'driving the circle'), lap times and add a bit more interest to videos. Plus it's something to play with

Once I've got the add-on GPS device sorted out I'll report back, but it should end up something like this: http://boardroom.wscc.co.uk/cgi-bin....y869968

[CL290005]

Any updates on this APP, interested to understand what Hz rate people are running as I have 5hz capability internally in the phone so was not sure about needing the bluetooth adapter, suppose will try it once I have purchased.

The concept looks good with the upload to cloud etc. does this happen on the go or do you do it after the day when on a wireless network?

The other idea of using split points from google again looks good so we all have the same refrence, plus less setting up and the automatic start from the split (I am sure I would forget otherwise).

Any negative feed back from track  day organisers saying phones should not be on car etc?

If you can update me would appreciate, looks excellent value for money though.

[AdamR]

Managed to get out with it at Oulton on Saturday. Footage and overlay is the last ~2:30 of the video here: http://boardroom.wscc.co.uk/cgi-bin/ikonboard.cgi?act=ST;f=1;t=94153

I am running 5hz with an external GPS. You can change whether it automatically uploads, I have that turned off. To get the data out, you have to save it to the phone's memory then upload to your PC. There may be another way (bluetooth, email, etc) if you phone is more clever!

The splits are pretty good, only thing is that you may miss one if you are over the other side of the track letting someone by - for example I have my first split (the one that triggers the lap times) set on the left hand side of the main straight at Oulton - if you go down the right, it misses the split, and you get a double-long lap, if that makes sense.

Due to where I have the phone mounted it's not even visible, so no comments from track day organisers/marshalls.

Copy and paste from topic above...

'One thing to note is that the Trackmaster program is about £6.50, but this only logs to 1hz, which is fairly useless for anything at speed and/or with corners! If you want up to 10hz support (although the phone is usually only quick enough for 5hz) you'd need to get the external bluetooth GPS unit (about £35 off eBay) and the GPS add on for the program that's another £3.50 or so. I also made a mount for my phone out of a bit of aluminium angle, bolted this to the floor of the car just in front of my seat, then bolted a cheap eBay (see a theme running here?) car phone mount to that. I found if the phone was in my pocket the data wasn't reliable - first time out I was pulling 0.4 lateral G down the straights apparently!'

Another thing I would say is that sometimes the data goes a bit mad and you'll get a huge spike of something like 2g, I usually open the fine in Excel and do a conditional formatting on that column to weed out the anomalies manually. I also do an average of 3 lines of data (the 'actual' one, plus one either way) to smooth it out, since the numbers can be quite jumpy.

Anything else you want to know, just shout

Adam

[CL290005]

Adam

So you do not use the phone camera then?

What do you use?

I have a cheap bullet camera but thought if I mount the phone on a sturdy fixing then as its a hd camera the may as well use that, as long as its not raining!

Thanks for update though

Chris