Video plus data streaming with racecapture

Introduction

This guide shows you how to add video+data livestreaming to your existing RaceCapture system.

After following this guide, you will have:

• 2-camera video with picture-in-picture
• Rich, realtime graphics overlay
• Broadcast to youtube or your preferred streaming provider via an in-vehicle cellular hotspot
• Local video recording

System Overview

Video+data streaming is enabled by using a separate streaming/encoding device. As RaceCapture supports multiple simultaneous connections, an existing dashboard can be retained.

Cost

The cost for adding video+data livestreaming to your RaceCapture system can range between 0 and 800 USD, depending on the parts you may already have on hand.

How hard is it to setup?

This project requires following instructions, including:

• Installing an operating system
• Typing computer commands
• Plugging in cables
• Editing configuration files
• Selecting options in an application

This ability is within the realm of someone with moderate computer skills. If the instructions seem daunting, find someone to help you along.

• For those who crave convenience, we will also be offering a pre-packaged setup that take care of most of the setup steps.

Production State

Since it is based on existing RaceCapture technology (RaceCapture hardware and RaceCapture app), the core of the system is very stable.

New components that add video rendering, encoding, and streaming will be improved through your testing feedback and rounds of updates.

As of this writing, the system has received about 12 hours of endurance racing testing. During this test we were very pleased with the stability and performance.

A demonstration

Here's the Session from the inaugural test (with sub optimal camera exposure settings and low quality microphone)

Provided ID could not be validated.

Experimental

While we consider this experimental - it is also a free software upgrade for a system that was never originally designed for this purpose.

With your testing help we can steadily improve it and ultimately provide an incredibly cost effective yet very full-featured and high performance system that rivals solutions costing upwards of $5000 USD.

Parts you will need

Your existing RaceCapture system

The RaceCapture system will provide access to your car's sensor data (CAN bus or analog sensors), high performance GPS, Accelerometer / Gyro sensors, lap timing and other motorsport related statistics.

Compatible Systems

• Any current or previous RaceCapture or PodiumConnect system will work.

Rendering/Streaming computer

A tiny form-factor computer is used to receive data from RaceCapture and is responsible for video+data overlay, encoding, and broadcasting the video to youtube or similar streaming platform.

Recommended

• Beelink SER5

The Beelink SER5 is our recommended choice as it is powerful, cost effective, and provided in a compact and lightweight form factor.

Alternatives

A micro system with an Intel I5-6500 through I5-7600 + SSD + 8GB RAM is an acceptable option as well. This may be a system you already have or a surplus system you can get at minimum cost.

• Look for these options:
  • SSD (required for ruggedness - smallest size is fine).
  • Smallest RAM option is fine (typically 8GB)
  • Included WiFi - for connection versatility

Candidates

• Dell Optiplex 7050 micro desktop: Ebay search (nice because most have wifi)

• HP EliteDesk 800 G3 Mini: Ebay search

12v DC to DC converter

A 12v-19v DC to DC converter is needed to power the rendering/broadcasting computer in the vehicle. This converter avoids needing an AC inverter in the car, making for a clean installation.

• Tips:
  • Choose a device that has sufficient power capacity (100W minimum)

Recommended

These have been tested to work:

• KFD 100W universal car charger

• Tips:
  • We recommend cutting the cigar lighter connection and hard-wiring the power to a 15A circuit. (center conductor is positive).

Cameras

You will need 1 or 2 cameras for capturing and rendering video.

Recommended (but not yet available)

Autosport Labs will soon provide a camera kit that provides high quality imaging, a waterproof compact form-factor, and the perfect 90 degree field of view.

Alternatives

Most any USB camera (such as a webcam) can be used. These are commonly found on Amazon or Ebay.

• Tips:
  • Logitech is a good, high quality option
  • Find a camera that offers a 1/4-20 threaded camera mount for a secure rollbar attachment to minimize vibration.

Microphone

A microphone is needed for capturing audio.

• Candidates:
  • USB microphone - you can use a separate USB microphone, especially if you get one that offers higher quality.
  • Analog microphone - you can use an analog microphone that attaches to the front headset input of the micro PC. Make sure you get a microphone that has the 4-ring connector for proper operation.
  • Microphone embedded in one of the cameras - if one of your your cameras has its own microphone, you can use that as an audio source.

Hotspot/Router

Most any hostspot should work, but for the best performance and reliability, these options should be considered:

• Hard-wired ethernet connection, for direct connection to the micro computer.
• External antenna connection - a hotspot that offers external antenna will boost performance by allowing you to use a high-gain roof-mount antenna.

Setup

Connect a keyboard, mouse, and monitor to the rendering/streaming computer and prepare to install Ubuntu:

Install ubuntu 22.x

Download Ubuntu Desktop and install the image to a USB flash drive.

• Install Ubuntu with the following options:
  • During installation, choose the option to download / install updates, including "third-party software for graphics, WiFi, and additional media formats" important
  • Choose the option to erase the hard drive and perform a complete install.
  • Select Automatic Login without password.

• Notes To install, you will need to configure the system's BIOS to boot first from the USB flash drive.
  • Beelink: Repeatedly press 'delete' on the keyboard right after power up.
  • HP: Repeatedly press F10 after power up
  • Dell: Repeatedly press F2 after power up

After the installation is complete, the computer will reboot into the standard desktop.

Disable keyring popup

From the desktop: log out, and log back in using with the password you created during the installation step.

Then, Disable the keyring popup using these instructions. Observe the security notes in this guide.

• Notes
  • The log-out/log-in step is important - don't skip it!
  • Disabling the keyring is important; it prevents a popup dialog when the RaceCapture app automatically starts.

Run the installer

From the Ubuntu desktop, open a terminal and enter the following command, pressing <enter> after the line:

cuxrl -sL bit.ly/3RL9Yoj | bash

This will automatically install the RaceCapture app and video streamer, related software dependencies, and set up configuration file templates.

Reboot

Reboot the computer once it is complete with the installation. It should automatically launch the RaceCapture app.

Edit RaceCapture settings

Edit these RaceCapture settings for proper operation when streaming

App Preferences

Navigate to Setup / App Preferences:

• set Fullscreen -> ON
• Set Startup Screen -> Dashboard
• Turn off Session Recording

Dashboard Preferences

Navigate to the Dashboard, then press the gear icon in the upper right of the dashboard, select "More Settings" and set the following:

• Turn off Pit stop timer
• Turn off pit-to-car alerts
• Turn off remote dashboard navigation (scroll to bottom)

Plug in camera(s)

Plug in 1 or 2 cameras into the USB port

• Note: Remember the ports the cameras are plugged into, and keep this consistent during use.

Plug in USB microphone

• Plug USB microphone into a USB port

Connect RaceCapture

Your current RaceCapture system already supports multiple connections, so you can continue using your dashboard (e.g. Android tablet via Bluetooth) when adding this video+data streaming capability.

Via USB (overall best option)

This is the best option for connecting RaceCapture to the streaming computer. Just connect a USB cable between the rendering/streaming system and RaceCapture. RaceCapture will automatically connect.

Via WiFi

If you're already using the USB connection for a Raspberry Pi dash, you can configure the rendering/streaming system to connect to RaceCapture via WiFi.

Configure as Client

If you are already using WiFi to connect the rendering/streaming system to your hotspot, you will need to configure RaceCapture to connect to the same hotspot via the WiFi client settings. In this configuration, everything shares the same network created by the hotspot.

• Note: Due to system limitations, your hotspot must be up and running before RaceCapture attempts to connect to it via WiFi.

Access Point connection (best WiFi option)

If you are connecting the rendering/streaming system to the hotspot via ethernet, then you can connect the rendering/streaming system directly to RaceCapture's WiFi Access Point. The system will receive data from RaceCapture via WiFi, and broadcast the video+data stream to the hotspot via ethernet.

Configure dashboard video options

• Press Settings Gear Icon, go to More Settings / Camera Preferences

Select /dev/video0 for Camera #1, and /dev/video2 for Camera #2

Create a test dashboard

• Press the Settings gear icon, select Add Gauge
• create a video gauge, and select Camera 1 as the source.
• Resize to fit the dashboard.
• create another video gauge, and select Camera 2 as the source.
• Resize to be the picture-in-picture video window.
• Add additional gauges as you see fit, such as an analog speed gauge, track map, etc.

• Note If the cameras are reversed, you can swap the camera mappings in the main dashboard settings under More Settings / Camera Preferences

Editing the dashboard is very easy - see this demo for an example:

Load video

YouTube

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ContinueDismiss

Exiting the RaceCapture app

To get back to the regular Ubuntu desktop, press ctrl-t, type :quit and press <enter>.

At the login screen, press the small gear icon in the lower right to select the Ubuntu desktop.

To switch back to streaming mode, log out, press the small gear icon in the lower right and select the RaceCapture streaming option. Log in, and you will be streaming again.

• Note: The system will persist the last option you pick - so if you reboot or power cycle, it will automatically enter streaming mode.

Video Streaming / recording

To configure your streaming settings, switch back to the regular Ubuntu Desktop.

Then, edit the video-config.ini - you'll find the file on the desktop. Edit this with the standard text editor by double-clicking it.

Streaming Key / URL

If using Youtube: Set the streaming key as provided by youtube. Or, you can specify a custom URL.

Local recording

Video files will also be saved in the user's Videos directory

Microphone

If using a USB microphone (recommended) use the default audio_device=1

• Note, you can change this to different sources:
  • 0 = microphone connected to built-in headset port;
  • 1,2,3... = represents additional microphones found on the system, typically USB microphones.

You can look under Ubuntu's system settings to discover available microphones and set their respective recording levels.

Example default config file

[capture]
audio_device=1

[local_recording]
video_dir=$HOME/Videos

[streaming]
streaming_url=rtmp://a.rtmp.youtube.com/live2/<streaming key>         

First Test

Once your streaming key has been set and saved, log out and log back into the streamer by selecting the RaceCapture streaming mode on the login page using the gear icon in the lower right.

Check your youtube livestream to see if you are receiving video. If not, try restarting the system and let the streamer launch cleanly after a fresh reboot.

Maintenance/Troubleshooting

Open a terminal window

(advanced mode) You can open a terminal window while RaceCapture is streaming by entering the following command.

• Press ctrl+t, then type c, then press <enter>

The screen will split into two equal windows; the new window will be a terminal where you can perform debugging steps, such as viewing log files, etc.

• Note: The more user-friendly alternative is to just log out and log back in to the Ubuntu desktop.

Log out

You can log out of the current session to access the original Ubuntu desktop to perform additional maintenance.

• Press ctrl-t, then type :quit, then press <enter>

Once you've logged out, you can log back into the Ubuntu desktop by pressing the gear icon in the lower right, and select Ubuntu.

To get back to the RaceCapture full-screen app mode, select "RaceCapture livestreaming" from this menu; this is the window manager that is configured to run RaceCapture in full-screen mode.

Inspecting Logfiles

Video streamer log file

The log file for the video streamer agent is located in the user's home directory. You can open it to see any helpful error messages regarding streaming.

RaceCapture log file

The RaceCapture log file is also located in the user's home directory. This will have potentially useful information for debugging the operation of the RaceCapture app.