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RaceMX-M3
03-10-2009, 08:57 PM
If you're not familiar with the Performance Box, this is by far the most valuable and versatile tool I have ever seen for evaluating the performance of my cars and the impact of various mods. You can get instant times for 0-60, 0-100, 60-130, 1/4 mile times or any other variation you can imagine. The DFWAC maintains an official list of member's 60-130 times HERE (http://dfwautoclub.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2). If anyone is interested in purchasing one of these let me know - I can get a discount through HPF.

PerformanceBox as a Performance Meter






http://www.performancebox.co.uk/Images/Viper_Accel.jpgNot only is the new PerformanceBox the most sophisticated Performance meter on the market, but it is also one of the simplest to use, with many features normally found only on professional test equipment. You can quickly measure the acceleration, braking and cornering performance of your car without having to set anything up beforehand, and there is no need to perform any calibration. Because PerformanceBox is based on GPS, you get so much more for your money than just a simple performance meter.




PerformanceBox uses a GPS system with an update rate of 10 samples per second, which is the fastest GPS engine in its class. From this you get a very accurate speed (±0.1kmh), cornering g-force, acceleration g-force and a very accurate distance measurement (±10cm in 400m).
PerformanceBox is based on VBOX (http://www.racelogic.co.uk/vbox) technology, which has been used all round the world by the majority of motor manufacturers for a number of years to measure speed, distance and aceleration.
Sample screens
http://www.performancebox.co.uk/images/p1.gifhttp://www.performancebox.co.uk/images/p2.gifhttp://www.performancebox.co.uk/images/p3.gifhttp://www.performancebox.co.uk/images/p4.gif
http://www.performancebox.co.uk/images/p5.gifhttp://www.performancebox.co.uk/images/p6.gifhttp://www.performancebox.co.uk/images/p7.gifhttp://www.performancebox.co.uk/images/p8.gif



Using PerformanceBox as a performance meter could not be simpler, you connect it to your cigar lighter socket, wait a few seconds to get GPS lock, put it into 'Performance Mode' and drive!


To swap between the 6 different performance meter screens, simply press the up and down arrows.


Performance ranges and units are fully user adjustable, which means if you want to measure a specific acceleration or deceleration range, for example 35-65, then this is very easy to do.


http://www.performancebox.co.uk/images/performancebox-accel.jpghttp://www.performancebox.co.uk/images/DriftBox_Angles.gifPerformance meter features


Speed kmh or mph
Distance metres or feet
4 accel ranges - 2 adjustable
2 decel ranges - 2 adjustable
4 distance ranges (1/4 mile etc)
1 foot rollout option
Peak g-force
Top speed
Average speed
SD card logging
Quarter mile testing

http://www.performancebox.co.uk/images/Quarter_Mile_Distance1.gifhttp://www.performancebox.co.uk/images/Quarter_Mile_Distance2.gif
Using PerformanceBox to measure your 1/4 mile is very easy, simply scroll the screen to the 1/4 mile screen, and then go! The elapsed time and trap speed are then both displayed in real time on the PerformanceBox screen. You can choose to make this measurement either with or without the NHRA 1 foot rollout method.
The 1/4 mile times measured by PerformanceBox are accurate to within 0.1s. After an acceleration run, you can download your data from the SD card and overlay a previous run to see where you lost or gained time.
To view a test report comparing the quarter mile capabilities of PerformanceBox against a leading competitor click here (http://www.performancebox.co.uk/download/GTECHvPB_Test.pdf).


http://www.performancebox.co.uk/images/drag-lights.jpg







Who uses PerformanceBox?PerformanceBoxes are now being used by to measure acceleration, braking, and lap times by many car and bike magazines, such as EVO, AutoExpress, Autocar, Redline, Max Power, Banzai, Japanese Performance, Performance BMW, Car & Driver, Performance Bikes, Ride, to name only a few.




For a video demonstration of the performance test capabilities of the PerformanceBox, please click here (http://www.performancebox.co.uk/download/performance-meter.mpg). Using the supplied software and an SD flash card, you can download the speed/time/distance/acceleration data from PerformanceBox via USB and analyse it using the PerformanceTools analysis software:http://www.performancebox.co.uk/images/accel-graph.gifhttp://www.performancebox.co.uk/images/graph-data.gifAnother very powerful feature is the ability to export your PerformanceBox position files to Google Earth, allowing you to plot your vehicle's path onto a satellite image of the area.

http://www.performancebox.co.uk/images/paul-ricard.jpg


A PerformanceBox file taken around Paul Ricard imported into Google Earth


http://www.performancebox.co.uk/images/GoogleEarth-Lugano.jpg


A PerformanceBox file logged during a journey over a mountain pass in Switzerland

Mr.Big
03-11-2009, 07:03 AM
Scott, please post, or p.m., the price for one of these, I'll be in the market as soon as I'm finished at the TxMile, so put me down for one the first of April... I've been searching Ebay and other related sites for the best price on one for a while, I think they are pretty neat...:thumbsup2:

snowball
03-11-2009, 12:05 PM
Does the NHRA have any ongoing opinion of this VBOX? :questionmark:

Not to confuse it with their opinion of the more known about Video Game VBOX. Why did they choose to call it a "VBOX" - that just makes it so confusing!!! And opens it up for downright ridicule. :dontknow:

RaceMX-M3
03-11-2009, 08:02 PM
Scott, please post, or p.m., the price for one of these, I'll be in the market as soon as I'm finished at the TxMile, so put me down for one the first of April... I've been searching Ebay and other related sites for the best price on one for a while, I think they are pretty neat...:thumbsup2:

Retail is $499, I can get $50 off. Please let me know if anyone finds a better price.

RaceMX-M3
03-11-2009, 08:03 PM
Does the NHRA have any ongoing opinion of this VBOX? :questionmark:

Not to confuse it with their opinion of the more known about Video Game VBOX. Why did they choose to call it a "VBOX" - that just makes it so confusing!!! And opens it up for downright ridicule. :dontknow:

I'm not familiar with the video game.

snowball
03-12-2009, 09:40 AM
I'm not familiar with the video game.

Scott, it is not a game, but is associated with the switching of Video for video games and other assessories when you have too many video outputs and not enough inputs. Even today as more games have adopted HD, we need even more HD inputs.

HD Gaming Vbox:
SWITCHING BETWEEN COMPUTER & CONSOLES
HD Gaming Pro is designed with Component (Ypbpr) input & VGA input, and two audio inputs. Let you switch between computer and game console easily, audios can be switched too.Get out from mussy cables.

http://www.hdgamingpro.com/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/HD_GAMING_VBOX_49492758c182a.jpg

It all started years ago when Sony introduced a way of doing video switching using their Control-L connector to initiate the switching. The name VBox has just stayed around and is thus associated with video switching.

Vbox Definition from ZDNet (http://dictionary.zdnet.com/definition/Vbox.html)

VBox definition from online free dictionary (http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Vbox)

Definition for: Vbox
(Video BOX) A hardware interface from Sony that attaches up to seven VCRs, videodiscs, video games, and camcorders to the serial port. Devices must have the Control-L (LANC) connector.

ccompton
03-28-2009, 12:08 AM
Retail is $499, I can get $50 off. Please let me know if anyone finds a better price.

That's pretty good, I think has the lowest price ($499), err except for yours.

Carlos
03-29-2009, 12:32 AM
Retail is $499, I can get $50 off. Please let me know if anyone finds a better price.

I shot off an email to the distributor. Probably won't hear back until Monday or Tuesday. Hopefully no minimums required. Will let y'all know if my company can get them cheaper.

RaceMX-M3
03-29-2009, 01:12 AM
I shot off an email to the distributor. Probably won't hear back until Monday or Tuesday. Hopefully no minimums required. Will let y'all know if my company can get them cheaper.

I think you have to buy them in bulk if you want a discount.

TiptronicSoldier
03-29-2009, 01:22 PM
I used it once and my data was all messed up, what was that about?

Carlos
03-30-2009, 04:09 PM
I think you have to buy them in bulk if you want a discount.

Heard back from the distrubutor. Would have to order 10 or more to get a deeper discount than the $50 off Scott can get from HPF.

RaceMX-M3
04-16-2009, 12:17 AM
I used it once and my data was all messed up, what was that about?

You were trying to cheat? :laugh: