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Traqmate

GPS Data Acquisition System

User Manual

Version 1.25 January 30, 2007

Copyright © 2005 - 2007 Track Systems Technologies, LLC

Traqmate, Traqview, TraqData, TraqTach, and the track systems logo

Are trademarks of track systems technologies, llc

Microsoft and windows are trademarks of Microsoft corp.

Velcro is a trademark of Velcro Industries B.V.

Traqmate User Manual V1.25

This page intentionally left blank.

January 30, 2007

Copyright © 2005 - 2007 Track Systems Technologies, LLC Page 2

Traqmate User Manual V1.25 January 30, 2007

Table of Contents

WELCOME TO TEAM TRAQMATE ............................................................................................................... 4

SYSTEM OVERVIEW ..................................................................................................................................... 5

T

RAQMATE

F

EATURES

.................................................................................................................................... 5

T

RAQMATE

S

YSTEM

C

OMPONENTS

.................................................................................................................. 6

T

RAQMATE

S

YSTEM

P

ACKAGES

....................................................................................................................... 8

QUICK GUIDE – LET’S COLLECT SOME DATA.......................................................................................... 9

TRAQVIEW SOFTWARE INSTALLATION ...................................................................................................10

T

RAQVIEW

A

NALYSIS

S

OFTWARE

....................................................................................................................10

USB D

RIVER

...............................................................................................................................................10

TRAQMATE INSTALLATION .......................................................................................................................11

S

ENSOR

U

NIT

I

NSTALLATION

..........................................................................................................................11

S

ENSOR AND

D

ISPLAY

U

NIT

O

PERATION

.........................................................................................................12

S

ENSOR

U

NIT ONLY

O

PERATION

.....................................................................................................................12

C

ONNECTING A

S

ENSOR

U

NIT TO A

D

ISPLAY

U

NIT

............................................................................................12

P

OWER

C

ONNECTION

....................................................................................................................................13

T

RAQMATE

D

ISPLAY

U

NIT

I

NSTALLATION

.........................................................................................................15

TRAQDATA INSTALLATION AND SETUP ..................................................................................................16

H

OOKING

U

P

D

ATA

I

NPUTS AND

O

UTPUTS

.......................................................................................................16

H

OOKING UP A

T

ACH

I

NPUT

(T

RAQ

D

ATA

, T

RAQ

T

ACH

) ......................................................................................20

TRAQMATE BASIC ......................................................................................................................................21

S

YSTEM

D

ESCRIPTION

...................................................................................................................................21

C

ONTROLS

...................................................................................................................................................21

TRAQMATE COMPLETE..............................................................................................................................22

S

YSTEM

D

ESCRIPTION

...................................................................................................................................22

C

ONTROLS

...................................................................................................................................................22

M

ENU

S

YSTEM

.............................................................................................................................................23

F

EATURES

....................................................................................................................................................24

TRAQVIEW ANALYSIS AND CONFIGURATION PROGRAM .....................................................................26

T

OOLBAR

B

UTTONS AND

C

ONTROLS

...............................................................................................................26

M

ENU

O

PTIONS

............................................................................................................................................26

F

ILES

...........................................................................................................................................................27

V

IEWING

O

PTIONS

........................................................................................................................................27

E

XCHANGING

I

NFORMATION WITH

T

RAQMATE

...................................................................................................28

U

NIT

I

NFO

S

CREEN

.......................................................................................................................................29

USING TRAQMATE FOR ANALYSIS...........................................................................................................45

D

RIVER

C

OMPARISON

...................................................................................................................................45

V

EHICLE

P

ERFORMANCE

C

OMPARISON

...........................................................................................................50

S

AFETY

.......................................................................................................................................................51

SHARE & COMPARE – TRAQMATE.COM ..................................................................................................53

E

XCHANGING

L

APS

.......................................................................................................................................53

APPENDICES................................................................................................................................................54

T

ABLE OF

F

IGURES

.......................................................................................................................................54

S

YSTEM

R

EQUIREMENTS

...............................................................................................................................55

S

YSTEM

R

EQUIREMENTS

...............................................................................................................................55

W

ARRANTY

I

NFORMATION

..............................................................................................................................55

G

LOSSARY

...................................................................................................................................................56

A

BOUT

GPS D

ATA

A

CQUISITION

....................................................................................................................57

Copyright © 2005 - 2007 Track Systems Technologies, LLC Page 3

Traqmate User Manual V1.25 January 30, 2007

Welcome to Team Traqmate

Thank you for purchasing the Traqmate System, the powerful but easy-to-use Data Acquisition

System. You will be amazed at the depth of information available without modifying your vehicle or learning to decipher complicated data tables.

Traqmate was designed by racers and is great for getting the first or last second out of your lap times. It is also great for the track day enthusiast who wants to record their day, play it back with their video, analyze their performance to get the most out of their car, and do a little bench racing with their friends.

With the addition of this small device to your track bag, you will be able to better tune car and driver for maximum performance. While it is very easy to learn, please take a moment to read this manual so you can discover all the capabilities and get the most out your Traqmate.

As a Traqmate owner, you really are a member of Team Traqmate. Use the traqmate.com website Share and Compare, trading laps with thousands of other Traqmate enthusiasts around the world.

We at Track Systems are continually improving Traqmate and Traqview by adding additional innovative features that are available to download so make sure you check traqmate.com frequently for the latest software.

See you at the track,

Glenn Stephens

President

Track Systems Technologies, LLC

Copyright © 2005 - 2007 Track Systems Technologies, LLC Page 4

Traqmate User Manual V1.25 January 30, 2007

System Overview

The Traqmate is a vehicle data acquisition device that uses a high-speed GPS receiver and highresolution accelerometers to track and record the speed of a vehicle, its absolute location, and forces acting on the vehicle.

The Track Systems Traqview analysis program uses advanced mathematic algorithms to translate this data into visual form where it is easy to spot differences between drivers, vehicles, and sessions.

Traqmate Features

Drop and Go – Stick a Traqmate in your car, turn it on, and collect data all day long. No sensors required.

Replay Your Day – Upload the data into Traqview. See your car on the track and your performance on the virtual dashboard.

Instant Gratification – See your lap times as they happen on the in-car display.

Share and Compare – Create virtual races with friends or with yourself from different sessions.

Trade laps with your friends. Learn from them.

Easy to Use – No engineering degree required. The Traqmate Sensor Unit has one button. What could be easier? The Traqmate Display Unit is menu-driven with prompts in English. Just pick what you want – no typing, no memorizing buttons.

Analyze – Zoom in on your lap. Single step to see G loads and speed. Compare braking and acceleration points between cars and drivers. Graph data vs. time and distance.

Share Your Toys – Loan your Traqmate to a friend or loan your car to a faster driver. Then compare their laps against your own. Even two drivers with equal laptimes can both learn from one another.

Rugged – Traqmate was designed to withstand the tough environment of a race car to give you years of service.

Grow – Want even more information? Add sensors for digital, analog, and frequency inputs.

It Gets Better – Traqmate’s heart is a very powerful microprocessor so new features and functionality will be made available over time. Download new software from traqmate.com, reprogram the unit, and you are good to go.

Copyright © 2005 - 2007 Track Systems Technologies, LLC Page 5

Traqmate User Manual V1.25 January 30, 2007

Traqmate System Components

The Traqmate System has three main components – the Sensor Unit (SU) contains the sensitive electronics to measure location and G-forces. The Display Unit (DU) contains a graphical display for viewing laptimes as they happen. The final component is Traqview, the innovative Windows software that allows you to view your performance in many different ways.

Sensor Unit

In addition to the GPS receiver to measure position and the accelerometers to measure forces, the Sensor Unit has digital, analog, and frequency inputs for measuring individual aspects of vehicle performance such as RPM or steering wheel position. These are recorded alongside the position and force data for easy graphing.

Four LEDs indicate power, data collection mode, GPS signal, and data communications activity. The single button is used for ON/OFF and for entering and exiting data recording mode. The Sensor Unit can be used standalone or in conjunction with a Display

Unit, in which case it is entirely remotely controlled.

The Sensor Unit can be customized using the Traqview Analysis Program. You can enter Drivers,

Tracks, and Vehicles and all data is date and time-stamped so there is never any confusion. In addition, Traqview lets you customize the unit with your name and contact information in case it is lost or stolen.

Display Unit

The Display Unit (DU) is a major leap in low-cost data acquisition providing in-car lap timing without a need for external beacons. The graphical and menu-driven user interface makes data collection easy and fun. Even more innovative, the DU is a USB-powered data storage device.

Unclip it from your car and plug it into your PC’s USB port.

The Display Unit powers up and transfers your data right into

Traqview where your sessions are listed by Driver, Track, and Vehicle.

The DU has a backlit bitmapped screen for easy reading day or night. The membrane switch has large buttons so it can be accessed with gloves and is resistant to moisture, dirt, and grease. Mount it anywhere with

Velcro or the accessory quick clip.

With the Traqmate DU, in-car lap timing has never been easier. For each track, press the

SELECT button at the start/finish line to permanently store that information in the DU. The unit will remember that track in the future. Place the unit in Lapping Mode and watch your laps click off. The display shows Lap Number, Lap Time, Best Lap, and whether the lap was faster or slower that the previous lap. Lap Timing continues even if GPS signal is lost or spotty. Review laps for any session and delete the ones you don’t want.

The Display Unit is attractive enough to use every day. When traveling to the track, turn on the

DU and you will get a nice GPS compass, atomic clock, and a speedometer.

Copyright © 2005 - 2007 Track Systems Technologies, LLC Page 6

Traqmate User Manual V1.25 January 30, 2007

Traqview

A data acquisition system is only as good as the analysis program. Traqview is a new approach that merges hardcore data analysis with the fun of a video game. The track mapping is accurate and gives an instant read on what is happening where. Multi-car playback lets you see graphically who is faster where.

Record several cars in a race and replay the entire race in real-time, slow-mo, or fast forward. See their speed, G loads, braking and acceleration for every car on the virtual dashboard.

Traqview has all the tools you need to optimize the performance of both car and driver. For example, you can display graphs like Velocity vs. Distance to see who is faster in which corners and then define a sector on the map and zoom in to see braking points, instantaneous velocities, acceleration points, and transfer speeds through a corner.

Traqview is your single point of contact for everything in the Traqmate System. Use it to upload data from Traqmate, analyze the data, configure Tracks, Drivers, Vehicles and optional Sensors, change the Sampling Rate, and even download future software and feature upgrades into your

Traqmate.

Copyright © 2005 - 2007 Track Systems Technologies, LLC Page 7

Traqmate User Manual V1.25 January 30, 2007

Traqmate System Packages

This diagram will help you identify the

Traqmate Components. Traqmate comes as two bundled packages.

Each includes everything you need to collect and analyze your data.

Traqmate Basic

The Traqmate Basic package consists of a Sensor Unit (SU), GPS antenna, serial cable, cigarette lighter power adapter, carrying box, and compact data disc containing the Traqview

Analysis software and manual.

Traqmate Complete

The Traqmate Complete package consists of a Sensor Unit (SU), a

Display Unit (DU), GPS antenna, USB cable, SU-DU DIN connection cable, cigarette lighter power adapter, carrying box, and compact data disc containing the Traqview Analysis

Software and User Manual.

Figure 1 - Traqmate System Components

Accessories

Accessories include a TraqPaq battery pack, permanent vehicle power harness, DU mounting bracket, TraqAC SU AC adapter, extra antennas for convenient vehicle swapping, and SU mounting tray.

New accessories for 1.25 include TraqData analog/digital/RPM input device, TrackVision video overlay software, Rechargeable TraqPaq, and the ChaseCam video products.

TraqPaq

Battery

Pack

SU Mounting Tray DU Mounting

Bracket

TraqAC Power

Supply

Permanent Power

Cable

Copyright © 2005 - 2007 Track Systems Technologies, LLC Page 8

Traqmate User Manual V1.25 January 30, 2007

Quick Guide – Let’s Collect Some Data

You just bought a Traqmate Complete and you want to try it out. This is as simple as it gets.

First, install the software. Put the CD in your drive and follow the directions. For most users it is seamless. If not, refer to the more detailed instructions elsewhere in this manual.

Put the Traqmate on the floor of your car. Plug in the cigarette lighter cable. Plug the DIN extension between the Display Unit (DU) and Sensor Unit (SU). Screw the GPS antenna into the

SU and place it on your roof.

Press the leftmost round button on the DU to turn on the unit. The DU should light up and eventually display a menu. Select ‘Record Data’ and ‘Drive’.

The unit will search for GPS and lock on within a minute. Then you should see your direction, the time, and your speed on the display.

Go drive somewhere.

Press the rightmost red button to stop recording.

Turn off the Traqmate with the leftmost button (Press and hold for 3 seconds).

Unplug the DIN cable and take your DU to your PC.

Plug the USB cable between the DU and PC and the DU should start up.

Launch Traqview and select ‘Connect to Traqmate’. You should see the session which is stored on the DU listed on the Traqview screen.

Click ‘Download Selected Sessions’ and your session will be saved on your computer.

Click on the open file folder at the upper left of the screen. You should see the session you just saved. Select it and click ‘OK’.

You should now see your route and the dashboard on the screen.

Click on the Play control at the bottom of the screen and ‘Replay Your Day’.

With Traqmate, Data Acquisition is just that easy. Enjoy.

Copyright © 2005 - 2007 Track Systems Technologies, LLC Page 9

Traqmate User Manual V1.25 January 30, 2007

Traqview Software Installation

NOTE: It is important to install the software and USB driver before plugging the unit into your PC.

Traqview is designed to work with most current Microsoft Windows compatible computers. Check the Systems Requirements section of this manual to ensure that your system is compatible.

To install the software, insert the compact disc into your PC’s compact disc drive. If you do not have a CD reader on your PC, you can download the software and user manual from the

Traqmate website at traqmate.com. You may also check there for software updates.

The CD should automatically run when inserted. If it does not, open “My Computer” and right-click on the CD drive. Choose “Explore”. Now double-click TraqSetup.exe to run the installer program.

Traqview Analysis Software

The Traqview Installer program is self-explanatory. The default options work well for most systems. The program is placed in the “Program Files/Track Systems folder”.

If you have a Display Unit you should install “USB Pre-Installer”. You may de-select this option if you are installing a Traqview Basic system.

When finished, you should get an indication that the new hardware was installed automatically.

You should not have to repeat this installation in the future.

USB Driver

Once the USB drivers are installed, get your Display Unit and the mini-USB cable. Plug the cable into the DU and into a USB port on your computer. The Display Unit should power up and your computer will announce “Found New Hardware”.

The New Hardware Wizard will execute for the Traqmate USB Composite Device.

Choose to search ‘This Time Only’ and ‘Install Automatically’.

When given a warning, choose to ‘Continue Anyway’.

The New Hardware Wizard will execute for the Track Systems Traqmate.

Choose to search ‘This Time Only’ and ‘Install Automatically’.

When given a warning, choose to ‘Continue Anyway’.

Depending on what drivers and libraries were installed, you may be asked to restart your computer. You will not have to install this driver again in the future.

Note: If at any time during the install the installer cannot location the USB drivers, you may manually enter:

C:\Program Files\Track Systems\Traqmate\USB

NOTE: If, when you launch Traqview and attempt to connect to the Traqmate, the USB port is not automatically recognized you will be prompted for the COM Port number. Try the numbers 3 through 12 until you hit upon the one assigned by Windows. After you get it once, it should work successfully in the future.

Copyright © 2005 - 2007 Track Systems Technologies, LLC Page 10

Traqmate User Manual V1.25 January 30, 2007

Traqmate Installation

These diagrams show the overall connections for the Traqmate Basic and Traqmate Complete

Systems.

Figure 2 - Traqmate Basic Connections

Figure 3 - Traqmate Complete Connections

Sensor Unit Installation

The Traqmate sensor unit may be mounted using a variety of methods depending on the following factors: 1) How permanent is the desired mount, 2) where is the preferred mounting point, 3) will the SU be connected to a Display Unit (DU).

The Sensor Unit must be mounted as flat as possible in the vehicle and such that the arrow on the top label points in the direction of travel.

CHOOSE A LOCATION WHERE THE UNIT WILL

NOT BE SUBJECTED TO WATER. EXCESSIVE

MOISTURE EXPOSURE WILL DAMAGE THE UNIT.

This is to ensure the accelerometers are the most accurate and have the best range for making measurements. It is also a good idea to place the unit as close to the vehicle’s center of gravity as possible. While not required, especially with connection to the DU, it may be desirable to mount the SU in a location that allows the indicator lights to be viewed easily by the driver. Given these considerations, a position on the floor of the front passenger footwell may work well. Other good locations include the trunk floor and on the transmission tunnel.

The mounting of the SU may be accomplished in a variety of ways, but the most desirable and secure method is to use the Sensor Unit

Copyright © 2005 - 2007 Track Systems Technologies, LLC Page 11

Traqmate User Manual V1.25 January 30, 2007

Mounting Tray (shown here), offered as a separate accessory from Track Systems. The mounting tray can be attached permanently to the vehicle, and by placing Velcro on the SU enclosure, and the mounting tray, the SU is securely fastened, while at the same time being easily removable.

Once the mounting tray is aligned in the vehicle, the SU can be easily placed in the mounting tray and the alignment is set.

Another method for mounting the SU is to apply Velcro directly to the SU and the mating piece directly to the vehicle. Care should be taken when placing the SU on the Velcro that it is properly aligned in the vehicle and that the SU is securely attached.

Sensor and Display Unit Operation

If the SU is going to be connected to a DU, the mounting of the SU is not as critical with respect to gathering and downloading data. In this configuration, the DU stores the data and is the focal point for downloading to a PC.

Sensor Unit only Operation

If the SU is going to be used in a configuration without the DU, it is desirable to have access to the SU for downloading the data once it has been stored. Similarly, if a laptop is going to be used to download the stored data without removing the SU, the unit should be placed in a convenient and accessible location. In the case where the SU will be removed to download the data, the mounting should take into account replacing the SU in a secure and aligned manner.

GPS Antenna Placement

The supplied GPS antenna has a magnetic mount, which allows a variety of mounting options to the metal chassis of the vehicle. In the case where the desired location is not metal, double stick tape is a viable option for mounting the antenna. The placement of the antenna can have a great effect on the performance of the data collection system. Ideally, the antenna should be placed on the highest part of the exterior of the vehicle. Placing the antenna inside the vehicle can cause “blind spots” where the antenna is not able to see as many of the

GPS satellites that may be available to it. The system works best when the antenna has the least restricted view of the sky. Once a location has been determined for the antenna placement, the wire connecting the antenna and the SU should be routed in a manner such that it is not placed under stress, and the wire will not be exposed to frequent bending or crimping. After routing the wire to the SU, connect the antenna to the SU by screwing the antenna wire to the GPS connector indicated on the end panel of the SU.

Connecting a Sensor Unit to a Display Unit

In the configuration where the Sensor Unit and the

Display Unit will both be used, a 6’ or 12’ DIN-to-DIN connection cable is provided. This is a standard male-tomale cable, which allows a great deal of flexibility in the placement of the SU and DU. The cable should be routed to be securely protected from damage during normal vehicle operation.

Copyright © 2005 - 2007 Track Systems Technologies, LLC Page 12

Traqmate User Manual V1.25 January 30, 2007

Power Connection

In all installations, the SU must be supplied with a power source at all times it is in operation. For

Traqmate Complete, the DU can receive power via the DIN extension cable from the SU or via the USB cable when connected to a PC for uploading sessions.

The SU was designed to be powered from a +12 VDC battery supply in four different ways; a permanent wiring harness in the vehicle, a cigarette lighter adapter, a battery pack, and a wall charger. Each of these will be discussed separately.

Cigarette Lighter Adapter

For installations where a permanent power supply connection is not required or desired, the cigarette lighter adapter offers a quick and convenient solution. This adapter can be secured to the SU by inserting the plug into the power connector (PWR) on the SU and tightening the threaded nut to the power (PWR) socket. Once the SU and the power connector have been secured, the cigarette lighter adapter can be plugged into one of the cigarette lighter sockets located in the vehicle. It should be noted that many automobiles have cigarette lighter sockets that are always

ON and do not turn the power off when the ignition switch has been turned to the OFF position.

The cigarette lighter adapter has a RED LED to indicate that vehicle battery power is presented to the adapter. During extended vehicle idle periods, the cigarette lighter adapter should be removed from the vehicle socket to prevent vehicle battery drain.

TraqPaq Battery Pack

The TraqPaq can be utilized to power the SU during periods in which the SU is disconnected from the vehicle power and operation is still required, or in vehicles in which no installation has been performed. It is ideal for moving the SU from vehicle to vehicle. The TraqPaq Battery Pack is capable of supporting the SU power requirements for 3-4 hours using Alkaline batteries. DO

NOT USE RECHARGEABLE NiCd BATTERIES

since they do not provide enough voltage. This is generally enough time to run several track sessions, or all day if the unit is powered off between sessions. With Traqmate Complete, you can monitor battery level through the “Current Status” selection on the DU. The SU can be powered by the TraqPaq during periods in which the SU data is being downloaded to a computer containing the Traqview software.

The TraqPaq is attached to the SU by inserting the power plug into the power connector socket

(PWR) on the SU. The TraqPaq power plug contains a threaded nut for securing the plug to the power jack (PWR) on the SU. The TraqPaq accommodates four (4) AA batteries that result in a 6 volt power source. Depleted batteries can be replaced by removing the screw and sliding the cover off. Care should be exercised when replacing the batteries to observe the polarity for each cell. Once the batteries have been properly installed, the cover should be replaced and secured by inserting and tightening the cover screw.

TraqPaq Rechargeable Li-ion Battery Pack

The TraqPaq Rechargeable has all the benefits of the

TraqPaq with the added advantage of reusability. The

TraqPaq Rechargeable Battery Pack is capable of powering a Traqmate for 7-10 hours on a full charge.

If not handled properly Li-ion batteries can be dangerous.

Traqmate Li-ion packs have a protection circuit for overcharge and excessive discharge and should provide years of service under normal circumstances. If the pack

ever starts to overheat or swell, discontinue use immediately.

Copyright © 2005 - 2007 Track Systems Technologies, LLC Page 13

Traqmate User Manual V1.25 January 30, 2007

To recharge the pack, just plug it into the Traqmate Li-ion charger. It will recharge in approximately 2 hours, at which time the LED on the charger will change from red to green.

Only use the Traqmate charger with Traqmate Li-ion Rechargeable battery packs. Never charge

any other types of batteries using the Li-ion charger

. This includes alkaline or NiCd or NiMH batteries in a non-rechargeable TraqPaq.

Permanent Wiring Harness Installation

The power cable is a 13 foot, two conductor, red and black zip cable that has a plug on one end and is not terminated on the other end. The power plug contains a threaded nut for securing the plug to the power jack (PWR) on the Traqmate

Sensor Unit (SU). The other end of the cable is intended to connect to either the automobile battery or a junction box.

Since the SU mounting location can vary widely (trunk, under seat, floorboard, etc.) the required cable length will also vary.

Consequently, the cable can be cut to an appropriate length suitable for your automobile, once the mounting location is selected.

Vehicle +12V

3A 2AG Fuse

Posi-Lock Screw-on

Fuse Holder

13' cable - cut to length

Power

Connector

Vehicle GND

Figure 4 - Permanent Wiring Harness

The red wire is to be connected to the positive (+) side of the battery and the black lead to the negative (-) or chassis side. A fuse holder has also been included with the power cable. The red conductor of the zip power cable should be cut and stripped about ¼ inch on both ends. Each end should be inserted into the Posi-Lock fuse holder and screwed down tight. The bare end of the wire should be inserted / crimped into a crimp lug or other suitable connector (not included).

The lug should be connected to the positive (+) battery terminal or a switched positive (+) terminal.

If the SU is connected directly to the positive (+) battery terminal, the SU will continue to be powered when the ignition switch has been turned to the OFF position. Extended vehicle idle periods may drain the vehicle battery if the unit is not turned off using the front panel button. If this is a concern for your installation, efforts should be made to connect the positive (+) terminal to a switched supply.

The black conductor should be stripped and a crimp lug or other suitable connector applied (not included). The lug on the black conductor should then be connected to the negative (-) battery terminal or chassis ground.

TraqAC Power Supply

The TraqAC can be utilized to power the SU during periods in which the SU has been disconnected from the vehicle power and operation is still required. That is, the SU can be powered by the TraqAC during periods in which the SU data is being downloaded to a computer containing the Traqview software.

The TraqAC is attached to the SU by inserting the power plug into the power connector socket

(PWR) on the SU. Once the TraqAC has been connected to the SU, it is ready to plug into the

110VAC wall outlet.

Copyright © 2005 - 2007 Track Systems Technologies, LLC Page 14

Traqmate User Manual V1.25 January 30, 2007

Traqmate Display Unit Installation

Mounting

It is important to mount the Display Unit so that it can be easily seen by the driver but does not interfere with the operation of the vehicle. You may use the Velcro strip provided to attach the unit to your gauge cluster or center console as shown below. This is a very flexible approach to mounting the DU and works well for most applications. Care should be taken however, such that the DU does not come loose during the anticipated operation of the vehicle. The DU has been designed with the standard AMPS cellular-phone mounting pattern on the back cover. This allows many cellular and satellite-radio mounting options to be used. These include goosenecks, articulated arms, as well as the Display Unit Mounting Bracket and Suction Cup Window Mount which are sold as accessories. With the Display Unit Mounting Bracket, the DU can be snapped quickly and securely into the mating portion of the bracket, which remains permanently affixed to the vehicle. Care should be taken to avoid strain on the DU cable.

Figure 5 - DU Gauge Cluster Mount

Figure 6 - DU Console Mount

Connecting to the Sensor Unit

After connecting the DU to the SU using the DIN extension cable, the Display Unit will power up. It will briefly display the Firmware revision number of the

SU and the DU. If instead,

* SU NOT CONNECTED *

is displayed, there is no communication between the

SU and DU and the system will not work for data collection. You can still upload sessions and download configuration to the DU.

Possible Remedies:

• Ensure SU has power.

• Ensure DIN Extension cable is firmly plugged into both the DU and SU.

• Ensure SU is in operable state. Cycle power on SU.

• Ensure SU has proper firmware.

• Ensure DU has proper firmware.

If you see the message

SW Mismatch, Reload

then the firmware in the DU and SU are incompatible. Reload the firmware of both the SU and

DU with the latest downloads available on the traqmate.com website and try again.

Copyright © 2005 - 2007 Track Systems Technologies, LLC Page 15

Traqmate User Manual V1.25 January 30, 2007

TraqData Installation and Setup

Hooking Up Data Inputs and Outputs

Traqmate can deliver amazing results with just the internal

GPS and accelerometers but sometimes you want to monitor other external points in the car such as air/fuel mixture for tuning the vehicle or perhaps steering angle to better evaluate driver and setup. For this purpose, Track Systems offers the

TraqData analog and digital input device.

TraqData contains screwdown terminals for 4 Analog, 2 Digital, and 1 RPM connections. It is a convenient way to monitor external sensors for temperature, pressure, deflection, or just about anything else. However, connecting electrical components requires some knowledge of voltage, current, and wiring. If you hook up something wrong, you risk damage to yourself, your vehicle, and your Traqmate.

If you do not have electrical knowledge, get help from your Traqmate dealer or a friend with the proper experience.

Digitals

Inputs

Digital Inputs are straightforward. Tie them to a line that measures between 0V and 0.5V in one state and between

3V and 20V in the other state. An example is the brake light.

Tap the wire going to the brakes and attach it to either the

D4 or D5 terminal.

0V (or no attachment) is a logic 0, 3V+ is a logic 1. You can change the definitions of the digital points to define “ON” and

“OFF” using Traqview.

NEVER CONNECT A DIGITAL INPUT TO THE COIL OR

OTHER HIGH VOLTAGE SOURCE.

Figure 7 - TraqData Installation

Outputs

Digital Outputs are used to signal when a pre-programmed event occurs.

Each Digital Output is an open collector signal and will normally read approximately 2 Volts.

When the output is triggered, it will be connected to ground.

These outputs can be used to control a piece of equipment such as a video camera or to trigger a relay to an external warning light. The figure below shows the connections required to connect an external light or LED to a digital output.

The max sink current on each digital output is 250mA. If you use a relay, you must have a current limiting diode for the flyback current as shown below.

Copyright © 2005 - 2007 Track Systems Technologies, LLC Page 16

Traqmate User Manual V1.25

D

n

Traqdata

GND

+12V from

Vehicle

1N4003 currentlimiting diode

Lamp or other load

January 30, 2007

Relay

Connection to Warning Lamp or High Current Load

+12V from

Vehicle

Current

Limiting

Resistor

D

n LED

Traqdata

Connection to LED or Low Current Load

Figure 8 - Digital Output Connections

Analogs

Analogs are a little trickier. There are many ways they can be attached depending on the electrical characteristics of the sensor.

Rules

1. The resistance on the 5V reference must be greater than 470Ω. You must have a series resistor if you hook it to a variable resistance sensor.

2. Do not use the vehicle’s 12V power as a reference voltage as it changes depending on charging status. Use the supplied 5V source instead.

3. The maximum voltage you can monitor is 20V. Do not exceed this or you can damage the Traqmate.

4. If you are using batteries (not recommended for TraqData), you must connect the sensor ground to the TraqData GND terminal.

5. If you are operating off vehicle power (recommended), your sensor circuit must be grounded to the vehicle or attached to the TraqData GND terminal.

6. If you place sensors near high voltage sources you may corrupt your signal with electromagnetic interference.

Requirements

To setup and use TraqData you will need the following:

• Traqmate Complete or Traqmate Basic System

• TraqData input device

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• PC with Traqview installed

• 20 gauge or smaller wire (the higher the gauge the smaller the wire)

• Means to terminate wires (spade lugs, wire taps, solder, ring lugs, etc.)

• Very small screwdriver for screwdown terminals (blade < 0.08” or 2 mm)

• Crimper tool

• Wire cutters

• Wire strippers

• Volt-Ohm Meter (VOM)

• Sensors and series resistors as desired

Analog Input Installation Overview

See detailed instructions for these steps in subsequent pages.

1. Identify which input points are to be monitored. These could be points already available in the vehicle (electric oil pressure gauge) or require new sensors (steering wheel deflection).

2. Give each point a name and identify the units in which to report this input point. (i.e. PSI,

Ratio, Deg-C, Degrees, or possibly just Volts). If the value you want is not on the list you can just type it in.

3. Wire up a sensor with an appropriate series resistor (if necessary).

4. Measure the resistance or voltage at either end of the range. For example, if you are using a thermocouple, heat it to the max temperature and cool it to the min temperature and measure the temperature and resistance/voltage at either extreme. You can measure the voltage using the Inputs screen on the Display Unit or with a VOM.

5. Enter the information into Traqview and enable the data point.

6. Turn on data collection (must have GPS signal!) and record some data.

7. Upload into Traqview and verify the results. Tweak as necessary.

The diagrams below show a selection of sensor types and suggestions for connecting them to the

TraqData interface.

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Source supplying scaled voltage (example, Lambda sensor)

Voltage

Source

V

+

-

A

n

GND

Traqdata

optional

470

Ω

minimum

Potentiometer

Potentiometer (example throttle position sensor, suspension deflection sensor)

5V

A

n

GND

Traqdata

Sensor

Variable resistance sensor (example, thermocouple, pressure sensor)

470

Ω

minimum*

5V

A

n

GND

Traqdata

* Value for resistor should be roughly equal to maximum resistance of sensor.

Electric

Gauge

Input to existing gauge

+

A

n

Traqdata

GND

-

optional

Figure 9 - Analog Sensor Connections

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Hooking up a Tach Input (TraqData, TraqTach)

This requires either a TraqData or TraqTach input device. The instructions are the same for both units.

There are two types of TraqData and TraqTach -

Electronic and Coil. Electronic works with most modern cars with either a 5V or 12V tach signal. Coil works with older cars with a 12V signal or by attaching directly to the negative coil terminal.

First you must find a signal that pulses at least once per engine revolution. You will need to attach a wire to this signal using either a wire tap or a hard contact such as a spade lug. If you use a wire tap, take special care not to cut the source wire. There are several places where a signal may be located on your car.

If using an MSD or similar electronic ignition use the supplied TACH signal.

Do not connect to the coil.

For older vehicles (generally 1976 and earlier), locate the ignition coil. Connect to the terminal labeled ‘– ‘. ONLY CONNECT

THIS SIGNAL TO THE RPM INPUT ON

THE TRAQDATA / TRAQTACH.

Attach a 20 gauge or SMALLER wire to your tach signal source (larger wires may not fit into the screw-down terminals). Run that wire back to the TraqTach and terminate it securely in the screwdown terminal labeled

‘RPM’. Plug the TraqTach into the Traqmate

Sensor Unit.

TraqTach/

TraqData

Figure 10 - Tapping Tach Signal on ECU or Behind Instrument Cluster

For many modern cars, there is a 5V or 12V

ECU signal labeled TACH or IGN that is a single or double pulse per engine revolution.

For many vehicles, you can tap the wire going to the tachometer in the instrument cluster.

For fuel injected vehicles, you can use a fuel injector signal.

For distributor-less ignition, you can use a low voltage coil-on-plug signal.

20ga Wire

Figure 11 - Connecting to Ignition Coil

If you are operating Traqmate on vehicle power, there is only one connection required. If you are operating on battery power (not recommended for TraqTach or TraqData), you must connect the

TraqTach terminal labeled ‘GND’ to vehicle ground.

Refer to the section of this manual entitled ‘Traqview Analysis and Configuration’ to set up

Traqmate so that the proper RPM is displayed on the unit and in Traqview.

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Traqmate Basic

System Description

Traqmate Basic is the easiest form of data acquisition. You can literally just Velcro the unit into a car and get very sophisticated results in a matter of minutes. Data is stored in Flash memory inside the Sensor Unit and can be extracted through the COM serial port on the front panel of the unit.

Controls

p wr / rec com aUX p wr gPS c m gPS

Figure 12 - Sensor Unit Front and Rear Panel

The front panel contains a power switch button, four LED lighted indicators, and a communications port.

PWR / REC – Power Switch Button

• Turns unit on - push button once, “PWR” LED goes on

• Turns Record on - push button while “PWR” LED is on and “REC” LED goes on; a second push and the “REC” LED goes off

• Turns unit off - hold button down until “PWR” LED goes off

LED Light Displays

• “PWR” LED - lights green when power is on

• “REC” LED - lights red when Record is turned on

• “COM” LED - lights yellow when Communications is in progress on the COM port

• “GPS” LED - flashes red to indicate that you have obtained GPS coverage. The rate of flashing indicates the sampling rate currently selected.

COM – Communications Port

• Plug the Traqmate Display Unit (DU) into the Sensor Unit

• Plug in a PC communications cable to download into Traqview

The back panel contains an auxiliary port, a GPS port, and a power port.

PWR – Power Port

• Plug in the cigarette lighter power adapter

• Plug in the power cable from the car battery power

• Plug in the battery pack power cable

• Plug in the AC adapter power cable

GPS – GPS Antenna Port

• Plug in the GPS antenna

AUX – Auxiliary Port

• Auxiliary connector port for digital, analog, and RPM sensors using the TraqData or

TraqTach interface units.

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com

Traqmate Complete

track systems

c m gPS

System Description

Traqmate Complete builds on the Traqmate Basic simplicity to add immediate feedback to the driver in the form of lap times and other information on a Display Unit (DU). It also provides more visibility and control of the collected data and useful tools for vehicle performance tuning. The DU provides complete control capability so the Sensor Unit requires no controls and can be remotely mounted. Data is stored inside the Display Unit and can be extracted using the mini-USB port on the end of the unit.

Controls

Indicates Top of Menu List

Backlight

Menu

Title

Main Menu

Record Data

View Sessions

Change Settings

Mini USB

Port

Indicates More

Choices Below

Screen

Menu Choices

Connection to

Sensor Unit

Figure 13 - Display Unit Controls

The DU contains six buttons, a graphical LCD screen, a DIN cable to connect to the Sensor Unit, and a mini-USB port for connection to a computer.

ON/OFF – Power Switch Button

• Turns unit on - push button once, startup screen appears and “PWR” LED goes on in the

Sensor Unit

• Turns unit off - hold button down until signoff screen appears on LCD display and “PWR”

LED goes off in the Sensor Unit

Traqmate Logo – Backlight Button

• Turns LCD backlight on/off – toggles LCD backlight on/off

Select Button – Executes Menu Functions

• Selects highlighted items on the LCD display screen

Back Button – Exits Menu Functions

• Goes up one level in menus

• Exits a mode such as lap timing and returns to menu

Up Button

• Press to go up one item in a list

Down Button

• Press to go down one item in a list

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Menu System

All of the Display Unit features are accessible through a text menu system. To access a feature use the UP and DOWN buttons to highlight the item you want on the screen. Press SELECT to activate that item. Some items actually perform a function while others go to other menus. This chart shows the menu tree.

Main Menu

Record Data

Laps – enters lap timing mode

Choose Start / Finish – Unit is waiting for driver to choose a Start / Finish location

Searching for Start / Finish – Unit is waiting for vehicle to cross Start / Finish Line

Erase Start / Finish – erases Start / Finish for chosen track

Drive – enters data recording mode with directional indicators

1

Tach & Speedo – enters data recording mode with tach and speedometer onscreen

1

Gauges – enters data recording mode with analog/digital/rpm gauges onscreen

1

G-Forces – enters data recording mode with G meter onscreen

1

Gs & Location – enters data recording mode.

Shows x, y G-forces, GPS precision (smaller is better), date and time, GPS location in latitude/longitude, heading, speed, temperature, and number of satellites in use

(larger is better).

Inputs – enters data recording mode with analog voltage and digital signals onscreen

View Sessions

List of Recorded Sessions

View Laps - Steps through recorded lap times

Erase Data - Erases selected session

Session Detail – Information about the selected session.

Displays driver, car, track, session memory usage, start date/time, end date/time, laps recorded, sampling rate, and temperature at start.

Change Settings

Driver - Pick from list of drivers entered in Traqview

Vehicle - Pick from list of vehicles entered in Traqview

Track - Pick from list of tracks entered in Traqview

Sampling Rate

10 Hz - Selects 10 samples per second

20 Hz - Selects 20 samples per second ** BEST ALL AROUND CHOICE **

40 Hz - Selects 40 samples per second

GMT Offset – changes time offset from Greenwich Mean Time

Contrast – changes LCD contrast

UP or DOWN

Erase Sessions - Erases all sessions but retains drivers, vehicles, tracks

Current Status

Shows record time available at the current settings, number of sessions available, battery power level, and which TraqData inputs are selected.

Other Features

GPS Compass - Enters non-recording GPS compass mode.

Shows time, speed, and heading.

GPS Information - Enters non-recording GPS information mode.

Shows x, y G-forces, GPS precision (smaller is better), date and time, GPS location in latitude/longitude, heading, speed, temperature, and number of satellites in use

(larger is better).

Check Inputs – Shows voltage for all analogs and signal level for digitals.

1

Note: UP or DN cycles through the other screens in any of these modes.

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Features

Lap Timing

The lap timing feature measures the interval of time between passes of a chosen spot (Start /

Finish Line). It uses both location and heading to determine the exact spot to 1/10 th

second accuracy. It is best to set the Start/Finish on the racing line and you must be heading in approximately the same direction as the reference lap for the timing to work.

Start / Finish

Line

Valid positions for lap timing

Bad heading

Too far away

Initial position

Figure 14 - Lap Timing

The Start/Finish Location is stored on the Display Unit for each track, so once you enter it you should not have to enter it again unless you delete the track from memory or upgrade your DU software.

To use the lap timing feature Select “Record Data” from the Main Menu and then Select “Laps”.

You will see

Figure 15 - Acquiring GPS Screen

until GPS signal is acquired. If this takes more than a minute, check your antenna connection and ensure that the antenna has a clear view of the sky.

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Once Traqmate has GPS signal, it will check to see if there is a Start/Finish position stored for the current track. If not, you will see

Figure 16 - Recording a Start / Finish Location

Proceed around the track until you reach the Start/Finish line. Make sure you cross the line the same way that you will when driving at full speed. As you reach the line press the SELECT button to record the Start / Finish line and save it in permanent memory. At this time the Timing Screen will appear.

If you have already recorded a Start / Finish location for the chosen track, the following screen will appear.

Figure 17 - Searching for Start / Finish Line

This will stay onscreen until you cross the Start / Finish line at which time the Lap Timer Screen will appear.

NOTE: To clear a Start/Finish line, press SELECT while the “Looking for Start” screen is displayed. That will erase the Start/Finish line from permanent memory and transfer to the

“Press SELECT at Start/Finish” screen.

GPS signal strength indicator

Indicates lap time of

1 hour, 20 minutes,

54.9 seconds

Up arrow when lap is better than previous,

Down arrow when worse

Lap counter

Flag indicates best lap

Figure 18 - Lap Timer Screen

The numbers will start over whenever the Start / Finish line is crossed and the lap counter will increment. The lap time from the previous lap will be held onscreen for 1 minute to allow time for viewing, and then the counting will resume.

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Traqview Analysis and Configuration Program

Traqview is the source for configuring, uploading, and analyzing data from your Traqmate. After installation, you can launch the program from the Windows Start Menu or a desktop icon.

Toolbar Buttons and Controls

Open Save Copy Print Connect Add

Driver In Out

Pan Auto Compare

Pan Mode

Figure 19 - Menu Bar Buttons

Race

Mode

Rotate

Map

Help

Menu Options

File

Open – opens a session file (.tqm) or an analysis file (.tqs)

Close – closes current file

Save – saves current analysis as a .tqs file

Save As – saves current analysis to a name chose by user

Add Driver – opens a session file and adds driver to dashboard

Export Graph/Form– saves current graph as an image file or form as a .CSV text file

Export Data – saves any of the currently loaded data sets to a .CSV text file

Print – prints the currently selected graph

Print Preview – shows how the print output will appear

Print Setup – select printer and printer options

Exit – exits Traqview program

Edit

Copy – copies currently highlighted window to Windows clipboard

View

Toolbar – toggles toolbar on/off

Auto Pan – a mode that causes a selected driver to always stay within the track map and graph windows

Pointer – selects the pointer tool (for moving Start/Finish Line and Manipulating Segments)

Zoom – selects the Zoom In tool (for magnifying track or graphs) When Zoom tool is selected, shift key will invert the zoom direction.

Pan – selects the Pan tool for dragging track and graphs around in the window

Rotate Map – reorients the map by 90 degrees to optimize screen space

Refresh – resets graphs and map back to starting point, redraws screens

Tools

Session Upload – connects to Traqmate to upload session information

User Setup – connects to Traqmate to setup user information

Unit Information – connects to Traqmate to change user information

Firmware Update – connects to Traqmate to update SU or DU firmware

Window

Close All – closes all windows

Window List – choose a window to display on top

Help

Session Tools – access to Swap Axis, Time Zone, Align Sessions, and Trim Sessions tools

Options – controls Traqview local options including default file path and startup screens

About Traqview – displays Traqview version information

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Files

There are three types of files that Traqview uses: .tqm files are compressed session files that come right from the Traqmate, .tqs files are compressed analysis files which are saved from

Traqview, and .tqc files are firmware update files.

Opening Files

Traqview can open .tqm or .tqs files using the File Open menu directive or by double-clicking on a file in Windows Explorer. Any drivers present in the .tqm or .tqs file are added to the Dash Board and can be placed on the Track Map or any Graph.

Saving Files

Traqview can only save .tqs files. If you open a .tqm file it becomes part of an analysis and is saved as a new .tqs file.

Adding Drivers

Adding a driver is the equivalent of opening another .tqm file to add to an analysis. To compare separate laps in the same session, add it twice.

Exporting Graph Images and Segment Analysis Table

You can export graph or track images as JPEG, TIFF, or GIF files and then view or print them using a graphics program such as Windows Picture Viewer. You can export a Segment Analysis table as a .CSV (comma separated variables) text file for use in a spreadsheet. This includes lap times, lap numbers, and many performance measurements.

Exporting Data Files

You can export the raw data in a .CSV (comma separated variables) text file for use in a spreadsheet or for importation into the TrackVision video integration software.

Viewing Options

Traqview allows you to create many views of your data at one time. You can watch the cars go around the track, see the G-forces in action on the Friction Circle, and track the speed on the

Velocity vs. Distance Graph. There are several tools available to help you get just the right view into your data.

Zoom

Zoom lets you magnify the graph to better see driving lines, braking points, and acceleration points. There are two Zoom buttons, Zoom In and Zoom Out. When either is selected, holding the Shift key will reverse the Zoom direction. You can tell you are in Zoom mode because the cursor will change to a magnifying glass. Zoom In has a “+” magnifier while Zoom Out has a “-“ magnifier.

On the Track Map, Zoom magnifies the portion of the track that you click on. On graphs, Zoom just magnifies the time or distance axis (horizontal direction) so that you can see more detail. If you need more vertical resolution, stretch the window upward.

To exit Zoom mode, click on the Pointer Menu bar button.

Pan

Often if you have magnified a track map or graph, your view is restricted to a small part of the overall picture. To move the view without Zooming back out, use the Pan tool. Click on the Pan Menu bar button and the cursor will change to four arrows. To

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move around, click and hold the mouse and drag the picture in the window in the direction of the data you wish to view.

To exit Pan mode, click on the Pointer Menu bar button.

Auto Pan

If you want to play back vehicles moving on the track or a graph while Zoomed in, click on the

Auto Pan button to activate Auto Pan mode. You can tell you are in Auto Pan mode because the button stays depressed until pressed again.

In Auto Pan, the screens will always ensure that the designated Reference Driver is viewable in the graph or track map at all time.

Exchanging Information with Traqmate

In order to tune Traqmate to your personal needs, there are several settable options in the

Traqmate unit. In Traqmate Basic, these are configurable through the Traqview program. In

Traqmate Complete, the same options are configurable through Traqview and many are also configurable through the Display Unit menu system.

To get your sessions into Traqview for playback you must connect to the Traqmate.

Connecting to Traqmate

Connecting is different for Traqmate Basic (SU only) and Traqmate Complete (DU). Please follow the instructions for the system that you have.

Traqmate Basic (SU Only)

Supply power to the unit. This can be done by leaving the unit in the car, using the

TraqPaq battery pack accessory, or using the Traqmate AC adapter accessory.

Traqmate Complete (DU)

There is no need to supply power to the unit, power is supplied through the USB cable.

Plug the mini-USB to USB cable between the DU and your computer. When properly installed, the computer will recognize the

Traqmate as a valid USB device.

Click on the Upload Menu Button.

On most systems, Traqview will detect the

USB connection and automatically connect.

If you are presented with the Traqmate

Comm Settings Screen, go to the Windows

Device Manager to find the COM port assigned to the Traqmate USB Device and enter that number. Click on Connect to

Display Unit or AutoConnect.

Figure 20 - DIN - Serial Adapter Cable

Plug the DIN (round plug) into the Traqmate

COM port on the front of the unit. Plug the 9 pin serial adapter cable into your PC. If DIN cable is too short, use a serial extension cable (available at any computer store).

Click on the Upload Menu Button

You will be presented with the Traqmate

Comm Settings Screen. Enter the Comm

Port number and click on Connect to Sensor

Unit or Auto Connect.

Figure 21 - Traqmate Comm Settings

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Unit Info Screen

January 30, 2007

Figure 22 - Unit Info Screen

Time Offset

– Enter your time zone offset (in hours) from Greenwich Mean Time. This will cause your recorded times to show your local time instead of GMT. Some common values are:

Alaska -9

US Pacific Time -8

US Mountain Time

US Central Time

-7

-6

Central America

US Eastern Standard Time

-6

-5

London 0

Paris +1

Athens +2

Moscow +3

For Daylight Savings, use above values + 1.

Owner Name

– Enter your name. This appears on the screen of the Display Unit when powered up.

Phone

– Enter your contact information. This appears on the screen of the Display Unit when powered up.

Note

– Enter anything you like. This only appears in the Traqview screen.

To save the information in the Traqmate you must click on the Save Unit Info button.

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User Data Screen

January 30, 2007

Figure 23 - User Data Screen

Drivers

– Enter your drivers’ names. The driver with the check mark is the default driver for the next recorded session.

Tracks

– Enter your track names. The track with the check mark is the default track for the next recorded session. NOTE: Removing a track will erase any Start / Finish line that might be recorded for that track.

You can type in the Start/Finish information for a new track before you arrive by looking it up at

Traqmate.com. Otherwise, this information is created when you press the Select button during the ‘PRESS SELECT AT START/FINISH’ screen on the Display Unit.

Cars

– Enter your vehicle names and other information. The vehicle with the check mark is the default vehicle for the next recorded session.

This is where you put in the number of cylinders used for the on-screen tachometer, the Traqview graphs, and TrackVision video integration. Since tach signals vary by car and which signal you choose, take your best guess and try it. If the tach reads double, double the number. If it reads half, halve the number. Here are some general rules:

Attaching to negative side of coil – enter number of cylinders.

Attaching to a fuel injector or coil-on-plug signal – enter 2.

Attaching to an ECU or electronic tach – unpredictable, start with number of cylinders

.

The Rev Warning is the RPM where the DU will invert the screen to tell you it is time to shift. This is displayed as a yellow line in Traqview. The Rev Limit does not actually limit revs. It is displayed as a red line in Traqview. The Rev Limit and Weight will be used to calculate gearing, horsepower and torque in an upcoming release.

Sampling Rate

– Choose a sampling rate that is appropriate for the type of data you are recording. A higher rate is appropriate for shorter runs like dragstrip runs and autocross, whereas a slower rate would be best for a long endurance race.

To save the information in the Traqmate you must click on the Save User Setup button.

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IO Data Screen

January 30, 2007

Figure 24 - IO Data Screen

This screen looks complicated but that is only because the Traqmate inputs are very flexible. You only need this screen if you have a TraqData or TraqTach input device.

Enable Tach

– You must put a check in this box to display and record the RPM. You also must set the # of Cylinders value in the User Data/Vehicles menu.

Digital Inputs

– Enter the name of your digital input points. Check “Input Enable” to enable recording of digital inputs. Notice that you get all or none. If you only have only one digital you can name the other one ‘Rockets’ to impress your friends.

The “On Value” and “Off Value” correspond to

<3 Volts and >3 Volts on the actual TraqData input. It is possible that a signal may be inverted in which case you can swap ON and OFF. You can also use names like “Enabled”, “Ready”, or

“Warning” to best describe the state of the digital input. These names will be displayed on the

Display Unit gauge and in the Traqview graph.

Digital Outputs

– Traqmate may be configured to output a digital signal when a pre-programmed event occurs.

There are currently three possible output values:

RPM Warning – Connects to ground whenever the RPM exceeds the RPM Warning threshold.

This can be used to trigger a relay to an external shift light.

Analog Value Warning – Connects to ground whenever the corresponding Analog Input goes into the warning zone. Digital 4 can be a warning for Analog 0 and Digital 5 can be a warning for

Analog 1. These outputs can be used to trigger a relay to an external warning light.

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Camera Control – Connects to ground whenever the Traqmate acquires GPS Lock and enters recording mode. This can be used to trigger an external video camera so that video and data are synchronized for use with the TrackVision software.

NOTE: An input can be both Input and Output. If you wish to record alarm events such as

Low Oil Pressure Warning from an analog input, configure the digital as an input and an output.

Analogs

– If you double click on an analog, you can edit all the information for that input point.

Enter the names of your analog input points.

Check “Enable” to enable analogs individually.

Enter the names of the units that you want displayed for that particular sensor. For example, if A1 is a boost sensor this might be

“PSI” or “BAR”.

Next choose the maximum scale of the sensor.

Choices are 5, 10, and 20 volts. For best resolution, choose the smallest one that your sensor does not exceed. Now choose the voltage range of the sensor within the maximum scale.

For example, your sensor might operate between 2.5 and 4 volts, so you would choose the maximum 5-volt scale. If this were a steering wheel angle sensor, the low range might be the voltage at the far left turning lock and high range might be the voltage at the far right turning lock.

You can read the voltages on the “Check Inputs” screen on the Display Unit.

Most of the time you would not want to display the sensor in volts so you would put in the actual values that you want to be displayed at the opposite ends of the range. Using the same example,

2.5 volts corresponds to the left steering lock which might be -110 degrees. The right steering lock would be +110 degrees. The unit would be entered as “Degrees”.

You may also set an alarm value. In this case, it is set to go off if the steering angle is ever less than -

80 Degrees. The alarm state is shown on

Traqmate as a reverse screen (white on black). It is shown on Traqview as a red line.

To save the information in the Traqmate you must click on ‘Save User Setup’.

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Session Upload Screen

January 30, 2007

Figure 25 - Session Upload Screen

This screen will show all the sessions that are currently stored in the Traqmate. From this screen, you can upload the sessions to your PC or erase them. If you do not erase the sessions, they will stay in the unit.

The Session numbers are re-usable. If you erase session 1, the next session will be session 1 even though you may already have a session 2 and 3. The Start date will show the date that the session was recorded and length of time of the session. Rate is the Sampling Rate.

Note that if you are out of memory, if you erase Session 1 of 10, you will still be out of memory because the unit can only record data starting at the end. In this example, to continue, upload and erase Session 10. Also note that Track, Driver, and Car can actually change from those recorded if you erase a driver, track or car from the User Data. For this reason it is recommended to upload all data before changing the User Data.

Analysis Tools

Dashboard

Just as in your car, the dashboard is where you look to get information about what is going on with the vehicle and to change settings with that vehicle.

Within each driver frame it shows the current speed in MPH as a bar graph, whether the driver is accelerating

(Green Dot), Coasting (Grey Dot), or

Braking (Red Dot). An outline of the

Friction Circle is shown with the instantaneous G vector.

Figure 26 - Dashboard

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Other statistics are also shown:

Current Lap / Lap Time

Lap Time to that point in the playback

Total Time into the session

Lap Distance to that point in the playback in Feet

Distance of the Total Lap in Feet

Any Segments that the vehicle is within on the Track Map

Setup – Adding a Driver to Graphs

To view a driver’s information, you must add them to a Graph or the Track Map. To do this, click

Setup on the Dashboard for that driver. You will be presented a menu with a list of all the drivers on tabs along the top, all the eligible forms (windows) where the data can be presented, and a list of all the laps that can be analyzed. You can compare multiple laps for a single driver (Best vs.

Worst Lap, for example) by adding the same driver twice.

Oftentimes, the laps will be listed as one very long lap until a Start / Finish Line location is chosen on the Track Map. If that is the case, select that lap and then set the Start / Finish. Once that occurs, the first lap and last lap usually include travel to / from the pit lane and should be unselected.

If, for example, you select Lap 11 as the best lap for Driver A, and Lap 7 as the best lap for Driver

B, and assign both to the Track Map and click OK, you will see both drivers queued up at the

Start / Finish Line on the track. You can then use the Playback Controls to race the cars on that single lap.

All of the Forms that are assigned to a driver will appear on the main window and may become cluttered. You can resize them or close them to suit your purposes.

Figure 27 - Graph and Track Map Setup

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Playback Controls

January 30, 2007

Figure 28 - Playback Controls

Track Map

The Track Map is the heart of the GPS Data Acquisition

System. The Track Map will show one or more laps of one or more vehicles. The vehicles will move around the track according to the Playback Controls in effect.

The Track Map is used to set the Start / Finish Line that is used to calculate the lap times shown in the Setup and

Segment Screens. If you are using Traqmate Complete, the

Start / Finish Line will transfer over if it was previously set in the DU. In Traqmate Basic, you must set the Start / Finish line manually by grabbing the Start / Finish Icon (it will turn into a checkered flag) and dragging it to the new location.

Alternatively, you can use the Playback Controls to position the Reference Vehicle and press the Set Start / Finish

Button.

The Track Map is also used to set the range for Segments.

This is similar to setting the Start / Finish Line. Drag the

Create Segment Icon onto the track near where you want the Segment. Then drag the Segment Start and Segment

End Icons into position.

The Track Map will automatically scale to the size of the window but will always stay in proper proportion. For this reason, you may have unused areas on the bottom or side of the window.

The Track Map axis coordinates are in Feet.

Figure 29 - Track Map

G vs. Time

The G vs. Time Graphs (Lateral and Accel/Braking) are just like the G vs. Distance Graphs (see below) only they are plotted over time instead of distance. Therefore, it is most useful for analyzing a single vehicle since two different laps will not match up on the time scale. If you select several laps they will be shown end-to-end so you can see a progression of the G levels obtained during a session.

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G vs. Distance

The G vs. Distance Graphs (Lateral and Accel/Braking) show the G forces that are occurring at each place around the track. By playing back a lap and following the vehicle icon on the Track

Map and the vehicle cursor on the G vs. Distance Graphs, you can see exactly what happened such as a touch of the brakes or a steering correction in the corner. This is a very useful graph for comparing two driving styles.

Left Turns above Zero

Cursor follows car on track

Right Turns below Zero

Braking above Zero

Turning while

Accelerating

Gear Change

Acceleration below Zero

Figure 30 - G vs. Distance Graphs

Velocity vs. Distance

This is the most useful graph for comparing two or more drivers or cars. You can get an instant read on where a driver is carrying more speed through a turn, which car has the best top speed at the end of a long straightaway, and which car accelerates the best. It is easy to determine which trough is which turn by playing back the vehicle position on the Track Map and watching the cursor positions on the Velocity vs. Distance Graph.

Inclines are

Straightaw ays

Sharp

Declines are

Braking

Color coded cursor for each Driver

Troughs areTurns

Figure 31 - Velocity vs. Distance Graph

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Velocity vs. Time

The Velocity vs. Time Graph is just like the Velocity vs. Distance only it plots over time instead of distance. Therefore, it is most useful for analyzing a single vehicle since two different laps will not match up on the time scale.

Friction Circle

The Friction Circle graph shows the forces acting on the vehicle in the forward, reverse, left, and right sides, plotted on an X,Y Graph where the vertical axis is Braking/Acceleration and the horizontal axis is Left/Right Loading. For most vehicles, the shape of the Friction Circle graph will be an inverted triangle. The reason for this is that most vehicle stop much better than they accelerate so more forces will be generated in that direction.

This graph is used to gauge the overall amount of performance available in the car and the amount of that capability the driver is using. Especially of

Braking

Left Loading

Right Turns

Right Loading

Left Turns

Acceleration

interest are the transitions from braking to turning to acceleration. By watching the cursor move around the graph during playback, you can see the transitions. It is useful to picture the car from overhead as in the diagram and think of the cursor as the top of the driver’s helmet.

Braking

Unused

Grip

Left Loading

Right Turns

Cursor Moves

With Vehicle

Motion

Sustained

Levels

Peak

Values

Right Loading

Left Turns

Acceleration

Figure 32 - Friction Circle Graph

Note that the Friction Circle shows peak loads. A tire near maximum grip level is constantly gripping and releasing the pavement. In addition, a hard turn-in will generate instantaneous loads that are not sustainable. The extremely sensitive accelerometers will pick this up, creating peaks in the data. While these are real, the actual sustained level of grip that can be measured on a skidpad is somewhat lower.

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Braking and Acceleration Zones

The Brake Zone Map shows the forward/reverse forces acting on the vehicle and where they occur on the track. This graph will show what a driver is actually doing on the track. As you can see from the illustration below, this includes where the driver is flat or where they are lifting, techniques such as lifting to orient the vehicle, how fast the driver’s transitions are from brake to acceleration and back. Many times you can even see shift points!

Enable the Brake Zones with the enable control on the Brake and Turn Zone map. Use the

Braking and Acceleration threshold adjustments to tune the map to your particular car and reveal hidden information.

Figure 33 - Brake Zone Map

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Turn Zones

The Turn Zone Map shows the lateral forces acting on the vehicle and where they occur on the track. This graph is primarily used to show turn in and turn out points. When combined with the brake zone map you can see trail braking and where the acceleration is applied during the turn.

Enable the Turn Zones with the enable control on the

Brake and Turn Zone map. Use the Turn Zone threshold adjustments to tune the map to your particular car and reveal hidden information.

Right turns are shown as dark blue and left turns are shown as yellow. Black is shown where the vehicle is traveling mostly straight.

You can use these transition points to set up segments on a reference lap, save as a .tqs file, and then add laps to it later to see if speed has been gained or lost in a particular set of turns.

When you enable Turn

Zones and Brake Zones at the same time, you get a combination of colors. While the “rainbow map” may seem confusing at first there is a lot of useful information contained in those colors.

For example, braking is Red and right turns are Blue. If you see a Purple segment that shows that the driver was braking and turning right at the same time (i.e., trail braking).

Similarly, Orange indicates trail braking into a left turn.

Chartreuse and Turquoise show turning while accelerating, which can reveal where the throttle is applied during a turn.

Experiment with the thresholds to reveal even more information.

Figure 34 - Turn Zone Map

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Segment Analysis

One of the most powerful features of Traqview is Segment Analysis. This allows you to compare two small sections of the track on several laps. This is especially useful for comparing two drivers who might take different approaches to a corner or for doing a before/after comparison of a new technique or driving line.

Traqview has a default Segment “All” that is the entire lap. To look at a particular section of the track, you must create one or more segments. This is done by dragging the Segment Icon from the lower right of the track map window onto the track outline near where you want the Segment.

Then drag the Segment Start and Segment End Icons into position. They can be repositioned at any time to change the Segment. To delete a segment, drag either the Start or End Segment Icon off the track.

Add drivers to the Segment Analysis Table using the ‘Setup’ button on the dashboard. Note that every lap selected for each driver is included in the table.

Figure 35 - Segment Analysis Table

Each time you create a segment, another table is added to the Segment Analysis Table Screen.

You access each table by clicking on the tabs at the top of the Segment Analysis window. Each table shows the time required for the vehicle to traverse the segment, entry and exit speeds, the maximum and average amount of braking and acceleration used during the segment, and the maximum and average speeds obtained during the segment.

By clicking on a column in the table, the entire table will be sorted by the values in that column.

For example, to see the maximum exit speed, click on the Exit Speed column heading. Click on it again and it will be sorted in the reverse order. In each column, the minimum performance value is highlighted in red while the maximum performance value is highlighted in green.

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Exporting Segment Data

If you wish to do further analysis or print a list of your laptimes, the Segment Analysis information can be exported to a Microsoft Excel compatible .CSV text file. Highlight the Segment Analysis window and select File / Export Graph/Form.

Segment Analysis Data Columns

Driver/Vehicle – Shows from which driver and vehicle the row data was collected

Lap – Which lap the row data was collected

Entry Time – Exact local time that the segment started

Segment Time – Length of time to traverse the segment

Time Braking – The amount of time in seconds on the brakes during the segment

Entry Speed – Speed in MPH at start of segment

Exit Speed – Speed in MPH at end of segment

Max Brake – Maximum braking force in Gs during the segment

Max Accel – Maximum acceleration force in Gs during the segment

Max Rt Load – Maximum Right Side (left turn) lateral force in Gs during the segment

Max Lt Load – Maximum Left Side (right turn) lateral force in Gs during the segment

Max Speed – Maximum speed in MPH during the segment

Min Speed – Minimum speed in MPH during the segment

Avg Speed – Average speed throughout the segment

Avg Brake – Average braking force applied throughout the segment

Avg Accel – Average acceleration throughout the segment

Avg Rt Load – Average Right Side (left turn) lateral force in Gs during the segment

Avg Lt Load – Average Left Side (right turn) lateral force in Gs during the segment

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Session Tools

Swap Axis

Sometimes it is more convenient to mount a Traqmate facing in the wrong direction. Swap Axis allows the data to be adjusted for the orientation of the Traqmate.

If data was collected with the unit pointed to rear of car, swap both X and Y axes.

If data was collected with the unit mounted sideways in car, rotate 90 degrees until data correct. If unit was mounted upside down, swap the Y axis.

If unit was upside down and pointed to rear, swap the X axis.

You may save the new orientation as a .tqs file.

Time Zone

Sometimes the user forgets to set the time zone in the Traqmate so that recorded data shows up with the wrong time. This can be corrected for each driver using the Time Zone utility. This is very useful when replaying a race (see Race Replay Mode) where one of the drivers has a different time zone setting.

Align Sessions

Occasionally when you compare two sessions that were recorded some time apart, the track maps will not align perfectly. This is due to the slow drift of GPS over time or possibly due to different antenna placements on the vehicles. Session align allows the path for the selected session to be adjusted to bring it back into perfect alignment.

Choose a driver and use the arrow keys to move the path in the desired direction. The path is moved by the number of feet specified in the field between the arrow keys.

You may save the realigned analysis as a .tqs file.

Trim Sessions

Trim allows unnecessary data at the beginning or end of a session to be trimmed.

To remove data at the beginning of the session, first move the position of the car (using the slider and forward/reverse arrows) to the desired starting point and click 'Trim Start'.

To remove data at the end of the session, move the position of the car to the desired ending point and click 'Trim End'.

To restore all the vehicle data click 'Undo'.

You may save the trimmed data set as a .tqs file.

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Race Replay Mode

The default operation of Traqview is Comparison Mode. In Comparison Mode you can overlay drivers and laps that were recorded at any time and “race” them against each other by aligning them both at the Start/Finish. That works very well and is the best choice for actually comparing the performance of car and/or driver.

However, consider the case of a race with many participants. Not all cars cross the start at the same time so to actually replay the race you need to show the exact location of each vehicle at the same point in time. This is also very useful for rallies with staggered starts to show the actual position of cars on the road. That is why Race Replay Mode was created.

To enter Race Replay Mode, you must have sessions loaded with overlapping

Start and End times. If you wish to adjust the start times, use the Time Zone tool. To activate, press the icon shown with the checkered flag. To re-enter

Comparison Mode, press the magnifying glass icon.

When you enter Race Replay Mode, you are no longer working with laps but rather a period of time. The Setup screen will present another option called Race Setup. Select that tab to choose the race period.

Figure 36 - Race Replay Mode

Move the Duration sliders (< and >) to select the period of time that you wish to replay. The green time zones for each session will show the period of time that each session covers. Use the sliders to select the best overlap of all the sessions.

Once the time period is chosen, you may use the playback controls to ‘Replay Your Day’. You can also display graphs. A useful one is the Velocity vs. Time which will show when drivers are on-track or stopped during pitstops.

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System Upgrades

Traqview Updates

From time to time, software updates will be made available for Traqview. These may include new features and may require an update to the firmware in the SU or DU, or both. There will be information on the website that tells you what other requirements there may be for the update.

To check for software updates, go to the Downloads area of traqmate.com. You can check your version number by using the Help/About function in Traqview.

To update your Traqview software, download the installer program from traqmate.com and execute it just as described in the Traqview Software Installation section in this manual. It will remove the old version and replace it with the updated version.

Traqmate SU and DU Firmware Updates

From time to time, firmware updates will be made available for the SU and DU. Note that different firmware is used in the SU for Traqmate Basic and Traqmate Complete.

Traqmate Basic Files

SU: ssu.tqc - Standalone Sensor Unit

WARNING: DO NOT DOWNLOAD SSU.TQC FILE TO TRAQMATE COMPLETE. IT WILL

STOP TALKING TO THE DISPLAY UNIT

Traqmate Complete Files

SU: dsu.tqc - Display-enabled Sensor Unit

DU: du.tqc - Display Unit

Each .tqc file is self-contained and includes all the functions required to confirm unit identity, check the code image for accuracy, copy the code image into permanent memory, and reset the unit.

ALL INFORMATION ABOUT DRIVERS, VEHICLES, TRACKS, AND SESSIONS

WILL BE LOST WHEN YOU ATTEMPT A FIRMWARE UPDATE*

Connections

For Traqmate Basic, connect the SU as you would for uploading sessions and ensure that you have a good connection.

For Traqmate Complete, the SU is programmed through the DU so you plug it into the DU with the DIN Extension Cable. Plug the DU into the USB port on your computer. Ensure that you have a good connection with the DU. You will do two updates, one for the SU and one for the DU.

Select the appropriate .tqc files one at a time. Always update the SU (dsu.tqc) first since it is

programmed through the DU.

Choose the Tools/Firmware Update option and the filename where you downloaded the .tqc from traqmate.com. Click Start and the rest is automatic. You will be told if the download is successful.

You will see LEDs flashing on the SU when it is being reprogrammed and messages on the DU when it is being reprogrammed. You can cancel at any point up to pressing Start. After pressing

START, do not click any other buttons until the unit goes through RESET.

When firmware update is complete, the Traqmate device being reprogrammed will reset itself regardless of the success of the reprogramming. DO NOT UNPLUG THE UNIT UNTIL IT

RESETS.

* Inside Trick

: To keep your Driver/Vehicle/Track information, when reprogramming the DU, click to the User Data screen in Traqview and Get User Setup. Then tab over to Firmware Update, download the du.tqc file and allow the DU to reset. Now click back to User Data. Your data should still be there. Click on Save User Setup.

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Using Traqmate for Analysis

This section will serve as a tutorial for using the Traqmate Data Acquisition System for analysis of drivers and vehicles. There are many ways to use the data and these are only a few methods. It is always best to experiment to find the specific areas of interest for your situation.

Driver Comparison

When comparing drivers, it is best to record laps in the same vehicle or at least very similar vehicles. Otherwise, the performance capabilities of the vehicle can mask what the differences in the driver. Also, driving styles differ between types of cars. A good driver will have different braking, turn in, and acceleration points for a front-wheel-drive car than a rear-wheel-drive car.

Best Lap Playback

The easiest way to compare drivers is to pick their best single laps, load them up on the track map and play them back. Watch the entire lap and note where one driver pulls away significantly from the other. Then concentrate on those areas using the other Traqview tools.

Best vs. Worst Playback

Sometimes you can see differences most readily by taking the best and worst laps of a session for a single driver. This can make mistakes more apparent.

Velocity vs. Distance

Driver differences are most apparent when viewing the Velocity vs. Distance graph. To get an accurate picture you may need to look at several laps because you never know what happened on a single lap. A driver might have lifted to avoid another car or may have had the advantage of a draft from another car on a straightaway.

Green Car Slow on

Back Straight and

Braked Too Early

Blue Car Lacking in

Horsepower, Makes up with Bravery

Black Car

Carried Good

Speed and

Got on Gas

Early

Blue Car Not Carrying

Enough Speed

Through Turn

Black Car

Lifted Early

Black Car Braked

Early, Got on Gas

Early, Better Exit

Speed Carried Down

Long Straightaway

Green Car

Used Too

Much Brake

Figure 37 - Velocity vs. Distance Analysis

After looking for areas of improvement on the Velocity vs. Distance Graph, you need to determine just how to make those improvements. The best way is to create a segment surrounding the corner on the track to be improved.

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Driving Line

Generally, it is best to be “Slow In, Fast Out”, especially if there is a long straight after the turn in question. That faster exit speed will compound over the entire distance of the straight. Segments are the perfect way to test entrance speed vs. exit speed. If you are entering a long complex of curves, it may be smart to be Fast In, Slow Out. The best way to determine this is to create two segments on consecutive sections of the track. This way you can see if sacrificing entrance speed on one section leads to commensurate gains on the next section.

Figure 38 - Segments and Driving Line Analysis

Segments

Sometimes entrance and exit speed can be deceiving. Segment Analysis can also show you the real story. In this diagram, taking the long way around results in higher speeds but longer times.

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G vs. Distance Analysis

The G vs. Distance graphs show the G forces on the vehicle plotted against the distance traveled.

This is very useful for viewing the overall performance envelope that a driver is using in the car.

On the graph below you can see that the green car’s graph lines are consistently outside the blue car’s, indicating that the green car is carrying more speed through the turns and consequently generating more lateral cornering force.

Another useful element of this graph is the ability to determine when a driver hits the brakes and throttle. You can clearly compare when each driver hits the brakes, gets off the brakes, and gets back on the gas.

This graph is also good for comparing braking curves for the drivers. Optimally you want to see a good crisp initial brake pressure, even pressure during braking, and then a clean transition off the brakes and into the turn. If you position the cursor at the end of the brake application (as shown), it should also intersect the turn in point.

Also look for nice smooth lines. Spikes in the acceleration line indicates a throttle lift or brake tap, which is usually not desirable.

Transition off Turn

(turn-out)

Green car achieving higher G loads

Transition to Turn

(turn-in)

Turn Apex

Transition Off Braking

Lifting

Flat out

Short lifts to orient car in turn

Shift

Figure 39 - G vs. Distance Analysis

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Friction Circle

Often you can get a quick idea of driver’s skill by simply looking at their Friction Circle plot. A beginning driver will generally have a plot that appears like an inverted T with dips on the sides.

This is because they brake straight, get off the brakes, then turn.

As a driver gains experience, his Friction Circle will be much more triangular and follow the perimeter of a triangle. This happens because the driver is transitioning from braking to turn-in in a coordinated fashion. A very experienced driver’s Friction Circle will have a visible hole in the center showing that the maximum grip of the car is being used at all times. When playing back in real-time you can see the cursor go around the outside of the triangle.

To determine how much of the performance of the car is being utilized, do a skidpad test as described in the vehicle performance section below.

Note "Hole"

Note "Dip"

Figure 40 - Friction Circle Comparison

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Graphing Multiple Data Elements (Stacked Graphs)

With Traqview, all the items on the graph are synchronized as you play back one or more laps.

Use the Setup button on the dashboard to add elements to the common scale distance or time graphs and then play it back to see the relationship between the various elements being monitored.

As you configure Analog and Digital points in Traqview, they are added to the available items in

Setup by name. In this graph, Oil Pressure and RPM have been collected using the TraqData input device.

In this analysis you can see the brakes applied before the turns, you can see the RPM peak at the redline, shift points in both the track map and Accel/Braking graphs, and the RPM drop after a shift. You can even see the oil pressure drop when the engine is unloaded during a shift.

Figure 41 - Stacked Graphs

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Vehicle Performance Comparison

Traqmate can measure many performance capabilities of the vehicle, including acceleration, braking, and lateral grip.

Acceleration and Braking

A good way to evaluate horsepower is to draw segment on a straight part of the track between shift points and in the brake zones. Then look at the Max Acceleration and Max Braking values in that segment. You can also see the difference in power between vehicles visually by looking at the slope of the lines in the Velocity vs Distance Graph since the rate of gain of velocity is acceleration. Similarly, by looking at the negative slope one can determine the strength of the brakes (and of course the adhesion of the tires).

Acceleration Clearly Stronger

Black Car Carrying

More Speed

Through Turns

Slopes of

Lines Shows

Acceleration

Blue Car

Much Faster

Brakes are

Comparable

Segment on

Straight

Figure 42 - Acceleration and Braking

Lateral Gs

To evaluate the outer limits of chassis adhesion, the proven method is the skidpad. Traqmate is an ideal tool for collecting and analyzing skidpad data.

Sustained

Lateral

Acceleration

Figure 43 - Skidpad Analysis

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Safety

There is nothing fun about going off-track or spinning. That is why we take safety very seriously at

Track Systems, and we hope you do as well. Please operate your Traqmate in a safe manner by ensuring that your Traqmate is securely fastened in the vehicle and that you only look at the DU screen or SU front panel when you are in a position to do so.

That said, occasionally accidents happen. The unpredictability of high performance driving is one of the things that make it so thrilling. When the unpredictable happens to you, Traqmate can help you learn what happened so that you can correct a mistake or be prepared for a similar situation in the future.

For example, look at this comparison of a good lap in red with an unsuccessful lap in blue – same car, same driver. It is easy to see what happened, the car was offline and going too fast which resulted in the vehicle leaving the track.

Higher Entrance Speed

Entered Curve on Inside

Couldn't

Hold Curve and Spun

Figure 44 - Spin Diagnosis

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And finally, when you are replaying your day with your track buddies, Traqmate makes a great storyteller. During the extensive testing of the Traqmate System we had our share of bumps along the way. We thought we would share a couple of our best off-road excursions.

Figure 45 - VIR Turn 14

Figure 46 - Road Atlanta Turn 1

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Traqmate User Manual V1.25

Share & Compare – Traqmate.com

January 30, 2007

Traqmate.com is your source for information, support, and upgrades. There you will find news, events, forums, tips, ideas, and new products to make your Traqmate the most valuable tool in your gear bag.

Exchanging Laps

If you register at the Traqmate website, www.traqmate.com, you are eligible to download other people’s laps from around the world.

Laps are indexed by vehicle and track so you can easily find the laps you want. The files you download are .tqm files so you can open them with Traqview or use ‘Add Driver’ to add them to an existing analysis.

Play them back using

Traqview. Overlay your own laps to create virtual races or do an analysis to learn other drivers’ techniques.

You can also upload your best laps at a particular track so others can learn from you.

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Appendices

Table of Figures

Figure 1 - Traqmate System Components ...................................................................................... 8

Figure 2 - Traqmate Basic Connections........................................................................................ 11

Figure 3 - Traqmate Complete Connections ................................................................................. 11

Figure 4 - Permanent Wiring Harness........................................................................................... 14

Figure 5 - DU Gauge Cluster Mount.............................................................................................. 15

Figure 6 - DU Console Mount........................................................................................................ 15

Figure 7 - TraqData Installation ..................................................................................................... 16

Figure 8 - Digital Output Connections ........................................................................................... 17

Figure 9 - Analog Sensor Connections ......................................................................................... 19

Figure 10 - Tapping Tach Signal on ECU or Behind Instrument Cluster ...................................... 20

Figure 11 - Connecting to Ignition Coil .......................................................................................... 20

Figure 12 - Sensor Unit Front and Rear Panel.............................................................................. 21

Figure 13 - Display Unit Controls................................................................................................... 22

Figure 14 - Lap Timing .................................................................................................................. 24

Figure 15 - Acquiring GPS Screen ................................................................................................ 24

Figure 16 - Recording a Start / Finish Location............................................................................. 25

Figure 17 - Searching for Start / Finish Line.................................................................................. 25

Figure 18 - Lap Timer Screen........................................................................................................ 25

Figure 19 - Menu Bar Buttons ....................................................................................................... 26

Figure 20 - DIN - Serial Adapter Cable ......................................................................................... 28

Figure 21 - Traqmate Comm Settings ........................................................................................... 28

Figure 22 - Unit Info Screen .......................................................................................................... 29

Figure 23 - User Data Screen........................................................................................................ 30

Figure 24 - IO Data Screen ........................................................................................................... 31

Figure 25 - Session Upload Screen............................................................................................... 33

Figure 26 - Dashboard................................................................................................................... 33

Figure 27 - Graph and Track Map Setup....................................................................................... 34

Figure 28 - Playback Controls ....................................................................................................... 35

Figure 29 - Track Map ................................................................................................................... 35

Figure 30 - G vs. Distance Graphs................................................................................................ 36

Figure 31 - Velocity vs. Distance Graph........................................................................................ 36

Figure 32 - Friction Circle Graph ................................................................................................... 37

Figure 33 - Brake Zone Map......................................................................................................... 38

Figure 34 - Turn Zone Map........................................................................................................... 39

Figure 35 - Segment Analysis Table ............................................................................................. 40

Figure 36 - Race Replay Mode...................................................................................................... 43

Figure 37 - Velocity vs. Distance Analysis .................................................................................... 45

Figure 38 - Segments and Driving Line Analysis .......................................................................... 46

Figure 39 - G vs. Distance Analysis .............................................................................................. 47

Figure 40 - Friction Circle Comparison.......................................................................................... 48

Figure 41 - Stacked Graphs .......................................................................................................... 49

Figure 42 - Acceleration and Braking ............................................................................................ 50

Figure 43 - Skidpad Analysis......................................................................................................... 50

Figure 44 - Spin Diagnosis ............................................................................................................ 51

Figure 45 - VIR Turn 14................................................................................................................. 52

Figure 46 - Road Atlanta Turn 1 .................................................................................................... 52

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System Requirements

Traqmate Complete

300 MHz PC with at least 256Mbyte RAM

USB port

40 Mbyte disk space

Windows 98 SE with USB support

Windows ME

Windows XP Home or Professional

Windows 2000

Traqmate Basic

300 MHz PC with at least 256Mbyte RAM

Serial port (or USB to serial adapter)

40 Mbyte disk space

Windows 98

Windows ME

Windows XP Home or Professional

Windows NT

Windows 2000

Warranty Information

Track Systems warrants to the owner of this Traqmate GPS Data Acquisition System that it is free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of 180 days from the original date of consumer purchase. This warranty does not cover damage to the product as a result of misuse or accident, including but not limited to shock or water damage.

Remedies shall be limited to repair or replacement of the defective unit at Track Systems discretion. IN NO EVENT SHALL TRACK SYSTEMS BE LIABLE FOR INCIDENTAL OR

CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. Some states do not allow for limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so this limitation may not apply to you.

If the product becomes defective while under warranty, or for service outside of warranty, call 1-

877-289-0312 (9 AM to 5 PM EST M-F) to arrange for a Return Material Authorization and shipping instructions.

Copyright © 2005 - 2007 Track Systems Technologies, LLC Page 55

Traqmate User Manual V1.25 January 30, 2007

Glossary

Accelerometer – A sensor that measures the G-forces on the vehicle

Analysis – The effort of examining recorded data for useful information or the results of such an examination

Analysis File – File with extension of “.tqs” that contains an analysis. May contain one or more sessions

AutoPan – A Traqview feature that causes the AutoPan Vehicle to remain in the Track window regardless of Zoom level

AutoPan Vehicle – The vehicle selected in Traqview menu to be followed during AutoPan

Data Acquisition – Measuring and recording of information

Display Unit – Lap Timer component of the Traqmate Complete System

DU – Display Unit

Firmware – Software that is embedded into the SU and DU that controls their operation

GPS – Global Positioning System, a satellite-based location method

Reference Vehicle – In Traqview, first vehicle selected for map display

Segment – portion of the track that is being analyzed in Segment Analysis

Sensor Unit – Silver box containing GPS receiver and accelerometers

Session – One group of continuous recording, typically a single trip or series of laps

Session File – File with extension of “.tqm” that contains one recorded session

Start/Finish Line – Place on track where a lap starts

SU – Sensor Unit

TraqData – Analog, Digital and RPM input interface

TraqPaq – Traqmate Battery Pack

TraqTach – RPM input interface

Traqview – Windows playback and analysis program

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Traqmate User Manual V1.25 January 30, 2007

About GPS Data Acquisition

Several events converged recently to make GPS Data Acquisition viable. First, the US government removed the artificial errors in the GPS signal to improve accuracy. Second, the advent of high-speed single-chip GPS receivers made the technology both affordable and even more accurate. Third, the power of portable PCs increased to the point where they can process a large amount of mathematical and graphical data quickly. And finally, the popularity and increasing sophistication of racing and track enthusiasts created a market for the product.

The primary advantages of GPS Data Acquisition over more traditional sensor-based systems are:

Easy Installation – Using just the GPS positioning and accelerometers, you can collect an incredible amount of information, enough to compare drivers and cars. This makes the system accessible to street cars, vintage cars, and racecars that run in classes that do not permit sensorbased systems. It also makes it easy to swap the unit between vehicles. This is ideal for driving instructors and people with multiple vehicles. Of course, adding sensors is always an option if you wish to collect even more in-depth information.

Easy to Use – By starting with the track map and placing one or more vehicles on it, you have a visual reference for all the rest of the data that can be examined. This makes data analysis faster and much easier.

Driving Line Comparisons – By mapping each run, comparisons can be made of driving lines, braking points, and other track-dependent points.

Cost – There is no installation cost and no expensive sensors are required.

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Traqmate User Manual V1.25 January 30, 2007

GPS Frequently Asked Questions

What is GPS?

The Global Positioning System is a constellation of 24 satellites that orbit the earth twice a day, transmitting precise time and position (latitude, longitude and altitude) information. With a GPS receiver, users can determine their location anywhere on the Earth. The complete system consists of 24 satellites orbiting about 12,000 miles above the Earth, and five ground stations to monitor and manage the satellite constellation. These satellites provide 24-hour-a-day coverage for both two-and three- dimensional positioning anywhere on Earth.

Development of the $10 billion GPS satellite navigation system was begun in the 1970s by the

US Department of Defense, which continues to manage the system, to provide continuous, worldwide positioning and navigation data to US military forces around the globe. However, GPS has an even broader civilian, commercial application. To meet these needs, GPS offers two levels of service, one for civilian access and the second encrypted for exclusive military use. The

GPS signals are available to an unlimited number of users simultaneously, and there is no charge for using the GPS Satellites.

How Does GPS Work?

The basis of GPS technology is precise time and position information. Using atomic clocks and location data, each satellite continuously broadcasts the time and its position. A GPS receiver receives these signals, listening to three or more satellites at once, to determine the users position on earth.

How Accurate is GPS?

Traqmate is equipped with a form of differential GPS known as WAAS. A WAAS-capable receiver can give you a position accuracy of better than three meters (10 feet) in absolute terms over a large span of time. In product testing on racetracks, which typically have a good view of the sky,

recordings done close together in time were shown to be repeatable to one meter accuracy

.

Under normal conditions, the GPS signal will provide a civilian user an accuracy of better than 15 meters (50 feet). However, using a technique called differential GPS (DGPS), the user can increase the overall accuracy of the GPS receiver to approximately 1-3 meters. With DGPS, one

GPS receiver unit is placed in a known location and the position information from that receiver is used to calculate correction in the position data transmitted to other GPS receivers in the area.

The resulting real-time accuracy is in the 10 foot range. Sub-meter accuracy can be obtained by using DGPS and post-processing calculations in static positioning.

WAAS stands for Wide Area Augmentation System, which is a system of satellites and ground stations that provide GPS signal corrections, giving you even better position accuracy. A WAAScapable receiver can give you a position accuracy of better than three meters, 95 percent of the time. Currently, WAAS satellite coverage is only available in North America.

Copyright © 2005 - 2007 Track Systems Technologies, LLC Page 58

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