PodiumConnect Micro

Quick Start Guide

Connecting the Hardware

Mounting

• Mount the Podium Connect Micro where the USB connection is easily accessible.
• The unit can be mounted in any orientation.
• Ensure the unit is kept away from direct heat sources.

Pigtail Connection

• If your system includes a pigtail connector, use the M8 4-pin connector for power and CAN communication.
• Red wire to +12V, Black to ground, Green to CAN High and White to CAN Low.
• Note: it is recommended to use same power of your data system.

Male connector pictured

Pin	Connection	Notes
1	CAN low	White
2	Power	Red, 9-24v / 1A (~12W)
3	CAN high	Green
4	Ground	Black

Power is standard automotive 12-14v (nominal).

Plug-and-Play Connection (AIM)

• If your system includes the AIM integration cable, plug it directly to the AIM Data Hub.

Note: It is the same data hub where AIM SmartyCAM plug into.

Create Your Podium Account

Create Device and Streaming Key

• Create an account on Podium
• Setup the Device Name
• Make a note of the Streaming ID provided, so you can enter it into the wizard later.

Downloading the RaceCapture App

Windows/OSX

• Get the latest version of the RaceCapture app from the DOWNLOADS PAGE.
• Connect your Podium Connect Micro to your computer with the USB cable,
• Start the RaceCapture app.
• The RaceCapture app will launch the first time setup wizard.

Android/iOS

• Get the latest version of the RaceCapture app from the following.

• Power up Podium Connect Micro with 12v or via USB power (computer or USB power source)
• Go to your device's WiFi settings, and connect to the Podium Connect Micro WiFi access point.
• Note that the WiFi Access Point is open, with no password - you can set a password and encryption later under Setup.
• Start the RaceCapture app.
• The RaceCapture app will launch the first time setup wizard.

First-Time Setup Wizard

The first time setup wizard will guide you through the essential setup of your PodiumConnect

Ensure the device is connected via USB before proceeding

• Settings configured during the first-time setup can also be accessed later via the Setup section of the RaceCapture app.
• Note: To re-run the first-time setup, launch the RaceCapture app without connecting to the device. Then navigate to the setup screen and press the First-Time Setup button.

Configure System Presets

Select the preset configuration matching the data system you have.

Select Favorite Race Tracks

• Select the tracks you will typically race at so PodiumConnect can detect the track location and calculate lap times.
• This is an important step to ensure you get valid data and lap times for your telemetry session.
• Note: Only select the one track configuration per race track, to ensure the correct track is auto-selected.
• If you don't see your track listed, please submit your track!

Configure Telemetry Streaming Key

• Enter your unique Streaming Key in the Device ID section to enable live telemetry on Podium.

Configure WiFi Connection and WiFi Telemetry

• Enable both WiFi Support and Client Mode.
• Then, enter your WiFi SSID and Password to connect the device to your wireless network for telemetry streaming

Verify Telemetry

Verifying CAN Bus Connectivity

• Ensure the connector is properly plugged into your data system. This will initiate data reception and also power up the unit when USB is not connected.
• Observe the orange LED on the unit, a steady blinking orange light indicates active CAN bus communication

Verifying Wi-Fi

• In the RaceCapture application go to System Status > Wifi
• Verify Client is connected

Verify Telemetry on Podium

• Wait for the telemetry LED to begin flashing regularly, this indicates that telemetry is actively broadcasting.
• Log in to your Podium account at PODIUM and navigate to the event page.
• Refresh the page; if telemetry is active, an Ad Hoc event will appear.

• Click the Ad Hoc event link to view the connected device.
• Select your device to access the race dashboard and confirm that live data is streaming.

Verify Telemetry on Podium Mobile App

• Download the Podium Mobile App
• Log in to your Podium account using the Podium app.
• Navigate to the Events section and tap on the active streaming event.
• You will be directed to the dashboard displaying live telemetry data, lap timing, and other real-time metrics.

Comprehensive Setup Guide

Data System Cable Connection

Podium Connect Micro supports two types of cable connection systems for data integration:

Pigtail for MoTeC, ECUmaster, VBox or Others

The M8 4-pin pigtail connector is a standard interface used for CAN bus communication and power input on the Podium Connect Micro.

Male connector pictured

Pin	Connection	Notes
1	CAN low	White
2	Power	Red, 9-24v / 1A (~12W)
3	CAN high	Green
4	Ground	Black

Note: It is recommended to use the same power source as your data system

AIM Standard Cable

For AIM data systems, Podium Connect Micro includes a pre-made integration cable with a Binder 5-pin to M8 connector, enabling seamless CAN bus communication.

Connecting to Your Data System

Required CAN Channels for Telemetry

At a minimum, Podium Connect Micro requires the following data channels from your data system:

• Speed : Configured with 2 digits of precision in the CAN mapping (e.g., 33.24 kph)
• Latitude : Configured as decimal degrees of Latitude, with 6 digits of precision in the CAN mapping
• Longitude : Configured as decimal degrees of Longitude, with 6 digits of precision in the CAN mapping

Note: These channel names must be defined exactly as shown above in your CAN bus mapping. This minimum data enables PodiumConnect to calculate lap timing, which forms the context for analyzing additional telemetry such as temperature, throttle position (TPS), RPM, oil pressure, and more.

Important: Without these channels, telemetry will not function correctly. Do not rename the default channels provided in the system presets.

CAN Bus Configuration

Baud Rate, Termination

To configure the CAN bus settings:

• Open the RaceCapture app and navigate to Setup > CAN Bus.
• Set the Baud Rate to match the specifications of your connected data system (e.g., 500 kbps, 1 Mbps).
• Ensure that Termination is enabled if PodiumConnect is at one end of the CAN bus.

Note: Proper baud rate configuration and bus termination are essential for stable and accurate CAN communication.

CAN Channel Mapping Guide

RaceCapture provides presetted channel mappings for supported data systems.

• During the First Time Setup Wizard, you can select your data system (e.g., AIM SmartyCam, MoTec etc), which automatically includes the required channels such as Speed, Latitude, Longitude, and additional default channels may also be included.
• You can verify or customize these mappings by going to the CAN Channel Mappings section under Setup in the RaceCapture app. From there, you can view active channels, edit channel parameters or remove unused channels.

Note : Full CAN bus integration guide

Lua Scripting and Virtual Channels

RaceCapture and Podium uses the standard, lightweight Lua scripting language, used as an extension / customization language for many software applications.

• For Custom Modification you can refer to LUA SCRIPTING GUIDE for detailed instructions and examples.

Driver ID and Heart Rate Sensor Setup

• A compatible Bluetooth device worn by the driver transmits both Driver ID and heart rate data to the PodiumConnect Micro.
• To enable automatic driver identification and heart rate data logging, you must manually add the channel by navigating to:
• Setup > CAN Mapping > Preset > Import

RaceCapture App & Podium General Information

Racecapture

• See the RACE CAPTURE APP GENERAL INFORMATION for a full understanding of using the app and setting up your system

Podium

• VISIT THE GUIDE ON USING PODIUM which includes a video tour of the essential features.

Telemetry and Logging Setup

Enabling WiFi Telemetry

• Navigate to Setup > Wireless in the RaceCapture app.
• Enable WiFi Telemetry to allow the device to stream live data over your wireless network.

On Board Flash Memory Logging

• Enable automatic logging under Setup > Automatic Control.
• Logging can be triggered based on a specific channel, Speed is commonly used as a trigger.
• Note: After your session, log files will be available on the SD card. These files can be imported into the RaceCapture app for analysis, or into spreadsheet tools. Refer to the log file format documentation for compatibility details

Buffering Telemetry to Flash Memory

• To ensure no data is lost during temporary network dropouts, PodiumConnect can buffer telemetry data to the SD card.
• When a network connection is unavailable, the system stores telemetry locally, and once reconnected, it bursts the stored data to the Podium platform.
• This buffering covers approximately one lap (~3 minutes) and is ideal for tracks with intermittent network coverage.

Real-Time Podium Features

Live Data Streaming

• Once the system setup is complete, live data is streamed in real time to Podium Live, the Podium app, and the RaceCapture dashboard.
• You can customize the streaming channels by navigating to the RaceCapture app > Setup > Channels, where you can enable or disable the data you wish to broadcast.

Predictive Lap Timing

• ● Podium Connect Micro offers a Predictive Lap Timing feature, which estimates your current lap time before it’s completed.
• To enable this, navigate to the Race Timing screen and turn on Predictive Timing Mode.
• More info: Predictive Lap Timing

Driver Coaching Tools

Need more information

Monitoring Engine Vitals

Podium Connect Micro allows real-time monitoring of critical engine parameters such as RPM, oil pressure, coolant temperature, TPS, and more. These values can be displayed live on dashboards and logged for post-session review. Custom alerts can also be configured for vital thresholds.

Endurance Strategy Tools

With Podium’s advanced endurance strategy tools (available with the Pro subscription), you can accurately monitor fuel consumption and optimize your lap timing to execute perfectly timed pit stops. Eliminate the risk of last-minute fuel stops and stay ahead with strategic precision that maximizes your chances of victory.

Firmware and Software Updates

Below are the steps for updating your firmware.

Backing Up Configurations

Updating firmware can cause your Podium Connect Micro system to be restored to factory settings. Before updating firmware, save your settings to a file. Steps:

• Connect to Podium Connect Micro using the RaceCapture app - using USB, or WiFi.
• Navigate to Setup and press the Read button to read the current settings from Podium Connect Micro.
• Press Save to save your settings to a file. These will be later restored after firmware is updated.

Updating Firmware

• Download the latest Podium Connect Micro firmware from http://podium.live/software
• Unzip the archive to a location on your computer
• Connect Podium Connect Micro via USB (Windows or OSX only)
• In the RaceCapture app, navigate to Setup and press the Firmware menu option.
• Press the Update Firmware button
• Navigate to the Podium Connect Micro firmware you unzipped. The file will end with the extension '.ihex'. Example: PodiumConnect_2.15.2.ihex
• Press Open

The firmware update process will begin, and will complete when the gauge is 100% After re-connecting, the firmware version should be updated in the connection message at the upper right-hand corner.

Restoring Settings

• Navigate to Setup and press Open.
• Select the previously saved settings file, and open the file.
• Press Write to write the settings back to PodiumConnect.

Data System Integration Guides

Use the provided integration cable and connect it to your data system. Follow the guide for your specific system:

• AIM SMARTY CAM
• MOTEC
• RACELOGIC VBOX
• AEM CD-7 WITH VDM
• RACE TECHNOLOGY

Troubleshooting and Diagnostics

LED and Status Indicators

Required more information

Common Connectivity Issues

WiFi Stuck in “Checking WiFi Status” Loop

If the RaceCapture log repeatedly displays the following messages:

Checking WiFi Device...

Checking WiFi Device...
[CAN device] timeout rx CAN msg
[esp8266] OP mode: 0
[ESP8266 Driver] Checking WiFi Device...
[esp8266] OP mode: 0
[ESP8266 Driver] Checking WiFi Device...
[esp8266] OP mode: 0
[ESP8266 Driver] Checking WiFi Device...
[esp8266] OP mode: 0
[ESP8266 Driver] Checking WiFi Device.

and WiFi connectivity is not working, perform a low-level factory reset of the WiFi module as follows:

• Back up your configuration
• Completely disable WiFi under Setup / Wireless
• Load the script below into the scripting window, ensuring you remove any existing script.
• Write the script
• Power cycle
• Check the log for no more repeated "Checking WiFi Device"..
• Perform a regular factory reset.
• Check for proper WiFi functionality (check if it shows up as an Access Point).

port = 5
initSer(port,115200, 8, 0, 1)

function sendCrlf()
  writeCSer(port, 13)
  writeCSer(port, 10)
end

function sendRaw(val)
  for i=1, #val do
    local c = string.sub(val, i, i)
    writeCSer(port, string.byte(c))
  end
end

function sendAt(msg)
  sendRaw(msg)
  sendCrlf()
  sleep(1000)
end

function readRes(lines)
  for i=1, lines do
    print(readSer(port))
    println(readSer(port))
  end
end

sleep(1000)
println('resetting wifi module')
sendAt('ATE0')
readRes(2)
sendAt('AT')
readRes(2)
sendAt('AT+RESTORE')
readRes(10)

Sensor Signal Issues

To verify the correct operation of analog inputs on RaceCapture, follow these steps:

• Perform a factory reset by navigating to Setup / Firmware and pressing "Factory Reset" while connected to RaceCapture.
• This will reset the system to factory defaults. Ensure your settings are saved so they can be later restored.
• Connect the system to 12v power.
• For each analog input in question:
• Disconnect any sensor connected to the analog input
• Enable the Analog channel in question by selecting a sample rate 1Hz or higher.
• Connect a jumper wire between the analog input and ground. On the RaceCapture dashboard verify the channel shows very close to 0v (within 0.1v)
• Connect a jumper wire between the analog input and the 5v reference. On the RaceCapture dashboard verify the channel shows very close to 5v (within 0.1v)

Notes: It is important the system is connected to 12v power so you can observe the full 0-5v range of the sensor input. If only connected to USB power, the max voltage input will read 4.6-4.8v. RaceCapture inputs are buffered with very high impedance to avoid affecting the signal they are reading, much like a test instrument. If left disconnected, they will float and show a reading between 0 and 5v.

Technical Specifications

Analog Inputs
Channels	1 (Battery Voltage, Internally connected 0–20V)
CAN Bus
CAN Channels	1
CAN Baud Rate	125K, 250K, 500K, 1M Baud
Protocol Support	OBDII PID, custom CAN mapping
CAN Bus	CAN 2.0 compatible
CAN Termination	Software controlled
CAN Channels Supported	100
Telemetry Connection
WiFi	Connect to your provided hotspot (cellular or satellite)
Max Telemetry Sample Rate	10Hz (1 / 5 / 10Hz supported)
Wireless
WiFi Standard	802.11b/g/n
WiFi Modes	Access Point, Infrastructure
Max Sample Rate (Dashboard)	50Hz
Storage
Onboard SD	Minimum 2GB
Max Sample Rate to SD	100Hz
Predictive Lap Timing	Built-in
Track Mapping	Circuit and point-to-point
Track Maps	Built-in database for auto-detection
Sectors per Track	20
Analysis	Local via RaceCapture app and online with Podium
Export Data Format	Plain CSV
Scripting / Customization
Virtual/Math Channels	Real-time via onboard Lua scripting
Virtual Channels Supported	100
Physical
Dimensions	94 x 61 x 16 mm (3.7 x 2.4 x 0.63 in)
Temperature Range	0 to 65°C
Environmental Protection	IP65 rated
Weight	100g (3.6 oz)
Connections	M8 Connector, 4 pins (CAN1 and power)
Power Consumption (Max)	0.6W

Additional Tutorials and How-To Guides

Guides

• Logging Data
• AIM Integration guide using CAN Mapping
• Real-time Telemetry guide
• Lua scripting guide
• Lua script examples
• GoPro control guide
• General troubleshooting guide
• Creating video with RCP data overlay using DashWare
• Exporting to RaceRender guide
• Data Analysis in Podium to become a faster driver
• Automating Tablets/Phones for use as Dashboards Guide
• Add TPMS data for $225

How To

• How to: enable Predictive Timing
• How to control which gauges show up on Podium.live
• How to: Use Race Capture App (some features are specific to Race Capture Pro)
• How to: Submit a new race track
• How to: enable OBD2 channels
• How to update firmware
• How to add video to Podium.live
• More FAQs and How-To's
• How To Videos