08 - VBOX LapTimer - Menu Options
The VBOX LAPTIMER display menu is accessed by pressing the square button when the ‘Menu’ screen is shown. The menu can be navigated with the ▲and▼ buttons.
View lap times
VBOX LapTimer will store all the lap times from the current session (maximum of 99 lap times). The lap times will be cleared when a new start line is set or the lap timing data is reset.
Clear lap times
Selecting this option will wipe all stored lap times from the unit’s memory.
Select Track
VBOX LapTimer is pre-loaded with a track database containing the start/finish co-ordinates for over 450 tracks worldwide - for a list of the included tracks, see the circuit database section of our website.
When satellites have been acquired, the VBOX LapTimer will check the GPS location against Racelogic’s track map database and load the layouts available.
The user must use this menu option to select the layout they are driving to allow the VBOX LapTimer to load correct start/finish line.
If start/finish lines are not available for your location, they can be set manually or loaded from a .SPL file.
Logging options
Within this sub menu the user is able to configure how VBOX LapTimer’s logging is triggered. There are three logging options. Note: Logging mode cannot be configured when LapTimer is used as an OLED. This should be configured in the connected unit’s software e.g. Video VBOX Setup or VBOX Tools.
Log when moving
The user can define at what speed the logging should start and stop and what the stop logging delay is (in seconds).
To change these values use the arrow buttons to highlight the row and press the square button to select. A symbol will appear next to the field that is selected – as shown above.
The user can then use the arrow buttons to change the values and square again to set.
Manual
Manual logging mode must be toggled on and off by the user – it will never automatically start or stop. The square button when speed mode is selected must be used to control logging.
Continuous
When this mode is selected, VBOX LapTimer will log as soon as power and media are present. The user should press the square button when in speed mode to stop logging before removing the card.
Logging status
If the VBOX LapTimer is logging then a scrolling bar will be shown across the bottom of the screen, except in Predictive Lap timing mode.
Logging control
To start or stop the VBOX LapTimer logging data, press the square button when in Speed Display mode.
Predictive lap timing settings
Delta T bar range
This setting alters the amount of +/- time shown on the bar graph during lap prediction. Either 2, 5, 10 or 30 seconds can be chosen.
Press the square button when bar range is highlighted to scroll through different time options.
Delta V light range
This range setting affects the sensitivity of the Delta-V LEDs. Settings of 2 kph, 5 kph and 10 kph are available – the default setting is 5 kph.
Note: if the VBOX LapTimer is set to show speed in mph or knots, then these values will be the direct equivalent of the three values.
For more information on how this range affects the LEDs, see the ‘Delta-V LEDs’ section.
Combo G LED Mode
When selected, this mode setting enables LapTimer to show combined g information to the user via the LEDs whilst also showing Delta T information on the display. It encourages the user to truly push their car in braking points as well as turns, in order to improve lap times
Maximum breaking and cornering g, which is indicated by the LEDs, can be configured up to 1.9 g by pressing the square button. The LED minimum percentage value can be configured to alter when the LED colours appear.
For more information on how this mode affects the LEDs, see the ‘Combo G LEDs' section.
Save reference lap
This feature allows the user to save a reference lap for future use, insert an SD card into VBOX LapTimer and use the menu options shown below. Note that the vehicle must be stationary to make this transfer.
Once this is selected, the following messages show saving has been successful. This will be stored on the SD card as LAP.REF in the ‘Data’ folder.
Load reference lap
To load a reference lap file stored from a previous session, put the desired file onto an SD card and load the card into VBOX LapTimer. The file can have any name, however it must be saved in the Data folder and only one .REF file should be present. Select the menu options as shown above – but select LOAD REF LAP instead of SAVE. Note that the vehicle must be stationary to make this transfer. Reference laps will be reset when either a new start/finish is set, or if the ‘reset lap timing data’ option is selected from the lap timing menu within main menu.
Lap timing menu
Set Start & Splits
After the square button is pressed a new start/finish point is set. After this the VBOX LapTimer will display “Set split 1”. Press square to set the split,▼to skip to additional split points, Finish line and back. If a new start/finish or split line is set then the lap count, best lap and all the best split time values automatically reset.
Save Splits
Start/Finish, split or finish lines can be loaded into or saved out from VBOX LapTimer. These files can be used in or created by the Circuit Tools software package.
To save the lines you have created:
- Ensure the SD card is inserted and vehicle is stationary.
- Press the MENU button to enter the Lap timing menu.
- Highlight the SAVE GATES TO CARD option and press OK – a file will be saved as GATES.SPL in the Data folder.
Load Splits
To Load lines you have created:
- Ensure the SD card is inserted with the Splits file saved as GATES.SPL in the data folder and that the vehicle is stationary.
- Press the MENU button to enter the Lap timing menu.
- Highlight the LOAD GATES FROM CARD option and press OK.
Reset lap timing data
When this option is highlighted, pressing the square button causes the stored reference lap, lap count and all lap times to be reset. Using this option fully resets predictive lap timing mode.
Load tracks database
If an updated track database file for VBOX LapTimer is released, this option will load it from the SD card. More information on this can be found here.
Split time display period
This function allows you to set how long the split time is shown for on the VBOX LAPTIMER display when a split line or the start/finish line is crossed. There is a choice of: 2 s, 5 s, 10 s, 15 s or 20 s, to select these options navigate to Main Menu - Lap timing Menu then highlight Split Time Display Period and use the square button to cycle through each option.
Split to split time
When this option is selected then the calculated split times will be split to split and not accumulative from the start of the lap.
Rolling lap time
Selecting this function will show a continuously counting lap time which briefly freezes as the start/finish line is crossed.
One shot mode
When one shot mode is enabled, timing will start when movement is detected, after being stationary for more than 10 seconds. This will automatically reset when the user comes to a stop. After 2 seconds of being stationary, the screen counts down from 5 then shows ARMED – Start when ready.
If the user pulls away before 1 is shown on the screen, nothing changes. During or after 1 is shown, when the user pulls away the lap time measurement is started. If a lap had been running up to this point, the time is discarded.
After correct movement has been detected and a one shot start has begun, a normal start/finish line cannot be triggered for 3 seconds.
Display menu
Speed Settings
Speed units
Pressing the square button will cycle through KPH, MPH and KNOTS.
Speed decimal places
Pressing the square button will cycle through 0, 1, and 2 decimal places.
Speed smoothing
Pressing the square button will cycle through five smoothing settings.
Accel Settings
Accel decimal places
Pressing the square button will cycle through 0, 1, and 2 decimal places.
Accel smoothing
Pressing the square button will cycle through five smoothing settings.
Brightness
Pressing the square button will cycle through five brightness settings labeled 1 - 5. The displays screen will change its brightness as each setting is cycled through.
LED Brightness
Pressing the square button with this option selected will cycle through five brightness settings for the Delta V LEDs used in Predictive LapTiming Mode.
Invert screen colour & use outline font
Pressing the square button when an option is highlighted allows it to be turned on or off. When an option is turned on, a tick will appear next to it. See images below for examples of the four different combinations.
Orientation
This setting allows the user to define the orientation of the VBOX LapTimer screen. When the default setting of auto is selected, the displays screen will automatically rotate when it is turned upside down.
If the VBOX LapTimer is being fitted in a permanent install or if it is expected to experience some heavy vibrations when in use, then the user may wish to fix the orientation as this can trigger the sensitive internal gyro to flip the screen.
GPS Options
Note: The GPS Options menu cannot be accessed when the LapTimer is being used in OLED mode. In this instance, the coldstart must be done on the connected unit.
Coldstart
If VBOX LapTimer is struggling to acquire satellite lock, a GPS coldstart may be required. This may be necessary when the unit hasn’t been used for a number of days or has dramatically moved location since its last use. To perform a cold-start, select MENU > GPS OPTIONS > COLDSTART.
GNSS Mode
This feature is only available with V2 hardware variants of the LapTimer with a compatible antenna. It allows for selection of different GPS Constellations which allow LapTimer access to satellites outside the standard GPS constellation. Increasing the quantity of available satellites will improve the quality of the data and can reduce issues associated with poor GPS reception.
Pressing the square key with this option highlighted will cycle through the following modes:
GPS+GLONASS - LapTimer will use the standard GPS satellites as well as the Russian GPS GLONASS satellites.
GPS+SBAS - LapTimer will use a Sateliite Based Augmentation System, e.g. WAAS or EGNOS, to improve GPS data.
GPS+BeiDou - LapTimer will use the standard GPS satellites as well as the Chinese BeiDou Navigation System.
The default setting is GPS+GLONASS.
Leap seconds
The number of leap seconds here sets the current offset between GPS and UTC time. This is set by official bodies to compensate for the slowing of the rotation of the earth. A new leap second is usually introduced every 4 to 7 years. The last leap second was added in December 2016. The current offset is 18 seconds - click here for more details.
About
In this section, the VBOX LapTimer serial number and installed firmware version is listed.