Creating Start/Finish lines in Google Earth Pro
This page will take you through the steps to create start/finish lines using Google Earth Pro.
- Find your track location.
- Click the Add Path button in the toolbar to start drawing the start/finish lines.
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A window will appear. You can move this window to the side to make sure that you can still see the track. This window will remain open until you have finished drawing your start line.
- Click on the map in the location where you wish to record the first point. Any subsequent points will be connected in the order that they are drawn. Click on a specific point to select it (to place additional points in between existing points).
Drawing the start/finish lines
- Click and drag to draw a line down the track leading up to, and over the start line in the direction you intend to drive.
Keep the line as straight as possible to get the best possible heading values calculated. - Release the mouse button when you have crossed the start line by at least 10 points.
- Click to add two separate points that create a line across the start position - see the example below.
- Add a separate finish line or split points by adding more lines around the track in the desired positions. You should add crossovers for each point to make it easily identifiable.
The example below has a start line, two split points and a separate finish line.
- When you have finished drawing your line, go to the pop-up window that appeared when you clicked the Add Path button and give your path a name.
- Click OK.
Saving the SPL/DSF file
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The path file should now appear in the left-hand toolbar on Google Earth under Places. Right-click on the file and select Save Place As... to save it to your required location.
Make sure to change the file type to .kml in the dropdown list.
- To convert the new KML file into a SPL/DSF start/finish line file, open ‘VBOX Tools’ software. When the software is open, select ‘File’ > 'Import' > 'From Google Earth'.
Now you must set the start point. Click on the ‘data’ graph to locate the cursor and move the cursor to the crossover point.
Note: Using ALT + Arrow keys moves the cursor sample by sample. Once your cursor is sitting at the start point, press the space bar.
A window will now appear telling you the start line has been set and a green dot will appear on your map graph.
To add split points or a separate finish point, again position the cursor in the desired crossover position. Pressing ‘S’ will set split points, and pressing ‘Shift + Spacebar’ will set the separate finish.
When all the points have been set, click on 'Main Graph', then select 'Start / Finish / Split Lines' and 'Save' from the drop down lists.
In the next window that appears, you can choose whether to save the file as a .SPL file or a .DSF file. A Video VBOX or VBOX Video will accept either of these when loaded into a scene, but only a .DSF file on an SD card. A PerformanceBox or DriftBox will only use a .DSF file.
This .SPL or .DSF file file can now be loaded into VBOX Video/ Video VBOX Setup or directly in to a VBOX.
Loading into VBOX Video HD2 Setup Software
The file can be loaded by ticking 'Override auto start/finish line' under 'Gates’ in the Lap Timing menu and selecting 'Add'. You can see the Start/Finish line has been loaded by the visible lateral and longitudinal values under the Lap Timing menu.
Loading into Video VBOX Setup Software
Load the file into the scene under ‘Start/Finish + Splits’ within the Lap Timing Menu in Scene Properties. You can see the Start/Finish line has been loaded by the visible lateral and longitudinal values under the Scene Properties.
Loading into a VBOX Video HD2 or Video VBOX
Save the .DSF file onto the root of an SD card and put the card into the unit.
Loading into a VBOX Touch or Performance Box Touch
Save the .SPL file into a folder named ‘SF LINES’ on an SD card and insert the card into the unit, then press the ‘Load Lap Timing Gates’ button within the Lap Timing Settings. If only one file is located on the SD card, the file will be loaded immediately. If multiple files are located on the SD card, the unit will display all available files. Select a file and then press the Confirm Button 
on the bottom right of the screen. When loaded, a success screen will briefly display to show that the start/finish line was loaded successfully.
Loading into a PerformanceBox or DriftBox
Save the .DSF file into a folder named ‘DATA’ on an SD card and put the card into the unit, then select ‘Load Splits’ from the Lap timing menu. The file must be called ‘DBOX.DSF’ to be detected by the unit.