foreigneRS

if you've got a laptop, PDA or phone that uses Windows and has Java on it, and a GPS receiver - how about downloading this VirtualCup software and measuring your lap time?

http://www.virtualcup.fr/EN/accueil.html

software is very good value for money, and could be even better if we do a group buy. just need a few nerds with the necessary equipment and the geekiness to give it a go. i will

if you're a geek with the right gear, could be a chance to get some good passenger laps in

at the end of the weekend, we can all post up our data. but please remember that it is not allowed to time yourself on the 'ring, and imo it is foolish to race against the clock. use it only as a monitoring tool, and not as a target to beat.

could be interesting to compare cornering and straight line speeds at various points

maybe even the BTG website could accept this as evidence instead of video?

thanks to 'the original' for the link in the first place

JjCoDeX75

This looks quite cool Nick! I wonder if it will work with my laptop which has a GPS transponder, and lives in the cossie.....

JJ

foreigneRS

just downloading now. will install and try it out later today. get a lap of the basingstoke ring road

JjCoDeX75

See if you can make it work on a normal pc....

JJ

Si B

iTrader: (59)

I'd be up for a bit of this... just got to sort the laptop or phone with GPS stuff...

Would be good to see how people compare...

Si

AlexF

I'm sure I can attain the required levels of geekness to do this too!

Alex

Mike Rainbird

iTrader: (3)

I'm fucked, as I can only just about swicth my computer on .

SapphyMike

I have a blue tooth GPS unit and a Blue tooth dongle - i guess this would work?

(yes i know im not going to the ring, but would be useful for other stuff!)

Billabong

That's true!!

Your keyboard seems to have developed a lisp.....

foreigneRS

works on my laptop as far as i can tell. downloaded trial version and it connects to my gps receiver via bluetooth virtual com port - therefore proving that i am a geek

but then just says trial version and i can't do anything like make any measurements. don't know what should be possible on the trial version. anyway, gonna get a licence now and have a proper go.

just read on the forum (not quite as big as this one yet ) that extra features will be added to be able to get 0-60 times, etc

SapphyMike

it'll be good when the 0-60 etc is added.

Adrian

Its False Bill, Caitlin turn the PC on for him.

Thrush

iTrader: (1)

the original

I wanna give it a go

foreigneRS

right, got a licensed version installed and can record gps data - just tried it quickly walking about the carpark

walked about a bit and saved the data successfully, but can't then review it. also can replay demo laps, but the monitor function doesn't seem to work.

need to take it out at lunchtime and have a proper go with it and do a few laps of the business i reckon and learn to use it properly

andyhardy

Does anyone have any details of what type of file it saves as?

I know for a fact that with programs like Infomap Navigator you can save journeys with NMEA GPS units (bits like the Globalsat BU-353 are particularly good).

The only downside is the speed of updates - at only 1 per second for alot of systems (ignoring stuff like 'dead reckoning') I'm guessing that the core of the software will be interpolating the data to give estimated cornering speeds and associated G-forces.

What update times are people getting from units like their Tom-Tom or Bluetooth GPS connected to PDA?

Cheers,

Andy

P.S. With Infomap Navigator you could view the journeys as well in 'real time' or in various speeds. I know this as I used it a few times, however I now use Powerloc's Destinator on my car-computer system.

Jim Galbally

i have a bluetooth GPS, SD GPS, laptop, and Symbian S80 phone (will use midlets tho)

im sure we can get something going...


i might be able to get my hands on a PDA or two for this tho

foreigneRS

just took the laptop out on the bike to get some data and i've bollocksed it. hard drive clunks away but it won't boot up

it was just in the tank bag without padding - guess it didn't like the vibrations from the V4 growl as much as my missus does

oh well, it's only a work one

andyhardy

Are you sure a power cable hasn't just come loose on the hard drive itself?

With all the experience i've had with hard drives in automotive environments it's 90% of the time a loose power cable.

Although if it's 'clunking' then that's a bad sign!

Unfortunately my car is in for work so I can't try anything out for you guys either (not that I'd be able to make it to Nurburgring anyway!).

Andy

JjCoDeX75

Naughty boy Nick!

Try again and let us know the results!

JJ

foreigneRS

dropped it off with our IT specialist. he'll get back to me later

Jim Galbally

nick, any updates?

im just trying the trial version on a laptop and PDa now...

foreigneRS

just downloaded the newly released 3.1 version but don't have a decent laptop again yet to try it on.

also, lost my gps receiver at the weekend

may have to go on the old egay and get another, and possible a pda

jim, do you know much about pda's? if i wanted one just to run this program on, what would be the cheapest new, and where from?

Jim Galbally

nick, yeah i do a bit of work with PDAs.

anything will run this software by the looks of things. just get any old one off ebay.

i'm going to try and get my hands on 2 for the ring if we can get this running.

unfortunately at the moment i only have an SD-Card based GPS device on me. it wont work on a laptop, and the PDA i've got is a new one and has a MINI-sd slot on it... lol

i'll grab my bluetooth GPS from home...

ps pm/email me 3.1

foreigneRS

you have mail good buddy

edit: mail rejected.

foreigneRS

need help on buying a pda

was thinking of the cheapest one possible just to run this software on. what would i need to pay for a new one?

minimum requirement is windows OS and bluetooth

wifi would be nice, but not essential if it substantially increases price

tomtom not needed, got it on my phone

prefer to have a decent brand like HP etc

any links much appreciated - too many entries on ebay for me to even start when i have no clue at all.

Jim Galbally

look at XDAs from O2 and ipaqs from HP

you can get an XDA2 for <100quid on ebay

JjCoDeX75

the original

Can someone please explain what all this is about in laymans terms
am I right in thinking what's needed is an xda (with built in gps)
then a car cradle+charger ideally
and this software...
is that it?

is there a nokia phone which will run it without unsightly gps accessories hanging out of it?

thanks

foreigneRS

the original if there is a nokia phone with windows and java on and bluetooth for a gps receiver then yes, but i don't know about that

jim & JJ, thanks for the advice. are we talking secondhand here then? are they reliable, have good battery's etc?

Jim Galbally

most PDAs are a bit shit to be honest nick

battry life is appauling too

not much u can do about it tho...

anyway you just reminded me... im gonna go nget my GPS out now

foreigneRS

when you come back, help me buy a pda for this.

i have absolutely no clue. i just need an ebay or other link that i can click and pay

did you get the software installed jim? is it licensed?

Jim Galbally

i couldnt get it to run it's a bit compicated, and french instructions don't help!

i'll have another go later

foreigneRS

EDIT.

there will be v3.1a patch tomorrow, but if you want to download v3.0 in the meantime and try again?

instructions in english here

http://www.virtualcup.fr/EN/fct.html

how about helping a bit more to get a damn pda please?

this any good? i fancy having wifi for doing stuff at home

http://www.amazon.co.uk/HP-iPAQ-H545...406256&sr=1-16

JjCoDeX75

Nick - if your phone contract is due for upgrade, consider getting one of the XDA series if you are with O2, or alternatively if you are with orange, the SPVM 3100 - smaller than a PDA, but still full windows mobile, and also will be a good deal cheaper.

Otherwise, second hand you cant beat the Exec - only down side is making a cradle to hold it.

Second hand....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/O2-XDA-II-Exec...em140097924183

You cant go wrong with the Exec - it is unlocked from the factory, so will work with all networks. Also the screen is quite cute. I had one of these for about 12 months, but went smaller (SPVM 3100)

I miss it!

JJ

foreigneRS

thanks JJ but not got a phone contract

ipaq 5550 looks good for £150 used to me, but i'm no expert. don't need something to call on, i'm an antisocial bugger who never talks to anyone

JjCoDeX75

ipaq 5550 is okay, and they are well built. What will appeal to a techy like yourself is the Nevo software that was bundled with most ipaqs! IT is a universal remote program that actually works quite well!

Look at the Dell Axims - they are also pretty good....

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-DELL-AXIM-...em150103160877

the original

So does this look ok?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...DME:B:AAQ:UK:1

could it be unlocked for use with vodafone pay as you go?

Also, a few people on bigpower.co.uk have used this software , someone used it at setterton a couple of weeks ago....

the original

here's the link to the discussion on bigpower but you will have to register

http://www.bigpower.co.uk/forum/view...er=asc&start=0

the original

just to complicate matters
have you also seen this software?

http://wimobi.com/gpsdash/overview.ppc2.php