Quick Start Guide – VBOX Mini LapTimer

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Registration

Please register your VBOX Mini LapTimer so that Racelogic can continue to provide you with notifications about the latest software releases and firmware upgrades for your Racelogic product, and offer technical support.

Register your device here.

What is in the box?

When you purchase a VBOX Mini LapTimer, you will find the following items when you open the box:

Product Code	Quantity	Description
VBLAPMINI	1	VBOX Mini LapTimer Unit
RLACS313	1	8 GB Class 10 SDHC Card
RLACS287	1	Lightweight Display Suction Mount with Thumb Nut
RLCAB165	1	Hirose 6 W plug to cigar plug (2 m)
RLACS262	1	External GNSS antenna (2 m)

Features
Miniature design	Easy operation with the 3-button keypad
10 Hz GPS data logger.	Static/rolling lap times and lap counter.
Predictive lap timing - compares your current lap to your best real-time lap	Live speed bar.
Live Delta-T on-screen display.	Live/max G display (Lat and Long).
Delta-V LED indicators.	Live G bar (Lat and Long).
Live/max speed display.	Combo G LED indicators.
Low power consumption	Waterproof Hirose connector
External GNSS antenna	Multiple Mounting methods, including standard 1/4-20 UNC threaded hole

Compatible media

The VBOX Mini LapTimer can record to MMC, SD, SDHC and SDXC media cards formatted in a FAT or FAT32 format.

SDXC cards will be formatted as exFAT by default, a format type not supported by VBOX LapTimer. You can still use them, as long as you reformat them to FAT32 first. There are various free third-party applications available online to format SDXC cards.

Memory Usage

If the SD card you use has less than 10 MB of space available you will see a warning symbol flashing periodically indicating the amount of memory available.

The function of the OK Button

Depending on which mode is currently active on the screen, the function of the OK button will change. The splash screen shown when scrolling through the menu describes the function of the OK button in each mode.

You can also find the complete list below:

Mode	Function
Speed	Start and stop logging
Max Speed	Reset max speed value
Speed Bar	Set centre speed and speed display range
Predictive Lap Timing	Single Press fixes the reference lap according to your settings in Fixed Lap Mode
Predictive Lap Timing	Pressing for >4 s clears the stored reference lap and all lap timing data
Lap Timing	Set a new start/finish line
Lap Count	No action
Lateral G	Reset max g reached
Lateral G Bar	Set min g and max g (targets)
Longitudinal G	Reset max g reached
Longitudinal G Bar	Set min g and max g (targets)
Menu	Access the Menu

No Media

If you do not have an SD card inserted in your VBOX Mini LapTimer, it will show a "No Media" message while the vehicle is moving at speeds of 5 mph or less. This makes it easier for you to make sure that you have an SD card inserted before you start your logging.

Installing the VBOX Mini LapTimer

Obtaining the Best GPS Quality

Appropriate placement of the GNSS antenna is crucial to the quality of the data that is being recorded.

Be aware of objects that can shadow the antenna or block the signal to the antenna. Some objects can also reflect signals which can send weaker GNSS signals to the antenna. This is called multipath, and these reflections can disturb the signal in an unpredictable way.

If an antenna is not mounted on a large enough ground plane, multipath reflections can also come from the ground beneath the antenna.

If you are using the antenna without a sufficient ground plane (such as on a bike or carrying the unit by hand), you can put a sheet of metal underneath the antenna (this can for example be copper or aluminium foil) or use an antenna with strong multipath-rejection properties (ACS320).

Antennas, such as the ACS320, are much larger and more expensive than the standard antennas that come supplied with a VBOX unit, but you can mount them on a pole to get them higher from the ground and away from shadowing items.

On a motorbike, you should place the antenna as far from the rider as possible to reduce the rider's shadowing effect. The best place is usually at the back of the bike.

Reflected signals to antenna.png

Illustration showing multipath reflections from the ground and surrounding buildings.

You can find more information about optimal antenna placement here.

GPS Coldstart

If your VBOX Mini LapTimer is struggling to acquire a satellite lock, you may have to perform a GPS coldstart. This may be necessary if the unit has not been in use for a number of days or it has moved location dramatically since its last use. You can perform a coldstart by selecting MENU > GNSS OPTIONS > COLDSTART.

Note: You cannot access the GPS Options menu when you use the Mini LapTimer in OLED mode. In this instance, you must perform the coldstart on the connected device.

Hardware Connections

Standalone

The Display Modes

The VBOX Mini LapTimer has several different display modes, which you can scroll through with the up and down buttons on your device.

Note that the data displayed on each screen is always calculated by the device at all times, even if you choose not to display it. Click on the name of each mode to find relevant setup information.


Predictive Lap Timing		Lap Timing

Speed		Speed Bar

Max Speed		Lap Count

Longitudinal G		Longitudinal G Bar

Lateral G		Lateral G Bar

Logging

If the VBOX Mini LapTimer is logging, you will see a scrolling bar across the bottom of the screen (except in Predictive Lap timing mode).

To start or stop the data logging on VBOX Mini LapTimer, press the OK button when in Speed Display mode.

VBOX Mini LapTimer - Speed Display - 126kmh LOGGING (400px).png

LED Behaviour

Delta-V LEDs

The two front panel LEDs are used in predictive lap timing mode. They indicate if the current vehicle speed is faster or slower than the speed was at the same position in the reference file.

The LEDs will show red if the current speed is slower than the reference, or green if the current speed is faster.

The value defined within the ‘Delta-V range’ setting dictates the min. and max speed values to full brightness.

The two LEDs act as a gauge, filling up from the left to right. Once the current speed is slower or faster than the reference, the left LED will illuminate. Once the current speed is above 50% of the defined positive or negative range, the LED on the right will also illuminate.

Slower than reference lap		Faster than reference lap

– 50% to – 100%	– 1% to – 50%	+ 1% to + 50%	+ 50% to + 100%

Combo G LEDs

This mode takes over the function of the LEDs in the predictive lap-timing screen.

If the Combo G is greater than a selected minimum threshold (50 % LED minimum %, 0.5 g default), the LEDs will light up various colours dependent on the maximum g threshold selected (1.0 g default).

The LEDs will show red where the Combo G has reached the LED minimum % selected (i.e. 50% by default).
Above this minimum value, the LEDs will show a colour gradient between red and green, giving a changing yellow/orange colour, dependent on the live Combo G value.
The LEDs will show green where the Combo G is equal to or greater than the selected maximum g threshold.

Default settings example:


< 0.5 g	0.5 g	0.75 g	≥ 1 g

Creating Reference Lap

When the VBOX Mini LapTimer is creating a reference lap, the LEDs will shine blue

When the VBOX Mini LapTimer is creating a reference lap, the LEDs will shine blue, the behaviour will then change back to its current settings when the lap is created and saved.

VBOX Mini LapTImer - Creating ref lap (400px).png

Settings

You can access the VBOX Mini LapTimer display menu by pressing the OK button when on the ‘Menu’ screen. You can navigate the menu with the ▲▼ buttons.

To see the full list of menu options and their functionalities, we recommend that you read the Menu Options page in our User Guide.