Hey guys, I'm not sure this is the correct forum for this question, but it seems about right. I'm working on a solution for sharing data and results in real time at the track.

We're using a PC based systems with RC Scoring Pro as our software. I know we can run a projector to show what's on the computer screen at any given time, but I'm wondering about sharing other data, like race results and heat sheets. It's sometimes difficult to get away from the pit table to the wall with all the paper taped to it. I'm thinking of anything from a projection or display setup to broadcasting the information over WiFi so it can be picked up by computers or smartphones.

If you have any ideas or know of any existing solutions, let me know. Thanks.

Jim

Perhaps get your track on LiveRC. Here is a pic of pit guys following the scoring:


I think this "LiveRC.com" thing is catching on...

Not sure if wifi is the best option, doesn't that use the same frequencies as the 2.4GHz radios? Could widespread wifi use cause radio problems?

I would not think so, any place you go has a flood of 2.4 ghz signals as it is. Not just WiFi but cordless phones, and almost any cell phone I see has that feature turned on.

As Dave suggested, LiveRC is pretty cool, even when you're actively racing at the track. We have a couple of small monitors setup in the pit area and last night, we hung a 42" flat screen above the pit area. Its nice...not only can you see what race is taking place, you can see how the guys are doing, how much time is left, etc. Also, the data remains active on LiveRC's website until the next race. You can always pull up the results when you get home and see how you did.

FYI, we tried a projector and screen at our track and it didn't work too well. Our pit area is lit up well and the screen was washed out and very hard to see. Several small monitors and a couple of bigger flat screens worked out much better

At our local Hobbytown we installed a bunch of LCD monitors that people donated. We just run them from a monitor splitter. The splitter and cables were purchased from monoprice.com and came in under 200 dollars. We have 5 monitors mounted on the walls in the pit and drivers lane for people to see the results and keep track of the next race.

Live RC isn't an option, unfortunately. The hall where we race is rather protective of their wifi. I think it will need to be some kind of incorporated wifi/server solution.

Hi Monkeyracing,

Have you considered using a data card to get Internet? You could run LiveRC on that and people could check on their mobile phones. You can get a data card for about $20 a month with a small data package. If you dont stream video, you could stream the results and use very little data.

-Brandon

The track I co-operate, we use Alycat for scoring. There is all kinds of developed stuff, including scoreboard ( tv turned sideways). I have read on their forums, where tracks in Australia run a server and Alycat has live feed to the server, and people access it with their phones (similar to live rc). Making your own server and making it wifi is cheap. I dont know all the details, but it may be worth looking into as an alternative.

You can also call RC Scoring Pro and see what they can do to help you out. Most software guys are willing to help out in any way they can.

I finally got out facility to allow me wifi access and I've been in touch with the guys at liverc. Things are starting to progress. Now I need to see if our tech guy can get our race computer up to speed and broadcasting a signal for us.

I would like to see this go a step further. I would like to see RC Scoring software with read-only network access to our transponder results. AKA a results APP.

This would be a specific access to the system - a database query that I put in my transponder # and it gives me a list of results that the APP can display on my phone.

SO for example.. If you have a track that has a scoring system, you can view your last heat, race, raceday, or and this is the important one.. because god know the employee does not want to do this manually on off days.. Practice session results!!

Why ask? hey can you print my results etc.. its a matter of setting up a hotspot, a password to the APP server - a routine in the main scoring software to download results to the database.. because a seperate database is more secure when you have external access.

I go to a track now.. everyone is on their phone.. I am surprised no scoring software has an APP yet.

James

im sure someone in your group has a iphone with personal hotspot. i dont imagine the race data would take a lot of bandwidth to update. turn on personal hotspot, setup the computer to use it as wifi and setup liverc.

I just back into rc but have been wondering if any tracks have started monitoring not just lap times but sections as well, just like real racing....although the data recording devices are extremely expensive. I figured they can use the signal pickup from the personal transponder in maybe 4 sections of the track.

The most expensive part of lap scoring equipment is the loop decoder. For each "section" of track there needs to be a separate loop and encoder. These encoders are thousands of dollars each.