OBDkey

 

That is what I just have recently. I am getting a lot of useless gadget lately. This is a bluetooth OBD/CAN scanner that can take data from ANY car. Any car is nice, since I am shopping for my 2nd car. Just been putting it in my car. The unit is pretty small and it will not in anyway affecting the driving.

 

It can be used in PC with bluetooth. Windows smartphone or Palm/Window CE PDA. No Nokia smartphone program yet, but racechrono can use it to scan the data and it works! Data logging capability will allow logging of the data. Although it cannot be exported, just reading the data on the screen is cool enough.

  This is what you can see in the screen of Nokia N95. The grey line is 

 

I also went with my friend WAY in his new 135i (experimenting ECU tune and catless downpipe). We did a 4.95 sec! We thought after reviewing the GPS data that we prob did a 5.70 sec, but after consultation with racechrono developer Antti, we just need to determine 100kmh GPS speed in OBD then we will have a time! So it is just over 5 sec! Fast.

 

A 5Hz GPS

While the car is in the panel shop (btw the insurance claim has been approved), I gathered some new equipment for testing and lap timing. I really thing the GPS system is the way to go now. Anyone is going to buy my AIMS? I may still keep it as back up but I think racechrono is what I am going to use from now on.

This is the new equipment. A 5Hz GPS receiver, it is simple device, running a background of 1Hz. When the unit is 1Hz, they update the GPS data, and thus getting the data, once each minute. A 5Hz is than 5 times faster, update and getting a data point every 0.2 second. That means very accurate result. The V Box is a 10Hz unit. So this semi pro!

This unit looks like any ordinary BT receiver. In fact the back of it look exactly the same as my iBule GPS receiver. The only difference is the word "eXtreme". The 5Hz is not the default setup and the unit need to connect to the PC to get into a program came with the CD. Then, you select 5Hz in it. Do not touch the program afterwards, coz it is very easy to reset it back to 1Hz mode.

But after setting it the unit is amazing. I ran racechrono on it and it is definitely getting data 5 times a second. Perfect!

Did some run on my 4x4 Toyota Kluger on the freeway. 0-100kmh only (all legal)

I mean the time came up so fast in this GPS make it very worthwhile on the track. I think I am buying a sturdy mount for it. Do I really need a second mount?

What do you reckon on those?