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Post by cozee on Oct 26, 2018 9:11:11 GMT -7
My question concerns timing systems. I am watching GTS' progress on his track with special interest focusing on his work with Race Director and Arduino. I have a few reservations about RD as it isn't as "optioned" as Trackmate. I really like Trackmate timing systems but cannot see how to justify the hundreds of dollars for the hardware of the DP3000 for HO and especially 1/24, considering the software can be purchased for $70. I am thinking of going ahead and purchasing the USB stick. Anyone here know if anything can be done hardware wise with Arduino?
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Post by GTS on Oct 26, 2018 10:16:27 GMT -7
Not sure I totally understand your question about "if anything can be done hardware wise with Arduino?" but here goes. With my limited understanding of Arduino, I understood just about anything can be done hardware wise with relays, etc. if you are capable of writing the "sketch" program that the Arduino operates from. With the DRC software, the basic "sketch" is already written and can be modified to your needs if so desired. For example; the DRC software will operate either 3mm or 5mm leds for a tree, for a win light, etc., as is. I don't have the knowledge that is needed to modify the "sketch" but I know there are people doing it. Hope this helps.
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Post by cozee on Oct 26, 2018 10:34:15 GMT -7
I had never heard of Arduino till you spoke of it. I have a co-worker who is very familiar with Raspberry PI, and he picked up a couple Arduino boards to check the system out to see if he can get it to work with the TM software. I have no issues with building hardware; programming is my weakness/ignorance. I just cannot justify the $700-$1100 cost of hardware of the TM systems when it can be built for less than 10-15 percent of the cost. I used to build my own electronic controllers, with the same, or with an extra feature or two, for $40-$50 when the "big names" were selling them for $250-$300.
Yes, I am a tight a$$!!!!!
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Post by cozee on Oct 26, 2018 10:53:09 GMT -7
My current concern with Drag RC is it is still Beta and judging by the thread at SFI, the developers have not given it any attention since May.
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Post by GTS on Oct 26, 2018 12:12:18 GMT -7
My current concern with Drag RC is it is still Beta and judging by the thread at SFI, the developers have not given it any attention since May. I totally understand. The DRC is a fairly new development, whereas his RC software for road courses has been in development for years. I've used it in it's different upgraded non-beta versions for well over a decade. It has always served me well so have high hopes for an eventual official release of the DRC software. He did release a newer beta version in early July and refined that one to have verified trap speeds in late September. So far I have been pleased with it's use for various reasons, one being that there is no way my budget would allow the purchase of a track mate system, although, if I could, I would. |
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Post by cozee on Oct 26, 2018 12:26:49 GMT -7
My current concern with Drag RC is it is still Beta and judging by the thread at SFI, the developers have not given it any attention since May. I totally understand. The DRC is a fairly new development, whereas his RC software for road courses has been in development for years. I've used it in it's different upgraded non-beta versions for well over a decade. It has always served me well so have high hopes for an eventual official release of the DRC software. He did release a newer beta version in early July and refined that one to have verified trap speeds in late September. So far I have been pleased with it's use for various reasons, one being that there is no way my budget would allow the purchase of a track mate system, although, if I could, I would. Cool. We’ll push ahead with the Drag RC then. It does support brackets, correct? |
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Post by GTS on Oct 26, 2018 12:36:50 GMT -7
I totally understand. The DRC is a fairly new development, whereas his RC software for road courses has been in development for years. I've used it in it's different upgraded non-beta versions for well over a decade. It has always served me well so have high hopes for an eventual official release of the DRC software. He did release a newer beta version in early July and refined that one to have verified trap speeds in late September. So far I have been pleased with it's use for various reasons, one being that there is no way my budget would allow the purchase of a track mate system, although, if I could, I would. Cool. We’ll push ahead with the Drag RC then. It does support brackets, correct? I believe it's supposed to support bracket racing, although I've never played around with it. |
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Post by cozee on Oct 27, 2018 15:24:15 GMT -7
Downloaded RC. Ordered the Arduino, terminal block, sensors, and wiring.
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Post by GTS on Oct 27, 2018 17:46:58 GMT -7
Downloaded RC. Ordered the Arduino, terminal block, sensors, and wiring. Just to clarify, the RC I understand to be for roundy round tracks/road courses, whereas the DRC is the beta for a Drag Race track. |
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Post by cozee on Oct 27, 2018 17:56:27 GMT -7
Downloaded RC. Ordered the Arduino, terminal block, sensors, and wiring. Just to clarify, the RC I understand to be for roundy round tracks/road courses, whereas the DRC is the beta for a Drag Race track. Yep. Just figured since we’d been talking about the drag system . . . !!!! |
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