SmartRace Thread - Home for FAQ and Discussion of Marc B's App for BT AppConnect

[edmagner]

This is a thread for FAQ's and general discussion of Marc Bonsel's excellent SmartRace Timing and Scoring App for Apple & Android smart devices that uses the AppConnect Bluetooth device to connect with Carrera D132/D124. The App is available through the Apple Store for iOS and Google Play for Android.

Link to SmartRace website

https://www.smartrace.de/en/

[AG Randy]

First off, great app that keeps getting better. I hope he makes enough to make it worth the time because it fills a gap the the OEM seems to have no real interest in.
I would love to see a call/pause integrated into the driver station. I have call buttons hardwired but a software solution would be great.
Anyone have issues with lag when connected to a larger screen. Casting/air play certainly do but I have not tried hardwire.

[MX5]

I just added a SmartRace feature request for ability to export / print qualifying and race results. All in all, it’s a great app.

UPDATE:
Marc replied that SmartRace will not create a printing feature, but the HIstory feature is a work-around solution. I have not tried it yet, though.

[TRU]

I have not yet tried Smartrace. I hear good things, but I wonder about sharing bandwidth within a WiFi network.

What issues have people had with sharing bandwidth within your network. I would imagine I might have some difficulty with response time from the app when my son is gaming or when wife or daughter are streaming their Netflix.

Anybody had issues with competing for bandwidth?

Thanks,

TRU

[LastHobbyPromise]

Love SmartRace! Just keeps getting better. Just one question, what size picture do I need when importing? Everything comes in w/front & rear bumper chopped off.

[TRU]

I believe I read somewhere the image needs to be at a 4:3 ratio.

[TRU]

I have recently transistioned from HSSRMS to Smartrace. Overall very please with Smartrace. Although the analog method of counting with image hotspot appears to be working well only about 50% of the time I try to use it. Anybody else having issues with the analog mode? If so, what are some issues you have had and solutions?

Marc has been very responsive through his web site for support... But it would be nice to find a source such as this forum with more active participation in English. Are there other sources that have more English language communications between users? Looks like this thread does not get much activity.

Current analog time issues. Olny about a 50% success rate with the Analog Mode.

• Lane hotspot changes to PIT before starting race.
• Hotspot does not always detect car on start and during race.
• Hotspot does not always detect car in pit.
• Hotspot does not always start refueling after car enters and detected.

Anybody have a different lap detection method they are using with Smartrace analog mode?


Thanks
TRU

[Sb332]

I have found the same issues with the analog mode. I’m guessing you have a TEKSlots? I tried the mod where you add an LED from the chip shining up directly next to the sensor in the CU track. Placing a piece of reflective tape on your analog cars triggers the lap counting. It works surprisingly well on 99% of my cars. The only issues I have is with Thunderslots, I can’t find a good place to put the tape, if it’s too close to the track surface it doesn’t work.

[supertramp]

We too are switching over to Smartrace as HSSRMS has not worked out for us. Hope Smartrace is easier as HSSRMS is not user friendly for dumb----- like us.

[TRU]

We too are switching over to Smartrace as HSSRMS has not worked out for us. Hope Smartrace is easier as HSSRMS is not user friendly for dumb----- like us.

I have all the respect for Yingling's HSSRMS. It brought much enjoyment for over a decade and was was innovative in the RMS community.... As with all the RMS applications there is a learning curve. Hat's off to Bruce on his great application over the years. I switched just because I felt is was time for a change of something new and more updated to today's technologies. I think my old windows machine had just run its course and had some bugs causing repetitive problems.

[TRU]

I have found the same issues with the analog mode. I’m guessing you have a TEKSlots? I tried the mod where you add an LED from the chip shining up directly next to the sensor in the CU track. Placing a piece of reflective tape on your analog cars triggers the lap counting. It works surprisingly well on 99% of my cars. The only issues I have is with Thunderslots, I can’t find a good place to put the tape, if it’s too close to the track surface it doesn’t work.

Yes using TekSlots and very happy with the product and customer service. In some communication with Smartrace, it is my understanding there may be a "light bridge" that could be integrated via a bluetooth connection coming in the future. Smartrace is in communication with someone to develop a light bridge and get the two to talk together. Might be a year out.

TRU

[Sb332]

That would be great actually. I really like the smart race app for tracking stats so to combine that with a dedicated light bridge sounds good!

[rustymike12]

I just found this discussion, and if I could add my experience with Smartrace and analog? Don't. I have found it to be much more enjoyable to use Smartrace for digital, and use Trakmate for analog. Yes two timing systems but it is more satisfying to use both in my experience. I had a Tekslot, but I blew two of them and have switched to Omnislotbox with great results.

[supertramp]

what is a cheap android tablet with google-play store app and also has a output for mirroring to large video monitor ? needed for Smartrace

[TRU]

what is a cheap android tablet with google-play store app and also has a output for mirroring to large video monitor ? needed for Smartrace

What do you mean by cheap?

I bought this in Feb. for $212. Its gone up to $219.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09N3YS882/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

I screencast from tablet to my Samsung TV that is also wireless on the same wifi network. Saved me money on not having to buy an HDMI cable and adapter to wire direct. All has worked really well.

TRU

[TRU]

Need help using Chromebook with SmartRace Connect in Analog Mode. Using the Chromebook for control center works fine. But when I try to go to analog mode and use the Chromebook the LOADING icon just spins. Not sure if this is a camera permissions level or an IP configuration issue. I want to try to use Chromebook with a boom camera directly over the track rather than angled with my droid phone. When using my droid phone, the results were not desirable. Many missed laps with droid. Also cars not being detected in pit much of the time. Perhaps using a boom cam over top of the track will allow for settings to work better. I don't know. Anyways, has anybody gotten a Chromebook to work with SmartRace analog mode? Perhaps there are specific settings and/or IP config that needs to happen?

Thanks,

TRU