RaceCapture App User's Guide

Overview

About the guide

This is a comprehensive user guide that contains complete instructions about the services and functions of the RaceCapture app. The app is designed to be easy to use across multiple devices. The RaceCapture app allows you to integrate your devices with the RaceCapture modules and get instant access to the endless functionalities of RaceCapture modules. Using this app, customers can access all the features of the RaceCapture modules, monitor, store, and analyze the real-time data, and users can also provide customized commands to the RaceCapture modules using Lua scripts. Further details about the app are given in the respective sections.

Note: It is recommended that this guide be read thoroughly to familiarize with the RaceCapture app, and perform tasks efficiently and effectively.

Navigation

Home View

Upon launching the Racecapture app, the Home View serves as the starting point, presenting users with three primary icon options:

• Analysis
• Dashboard
• Setup

Navigate through the app

To explore additional functionalities of the app, users can access the navigation menu by tapping the hamburger button located at the top left corner. Upon clicking the hamburger button, a tab bar appears on the left, and Users can switch between different sections by tapping on the respective icons on this tab bar.

Compatible OS

Racecapture app is compatible with all the advanced operating systems. However, it is not functional on a few old versions of tablets and on Windows XP, 7, and 8 due to their outdated video drivers.

• Not sure what tablet to use? See our list of recommended tablets

How to Install

Installing the recapture app is simple and straightforward. You simply need to download the app and install it. No complicated steps are required. The download links and installation instructions for desktop and mobile devices are given below.

On Desktop

• Download :For desktop, download the recapture app from the following link Windows and OSX
• Installation in Windows 10/11: Windows 10/11 has built in USB drivers that support Recapture; no separate driver installation needed.
• Installation in XP, 7, and 8: In Window XP,7, & 8 will require USB drivers for installation. Users can download USB driver from following link "Click here."

On Mobile

Mobile user (Android/iOS) can simply install form the link given below.

• Google Play
• Amazon App Store
• iTunes

On Raspberry Pi

More advanced users can run the RaceCapture App on a Raspberry pi for a more dedicated dashboard experience.

• Learn more in the Raspberry Pi Guide

Icons Used in Manual

Throughout this document, the pictograms below are used to underline points or important notions.

Icon	Description
	Important information
	Good to Know
	Mandatory action

Intellectual Property and Usage Rights

The information contained in this document is the intellectual property of Autosport Labs, and No one can use it without the prior permission of Autosport Labs.

Help

For additional help, we encourage you to visit one of our support communities:

• Discord Server
• Forums
• Facebook group

Setup Wizard

Upon running the RaceCapture app for the first time, you are presented with a first time setup wizard. Follow the steps given below to configure your device..
Welcome Page:

• Click 'Next' on the welcome page to proceed to the device setup.
  

Device Selection:

• Choose your RaceCapture device from the provided list.
• Click 'Next' to move to the connection page.
  

Connection Setup:

• Connect your system to the USB port.
• Wait for the connection to establish; your device will be recognized once connected.
  

Note: You can access first time setup again by navigating to the main Setup page and selecting First time setup (as shown in the instruction below)

System Status

Access the system status pages through the top left menu. The system status offers information on GPS status, current WiFi state and more. You can also get a copy of the RaceCapture application log for diagnostics.

Dashboard Mode

To view your dashboard, press the dashboard option on the main screen.

Navigating Dashboard Pages

Multiple dashboard pages are supported. To move to a different page:

• Swipe left or right on the screen
• Press the left or right arrow buttons at the bottom of the screen
• Press the left/right keyboard keys

Importing a new dashboard

To customize your experience, you can import additional dashboard pages either from the system-provided templates or from those created by fellow racers. Follow the steps below to import a new dashboard:

• Click on the gear icon located at the top right corner, and select the rectangular 'Add' icon.
• In the 'Add' icon, you'll find three options:
  • System
  • Your
  • Shared
• Choose your preferred option and scroll down to explore the available dashboard templates.
• Press 'Select' next to the desired dashboard template to import it.

By following these steps, you can easily enhance your dashboard with a variety of templates tailored to your preferences.

Customizing a gauge

RaceCapture app provides, plenty of options for customizing gauges, and designing your own attractive gauges.

To edit a gauge:

• Unlock the dashboard
• Press the gear button on the gauge to customize its settings. Depending on the gauge, you can edit:
  • Display channel
  • Color
  • Min/Max range
  • Precision (number of digits to the right of the decimal point)
  • Other settings depending on the gauge

Customizing Analog and Digital Gauges

For Analog and Digital gauges, the Racepcapture app provides advanced options for customizing all the features of the Analog and Digital gauges ranging from the design of gauge, dial, color, and background, to font size, markers size, and precision using it using its super flexible analog and digital gauge editor.

Analog Gauges

For customizing Analog gauges, follow the instructions given below

• Unlock the dashboard
• Press the gear button on the gauge and select the edit option
• From the top bar, select the Channel and change the channel as per your requirement.
• After selecting channel, select the setting option at the top bar and select Analog Gauge editor.
• In Analog Gauge editor, there are tons of customizable options, with a handy preview area.

Note : For more information, Click here

Digital Gauges

For customizing Digital gauges, follow the instructions given below

• Unlock the dashboard
• Press the gear button on the gauge and select the edit option
• From the top bar, select the Channel and change the channel as per your requirement.
• After selecting channel, select the setting option at the top bar and select Digital Gauge editor.
• In Digital Gauge editor, there numerous customizable options available

Note : For more information, Click here

Dashboard Alerts

You can create dashboard alerts for any channel.

There are two ways to create a gauge alert:

1. Use the central alerts editor
2. Edit alerts from gauges

Use the central alerts editor

• Access the dashboard settings by clicking on the gear icon.
• Select More Settings and navigate to the Alerts tab
• Select the channel you wish to create alerts for, or press the (+) icon to create a new alert
• In the Alert rule tab, users can configure the alert active range, alert active after time, alert deactivate after time, and can also select the notification methods (Popup "Alert" or "Set Gauge color").
  

Customize Notification

• Popup Alert notification: users can customize the message and color of alert by clicking on " add new action> selecting Popup: "Alert" > and change the message and color as per their need.
• In Set Gauge color: users can customize the color of gauge by clicking on " add new action> selecting Set Gauge Color > Color

Edit alerts from gauges

• Edit a gauge
• Switch to the Channels tab and press the customization gear icon for the selected channel
• Switch to the Alerts tab and customize your alerts

Customizing your dashboard

Users have the flexibility to modify an existing dashboard or create a new one from scratch by firstly unlocking the dashboard page and then adding/modifying gauges to create the design they want.

Users can add new gauges by following the steps given below:

1. Unlock the dashboard page by unlocking the gear icon present at the top right corner
2. After unlocking the gauge icon, open the gauge icon by clicking the gear icon.
3. In the add gauge option, select the gauge type, channel type, and configure the gauge setting as per your requirements.

Note : For create a data-driven color-changing dashboard background Check Here

Saving your dashboard

Once you have customized your dashboard to your liking, you can save it to the cloud, allowing easy sharing with other racers or access from different devices. Follow these steps to save your dashboard:

• Click the gear icon at the top right corner to unlock the dashboard.
• Click the save icon.
• Under the "Create New" tab, press "New."
• Provide a name for your dashboard and save it.

By following these steps, your customized dashboard will be saved to the cloud, accessible for sharing and convenient use across various devices.

Predictive Lap timing

RaceCapture/Pro offers predictive lap timing, which relies on a robust track detection system leveraging hundreds of track maps worldwide.

How it works

• When GPS receives a lock, RaceCapture will search for a nearby track.
• If a track is detected with one configuration, it is automatically selected.
• If a track is detected with multiple configurations, the RaceCapture app will prompt you for which configuration you're using.
• If no tracks are detected nearby, the RaceCapture app will offer the ability to create a track on the spot.
  • If you're not able to immediately create the track, you can do so later under Setup.
• Track not found? Submit the track to us and we'll get it into our online database.

Analysis

The RaceCapture app automatically record users session when triggered by the threshold they have configure under Setup / Automatic Control

Note: The system default is to trigger on Speed

To view the data, enter the Analysis mode and load an existing session. The session will be automatically named with the local track or with a timestamp.

Loading a Session:

Users can load sessions by:

• Pressing the (+) button at the bottom of the pop-out list of laps.
• Alternatively, press the gear icon on the dashboard and select 'Sessions'.

Importing a Session:

For advanced analysis, users can import log files of sessions. For importing sessions, users can follow the steps given below.

• On the home screen, click on the 'Analysis' option.
• Press the (+) button at the bottom of the pop-out list of laps.
• A new tab will open; in this new tab, select the 'Import Log' option.
• Under 'Import Log,' press the 'Select' option under Datalog file and import the log file.

Note: Users can also import datalog video files by clicking the 'Select' option under Datalog Video file.

Navigating data

Racepcapture app provides plenty of flexible options for navigating data.

Cursor across line chart

Users can swipe across the line chart to correlate different points with the position on the track map.

Playback Control

User can use the controls at the bottom to automatically play back the selected lap(s). Using the playback control option, user can also control the speed of laps.

Swipe across the data to compare various points correlated with the position on the track map.

Zooming

Users can zoom on the line charts data using a two-finger pinch gesture, or using the mouse scroll wheel or your laptop's trackpad scroll gesture. For the map, users can also zoom in, and zoom-out using the designated buttons present at the top right corner.

Reviewing Laps

Within the RaceCapture app, users have the ability to conduct a meticulous review, thorough analysis, and comprehensive comparison of laps for performance evaluation. This section guides you through various tools and features available for a detailed and comprehensive approach to lap analysis

Performance Metrics

Racecapture app provides users with plenty of performance metrics options to comprehensively analyze the performance of your cars and optimize your driving strategy. The table below provides a detailed explanation of a few important available metric:

Performance Metrics

Matric	Description
AccelX, AccelY, AccelZ	Lateral, Longitudinal & Vertical acceleration in X, Y and Z axis
Battery	Battery voltage level
Brake	Brake position
CurrentLap	Current lap number
ElapsedTime	Time elapsed since the start of the session
EngineTemp	Temperature of Engine
GPSQual	GPS quality status
Gear	Current gear position
LapCount	Total laps completed
LapTime	Time taken for the current lap
MAP	Manifold absolute pressure
MaxRpm	Maximum RPM reached
OilPress	Engine oil pressure
Pitch	Angular orientation around the X-axis
PredTime	Predicted lap time based on the current performance
RPM	Engine revolutions per minute
Roll	Angular orientation around the Y-axis
ShiftLight	Status of the shift light
SessionTime	Total time elapsed in the current session
TPMSVoltLF, TPMSVoltLR, TPMSVoltRF, & TPMSVoltRR	Tire Pressure Monitoring System voltages of Left front, Left Rear, Right front & Right rear tires respectively
TPressLF, TPressLR, TPressRF, & TPressRR	Tires Pressure of Left front, Left Rear, Right front & Right rear tires respectively
TireITmpLF, TireITmpLR, TireITmpRF, & TireTmpRR	Internal tires temperature of Left front, Left Rear, Right front & Right rear tires respectively
Utc	Coordinated Universal Time

In addition to the previously mentioned metrics, offers a diverse range of performance metrics for a comprehensive analysis of your vehicle's dynamics. These include:

Position and Timing Metrics:

• CurrentLap
• Distance
• SessionTime
• TnSlapTime

Geospatial Metrics:

• Latitude
• Longitude
• GPSQual (GPS Quality)
• GPSSATS (Number of GPS Satellites)
  

Competition Metrics:

• CompAhead (Comparison Ahead)
• CompBehind (Comparison Behind)
• CompFlag (Competition Flag)
• GapAhead
• LapsAhead
• LapsBehind

Dynamic Metrics:

• GsumMax (Maximum G-force)
• GsumPct (Percentage of Maximum G-force)
• Interval

Predictive Metrics:

• PredTime (Predicted Lap Time)

Each metric provides a unique perspective on your vehicle's performance, allowing for a nuanced analysis to refine your racing strategy.

Selecting Performance Metrics

To choose and display specific performance metrics on your dashboard, follow these steps:

• Unlock the gear icon present at the top right corner
• Click on the gear icon and select the add gauge option
• Pick the gauge type that suits your analysis needs (e.g., digital, analog, linear chart).
• Within the chosen gauge type, select the "Channel" representing the performance metric you want to analyze.
• Fine-tune the settings to align with your requirements. Adjust parameters such as scale, range, or units based on your preferences.
• Save your gauge configuration to apply the selected performance metrics to your dashboard.

By following these steps, you can tailor your dashboard to showcase the specific performance metrics that matter most to your racing analysis.

Data Visualization

Racecapture app provides innovative data visualization features, empowering users with advanced features for in-depth analysis. The table below provides a detailed explanation of available gauges:

Data Visualization Options

Gauge Type	Description
Analog	Visualize data with analog-style gauges for a real-time, dynamic display.
Bargraph	Use bar graphs to represent data discretely, providing a clear insight of data.
Bitmap	Display custom images or icons to enhance the visual representation of your data.
Digital	Showcase numerical data in a clear and precise digital format for quick reference.
Heat Chart	Gain insights into data patterns using color gradients to represent varying intensities.
Histogram	Understand data distribution through histogram charts, ideal for analyzing frequency.
LapTime	Focus on lap-specific metrics with dedicated gauges for lap time analysis.
Line Chart	Track trends and variations over time using line charts for comprehensive data analysis
Overview	Get a holistic view of your racing data with overview gauges summarizing key metrics.
Raw Channel	Provides an unfiltered analysis of individual parameters.
Scatter Plot	Identify correlations and relationships between two variables using scatter plots.
Thermal Image	Visualize temperature variations with thermal image gauges for heat-sensitive data.
Time Delta	Analyze time differentials between specific data points using time delta gauges.
Time Gap	Evaluate time gaps for strategic decision-making.
Tiny Digital	Optimize screen space with compact digital gauges for focused data representation.
Track Map	Navigate your racing data on a track map, providing a spatial context to your analysis.
Video	Integrate video data seamlessly with dedicated video gauges for synchronized analysis.

Users can explore the above mentioned gauge types to enhance their data visualization experience and get valuable insights.

Selecting Gauge Type

Users can select the desired gauge type by following the steps given below:

• Unlock the gear icon present at the top right corner
• Click on the gear icon and select the add gauge option
• Pick the gauge type that suits your analysis needs (e.g., digital, analog, heart chart).

Customizing Views

The RaceCapture app provides numerous customization options, allowing users to configure the app interface as per their preferences. Explore the key customization features below:

Gauge Customization

• Size, Shape, Type: Modify the size, shape, and type of available gauges to suit your visual preferences.
• Color and Appearance: Personalize the color scheme and appearance of each gauge for a customized display.

Gauge Placement

• Location Customization: Users can move gauges to their preferred locations on the display
• Position Setting: Set gauges precisely where you need them for an intuitive and efficient layout.

Layer Management

• Bring to Front or Send to Back: Adjust the layering of gauges with options to raise or lower their appearance.
• Raise to Top or Lower to Bottom: Adjust the visibility of gauges by bringing them to the forefront or placing them at the back.

Zoom Functionality

• Zoom In & Zoom Out: For enhancing focus, users can Zoom-in and Zoom out gauge as per requirement.

Alert Customization

• Set Custom Alerts: Define alerts based on specific conditions or events during your race.
• Threshold Adjustments: Configured alert thresholds to match your required value.

Advanced Features Exploration

• Video Integration: Seamlessly integrate video data for synchronized analysis with racing telemetry.
• Thermal Imaging: Users can use the advance feature of thermal imaging for a more comprehensive understanding of your racing data.

Regular Upgradation

• Continuous Refinement: Users can regularly assess and fine-tune their dashboard layout and configurations based on changing preferences and real-time racing needs.

User can experiment with different configurations to find the setup that enhances their racing strategy and overall performance.

Comparative Analysis

RaceCapture app also provides advance comparative analysis options. If the data contains lap times, the laps will be shown in the dropdown list on the right. Select the laps you wish to compare; users can compare up to 4 laps at once from the same session or different sessions.

Selecting time vs distance

You can switch between time and distance data comparison by accessing the chart options, or pressing the -> or clock icon in the line chart.

Reviewing raw data

If your data contains no laps, such as data from a static test or dyno pull, the data will be present in one entry under the loaded session. Select this entry to view the data. The RaceCapture app will auto-select the Time dimension if it detects no significant distance traveled within the data.

Comparing laps / runs between sessions(Comparative Analysis)

You can compare data between sessions if they are in a coinciding location - just load multiple sessions and select laps between those sessions.

Exporting Data

You can export your sessions from your list of saved sessions.

Android

• Press the gear icon to access your session list
• Select the session you wish to export - Android will let you save it to a file, share to email, or any other app that accepts files.
• Note: - if you save it to your local device, you can download it to your computer using a USB cable when your Android device is set up in File Transfer mode

iOS

• Press the gear icon to access your session list
• Export this to your local iOS device storage.
• Connect your iOS device to your computer using a USB cable.
• Access the iOS device using the iTunes file sharing capability. We recommend iFunBox as an easy to use tool.
• Copy the exported log file from your iOS device to your computer.

Importing to 3rd party software

The RaceCapture log file format is plain CSV, which can be imported into 3rd party software.

• RaceRender provides native support for the RaceCapture log file format. See the exporting to RaceRender guide.
• DashWare has been used by RaceCapture customers - Rowan Hick has a write-up on Dashware integration.

System Setup

You can configure all of RaceCapture's options under Setup.

When the RaceCapture app detects the connected hardware, it will read the current setup from the device.

• The setup information is presented as a series of pages, by topic.
• When you change something on a setup page, you'll need to Write the changes back to the RaceCapture device before they take effect.

Explanation of buttons

• Save: Save the current RaceCapture setup to a file, for backup.
• Open: Load a previously saved setup file.
• Read: Read the current setup from the RaceCapture device.
• Write: Writes any updated changes back to the RaceCapture device. Note: when you see the write button glowing / pulsing, it means there are pending changes to write back to the RaceCapture device

Race Tracks

On the Race Tracks page you can create a custom track, which will be included in the library of track maps for automatic detection. To create a custom track, turn off 'Automatic race track detection' and then press the add (+) button. You will be presented with an option to create a circuit or Autocross (point-point) style course. Follow the on-screen instructions to create your track.

GPS

The GPS page allows you to adjust the GPS sample rate and enable/disable various channels.

• Note: We highly recommend you keep the default channels enabled for proper operation of analysis and lap timing.
• 10Hz is the recommended sample rate for the best balance of performance / accuracy. Getting the best GPS performance

Race Timing

These enable the lap timer and predictive lap timer. Leave these 'on' to enable these features.

Analog Sensors

Here you can configure and calibrate your analog sensors.

Pulse/RPM sensors

Here you can configure and calibrate RPM and pulse-type sensors, such as wheel speed.

Digital In/Out

Here you can configure the General Purpose Input/Outputs (GPIOs) for your RaceCapture system.

Accel / Gyro

The recommended mounting orientation for RaceCapture is square with the chassis, with the harness connectors facing the front of the vehicle.

• You can re-map channels by re-assigning the physical axis to the mapped channel.
• Once defined, you can calibrate the accelerometer + gyro by pressing the calibrate button, and then pressing the write button to write the calibration back to RaceCapture.

CAN bus

To enable CAN bus communications, set the CAN bus setting to ON. CAN bus baud rates are configurable; common rates are 250K, 500K and 1MB. RaceCapture defaults to:

• 500K for CAN1, which is common for OEM and aftermarket ECUs
• 1MB for CAN2, which matches the standard for our CAN bus accessories.

CAN bus mapping

RaceCapture offers a powerful CAN bus mapping capability, allowing you to map CAN bus data frames to real-world sensor values.

See our comprehensive guide on Using and mapping CAN bus sensor data

OBDII

You can select from a standard list of OBDII channels on the OBDII configuration screen.

Selecting sample rates

For channels that require a faster response rate, like RPM and TPS, we recommend 10, 25 or 50Hz. More slowly changing channels like EngineTemperature should be set to 1 or 5Hz.

• Note about unsupported channels: If your ECU does not support a channel, the value will remain at 0. RaceCapture will time-out waiting for a response from the ECU, which will affect the performance of other channels. We recommend removing all unsupported channels to ensure optimal OBDII performance.

Automatic Control

Wireless

You can configure RaceCapture's WiFi for both Access Point and Client mode.

Client Mode

To enable client mode, specify the SSID and password for the network you wish to connect to and turn the client mode switch to on

Access Point Mode

To enable the RaceCapture access point, specify the SSID and a password.

• Note: If specified, passwords must be minimum of 8 characters. Leave the field blank to create an open network.

Real-time Telemetry

With the real-time telemetry feature you can live-stream your data to Podium so you can compare and share laps and runs with your friends. Enable by setting your Podium Device ID provided by your Podium Account

See the RaceCapture real time telemetry setup guide for details on setting up this feature.

Scripting

You can customize the behavior of your system by writing small Lua scripts; you can do things like:

• Create live math (virtual) channels that are calculated on the fly
• Broadcast Custom CAN bus messages
• Control a fan based on the temperature of an analog channel (e.g. EngineTemp)

See the Lua scripting guide for a complete how-to, including helpful examples.

Diagnostic Logs

To view the log messages provided by the RaceCapture unit, you can enable the Poll log check box. You can copy the current log to the clipboard by pressing the Copy button.

• Note: These logs are useful for diagnosing issues with your RaceCapture unit, as well as seeing messages printed by your Lua script.

Firmware

Here you can update your system's firmware, perform a factory reset, which restores the system to its original settings, or perform a reboot of the unit without needing to do a power-cycle.

• Note: Before updating your firmware, be sure to save your current configuration to a file.

Troubleshooting

Recovering from mis-configured WiFi or Bluetooth

If you're unable to connect via mobile due to a Wireless configuration issue - for example:

• You forgot the password you set for RaceCapture's Access Point or Bluetooth link
• If RaceCapture's WiFi client needs to be re-configured for a new WiFi network

You can recover by re-configuring RaceCatpure's WiFi settings via the USB connection and the Windows or OSX app.

Steps to recover:

• Launch the RaceCapture app on Windows or OSX
• Connect RaceCapture via USB
• Allow the software to connect and read the configuration
• Under Setup, adjust the WiFi or Bluetooth settings as needed
• Write the configuration back to RaceCapture

Once you update the settings, it's recommended you test the WiFi connection using your mobile device while still connected over USB so you can further adjust settings as needed.

Extra Information

Microsoft Windows 7/8 Driver installation

• Download and unzip drivers: Windows XP/Vista/7/8 Drivers V2
  • Note for Windows 8 users - These drivers are unsigned. You will need to disable the driver signing requirement for Windows 8, or upgrade to Windows 10. Instructions
    • Win8 64bit unsigned driver instructions
• Plug RaceCapture/Pro in to the computer.
• If prompted to install a driver, direct Windows to the folder where you unzipped the RaceCapture/Pro drivers.
• If not prompted, manually update driver:
  • Open Windows Device Manager and find the Ports (COM and LPT) section. RaceCapture/Pro should be listed there, possibly with a yellow (!) over the icon.
  • Right click and select 'Update Driver'.
  • Follow the instructions and direct Windows to the folder where you unzipped the RaceCapture/Pro drivers.