G-Tech pro Competion

[WRX 2002]

Does anyone have any feedback on the new G-tech, the old one kinda sucked, wouldn't stay level and hard to remember how to use as it was limited in size etc.

The new one looks very interesting with a LCD screen and graphing capabilities.

Like to know of any experiences for or against before purchasing.

Thanks, Nigel.

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[2Stroke]

I've had one for just over a year now, and have been very pleased with it.

Bumping an old thread here to note that there is new firmware for the GTech Pro Competition meter that allows continuous recording of lateral g-force for up to 90 minutes at 20 samples/second, or 3 hours at 10 samples/sec. The firmware it came with didn't allow for recording of anyhing but acceleration and braking runs. It had cornering lights that came on at a user specified lateral load, but could not record this.

Everything in this post applies only to the "Competition" model. The original "GTechPro" is not upgradable.

The Comp model itself is discontinued, having been superceded by an SS model and an RR (Road Race?) model. I don't know much about the new models other than that they also do lateral g recording. This firmware is said to give the Competition model most of the functionality of the new ones.

The recordings consist of longitudial force, lateral force, time, and RPM. They can be viewed graphically on a PC with version 2 of the GTech software, or on the GTech itself, but I didn't try that.

The PC software lets you zoom into sections of the graph and overlay a run on top of others, including successive laps in the same recording (I think). There's a "lap" function that looks like it would do this, but my data was not from successive laps, so I can't say for sure.

The firmware and PC software are free, and can be downloaded at their website.

The Competition model self levels by doing a short, straight acceleration run. You can mount it at any angle, like pointing toward the driver, and one hard launch, i.e. 0-30 is enough to allow it to self level and know which way is forward for the vehicle.

There are a few other new features, like pitch compensation which they say improves accuracy during acceleration runs, and makes timing and power calculations more accurate.

I don't work for them, just thought I'd post a notice that this is available.

[Sevaru]

How does this compare to the new Passport G meter?

[2Stroke]

I can't answer your question, as I know nothing about the Passport meter.

My post is about a free firmware and software upgrade for a GTech model that is no longer in production or available for sale. Lots of people have them, and with the upgrade, they can be used for data logging on a road course or in an autox. None of the GTech units had this capability when they were purchased by end users.

[afpdl]

There is also software at slip-angle.com that you can use the data to map out the course and view everything a bit easier.

[elgorey]

if you are talking about the new RR version, IMO for the money a mychron is far superior

[trojan9x]

care to share a link to this mychron? search has found me nothing useful whatsoever.

[srf]

One of the results from Google:

http://www.cometkartsales.com/store/gauges/mychron3.htm

[TyrannoSullyRex]

Originally Posted by elgorey

if you are talking about the new RR version, IMO for the money a mychron is far superior

I your gonna spend that kind of money then might as well go to the Qwikdata or a MaxQData.

[trojan9x]

Originally Posted by srf

One of the results from Google:

http://www.cometkartsales.com/store/gauges/mychron3.htm

I saw that, but in what way is that even closely related to the gtech?

seems more like an all-in-one gauge cluster/data logger. Unless it does more than what it says on that website?

I think they serve two different purposes.

[tooocool49723]

Originally Posted by elgorey

if you are talking about the new RR version, IMO for the money a mychron is far superior

Mychron is a digital guage cluster with a few add ons. the Gtech Pro Comp (the old one, NOT the RR or the SS) is an accelerometer, which measures g-foreces, and acceleration, then turns that into useful data through equations, yeilding things such as HP, torque, etc. (also it takes in RPM through the electrical system of the car).

I haven't had any experience with any of these, but have thought about getting the gtech pro comp many times. Havent thought/researched the new RR or SS ones yet though, as those are out of my price range.

EDIT: after looking at g-tech's website for all of 2 minutes, it's become very apparent that the SS is a step down from the comp, and the RR is a step up. How apparent is it? Gtech Pro comp = $250 retail. SS=$200, and RR=$300. Not only that, but the pro comp has all the capabilities of the SS plus the datalogging, and connector cable of the RR.

(still scouring ebay for a cheap pro comp, lol)

[trojan9x]

It also has the software to analyse all the date you get in a nice neat package.

[elgorey]

Originally Posted by TyrannoSullyRex

I your gonna spend that kind of money then might as well go to the Qwikdata or a MaxQData.

Mychron3 basic is only $350 which is similar to the gtech in price (the RR, as I said), although on second thought it is probably not really comparable to the Gtech unit since they have very different functionality.
I cant help but think anything you strap on to your windshield to be not much more than a gimmick.

personally I wouldnt use anything that depends on a fragile PDA in a racecar, and Ive never heard of Qwikdata which is not surprising considering it looks like to be aimed at drag racers

In the paddock at any club race, I see more Mychrons than anything else, its a fantastic value for what you get, extremely expandable, has data logging as well as in car gauges and sensors, lap times, split times, g data/accelerometer, etc

Originally Posted by tooocool49723

Mychron is a digital guage cluster with a few add ons. the Gtech Pro Comp (the old one, NOT the RR or the SS) is an accelerometer, which measures g-foreces, and acceleration, then turns that into useful data through equations, yeilding things such as HP, torque, etc. (also it takes in RPM through the electrical system of the car).

The mychron has full data acquisition as well as accelerometers and track mapping and of course the gauges and laptimers. ( the higher end models, which is probably out of scope of this thread)
I was referring to the Gtech RR (which i thought was the original question) which has also added some data acq and logging along with its accelerometer, so the functionality between the two units do overlap.

slightly more on-topic, I know for a while the original Gtech was on blowout everywhere, and could be had for less than $100. Not sure if that is still the case, but for that amount it is probably worth it.

[afpdl]

Originally Posted by elgorey

slightly more on-topic, I know for a while the original Gtech was on blowout everywhere, and could be had for less than $100. Not sure if that is still the case, but for that amount it is probably worth it.

The orginal gtech bfgoodrich will give to you free if you look at them funny, they had stacks of them at the bfg challenge events. And is 40 bucks all over ebay.

But there really isnt much you can do with it aside from drag race statistics. The rr will does a decent bit of datalogging.

[2Stroke]

I mentioned the RR only to distinguish between it and the older competition model.

All I meant to say was, "If you already own a GTechPro Competition meter, there's a free firmware upgrade that makes it more useful than it was when it was new. I've installed the new firmware and it works as advertised."

There, that's better. And a lot shorter.

[crank0r]

dunno about the mychron or the others but i trust gtech, I bought the original gtech for 40 like a year ago on ebay, and just had my car on a dynojet and it dynoed at 222, the gtech saw 223 a few days later...my 1/4 time was 14.2@98.8 and only had car for a couple weeks so didnt know how to launch it well yet, but for 40 bucks there is no comparison if u just want a cheap guide to your hp for adding mods and seeing the effects of them...