Motorsport electronics...what would you like to see?

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Wed Jan 12, 2011 1:32 pm

So we are getting ready to expand the types of products we carry and would like to know you would be interested in.

We are looking at new video options, communications, etc.

Anything specific that you have been looking for or would like to find new options on a product type?

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Jan 12, 2011 1:49 pm

An affordable radio system for endurance racing. All the NASCAR style stuff is either sold in a package with stuff you don't need or ala cart which is even more expensive.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Wed Jan 12, 2011 1:52 pm

Vincent Keene wrote:

An affordable radio system for endurance racing. All the NASCAR style stuff is either sold in a package with stuff you don't need or ala cart which is even more expensive.

4 mile range with helmet radio and two pit radios sound like a good kit?

What would you think a good price would be?

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Jan 12, 2011 2:08 pm

Marty Howard wrote:

Vincent Keene wrote:

An affordable radio system for endurance racing. All the NASCAR style stuff is either sold in a package with stuff you don't need or ala cart which is even more expensive.

4 mile range with helmet radio and two pit radios sound like a good kit?

What would you think a good price would be?

4 mile range is way overkill for what we need. Most short track systems use 2 watt radios and the long track use 4 watts. The problem (for us) is most packages are designed for one driver.

For reference a typical 'short track package' (2 watt radios) consists of:

Car harness
PTT button
(2) Motorola radios w/ chargers
(1) crew chief headset
(1 pair) foam ear buds
(1) helmet mic

That system will typically cost $500-600 MINIMUM even using refurbished radios. Add in the fact that we need headsets (mic and ear buds) for four drivers ($150 each) and we're talking almost $1000!

We use the Midalnd GMRS radios with motorcycle helmet kits now. The radios with chargers are approx. $100 for a pair and the helmet kits are $35 or so. The problem is the helmet kits use PS2-type DIN connectors, which are easily damaged during multiple driver changes. Also the GMRS signal has to amplified otherwise the volume is too low for a driver in the race car.

The package system use single pin phono-plug (NASCAR) type connector that doesn't get damaged like the DIN type (motorcyle) ones.

I'm sure what a 'good price' would be, but $1000 ain't it.

JasonWatts · **Posted:** Wed Jan 12, 2011 2:19 pm

Vincent Keene wrote:

Marty Howard wrote:

Vincent Keene wrote:

An affordable radio system for endurance racing. All the NASCAR style stuff is either sold in a package with stuff you don't need or ala cart which is even more expensive.

4 mile range with helmet radio and two pit radios sound like a good kit?

What would you think a good price would be?

4 mile range is way overkill for what we need. Most short track systems use 2 watt radios and the long track use 4 watts. The problem (for us) is most packages are designed for one driver.

For reference a typical 'short track package' (2 watt radios) consists of:

Car harness
PTT button
(2) Motorola radios w/ chargers
(1) crew chief headset
(1 pair) foam ear buds
(1) helmet mic

That system will typically cost $500-600 MINIMUM even using refurbished radios. Add in the fact that we need headsets (mic and ear buds) for four drivers ($150 each) and we're talking almost $1000!

We use the Midalnd GMRS radios with motorcycle helmet kits now. The radios with chargers are approx. $100 for a pair and the helmet kits are $35 or so. The problem is the helmet kits use PS2-type DIN connectors, which are easily damaged during multiple driver changes. Also the GMRS signal has to amplified otherwise the volume is too low for a driver in the race car.

The package system use single pin phono-plug (NASCAR) type connector that doesn't get damaged like the DIN type (motorcyle) ones.

I'm sure what a 'good price' would be, but $1000 ain't it.

Vincent,

chatterbox now uses bluetooth. There are also a few other settups that use bluetooth. Not sure about the time it takes to pair them to the new driver, but maybe that is an option to the weak connector pins? Im sure what I am suggesting has already been thought of and deemed a bad idea by someone.

JamesMilko · **Posted:** Wed Jan 12, 2011 2:23 pm

If the only problem is the connectors why not just splice on a better connector?

PS2-Male plugging into a PS2-female ->phono dongle. Make a dongle for each driver and tape it up good to their headset.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Wed Jan 12, 2011 2:31 pm

JasonWatts wrote:

Vincent,

chatterbox now uses bluetooth. There are also a few other settups that use bluetooth. Not sure about the time it takes to pair them to the new driver, but maybe that is an option to the weak connector pins? Im sure what I am suggesting has already been thought of and deemed a bad idea by someone.

Jason,
I am pretty sure Vincent is talking about car to pit units, so the Chatter box won't work for that. They are great for Instructor to Student communication though.

JasonWatts · **Posted:** Wed Jan 12, 2011 2:50 pm

Marty Howard wrote:

JasonWatts wrote:

Vincent,

chatterbox now uses bluetooth. There are also a few other settups that use bluetooth. Not sure about the time it takes to pair them to the new driver, but maybe that is an option to the weak connector pins? Im sure what I am suggesting has already been thought of and deemed a bad idea by someone.

Jason,
I am pretty sure Vincent is talking about car to pit units, so the Chatter box won't work for that. They are great for Instructor to Student communication though.

Marty,

as I said before I am sure this has already been thought though and there are other reasons that Chatterbox's are not the ideal settup. However, my box has a range of ~5 miles (licensing is supposed to be required to operate it). I have found if I mount the helmet speakers correctly, I can hear perfectly fine over stock exhaust and wind noise with a good 2-3 mile distance seperating me from my group. This distance at a track should be more then enough to reach back to pit right?

Ok, I just sent and checked out their website. The bluetooth is not used to connect to the headset. that is still done via wire. bluetooth is only used to connect phones, mp3 players and what not. so bluetooth is likely out if looking to use the chatterbox.

Vincent Keene · **Posted:** Wed Jan 12, 2011 2:55 pm

JamesMilko wrote:

If the only problem is the connectors why not just splice on a better connector?

PS2-Male plugging into a PS2-female ->phono dongle. Make a dongle for each driver and tape it up good to their headset.

It has been tried, but nobody has been sucessful that I'm aware. The radio headset wiring is VERY tiny (like 100 gauge or something similar to human hair) so even that is a challenge. Also impedance seems to be an unsolved issue as well.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:47 pm

Well,
we now have two request available or coming soon.

For those who asked we new have both IMSA to Chatterbox and NASCAR to Chatterbox adapters.

A three sensor I/R pyrometer with 4 memory locations, laser sighting, and USB output for data streaming is now being prototyped.

New Camera options will be available soon.

Still looking at radio options.

Sean O'Connell · **Posted:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 12:33 am

a descent radio setup would have my attention. what about a transponder? $400 for the AMB seems outrageous to me.

Marty Howard · **Posted:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 12:36 am

Sean O'Connell wrote:

a descent radio setup would have my attention. what about a transponder? $400 for the AMB seems outrageous to me.

Get the THSCC discount..

AMB has the lock on that, so no other options

Sean O'Connell · **Posted:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 12:58 am

Marty Howard wrote:

Get the THSCC discount..

AMB has the lock on that, so no other options

i was thinking that was the case but figured it wouldnt hurt to ask.

can someone pm more details on the thscc discount please.

BretLuter · **Posted:** Tue Jan 18, 2011 1:02 pm

Sean O'Connell wrote:

Marty Howard wrote:

Get the THSCC discount..

AMB has the lock on that, so no other options

i was thinking that was the case but figured it wouldnt hurt to ask.

can someone pm more details on the thscc discount please.

Everything you need is here:

http://www.thscc.com/general/info/store.html

or email store@thscc.com

JamesMilko · **Posted:** Thu Jan 20, 2011 12:31 am

Not exactly electronics but I'd like some kind of comparison/analysis software at the same level of Traqview that doesn't require proprietary logs to function.

Since the car is fully Megasquirt adding a 2-axis accelerometer costs me $25 and time. GPS is a bit harder but for something in the $100-$150 range, along with a bunch of time, I could build a device that queries Megasquirt for tps/accel data/rpm/etc (CAN) and logs it to a SD card along with the GPS speed/position data in whatever format. The problem is that there isn't anything around to analyze the data as easily/completely as traqmate and traqmate put some effort into making sure you couldn't just use their software.

THSCC Forums

Motorsport electronics...what would you like to see?

Who is online