Traqmate data acquisition

I'm about to pull the trigger on a Traqmate data acquisition system. Does anyone here have experience with the system who could give feedback, either positive or negative? I will be using the system as a learning tool tohelp improve times/technique during HPDE events. I will be sharing the system with a hardcore SCCA racer.

Question: Looks like there are Basic, Complete and Complete with HD Video Traqmate options. I am leaning toward the video option but am I better off pairing the Traqmate system with something like the HD Motorsport Hero video system which seems to have higher resolution/widescreen video capability? Ideally, i would like to burn the video to DVD and review on a large-screen TV.

Thanks for your feedback.

/Rich

In reply to rcl4668:

I bought a Traqmate Complete a few months ago, but have only used it for 2 race weekends.

I actually haven't spent a lot of time trying to use the data to improve lap times yet.

I didn't go with the video option due to cost. Instead, I bought a GoPro HD and use that with an older camcorder as a rear facing cam.

I use a program called Race Render to overlay the rear cam and the Traqmate data onto the GoPro video. Making DVD's or playing on a TV through a laptop is easily achieved. That said, I think if you want a learning tool, you will want to use the TraqStudio SW on a laptop. The data overlays make your video's more interesting for showing friends, but don't show the detail needed for lap comparison. You can import GoPro video into Traqstudio - you will have to manually synchronize the video and data stream. That will give you the detailed data along with the video.

Overall comments on my system: 1. It's a pain to start the Go Pro and camcorder manually from the driver's seat. Supposedly, Traqmate is working to be able to sync with GoPro cams.

1. Once configured, the Traqmate self starts which is nice.

2. The in car display is quite useful on track for most recent lap time and lap counter.

3. It's a bit tedious to sync up the 2 video sources with the data stream manually. If you want the least hassle, go with the Traqmate video option - but you do pay a few hundred dollars extra for it.

4. I wanted a system that would do data acq and HD video, and overlay a rear facing cam all in real time, but determined that systems that can do that cost way more than I would spend.

Enough rambling, but if you really want to look for improving your driving, you will want to do lap comparisons in the Traqmate software. Adding in video (Traqmate or other) to the software will further help see where you were, if traffic was a factor, etc. Probably the best way to find improvements is to compare your data with other drivers' data.

Hope this helps, Neil

If you're considering other alternatives, I have some experience with the RLC systems. I don't want to clutter your thread if you've made up your mind, though.

In reply to unevolved:

Thanks for the feedback. I have been very impressed with the specs on the Traqmate website, esp. the Traqmate with video option. Only bummer is that I would have to shell out for a dedicated PC laptop and also buy a SONY HDR Camcorder which I know very little about.

I have a traqmate, I have been using it pretty heavily for autocross and more recently for testing of a lemons car.

I frigging love it. Especially for comparing two different drivers of the same car, evaluating lines. I settled on the traqmate because of the analysis software that came with it, which was the best amongst the various systems I tried.

I can't really help you with the video questions. I don't typically sync up the data with the video, and I don't really see a big value in that (other than impressing friends)

Capt Slow wrote: I have a traqmate, I have been using it pretty heavily for autocross and more recently for testing of a lemons car. I frigging love it. Especially for comparing two different drivers of the same car, evaluating lines. I settled on the traqmate because of the analysis software that came with it, which was the best amongst the various systems I tried. I can't really help you with the video questions. I don't typically sync up the data with the video, and I don't really see a big value in that (other than impressing friends)

Captain -- thanks for the feedback. I am also leaning toward the Traqmate at this point. Nice to know it can also be used for autocross. I hear you about the video. I think one area where it could actually be useful is to give some visual context for the raw data. For example, knowing if a change in line or inputs was due to traffic, etc.

/Rich

I used one with great success last year. I borrowed it - no video... just rip off some laps and then come in and look at the data.

It was easy to use, easy to find my way thru the software and the net was that I was able to find 2 seconds of time at a track I had driven tens of thousands of miles on in a weekend. (Watkins Glen)

It has been on my list of things to buy ever since... but the brake, tire and stuff that broke bill leaves me short. I use Harry's Lap Timer on my iPhone whilst I wait for prosperity to come my way.

I dont know if the TM system has it, but the best feature you need on a DA system these days is predictive lap timing. I used it on an AIM system years ago & loved it.

Its fine & dandy to take loads of sensor / video data & review it after the session or weekend, but it doesnt help when your on the track. With the predictive systems you can get an instant update on your current lap compared to your best lap. Want to try a new line? Know instantly if it works. My 1st time at the Pocono Roval I picked up over 12 seconds across the weekend, I knew the best line through the bus stop within a few laps.

Kendall

Kendall_Jones wrote: I dont know if the TM system has it, but the best feature you need on a DA system these days is predictive lap timing. I used it on an AIM system years ago & loved it. Its fine & dandy to take loads of sensor / video data & review it after the session or weekend, but it doesnt help when your on the track. With the predictive systems you can get an instant update on your current lap compared to your best lap. Want to try a new line? Know instantly if it works. My 1st time at the Pocono Roval I picked up over 12 seconds across the weekend, I knew the best line through the bus stop within a few laps. Kendall

Yeah. The TM does that. You can load a target lap so when you are in the car you get a time diff +/- the lap. It can be any lap you choose or one really cool feature is that it calculates your fastest theoretical lap based on sector times so you can see what you would have been capable of if you got everything right. You can load that one - and race against it too.

In reply to rcl4668:

Good point, that is a good use for video, but you don't necessarily have to have the data overlayed on it to do that. Despite my skepticism of the need to sync video and data, I would invest in a system that would allow it if wasn't too expensive.

From my admittedly faulty memory of the the traqmate website (its blocked from work) the cheapest way to get video along with your data is to purchase their software ($250) and a cable ($cheap) to the sony HDR ($450?) That is about 4X as much as I would be willing to spend for that capability...

If your goal is to record HD video with data and play the video full screen on a big TV, Traqmate is the only way to go.

I would recommend the TraqCam HD package. It comes with everything you need and the camera is fully synchronized right from the start. As soon as you hit record on the display the camera starts, when you stop recording it stops. That way the data & video are all together and you can load them up in Traqstudio.

Everyone is right, having the video with the data is extremely valuable and ups the learning curve substantially. You can easily see your line and any traffic that may have effected your lap.

One of the coolest features and most powerful is the Theoretical best lap...with HD video. It basically takes all your fastest segments and stitches them together with video to show your ultimate lap, with data and video to back it up. Once you see exactly what you did and how you did it... that just leaves the rest is up to you.

You can also create DVD's and videos with gauges overlaid for later playback. Plenty of people just hook up there laptops to there big TV's and use Traqstudio to analyze and watch the video.

As far as quality goes, the Sony HD camera's are pretty amazing the price is constantly dropping. If you convert the video to MP4 rather than MTS then almost any laptop will run it, obviously the faster the better but when is that not the case?

One thing that a lot of people don't factor in is the user base, more people have traqmate's and are willing to share data. The best way to learn is to compare yourself to a faster driver and having all that data available makes it extremely easy to improve. Having easy to use software makes that process far less painful. It's super fun to load up a really fast car vs. a 'normal' car and see where the two meet up or watch how a professional driver uses the absolute maximum grip at all times.

Andre'

Not sure if you've seen or heard of this:

http://www.racerender.com/Features.html

Looks pretty dang awesome!

Also, if you're into rolling your own DAQ solution:

http://www.parallax.com/DAQPacAutomotiveDataLogger/tabid/849/Default.aspx

I think I might try to build one of these DAQPac's to see how it works.

In reply to turboswede:

Everyone -- thanks for the great feedback. Looks like the Traqmate HD system is the way to go.