VBOX Sport Development Portal
VBOX Sport offers an open and accessible communications protocol to facilitate app development.
The VBOX Sport connects to a given device via Bluetooth. Once connected, the VBOX Sport will provide data to the device in either the 'RACELOGIC Serial Stream' format or in the 'NMEA' message format, both of which are detailed below:
RACELOGIC Serial Stream
- The RACELOGIC Serial Stream format is designed to provide comprehensive information from the VBOX Sport.
- This is the default output format of a VBOX Sport and is the generally recommended approach.
- The RACELOGIC iOS apps such as 'VBOX Laptimer' use this format to retrieve data from the VBOX Sport.
- Provides updates at 10 Hz.
NMEA
- VBOX Sport can also output data in NMEA format. Since this is a standard well known format it may be easier for a third party to implement without need for support from RACELOGIC.
- Provides updates at 10 Hz.
- A firmware update and subsequent settings update is required to enable a VBOX Sport to output NMEA, please contact support for the required settings file.
The following 2 NMEA messages are sent over Bluetooth:
GGA
Essential fix data which provides 3D location and accuracy data. The sentences will look similar to:
$GPGGA,123519,4807.038,N,01131.000,E,1,08,0.9,545.4,M,46.9,M,,*47
Where:
- GGA: Global Positioning System Fix Data
- 123519: Fix taken at 12:35:19 UTC
- 4807.038,N: Latitude 48 deg 07.038' N
- 01131.000,E: Longitude 11 deg 31.000' E
- 1: Fix quality
- 0 = invalid
- 1 = GPS fix (SPS)
- 2 = DGPS fix
- 3 = PPS fix
- 4 = Real Time Kinematic
- 5 = Float RTK
- 6 = estimated (dead reckoning) (2.3 feature)
- 7 = Manual input mode
- 8 = Simulation mode
- 08: Number of satellites being tracked
- 0.9: Horizontal dilution of position
- 545.4,M: Altitude, Meters, above mean sea level
- 46.9,M: Height of geoid (mean sea level) above WGS84 ellipsoid
- (empty field) time in seconds since last DGPS update
- (empty field) DGPS station ID number
- *47: The checksum data, always begins with *
Note: If the height of geoid is missing, then the altitude should be queried. Some non-standard implementations report altitude with respect to the ellipsoid rather than geoid altitude. Some units do not report negative altitudes at all. This is the only sentence that reports altitude.
RMC
RMC (The Recommended Minimum) is NMEA's own version of essential GPS PVT (position, velocity, time) data. The sentences will look similar to:
$GPRMC,123519,A,4807.038,N,01131.000,E,022.4,084.4,230394,003.1,W*6A
Where:
- RMC: Recommended Minimum sentence C
- 123519: Fix taken at 12:35:19 UTC
- A: Status A=active or V=Void.
- 4807.038,N: Latitude 48 deg 07.038' N
- 01131.000,E: Longitude 11 deg 31.000' E
- 022.4: Speed over the ground in knots
- 084.4: Track angle in degrees True
- 230394: Date - 23rd of March 1994
- 003.1,W: Magnetic Variation
- *6A: The checksum data, always begins with *
Note: As of the 2.3 release of NMEA, there is a new field in the RMC sentence at the end just prior to the checksum. For more information on this field click here.
FAQs
MFi plan
To get your app added to the MFi plan, please contact support with the subject line 'Please supply the Racelogic MFi ID', and supply the following information:
- Company name
- App name (as shown on App Store)
- Bundle Identifier
- A description of the app
Once the above has been received and you are ready to submit your application, we will then provide you with a PPID.
Racelogic Protocols
The 'uk.co.racelogic.nmea' protocol is used for retrieving data in the Racelogic serial format from a VBOX Sport.
The 'uk.co.racelogic.vbox' protocol is used for sending commands to a VBOX Sport.
Connection Errors
- Reboot the VBOX Sport and your iOS device and try again.
- If that does not work, please download and follow the EA Demo example application supplied by Apple and ensure you can connect using this method.
- If you are still experiencing difficulties then please contact support
Parse Data in Racelogic Serial Format
Please download our sample code for an example of how to parse data in the Racelogic Serial Stream format. Ensure that your VBOX Sport is connected before running the application.
Download the sample code here
Please contact support if you have queries.