Harry's GPS Suite Forum

Ok, I was trying a different android lap timer and it wasn't working as cleanly as I liked so I tried HLT. I've seen several people use it w/ iphones. It's my own fault for not d/ling ahead of time and testing much (rather than at the track). Anyway, long story short I have an external Qstarz 818XT BT GPS. I got it to connect (it shows as BT mouse), but for whatever reason it only displays as "GPS Sensor: External @ 1.0hz). It looks to be logging at 1 hz.. Any idea why that could be the case? I just continued to use it for the day thinking "oh that must be wrong," but now I see that the fixed points it logged looks like 1hz rather than 10hz. Now, I understand BT GPS receivers aren't perfect and may not log at 10hz constantly, but something clearly is off, as it's only logging at 1hz, and the BT gps was mounted with clear view of the sky (and I have a convertible).

I've been trying to poke around on the main website but can't find info about what the problem could be.

Also, is there a clean/easy way to export data/laps from an entire session rather than just one lap at a time? I'm not sure how to select multiple laps and export the data as a session vs. just individually. I have gopro footage which I'm trying to overlay the data with racerender.

Finally, is there any way to separate laps/sessions from the same day at the track? Like can I select certain laps and move them to another "grouping?" Reason being if I hop in a friend's car and log some laps I'd prefer them not mesh with my laps and data. Thanks.

-Mike

GPS topic: the update rate reported is a measured rate, i.e. the effective output. I'm sure the Qstarz did sent data at 1 Hz, not at 10 Hz. LapTimer does not control external GPSes (exception: Dual XGPSes) but instead takes whatever it receives. Usually external GPSes come with some configuration software that will allow switching the rate. Please check and thanks for comments from QStarz users.

To select several laps for export, please use the Export button in Lap List. It is available in the bottom of the list. Choose Export Lap Data. You can select the last session, the last track day, the current track, or all. When bringing up this export from a specific lap, you can select this lap's session, this lap's track day, this lap's track's laps, or all.

The current version has no concept of individual lap separation. LapTimer version 17.5 will have customizable tags and filters that will support your scenario (check https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... 618&type=1).

- Harry

I once had one of those Qstarz. At that time I was able to switch between 1 and 10hz and the position / hz of the switch was also configurable through their software. Sure the GPS was in 10hz mode?

Thanks for the response Harry. I guess I'll search the forums. The GPS was registering 5-10hz with a different app, just only showed up as 1hz with HLT for some reason. Maybe there's a config setting. A way to move/separate laps/sessions throughout the day would be very helpful!

Sorry, I just re-read your first post. The "GPS Sensor: External @ 1.0hz" is from Lap Details, not the Sensor List. The external detection is from the iOS version which does not work in Android. This in turn means your QStarz has not been used at all and data came from your internal GPS. So please go back to the Sensor List and make sure you registered the QStarz correctly and got its own row. You can find a step by step description in the bottom of http://www.gps-laptimer.de/Compatibility_Android.html

- Harry

Thanks Harry. I definitely selected the external gps and saw it in the sensor list as "connected" but for whatever reason it didn't work that day. Perhaps user error. I tested it last night and what do you know, it showed up under the gps tab logging at 9-10hz.. . I tried a fresh reboot of the phone last night, perhaps that helped? I know how finicky software/electronics can be.

On that note though, is there any way to disable/not use the internal gps in HLT somewhere? That would perhaps eliminate one possibility of HLT selecting the internal GPS sensor. I didn't have the GPS sensor enabled via the android settings, but I guess HLT doesn't need it enabled..? If there is/would be a way to force HLT to not use the internal gps that'd be very handy. FWIW, I have a US spec Samsung Galaxy S4.

Also, if I press the power button on the phone while running HLT, will it run with screen off/in the background or will it stop? Reason I ask is that I put the phone in my center console out of sight because I'd prefer to not see it while driving, and it'd be handy to just turn off the screen so no buttons on screen get inadvertently pressed. Thanks.

-Mike

LapTimer will always use the external GPS when it can be connected. Even in cases it is powered off and on again, LapTimer will switch to the best choice. The mechanism is stable, the problem is always a problem with individual connections not working. BT connections can break at any time and it is good to have LapTimer fall back to the internal GPS... In your case you would not see anything if I'd provided an option like this

- Harry

If I press the power button on the phone while running HLT, will it run with screen off/in the background or will it stop? Reason I ask is that I put the phone in my center console out of sight because I'd prefer to not see it while driving, and it'd be handy to just turn off the screen so no buttons on screen get inadvertently pressed. Thanks.

-Mike

Needed to test that - and it doesn't work. Once the power button is pressed the apps are suspended. There may be solutions for Android for a background operation mode like this, but it will be at least something one needs to explicitly add.

- Harry