Data Acquisition Equipment

#1

All,

Feedback, please. Looking for as much general commentary on what you have for in-car lap timers and data acquisition. Do you like it, why, what could be better.

Many thanks.
Jon

#2

I’m a happy Traqmate user. Do a seach for that here and at other forums. The hits will show arguments for and against different models. The only other one I’ve used is MaxQData, which is more oriented to AutoX.

A very important issue is “what are the other guys using”. Most E30 loggers are Traqmate. And one of the critical functions of a data logger is to be able to compare your data with other people’s data. Not to mention if you have 4 buddies using the same data logger as you, you can go to them for technical or analysis help.

#3

Definitely. The whole point is being able to compare your laps with other drivers. This is the main reason I went with traqmate.

I have a traqmate ‘basic’ which means I didnt get the display- you get everything else for $600. The ‘complete’ with the display is about $1k.

Its very user-friendly and simple.

#4

Traqmate is the way to go if you want to stick with the GPS-based, under $1k systems.

#5

Jonny-Mac,
Traqmate is the bomb. You can borrow mine anytime - dunno if you’re headed up for any FATTs (or if you’re interested in instructing for them) but I’m gonna try to make more of them next year - we could have some fun messing around in either one of our cars with the data.
-Vic

#6

We also agree that Traqmate is the best bang for the buck. We find the Traqmate to be the best one on the market especially considering ease of use, ability to get data quickly and if most everyone else is using it then you can compare data.

#7

Does the traqmate software work on Macs?

#8

Mac??? I’m a PC… just kidding

Is the Traqmate display worth the $400 extra bucks?

#9

bootcamp or better yet parallels.

#10

sir_gary wrote:

[quote]Mac??? I’m a PC… just kidding

Is the Traqmate display worth the $400 extra bucks?[/quote]

I did not have the Display Unit (DU) at first. That is to say I bought Traqmate Basic. Later I bought the DU and upgraded my sensor unit to “Complete” so it could talk to the DU. This is the most expensive way to end up with Traqmate Complete. Which seems to be how I do everything.

The DU is incredibly helpful. It allows far more control of the data logger. It also gives you useful information on the track. It tells you in realtime how you are doing in this lap relative to the best one in it’s memory. And that’s huge. By the time you exit a corner the DU is giving you feedback on how it went.

If I’d a been smarter I’d a sucked up the additional cost and bought the Traqmate Complete from the get-go. The extra cost is entirely worth it.

#11

We have a great, step-by-step article on running traqmate software on macs located here: http://www.gormanms.com/2008/08/12/using-traqmate-on-your-mac/

Feel free to ask any questions. :slight_smile:

#12

Having the DU provides a few nice extras:

  • Ability to check your “inputs” if you’re using the traqdata adapter to get additional inputs (e.g. RPM, TPS, Brake etc.)
  • Ability to see your relative time compared to your best lap
  • Ability to change drivers, cars and tracks easily
  • Ability to download data off of the DU easier (either remove the DU or connect a USB cable to it)
  • Ability to see your best lap with two button presses

That said, if you’re budget conscious initially , you can always start with a traqmate basic and upgrade it to a complete with a simple software update and a purchase of a DU. It does, however, end up being a bit more expensive in the end. We have an article here on how to do that.

http://www.gormanms.com/2008/09/30/quick-tip-upgrading-your-traqmate-basic-to-traqmate-complete/

In our opinion the DU is absolutely worth the money.

#13

kishg wrote:

Better still: VMWare Fusion

Edit: I have Traqview (Traqmate software) running on my mac under windows using Fusion and can pull data from the actual Traqmate unit.

#14

I think so. I didnt get it because I had already gotten a deal on an amb display (works with transponder… when it’s turned on) and this was when I thought a traqmate was someone you bring to the races to help out. If I could do it again, I would have gotten the traqmate display instead of the amb one.

#15

sir_gary wrote:

[quote]
Is the Traqmate display worth the $400 extra bucks?[/quote]

Absolutely.

#16

allenr wrote:

This is something you’d have to discuss with M3Bill. The colder it gets the more I think that he is on to something.

#17

for a lower priced/basic system, i would stick with traqmate…lots of spec e30 guys use it and seem to like to share data…i have a traqmate setup that i use occasionally in other people’s cars and it gets the job done…imo, the software isn’t great but it works

sytems from companies like stack, aim, etc are much better but they cost a lot more…you will get more information and better software…

#18

thanks everyone for your input. It’s good to here why the complete is worth the extra money.

#19

thanks everyone for your input. It’s good to here why the complete is worth the extra money.

#20

Do any of y’all use the “TraqTach RPM Input”?

Any other options to get? Are the mounting brackets worth the $?