VBOX Touch - Lap Timing Mode

Lap Timing - Main Screen

This is the default lap timing screen and displays live Lap Timing information in relation to a set Start/Finish Line, Separate Start and Finish Lines or a Standing Start and Separate Finish Line, and a Reference Lap.
 

The screen is split in two halves:

• Left hand side:
  • Lap time: This will show either a live rolling lap time, or a static previous lap time, dependent on the Rolling Lap Time settings. If a rolling lap time is being displayed, the previous lap time will be displayed for 5 seconds when a new lap starts before reverting to displaying the current live lap time. If the start/finish line has yet to be crossed, the circuit name/layout will be displayed with a distance countdown to the start/finish line if the unit has a satellite lock. If Standing Start has been enabled, a 'Standing Start Mode Enabled' message is displayed. If no start/finish line been detected/defined, a 'No start line' warning will display.
  • Time difference to best lap: This is the time difference between the last completed lap time and the quickest lap time and is displayed dependent on the Rolling Lap Time settings. It will either display continuously if a static lap time is being displayed, or will appear for 5 seconds after a lap has been completed if a rolling lap time is being shown. If the start/finish line has yet to be crossed or a lap hasn't been completed, it will not be shown.
  • Reference lap time: Displays the current active reference lap time and will update when the reference lap is superseded by a faster lap-time, unless the Reference Lap is Fixed within the Settings. If a reference lap has been fixed, a padlock icon will show to the right of the reference lap heading. If a reference lap is being created, a rolling lap time will show.
     
• Right hand side:
  • Delta-T: Presents a live difference in lap time between the current lap time and the stored and active reference lap at the current location on track. If the detected speed drops below 10 km/h or the satellite reception is lost (less than 4 sats), the time comparison will freeze on the last known valid value until the speed is increased or the satellite reception is regained. If a reference lap is being created, a 'Creating a Reference Lap' message is displayed.
     
    • If the current lap is faster than the reference lap, the value will be signed negative and green in colour.
    • If the current lap is slower than the reference lap, the value will be signed positive and red in colour.
    • If the current lap is the same as the reference lap, the value will be unsigned and black in colour.
       
  • Session time: Total time passed within the session.
  • Completed lap count: Number of completed laps within the session.

Delta-V:

When there is a stored and active reference lap, the 4 LEDs at the top of the screen will provide a live reference lap speed comparison at the current location on track in relation to the Delta-V Range settings.

• If the current lap is faster than the reference lap, the LEDs will be green in colour.
• If the current lap is slower than the reference lap, the LEDs will be red in colour.
• If the current lap is the same speed as the reference lap, the LEDs will be off.

The main lap timing screen can be reset by pressing the Reset button at the bottom of the screen or by pressing and holding on the screen.

Lap Timing - Basic Screen

This lap timing screen displays a lap time in relation to a set Start/Finish Line, Separate Start and Finish Lines or a Standing Start and Separate Finish Line, and a Reference Lap.
 

• Lap time: This will show either a live rolling lap time, or a static previous lap time, dependent on the Rolling Lap Time settings. If a rolling lap time is being displayed, the previous lap time will be displayed for 5 seconds when a new lap starts before reverting to displaying the current live lap time. If the start/finish line has yet to be crossed, the circuit name/layout will be displayed with a distance countdown to the start/finish line if the unit has a satellite lock. If Standing Start has been enabled, a 'Standing Start Mode Enabled' message is displayed. If no start/finish line been detected/defined, a 'No start line' warning will display.
   
• Time difference to best lap: This is the time difference between the last completed lap time and the quickest lap time and is displayed dependent on the Rolling Lap Time settings. It will either display continuously if a static lap time is being displayed, or will appear for 5 seconds after a lap has been completed if a rolling lap time is being shown. If the start/finish line has yet to be crossed or a lap hasn't been completed, it will not be shown.

Select a Track

VBOX Touch has an inbuilt track database containing a vast number of circuits throughout the world, a list of the currently supported circuits can be found here. The unit will display the currently selected track based on the GPS location. If multiple layout are available, you can press the Select button to scroll through the different options. To choose a layout, press the desired option and then select the Confirm Button  on the bottom right of the screen, or press the Cancel Button  on the bottom left of the screen to return the Settings screen without saving. Note: If you press the Select button when you are not in the vicinity of a known track, the unit will display a NO LIST AVAILABLE message.

If the layout is changed, the LEDs will briefly flash green twice and the unit will emit an audible confirmation notification. The layout will be remembered after each power cycle if it is determined to be local to the detected location.

Note: When the selected track is changed, all existing lap timing values will be cleared and the new lap timing gates will be used.

Set Start/Finish Gate

Selecting the Set Start Gate option within the Lap Timing Settings manually set a start/finish line when moving, overwriting the line detected within the circuit layout. If you are defining a separate Finish Line, this gate will act as the Start Line only. More information about manually setting a start/finish line can be found above.

Note: The vehicle must be moving >0.8 km/h and the unit have satellite lock to set a Start/Finish Line.

Set Finish Gate

Selecting the Set Finish Gate option within the Lap Timing Settings will manually set a Finish line when moving, overwriting the finish line detected within the circuit layout. A separate finish line must be set if you are using Standing Start Mode. More information about manually setting Finish line can be found above.

Note: The vehicle must be moving >0.8 km/h and the unit have satellite lock to set a Finish Line.

Clear Finish Gate

(Only selectable if a Finish gate has been set)

Selecting the Clear Finish Gate option within the Lap Timing Settings will clear the separate Finish line and will use the active Start line as a combined Start/Finish line. A screen will be displayed, allowing you to cancel the finish line clear within 5 seconds by repressing the screen. If the finish line is cleared, the LEDs will briefly flash green twice and the unit will emit an audible confirmation notification.

Clear finish line cancellation screen

Notes:

• When the finish gate is cleared, all existing lap timing values and lap history will be cleared.
• If finish line setting is cancelled, any live lap prediction for the current lap may be lost and unavailable for use.

Load a Track Database

The Track Database installed within the VBOX Touch is updated whenever a new firmware file is uploaded on to the unit. However, you can also independently update the Track Database by pressing the Load Track Database button within the Lap Timing Settings. If an SD card is detected and a saved .tdb or .bdb track database file is located within the root directory of the SD card (not in the media or any other folder), the unit will start to load the file, which will update the tracks list but not overwrite any existing track information.

Progress of the track database update will be displayed via the LEDs; each lit LED will represent 25% of the process with all LEDs extinguishing when the process is complete.

This area also displays the currently installed track database version information.

More information on loading a Track Database can be found here.

Lap Timing Gates

Gate Width

It is possible to change the width of the Start/Finish line gate by pressing the value box and then using the keypad presented. To save the value inputted, press the Confirm Button  on the bottom right of the screen, or press the Cancel Button  on the bottom left of the screen to return the Settings screen without saving. The default setting is 25 m / 82 ft and is selectable from 3 – 100 m / 10 – 330 ft. The value will be remembered after each power cycle. Note: Width can be entered up to 1 decimal place.

Gate Width Keypad Example

This option is particularly useful if the VBOX Touch is not detecting the correct number of laps. When racing at a very narrow circuit where the pit lane is right next to the start line, it could be possible to trigger lap timing within the pit lane, giving an incorrect number of laps.

Rolling Lap Time

If enabled, the Main Lap Timing Screen or Basic Lap Timing Screen will display the current live lap time. When a new lap starts, the previous lap time will be displayed for 5 seconds before reverting to displaying the current live lap time. When disabled, the previous lap time will be displayed.

Note: Enabled by default.

Standing Start

When Standing Start is Enabled, VBOX Touch can use the position at the start of movement to trigger lap timing. This is particularly suitable for sprint style events. In this mode, Lap Timing will only stop at a defined Finish Gate. With standing start enabled, any existing Start/Finish or start gate will be ignored. Once enabled, the LEDs will briefly flash green twice and the unit will emit an audible confirmation notification. You are then required to return to a Lap Timing Screen by pressing the Exit Button  on the bottom left. When stationary (<0.5 km/h) for 2 consecutive seconds, an activation screen will display, requiring you to wait 5 seconds before moving the vehicle. Pressing the screen, moving or losing satellite lock before the standing start activation period has expired will cancel the feature.

Standing start activated cancellation screen

Once the activation period has expired, a 'Standing Start Mode Armed' screen will display, notifying you that the unit is ready for movement. Pressing the screen will take you back in to the Lap Timing Settings menu.   Once vehicle movement is detected (>0.5 km/h), VBOX Touch will assign the Start gate at 90° to the detected heading. Lap Timing will only complete once a defined separate Finish Gate is crossed.

Standing start armed notification screen

Delta-V Range

The brightness of the LED feedback in relation to the Delta-V speed can be adjusted. 3 options are available; 2 km/h / 1.2 mph, 5 km/h / 3.1 mph (default) and 10 km/h / 6.2 mph and they relate to the maximum speed difference at which the LEDs are brightest.

Using the default 5 km/h setting as an example:
 

Alternatively, if 10 km/h is selected and the current lap is 5 km/h quicker than the reference lap, LEDs will show dull green as it is halfway to the maximum value.

Tap the buttons to change the setting.

Reset Data

Selecting this option will reset the lap timing data, lap time history and reference lap. Once Reset is selected, a cancel timeout screen will display, allowing you to cancel the reset within 5 seconds by pressing the screen. After 5 seconds, the LEDs will briefly flash green twice and the unit will emit an audible confirmation notification.

Fix the Reference Lap

This option will fix the current reference lap. When fixed, the stored reference lap will not update if a faster lap is achieved. If there is no stored reference lap, the next complete lap will be used as the fixed reference lap. Alternatively, you can fix the reference lap by triple tapping on the Main Lap Timing Screen. If triple tapping, a cancel timeout screen will display, allowing you to cancel the fixing within 5 seconds by pressing the screen.
 

When a reference lap has been fixed, a padlock icon will show to the right of the reference lap on the Main Lap Timing Screen.
 

To unfix a reference lap, select Enabled. Alternatively, you can also unfix the reference lap by triple tapping on the Main Lap Timing Screen. If triple tapping, a cancel timeout screen will display, allowing you to cancel the unfixing within 5 seconds by pressing the screen.

Reference Lap

Ignore Short Laps

It is possible to choose to ignore short laps from creating the reference lap. Enabling will let you enter a minimum lap time that is acceptable to be used as a reference lap. To change the time, press the value box and then use the keypad presented.

Minimum Lap Time Keypad Example

To save the value inputted, press the Confirm Button  on the bottom right of the screen, or press the Cancel Button  on the bottom left of the screen to return the Settings screen without saving. The default setting is 60 s and is selectable from 10 – 86400 s. The value will be remembered after each power cycle.

Note: Time can only be inputted as a whole number.

Ignore Double Distance Laps

By default (Disabled), a new reference lap will be created if the lap distance is more than double the stored reference lap. This is useful if you are perhaps warming up on a smaller part of a longer circuit (for example the Nurburgring circuit and Nordschleife) and you want the reference lap to update once you have moved on to the longer circuit.

Alternatively, this option can be Enabled, meaning that the reference lap will not update when the lap distance is more than double the stored reference lap. This can be useful in circumstances such as when the in-lap may cover more than double the distance of the reference lap.

Save Results

You can also save the lap history as a .txt or .csv file (dependent on the option selected) to the SD card by selecting the Save Button  on the bottom of the screen. When pressed, the unit will emit an audible confirmation notification. If the results have been saved unsuccessfully, for example no SD card is inserted or the card is full, the button will flash 3 times and VBOX Touch will emit an audible error notification.

If saved successfully, the file name will include the date and the time when saved. Along with the lap history information described above, the results file also incudes the date and the time when saved.