FAQS

What is so special about a color graphics screen?
Our data logging race dashes use color graphics to clearly display engine vitals, tachometer, sensor data, lap times, and much more. The race, qualify, and sensor screens display engine vitals, lap/split times, predictive lap times, alarms and much more all in a graphical manner so both the driver and the crew can make quick use of the information. The bright colors make it easy for the driver to quickly identify the information they are looking for and get back to driving. Our competiors use old, alarm clock style displays that fade in the sunlight and are hard to read.

What is Exact Track Mapping and how is it better than other track mapping methods?
R.L.C. Exact Track™ mapping using high speed 5 or 10 Hz GPS with differential correction is the most accurate way to map a complete track session or even just a single lap. Exact Track™ lets you see your exact race line for each lap within the width of the actual track. You can download different track maps from our web site or you can share them with your friends. To create a new track map you simply drive the track twice, once with your tires on the left side of the track and once with your tires on the right side of the track. Being able to see your exact lap line within the confines of the actual track lets you easily identify the fastest lap line and help reduce your lap times dramatically. Use session overlays so you can compare your car’s data to another session or another driver and see why you were running better or worse. You are also able to zoom in on different parts of the track to analyze your race line and data even more closely; don’t worry if you are zoomed in on the track and you replay the race, the window automatically pans so you never lose the car. Some of our competitors offer GPS but we invite you to compare their track maps to R.L.C.'s and draw your own conclusion. Other competitors use older G force track mapping. A PC is used to average G force and speed data to generate a single map to represent all completed laps. G-force sytle track mapping is inaccurate and can be off as much as 30 feet.

Everyone claims to have lap timing and predictive/split lap timing, what makes yours different?.
Predictive lap and split timing has never been so easy. Times are displayed in large, pop-up bright graphic numbers so the driver can’t miss them. Predictive/Split and standard lap timing are done 100% with GPS. GPS gives the most precise predictive and split lap timing available in the industry. No beacons are needed. Some companies claim to have predicitve and split lap timing but the times are displayed in a small area of the screen making it extremely hard to see it while driving your car. Other companies claime they achieve predictive lap timing by using a software algorithium based on wheel speed, time and distance rather than GPS. Again without the accuracy of GPS, your times will be off.

How is your synchronized video really differnt than other companies?
Synchronized video is available on the Micro Pod™ and Chase Commander™ units by simply plugging the video camera system into the second serial port. Unlike other race systems, the Micro Pod™ and Chase Commander™ units completely controls the camera system. It will start recording when you reach a certain pre-set speed and stop recording when your speed falls below that pre-set speed. This way you will never waste precious recording time while in the hot pits or forget to press record. The Micro Pod™ and Chase Commander™ units embed the data being taken out on the track into the video file so you have truly synchronized video. The video file can be played in the RLC Race Analyzer software or on any standard device that plays .MPG files. With RLC’s synchronized video, there’s no more pressing play at the same time or trying to overlay two different files. Competitors that claim they have synchronized video do not generate true synchronized video. Instead they try to link up the videofile to the data file by audio tones or they overlay the data file onto the video file. Trying to link up two different files is not true synchroinzed video and you will notice that the data can be different than the video.

Are the shift lights standard?
The R.L.C. Micro Pod Lite and Sport provides eight (8), the Pro X and Pro S provides sixteen (16) dual color high intensity sunlight readable built-in shift lights. Shift lights are dimmable to user preference for use at night. Our competitors either offer shift lights as an expensive add-on that takes up one of your digital output channels or they have them built in but they are not dimmable for nighttime use.

What kind of data logging memory do your units offer?
The R.L.C. dash loggers come with two (2) Gigabytes of standard on-board memory to store dozens and dozens of tracks sessions. That could be an entire racing season logged on your unit without writing over any existing file! Each session is automatically dated and time stamped for future reference. All engine vitals, analog and digital input channels, GPS data, and CAN data can be logged at any of the selectable sample rates. Data is automatically over sampled by four times and averaged to give you extremely accurate results. Our competitors have no where near the memory that our units have. Many competitors record data in a first in first out format. Data can be lost if not uploaded to a PC using a custom cable after each session.

How accurate is the data being logged?
The R.L.C. Micro Pod™ and Chase Commander™ units provide high speed extremely accurate 10 Bit resolution data that has been over sampled four times (4x) and averaged prior to logging. This feature guarantees the most accurate data possible. Many of our competitors do not offer data logging on their dash, instead you have to purchase an expensive data logging box, without it your dash would be useless.

How do I off-load my data?
The R.L.C. Micro Pod™ and Chase Commander™ units simply need a standard USB FLASH stick to download your data. We include a USB stick with every Micro Pod™ and Chase Commander™ unit and if you lose it, pick one up at your local office store. Plug the USB stick into the USB port on the Micro Pod™ and Chase Commander™ units and your logged sessions will instantly be downloaded to your USB stick. Now all you have to do is plug the USB stick into our PC and analyze your data on our RLC Race Analyzer Software. Our competitors make you buy expensive cables in order to download your data and you have to download it onto a PC otherwise you will lose your logged session files because they don't have enough memory.

What can I use the digital outputs for?
The R.L.C. Micro Pod™ units provide flexible digital outputs that can be set by the user to turn on fans or other devices and functions as alarms and limits for any digital or analog inputs. Some of our competitors offer digital outputs but they are used for shift lights.

What is the big deal about your connectivity?
Standard features such as USB ports, CAN Bus, SD Cards, and Serial Ports provides endless opportunities for system expansion and ease of use. Off-load your race files from your Micro Pod™ and Chase Commander™ units by plugging a standard USB FLASH stick into your unit. Add GPS to your Micro Pod™ and Chase Commander™ units by plugging it into the serial port for the most accurate track mapping, lap/split timing, or predictive lap timing. Connect an ECU to your unit by plugging it into the CAN bus. Want extra memory...replace the existing 2 GB SD card with a larger one. Not one of our competitors has anything that can be compared when it comes to connectivity. Without the connectivity, they cannot support features such as file management and file formats that are compatible to the standard PC compatible file system.

The sensor screens are neat but how can they help me?
The R.L.C. Micro Pod™ units provide on-screen graphical and numerical calibration displays for all connected sensors. These screens can be used on and off the track to calibrate the sensors or fine tune the race car without the need of a PC. The screens can also be used to easily verify that the sensors are all working before wasting expensive track time. Not one of our competitors has anything that can be compared when it comes to this feature because no one but R.L.C. provides a method of displaying, verifying and calibrating sensors without the use of a PC.

How do I know if something is wrong with my car?
The R.L.C. Micro Pod™ units provide warning screens that CANNOT BE MISSED! We allow you to set an inital warning level where you would like to be alerted of a potenital danger and a final warning screen at which point you want to get your car off the track ASAP before you harm something. Not one of our competitors has anything that can be compared when it comes to this feature because no one but R.L.C. provides a color graphics display. Simple black and white displays or single LEDs are not visible enough to grab the drivers attention before blowing an engine.

What is the instant replay feature?
The R.L.C. Micro Pod™ units provide an on-screen, easy to use instant replay feature that allows you to replay any logged session on the unit using any and all available screens. This is a big plus when it comes to setting up your car and making quick adjustments when a PC just isn't practical. (No Laptop Computer Required) Not one of our competitors has anything that can be compared when it comes to this feature because no one but R.L.C. provides instant replay of any track session without the use of a PC. After you choose the session you want to replay, you can switch to any of our screens, including the race screen, qualify screen or any of the many sensor screens. You can control replay just like a VCR. ( Forward, Slow, Fast, Reverse, Rewind, Pause)

All comparisons and statements were based on manufacturer's data sheets, information posted at their web site, and opinions of RLC. If a mistake is brought to our attention and we can verify the information, we will make changes as necessary. We recommend that you do your own research as well before making a final decision.