Recording Car Performance Data

[datasafe]

Just wondering if there's any software that uses GPS to calculate and record performance/speed data?

I presently use an MDAIII with a bluetooth GPS receiver and TT5 - woorks great

[Lambochick]

I'vejust bought a Garmin Nuvi 360 which has a trip function. It shows you current speed, total journey time, time spent stationary, total average speed, average speed whilst actually moving and maximum speed, as well as distance travelled and distance to go.

[cptsideways]

DL90 data logger is what you need

[datasafe]

Thanks guys. A data logger is designed for the job and that's the route I might take. The downside is my car is open so it could get wet.

I do have a PDA housed in a waterproof container and was hoping there might be something out there that would enable me to use this.

[droopsnoot]

Problem is that most commercial GPS receiver (i.e. those used for satnav applications) only update and output position every second (or sometimes every two seconds) so there's not much accuracy for performance testing. Also the speed is often 'smoothed' to try to take out the effect of position inaccuracy. So a dedicated device is probably more use.

[pentoman]

cptsideways said:

DL90 data logger is what you need

I have the DL1.. It's very neat. You shold be vaguely capable with a computer though (if you can use pistonheads easily then you should be fine..). You can download the software and I think some example files from their website and have a play. www.race-technology.com.

I don't think it getting wet would be that much of a problem, given how it's built:

www.race-technology.com/WebPage2/Graphics/ProductPictures/DL1_diagram.gif

Here's some example figures I got out of mine by the way:

http://pentoman.blogspot.com/2006/04/

[datasafe]

Thanks for the reply and info on the DL1

Do you connect the OBD? I don't have the OBDII connector on the Atom.

I'll read up on the DL1/2 later to see what I could get from just the GPS signal

[pentoman]

No OBD connection. It has analogue inputs for rpm, wheel speed, and so on.

It stores to a compact flash card, which you can plug into your PC to download the data.