A few track day issues (GoPro Connection, G Meter & OBDII data)
Posted: Tue Jul 26, 2016 1:31 pm
Hello,
Just did a track day over the weekend and I ran into a few issues so I wanted to check in to see how I can resolve the issues for future track days.
Setup Details:
- Phone: Google Nexus 5X (latest version of Android v6.0.1
- Software: Harry's LapTimer Grand Prix Edition v20.0.17
- OBDII Dongle: ELM 327 (eBay special) unit
- GoPro: GoPro Hero4 Silver Edition
- Car: 2002 Porsche Turbo
- Track: Old Bridge Raceway Park (Englishtown, NJ)
- Settings:
-- Acceleration:
--- Calibration: Individually Measured
-- Internal Cam:
--- Resolution: 1280x720 - HD
-- MultiCam Control:
--- MultiCam Preset: Picture in Picture
--- External Cam: GoPro HERO4
--- HERO3/3+ Wifi Password: <Password used for the GoPro Wifi connection>
Issue 1 - GoPro Connection
My process to set up the GoPro was as follows before each heat:
- Install fresh battery into GoPro
- Enable WiFi (press & hold side button)
- Turn the camera on (Harry's refused to pick up on the camera if I didn't do this).
- Connect my phone to the GoPro WiFi network
- Kill all other applications in the task manager
- Open Harry's > Click Race > Click Timer
- Click Video > Click the 3rd option from the left (the one w/ the GoPro in front of the phone) > Verify it shows my camera name > Click Done
- Click Video again > Verify the setting is still selected for the 3rd option from the left > Click preview
- Notice that the GoPro PiP symbol isn't showing > Curse at the world
- Go into task manager in the phone & kill Harry's
- Repeat opening Harry's & Clicking on video 2x and leaving it in preview mode
So that process was the only way I was able to get the GoPro to connect even half the time. So that is not optimal because that's a lot of closing the app & hoping it will work & junk just to have it only work half the time. And on top of that, leaving it in preview mode stinks too because I really want to use the timer view to get my data as I'm racing.
My hope is that there is a better process that I am just not following. I'd love to get the GoPro to work as a rear camera when I'm out there.
Issue 2 - G-Meter - Not showing anything
This one is weird because I've used this phone with the Petrolhead version before a while back and the G Meter was working so I'm not sure what to make of this. I attached a picture for reference of the exported overlayed video to help elaborate on my issue with this.
After going thru the steps I did for the GoPro (basically Open Harry's > Click Race > Click Timer) I would expect this to work but I was incorrect so can you please tell me what I should be doing to get G-Meter data? My guess is that before I race I should be going into the Acceleration screen and run through a calibration or something. Please let me know.
Issue 3 - OBDII connection never initializes
Using the dongle specified above, I would first enable bluetooth & ensure the OBDII device shows up in the list. With the ELM unit you don't pair to it manually in settings but rather the app is responsible for pairing. I have tested this dongle with other applications such as Torque and it works as expected. But Harry's doesn't seem to pick it up. I haven't altered any of the advanced settings in Harry's so perhaps I need to? Not really sure what to do. Can you offer any advice?
Just did a track day over the weekend and I ran into a few issues so I wanted to check in to see how I can resolve the issues for future track days.
Setup Details:
- Phone: Google Nexus 5X (latest version of Android v6.0.1
- Software: Harry's LapTimer Grand Prix Edition v20.0.17
- OBDII Dongle: ELM 327 (eBay special) unit
- GoPro: GoPro Hero4 Silver Edition
- Car: 2002 Porsche Turbo
- Track: Old Bridge Raceway Park (Englishtown, NJ)
- Settings:
-- Acceleration:
--- Calibration: Individually Measured
-- Internal Cam:
--- Resolution: 1280x720 - HD
-- MultiCam Control:
--- MultiCam Preset: Picture in Picture
--- External Cam: GoPro HERO4
--- HERO3/3+ Wifi Password: <Password used for the GoPro Wifi connection>
Issue 1 - GoPro Connection
My process to set up the GoPro was as follows before each heat:
- Install fresh battery into GoPro
- Enable WiFi (press & hold side button)
- Turn the camera on (Harry's refused to pick up on the camera if I didn't do this).
- Connect my phone to the GoPro WiFi network
- Kill all other applications in the task manager
- Open Harry's > Click Race > Click Timer
- Click Video > Click the 3rd option from the left (the one w/ the GoPro in front of the phone) > Verify it shows my camera name > Click Done
- Click Video again > Verify the setting is still selected for the 3rd option from the left > Click preview
- Notice that the GoPro PiP symbol isn't showing > Curse at the world
- Go into task manager in the phone & kill Harry's
- Repeat opening Harry's & Clicking on video 2x and leaving it in preview mode
So that process was the only way I was able to get the GoPro to connect even half the time. So that is not optimal because that's a lot of closing the app & hoping it will work & junk just to have it only work half the time. And on top of that, leaving it in preview mode stinks too because I really want to use the timer view to get my data as I'm racing.
My hope is that there is a better process that I am just not following. I'd love to get the GoPro to work as a rear camera when I'm out there.
Issue 2 - G-Meter - Not showing anything
This one is weird because I've used this phone with the Petrolhead version before a while back and the G Meter was working so I'm not sure what to make of this. I attached a picture for reference of the exported overlayed video to help elaborate on my issue with this.
After going thru the steps I did for the GoPro (basically Open Harry's > Click Race > Click Timer) I would expect this to work but I was incorrect so can you please tell me what I should be doing to get G-Meter data? My guess is that before I race I should be going into the Acceleration screen and run through a calibration or something. Please let me know.
Issue 3 - OBDII connection never initializes
Using the dongle specified above, I would first enable bluetooth & ensure the OBDII device shows up in the list. With the ELM unit you don't pair to it manually in settings but rather the app is responsible for pairing. I have tested this dongle with other applications such as Torque and it works as expected. But Harry's doesn't seem to pick it up. I haven't altered any of the advanced settings in Harry's so perhaps I need to? Not really sure what to do. Can you offer any advice?