Revision as of 17:40, 2 November 2025

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 and Installing the RaceCapture App

The Podium App is available for Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS platforms. You can find the download links on the Podium Software Page.

Windows/OSX

Get the latest version of the RaceCapture app from the DOWNLOADS PAGE.

Download the .exe file for Windows.
Run the setup wizard and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Once installed, 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

After exiting the setup wizard, go to Setup / Wireless. Scroll down and perform the following steps:

Enable both WiFi Support and Client Mode.
Enter your Hotspot's SSID and password into the client setup to connect the device to your wireless network for telemetry streaming
Then, at the bottom, turn on "Enable WiFi telemetry"

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

Driver ID

Utilizes Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology to automatically identify the driver in the cockpit.
Each driver is assigned with a unique BLE-enabled device, which the system detects and associates with a registered driver profile.
Enables real-time attribution of telemetry data (e.g., RPM, throttle position, engine temperature, g-forces) to the correct driver without manual input.
Especially useful in endurance racing formats with multiple drivers sharing the same vehicle.

Heart Rate Monitoring

Supports real-time heart rate monitoring when using a compatible heart rate sensor.
Compatible with any device that implements the Bluetooth Heart Rate Profile (HRP).
Verified devices include generic BLE heart rate monitors such as the CYCPLUS HRM
Provides a critical layer of biometric insight by capturing drivers’ physiological responses during sessions.

Note: Not currently compatible with most smartwatches (e.g., Garmin, Apple Watch), as they typically use proprietary protocols that do not expose standard heart rate services.

Setup Instructions

Ensure your PodiumConnect/Micro system is upgraded to the latest firmware and the latest version of the RaceCapture app is installed.
Open the app and navigate to Setup > Driver ID.
Enable both Driver ID and Heart Rate options, then click Register Device.
Register each Bluetooth device one at a time.
After all devices are registered, press the Write button to save the configuration.

Note: Only power on one device during each registration to avoid incorrect pairing.

To Verify:

Power on each registered Bluetooth device individually.
The Driver ID field in the app should update automatically to reflect the active device.
If a compatible heart rate monitor is in use, the system will also display the heart rate indicator alongside the Driver ID.

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.

Accessing Flash Memory for Log File Transfer

PodiumConnect/Micro logs data locally in addition to live telemetry streaming. These logs can be accessed by mounting the system as a USB flash drive.

To enable USB drive mode:

Ensure the system is connected to your desktop or mobile device via USB cable.
Navigate to Setup > Firmware.
Press the Switch to USB Drive Mode button to access stored log files directly.

Important Caveats:

App connectivity will be temporarily disrupted if using a USB connection (Windows, macOS, Linux).
The system must not be actively logging or broadcasting telemetry when switching to USB drive mode.

To exit USB drive mode and resume normal operation:

Fully power cycle the system by disconnecting both USB and 12V power.

Formatting Flash Memory:

Connect the system to your desktop or mobile device.
Navigate to Setup > Firmware.
Press the Format Flash Storage button.

Note: This process only deletes log files and cache data; it does not affect system configuration or firmware.

Real-Time Podium Features