Qstarz GPS Lap Timer

[HanktheTank]

I'm looking for a lap timer in the sub $200 range and while I was looking at the XT Mini Lap Timer, I thought there might be a GPS based timer in the same price range. I found the Qstarz BT-Q1000eX and it looks like it has everything I need to get basic lap times for track days. The only downside is the lack of display for real-time updates, which I don't have a problem with, as it would only distract me. I was curious if anyone else had experience with this unit, I looked at a few forums and I couldn't find any info good or bad. More info below...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1x2P2zaAPA

http://www.qstarz.com/Products/GPS P...-Q1000EX-F.htm

Any general feedback on GPS vs IR lap timers would be also appreciated.

[feralchimp]

Do tracks have differential GPS service? How accurate do the GPS timers claim to be? Tenths of a second?

[CBR929RE]

GPS has nothing to do with any track. its all based off the same satellites that your car GPS uses.

I have no experience with them but I'd guess they are fairly accurate considering the more expensive ones like the Starlane have track mapping and can show you differences in your lines from lap to lap.

[Slowpoke387]

My Starlane is usually extremely close to the times posted at the track. I absolutely love that thing. No beacons.

[HanktheTank]

Thanks for the input, at 5Hz, this thing is bound to be as accurate as I need it to be for lap times only and I definitely don't need to see the differences in my line at this point. I might give this unit a shot or "borrow" a similar unit from work and maybe write my own script to output lap times.

[CBR929RE]

Thanks for the input, at 5Hz, this thing is bound to be as accurate as I need it to be for lap times only and I definitely don't need to see the differences in my line at this point. I might give this unit a shot or "borrow" a similar unit from work and maybe write my own script to output lap times.

I believe only the expensive ones with track mapping show your lines. The one you linked to just gives times, which is what you're after so it should be fine assuming it works as advertised.

[feralchimp]

I believe only the expensive ones with track mapping show your lines.

The data is the data. If it's accurate, you can always get some properly aligned maps and draw your own lines with Google Earth, etc.

[wheelieman14]

Yes, export the data for Google Earth and then you can see your lines.

[CBR929RE]

The data is the data. If it's accurate, you can always get some properly aligned maps and draw your own lines with Google Earth, etc.

I get the impression from the link in the first post that its not capable of line mapping, only track mapping. but I'm not sure cause I don't know much about them and how much data can be pulled off the unit.

Yes, export the data for Google Earth and then you can see your lines.

do you have this particular one?

[feralchimp]

I get the impression from the link in the first post that its not capable of line mapping, only track mapping

Not sure I understand the distinction you're drawing there.

but I'm not sure cause I don't know much about them and how much data can be pulled off the unit.

Their website does kind of blow. And statements like this one make me cringe:

Q5 Can the logged data be downloaded by Bluetooth ?
A5 Actually it's okay for Q1000eX to download data via Bluetooth interface. However, since it is not stable and with lower download performance than that of USB interface, we don't recommend to download data via Bluetooth.

"since it is not stable"? Doesn't really sound "okay" then.

[CBR929RE]

track mapping will draw you a map of the track and you'll get a dot going around the track such as in the video on their site. line mapping will tell you where you are in each corner from one lap to the next. so take turn 1 for example. lap 1 you are right next to the apex but on lap 2 you screw up and you're 5 ft from the apex. line mapping will show you 2 lines, usually colored different showing you that difference in where you were in the corner. like this, see #12 with the red, green and yellow lines each representing different laps through the same couple of corners http://www.starlane.com/vedit/15/cro...sp?idprod=1070

[feralchimp]

Ah word, makes sense now. I feel like you could do either with the raw data, but of course the question becomes "how nice is the UI". The starlane stuff looks really well put together, both the hardware and on the software side. I think if I were going to to get one of these things, I'd either get a starlane stealth or get a 10hz Bluetooth puck with no built-in logger or software package. The pucks are about $80 with the same chipset as the one the OP linked to, but you'd need to log the data with a phone stashed on the bike someplace...maybe a used iPhone 3G with no sim card in it.

[feralchimp]

Interesting link for those of you with iPhones or iPod touches:
http://web.me.com/hschlangmann/LapTi...atibility.html

[HanktheTank]

So I finally broke down and bought one of these timers. I've done two track days with it and confirmed my times with video, and I have to say, it works pretty well. It's not great for looking at lines but does pretty well just as a timer. There is enough memory to record all the sessions of the day, the auto-shutoff works well and downloading/analyzing was pretty easy. It outputs lap times to .001 seconds, but I don't believe the accuracy is that good (at only 5Hz). But at my level or riding where I am still looking at seconds, this thing works pretty well.

Plus, it comes with some extra software to track yourself when hiking/biking so it has applications outside of the track.

[Eddie]

Ozzy just got a GPS laptimer as a backup to his xt. I have to ask him which one he is got. He as talking about mapping and video sync.

[strgt]

So I finally broke down and bought one of these timers. I've done two track days with it and confirmed my times with video, and I have to say, it works pretty well. It's not great for looking at lines but does pretty well just as a timer. There is enough memory to record all the sessions of the day, the auto-shutoff works well and downloading/analyzing was pretty easy. It outputs lap times to .001 seconds, but I don't believe the accuracy is that good (at only 5Hz). But at my level or riding where I am still looking at seconds, this thing works pretty well.

Plus, it comes with some extra software to track yourself when hiking/biking so it has applications outside of the track.

Does it have a display, or does it just track your times?

[HanktheTank]

No display, you have to download/process the data to get the lap times.

[KB]

Where is Roland he will straighten this out!!

KB