The PerformanceBox Sport - Manual-English

Racelogic Ltd Contents
Contents
INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................................4
WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH THE PERFORMANCEBOX SPORT? ....................................................5
WHAT CAN YOU CUSTOMISE ON THE PERFORMANCEBOX SPORT?...........................................5
ADDITIONAL FEATURES ........................................................................................................5
PERFORMANCEBOX SPORT INPUTS AND OUTPUTS ................................................................5
GETTING STARTED .............................................................................................................6
CONNECTING POWER TO THE PERFORMANCEBOX SPORT ......................................................6
LED INDICATORS ...............................................................................................................7
LOGGING............................................................................................................................8
LOGGING CONTROL .............................................................................................................8
LOGGING MODES ................................................................................................................8
LOGGING RATES .................................................................................................................8
LOGGED CHANNELS ............................................................................................................8
LOGGED FILE FORMAT ........................................................................................................9
FILE MANAGEMENT ........................................................................................................10
CONFIGURING THE PERFORMANCEBOX SPORT .......................................................11
INSTALLING THE PERFORMANCEBOX SPORT SETUP SOFTWARE ...........................................11
RUNNING THE PERFORMANCEBOX SPORT SETUP SOFTWARE ..............................................11
TIME/DATE .......................................................................................................................12
CONNECTING AN INPUT MODULE TO THE PERFORMANCEBOX SPORT ................13
CONFIGURING THE INPUT MODULES ...................................................................................13
Cables required ..........................................................................................................14
ENABLING VCI MODE .......................................................................................................14
BAUD RATE ......................................................................................................................14
CONFIGURING A VCI CHANNEL...........................................................................................15
LOADING A CAN DATABASE FILE ........................................................................................15
CONNECTING A DISPLAY TO THE PB SPORT .............................................................16
MEMORY CARDS .............................................................................................................16
GPS ANTENNA.................................................................................................................17
CAN OUTPUT (RLPBMIC01C ONLY) ..............................................................................19
USING USB.......................................................................................................................20
TROUBLE SHOOTING .....................................................................................................22
FAILING TO LOCK ONTO SATELLITES ...................................................................................22
UPGRADING THE PERFORMANCEBOX SPORT’S FIRMWARE...................................22
CONNECTOR ASSIGNMENTS ........................................................................................23
SPECIFICATION ...............................................................................................................24
MODULE DIMENSIONS....................................................................................................26
PERFORMANCETOOLS SOFTWARE .............................................................................27
INSTALLATION ...................................................................................................................27
PERFORMANCETOOLS WINDOWS .......................................................................................27
Graph Window ............................................................................................................28
Page 1
Graph:Map Window ....................................................................................................28
Graph:Data Window ...................................................................................................28
Window Sizes and Positions.......................................................................................28
SOFTWARE BASICS ...........................................................................................................29
Opening PerformanceBox Sport Files – Load All .......................................................29
Data Display ...............................................................................................................29
Graph Set-up ..............................................................................................................30
MOVING AROUND THE GRAPHS ..........................................................................................30
Cursor.........................................................................................................................30
Zoom ..........................................................................................................................30
Pan .............................................................................................................................30
Graph Screen X Axis ..................................................................................................30
Graph Screen Y Axis ..................................................................................................31
ADDITIONAL FILE FUNCTIONS .............................................................................................31
Load Compare File .....................................................................................................31
Append File to Main....................................................................................................31
Open in Notepad ........................................................................................................32
Load Circuit Map ........................................................................................................32
EDITING PERFORMANCEBOX SPORT FILES .........................................................................32
SAVING PERFORMANCEBOX SPORT FILES ..........................................................................33
PRINTING GRAPH DATA .....................................................................................................33
EXPORTING GRAPH DATA ..................................................................................................33
SELECTING CHANNELS ......................................................................................................34
CHANNEL AND AXIS SETUP ................................................................................................36
Channel Setup............................................................................................................36
Axis Setup ..................................................................................................................38
LAP TIMING ......................................................................................................................40
START / FINISH LINES AND SPLITS ......................................................................................41
Defining start / finish lines and splits in the PBSport software ....................................41
Loading and Saving start / finish line and split data ....................................................42
Clearing start / finish line and split data ......................................................................42
Moving Splits ..............................................................................................................42
Show Split Info on Graph Chart ..................................................................................42
Gate Width..................................................................................................................42
Split Names ................................................................................................................43
DISPLAYING LAP TIMES .....................................................................................................43
Including Split times....................................................................................................43
Exporting Lap Time Results........................................................................................44
Clearing Lap Time Results .........................................................................................44
Lap Highlight...............................................................................................................44
Loading and comparing individual laps from the same file .........................................45
Loading and comparing individual laps from different files .........................................47
Replaying Laps (DriftBox Tools Only).........................................................................49
Set Position Cursor Type............................................................................................49
Set Position Cursor Type............................................................................................50
CREATING A CIRCUIT OVERLAY ..........................................................................................51
Creating an Overlay File by Driving the Circuit ...........................................................51
Creating an Overlay File in Google EarthTM.................................................................51
Loading a Circuit Overlay File.....................................................................................51
Aligning Circuit Overlays and Laps .............................................................................52
Importing a background image in to the Graph Map...................................................54
Producing Acceleration Results ..................................................................................55
Page 2
Creating a Custom Acceleration test ..........................................................................56
Producing Deceleration Results .................................................................................56
Creating a Custom Deceleration test ..........................................................................56
ADDITIONAL DATA ANALYSIS FEATURES .............................................................................57
THE G-CIRCLE .................................................................................................................57
GRAPH MEASURE TOOL ....................................................................................................58
Creating a Measure Tool Window...............................................................................58
Saving and Printing the Measure Tool Data Table .....................................................58
TOOLS .............................................................................................................................59
Arrange Windows .......................................................................................................59
Export Data.................................................................................................................59
Formatting MMC/SD Cards ........................................................................................60
Import Data.................................................................................................................60
File Repair ..................................................................................................................60
Radius of Turn set-up .................................................................................................61
OTHER FEATURES ............................................................................................................61
Export Results ............................................................................................................61
Summary ....................................................................................................................61
Units of Measurement.................................................................................................61
Help ............................................................................................................................61
CONTACT INFORMATION ...............................................................................................62
Page 3
Racelogic Ltd Introduction
Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of a Racelogic PerformanceBox Sport.
The PerformanceBox Sport is a small, waterproof (IP66)IP rating GPS data-logging device,
which records your speed, position, acceleration and many other parameters. This data is
stored on a removable compact flash card. Software provided with the unit allows you to
view and analyse all of the recorded parameters, allowing you to see how fast you were
going at any time, your maximum g-force, the route taken in Google EarthTM, along with
many other interesting and useful features.
The fastest recording rate is 10 samples per second, which is good for capturing fast
events like a sports car on a circuit, a downhill skier or even a mountain biker. The slowest
recording rate is 1 sample per minute, which is useful for more long term testing such as
vehicle endurance evaluation, mileage/route analysis or even the movement of a ship.
PBSport logs 116 bytes/sample (default standard channels) - at a log rate of 10Hz this
equates to 4.2Mbytes/hour. Using a 512Mbyte compact flash card, at a log rate of 10Hz,
the PBSport will record around 120 hours of data; at 1 sample per minute it will record over
3000 days of data!
The PerformanceBox Sport records the following GPS channels as standard: Time,
Position, Velocity, Heading, Height, Vertical Velocity, Accumulated Distance. You can also
record other parameters, either by connecting directly to your vehicle’s CAN bus
(RLPBMIC01C only), or by connecting a suitable external input module.
PerformanceBox Sport with door open
Rear view showing connectors

Page 4
Racelogic Ltd Introduction
What can you do with the PerformanceBox Sport?
• Measure your speed, distance and acceleration

• Analyse your driving line
• Compare your driving style with others
• See if you are making the most of your tyres during braking and cornering
• Plot your route on Google Earth
• Measure your acceleration figures, top speed, ¼ mile etc.
• Take it anywhere – IP66 sealed against water, mud, dust etc.
What can you customise on the PerformanceBox Sport?
• Choose the sample rate from 10 times a second to once per minute
• Attach input modules to log additional channels.
• Connect to CAN bus of your vehicle* to log useful data (RLPBMIC01C only)
• Connect via CAN to a third party data-logger
Additional features
• USB interface for setup

• 13 GPS channels logged + 16 external channels
• LED operational status indication
*Not all vehicles have a CAN bus, and each manufacturer uses a different protocol.
However, we can supply CAN sets for various manufacturers, see website for details :
www.racelogic.co.uk/vbox/can
PerformanceBox Sport Inputs and Outputs
Page 5
Racelogic Ltd Getting Started
Getting Started
The PB Sport can be used to log data once the following simple steps have been followed.
1.Insert a suitable CF card and close the door 2.Connect the GPS antenna mounted in a
suitable position
3. Connect a power supply to the PB Sport 4.Wait for the SATS LED to show a solid
green light
Connecting power to the PerformanceBox Sport

The PerformanceBox Sport can be powered from two different types of power source, via
the 2way PWR input socket.
Vehicle power outlet socket (via a supplied cigar lighter power cable RLCAB060)
Battery power, (Racelogic 2Ah Battery pack)
You must connect the GPS antenna before connecting power to the PB Sport. This is
necessary because on power-up the PB Sport will look for a connected GPS antenna and
automatically adjust its gain for optimum performance.
Page 6
Racelogic Ltd Getting Started
LED Indicators
There are three LED indicators on the top panel of the PB Sport: SATS, COMS and LOG.
SATS: COMS: LOG:

Flashing RED to indicate that Illuminates RED to indicate Illuminates GREEN to
satellite lock has NOT been configuration communications indicate that data is
attained via USB being logged to the CF
card
Solid GREEN light to indicate Illuminates YELLOW to

a valid satellite lock indicate CAN communications
Page 7
Racelogic Ltd Logging
Logging
Logging control
Logging of data to the CF card can be controlled in two ways:
• Opening the CF card door; this triggers a mirco switch that stops the logging
and closes the file. Closing the door will restart the logging to a new file.
• Pressing the ’■’ button, this will stop the logging and close the current file.
Pressing the ’■’ button again will then re-start the logging to a new file.
Logging Modes
The PerformanceBox Sport supports two logging modes that are set using the
PerformanceBox Sport Setup software:
• Log continuosly.
• Log only when moving (speed >0.5km/h).
Logging Rates
The PerformanceBox Sport has an adjustable log rate set within the
PerformanceBox Sport setup software. This allows the log rate to be set in the range
between 1 sample per minute and 10 samples per second (10Hz)
Logged Channels
The following channels are non-selectable (always logged):
• Satellite count
• UTC time (ms since midnight)
• Latitude (0000.00000 minutes decimal minutes)
• Longitude (00000.00000 minutes decimal minutes)
• Speed (000.000km/h)
• Heading (000.00°)
• Height (0000.00m)
• Vertical velocity (0000.00km/h)
• Longitudinal Acceleration (0000.00G, smoothed over 4 samples)
• Lateral Acceleration (0000.00G, smoothed over 4 samples)
• Distance from power on (0000000.00m)
• Accumulated distance (permanent) (0000000.00m)
• Date from GPS (ddmmyy)
Page 8
Racelogic Ltd Logging
Logged File Format

PerformanceBox Sport files are saved in a standard space delimited text format. This
allows the data to easily be imported into third party applications such as word
processors or spreadsheets. Each file contains a header section before the main
data that describes the channel content and information about the PB Sport itself,
such as serial number and firmware version.
The [column names] section specifies the data in each column of the data section.
An example of a PB Sport .VBO file is shown below.
Note that the “File created” time and date is derived from GPS UTC time and date,
so will not reflect your local time unless this has been set within the PB Sport setup
software.
File created on 08/07/2008 @ 11:18
[header]
satellites
time
latitude
longitude
velocity kmh
heading
height
Vertical velocity kmh
Long accel g
Lat accel g
POR Distance m
Distance m
Date
[channel units]
[comments]
VBMicro V01.00 Bld. 0011
Serial Number : 00006999
[module Information]
[column names]
sats time lat long velocity heading height vert-vel Longacc Latacc POR_Distance Distance Date
[data]
008 111825.20 +3119.371150 -00059.479950 000.000 013.36 +0162.82 +0000.24 +0000.00 +0000.00 0000000.00
0000000.00 080708
008 111825.30 +3119.371150 -00059.479950 000.000 013.37 +0162.83 +0000.23 +0000.00 +0000.00 0000000.00
0000000.00 080708
Page 9
Racelogic Ltd File Management
File Management
• PerformanceBox Sport data files are stored in Month folders on the CF card,
i.e. Dec07, Jan08.
• Each logged file will have a file name based on each date with the following
format: Mon04Dec07_XXXX.VBO.
• A new file name is created for each new day, but if a file is being logged and
the time crosses midnight in the local time then a new file is not created and
logging continues in the currently open file.
• If the system is switched off and then on again in the same day then it will
append new data to the existing file for that day, unless settings are changed
in which case a new file may be created.
• If you want to create a new file for the same day, you can do this by manually
changing the file name of the file previously created, by accessing the CF
card through a PC or laptop. The next file created will then have the standard
PerformanceBox Sport file name format
• If one file is closed and another created on the same day they can be
distinguished by an increment to the file number, i.e. Mon04Dec07_0001.VBO,
Mon04Dec07_0002.VBO.
• When a module is connected the unit must be power cycled in order for the
PerformanceBox Sport to recognise the presence of the input module. This
will then cause the PerformanceBox Sport to open a new file as above.
The PerformanceBox Sport will log 13 standard channels plus any additional
channels from a connected input module or from the VCI connection on a
PBMIC01C.
Page 10
Racelogic Ltd Configuration
Configuring the PerformanceBox Sport

Configuration of any of the
PerformanceBox Sport settings is
performed using the PerformanceBox
Sport Setup software supplied with the
unit. You will need to power the
PerformanceBox Sport and make a
connection from its USB socket to a
USB socket on your computer.
When you connect to the

PerformanceBox Sport via USB for the
first time you will be required to install
USB drivers, please see the section
‘Using USB’ below.
Installing the
PerformanceBox Sport
Setup Software
Insert the supplied CD-ROM into the CD drive of your computer. An installation
dialog will automatically appear; follow the onscreen instructions to complete the
installation of the setup software.
After installation the CD-ROM can be removed and two icons should have appeared
on your desktop that will allow you to start the PerformanceBox Sport Setup software
and the PerformanceTools or VBOXTools software for post-processing data.
Running the PerformanceBox Sport Setup Software

First, click on the Options button to
select the correct COM port on your
computer.
Now click the “Read Settings” button
to enter the PerformanceBox Sport
setup screen.
Note: After changing any settings in

the setup software you will
need to press the “ Write Settings”
button to confirm the changes in the
data logger.
Page 11
Racelogic Ltd Configuration
Log Settings
To adjust the logging mode and the
log rate of the PerformanceBox Sport,
click the ‘Logging’ tab in the
PerformanceBox Sport Setup
software.
Once the logging mode and rate has

been set click the ‘Write Settings’
button to program the new
configuration into the PerformanceBox
Sport.
The log rate is shown as a frequency

(in Hz) and also as a time period (in
ms). Both options are linked so if one
is changed the other setting will
automatically reflect the change.
Time/Date
The PerformanceBox Sport uses time
and date information available from
the GPS satellites. This time is based
around UTC (approximately equal to
GMT) so if the PerformanceBox Sport
is used in a different time zone the
local time should be set inside the
PerformanceBox Sport for ease of use.
As the time and date are critical to

the creation of file names in the
PerformanceBox Sport, it is
recommended that the local time is
correctly set.
Adding or subtracting an offset on the

Time/Date page of the
PerformanceBox Sport Setup software
adjusts the local time.
Once the offset has been set click the ‘Write Settings’ button to program the new
time and date into the PerformanceBox Sport.
NOTE: In order to obtain UTC time, the PerformanceBox Sport must have
attained satellite lock.
Page 12
Racelogic Ltd Input Modules
Connecting an Input Module to the

PerformanceBox Sport
The PerformanceBox Sport can connect to any one of the following Racelogic input
modules and then include the data from each channel in the logged VBO file. The
PerformanceBox Sport will automatically log all channels from a connected Input
Module providing that the module is connected before the power is switched on.
Part Numbers Descriptions Connection Cable
RLVBTC8 8 Channel Thermocouple Interface
RLVBADC02 8 Channel (10bit) Analogue Interface
RLVBADC03 8 Channel (16bit) Analogue Interface
RLCAB063
RLVBFIM03 4 Channel Frequency and Pulse Counter Input
Module
RLVBMIM01 Mini Input Module
RLVBYAW03 Yaw Rate Sensor + 2-Axis G Sensor
RLCAB065
RLVBIMU02 Inertial Measurement Unit
Configuring the Input Modules

To configure an input
module you must connect
the module directly to the
computer via a serial cable,
you cannot setup the
channels via the USB port
on the PerformanceBox
Sport. The software which
is required is the Stand
Alone Module Setup
software which is included
in the PerformanceBox
Sport installation. The
module can take power
from the PerformanceBox
Sport both during
operation and during
configuration.
Once the module is
powered and connected to
the computer, run the
Stand Alone Module Setup software. Under ‘Options’ select the appropriate COM
port, then click ‘Read Module Setup’.
The scale / multiplier and offset of each channel can be set to suit the connected
sensor. No other settings should be changed. After setting the scale and offset of
each channel, click the button ‘Write Setup to Module’. The screenshot above shows
the Stand Alone Module Setup software whilst connected to an ADC03 module.
Page 13
Racelogic Ltd VCI Input
Configuring and using the VCI input

(PBMIC01C only)
The PBMIC01C version of the PB Sport has the ability for its CAN port to be used as
a 16channel vehicle CAN interface.
NOTE: When the PB Sport is configured in VCI mode it is not possible to

connect and log data from Racelogic input modules.
Cables required
RLCAB062 5-way Fischer to 9 way ‘D’ connector (female) – 1m (CAN cable)
RLVBCAB20 9-way ‘D’ connector (male) to OBDII connector – 1.2m
When the PBMIC01C is connected to PBSport setup software an extra Tab labelled
CAN will be displayed.
Enabling VCI Mode

• Connect the PBMIC01C to the
computer via the USB cable
• Run the PB Sport Setup
software.
• Click the ‘Read settings’ button
to read the current
configuration out of the
connected PBMIC01C
• Click on the CAN tab to display
the CAN page.
• Select the ‘Enable VCI’
option.(shown in screen shot,
right)
The screen shot to the right displays

the CAN page when the VCI is
enabled. You can see the 16 CAN
channels, which in this case have all
been configured to read CAN data
from other Racelogic products.
For a VCI channel to be included in the logged file it must be ‘Ticked’ as shown on all
the channels in the screen shot, right.
Baud Rate
The VCI CAN bus Baud rate is set by clicking the ‘Baud Rate’ button in this
screen, then selecting the desired BAUD rate.
Page 14
Racelogic Ltd VCI Input
Configuring a VCI channel

To configure a VCI channel click on the channel button of that channel, which will
open a new configuration window.
All CAN attributes for channel configuration can be manually configured from within
this window, shown below.
Loading a CAN database file

Each of the 16 CAN channels can be configured form a CAN database file. From
each channels setup window a CAN database file can be loaded by clicking the
‘Database’ button. Clicking the ‘Database’ button allows a CAN database file to be
opened and then a signal from the Database can be selected. This will then
automatically configure the channel with the correct CAN settings.
DATA Base format types.
.VCI Racelogic CAN database file

.REF Racelogic Encrypted database file
.DBC Database file
.RDF Racelogic Encrypted database file
Page 15
Racelogic Ltd Displays & Memory Cards
Connecting a Display to the PB Sport

A Multi-Function Display (MFD, part number RLVBDSP03) can be connected to the CAN
output of the PerformanceBox Sport using an RLCAB063 cable.
This then provides the user with a live display of the PerformanceBox Sport data
parameters, plus the ability to show live results of acceleration and deceleration runs and
also display lap times.
For details of full functionality please refer to the Multi-Function Display user manual.
Whilst connected to the PerformanceBox Sport, the MFD will have full functionality except
for the ability to display trigger-activated brake test results.
Memory Cards
The PerformanceBox Sport stores logged data on Compact Flash (CF) cards. The
supplied CF cards are already optimised for use on the PerformanceBox Sport and as
such do not need formatting before use.
Should the CF Card need formatting due to card errors it can be done through Windows,
as the PerformanceBox Sport supports the following format type:
• FAT (upto 2Gb)

• FAT16 (upto 2Gb)
• FAT32 (upto 128Gb)
Racelogic strongly recommends the following media card brands:
• SanDisk
• Kingston
• Lexar
• Ultra
• PQi
Page 16
Racelogic Ltd GPS Antenna
GPS Antenna
The GPS antenna supplied with the
PerformanceBox Sport is a 3.5V active antenna.
For the best possible signal quality, it is important
to maintain a clean connection between the
antenna and the PerformanceBox Sport. Before
fixing the antenna to the PerformanceBox Sport,
ensure that there are no dust particles in either
connector. Replacement antennae are available by
contacting your distributor.
The antenna is a magnetic mounting type for quick

and simple mounting to the vehicle roof. For
optimum GPS signal reception, make sure that the antenna is fitted to the highest point of
the vehicle away from any obstructions that may block satellite reception. The GPS
antenna works best with a metal ground plane underneath (a metallic vehicle roof is
perfect for this).
Please also note that when using any GPS equipment, a clear sky view is important.
Objects in the surrounding area such as tall buildings or trees can block the GPS signal
causing a reduction in the number of satellites being tracked, or introducing reflected
signals that can decrease the accuracy of the system. Note that clouds and other
atmospheric conditions do not affect the PerformanceBox Sport’s performance.
GPS antennas require a ground plane to operate correctly. This helps to reduce unwanted
reflections of the GPS signal caused by nearby objects, and usually the metal roof of a
vehicle performs this function. However, if a test requires an antenna to be placed either
off the vehicle, or on a vehicle that does not have a metallic roof, a special ground plane
antenna must be used. This has an internal ground plane and can operate perfectly
without the need for mounting on a metal surface. Ground plane antennas are available
from your distributor (part number RLVBACS065).
RLVBACS065 – Ground plane

antenna
Page 17
Racelogic Ltd GPS Cold Start
GPS Coldstart
A GPS coldstart forces the GPS engine to reset its downloaded almanac of current
satellite positions. This can be useful if the PerformanceBox Sport is having trouble locking
onto satellites, which typically occurs if the PerformanceBox Sport has not been used for
several weeks or if it was last used a long distance (over one thousand miles) away from
the current location.
After performing a GPS coldstart leave the PerformanceBox Sport powered up in a static
location where the antenna has an unobstructed view of the skies, for at least fifteen
minutes.
Once the PerformanceBox Sport has downloaded the new almanac it will reacquire
satellites in noisy situations (such as near trees, buildings and under bridges) much more
quickly. It will also acquire satellite much more quickly on power-up.
There are two ways to perform a GPS coldstart on the PerformanceBox Sport, one with
and one without the use of a computer.
Without a computer:
Press and hold the square
button ’■’ on the side of the
PerformanceBox Sport for five
seconds. The unit will then beep to
indicate that the GPS coldstart is
underway.
With a computer:
To coldstart the GPS engine in the
PerformanceBox Sport using a
computer, connect the
PerformanceBox Sport to the
computer via USB cable and run
the PerformanceBox Sport set up
software, is supplied with the unit.
Press ‘Read Settings’ to start
communications, then open the
‘Options’ menu and select the ‘ColdStart’ option. The unit will beep to confirm that the cold
start is being performed.
Page 18
Racelogic Ltd CAN Output
CAN Output (RLPBMIC01C Only)

The PerformanceBox Sport with VCI has a CAN output which is present on the 5-way
connector output.
Data format: Motorola

Baud rate: 500Kb/s
Update Data Bytes

ID*
Rate 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
(1) Sats
0x301 100ms (2) Time since midnight UTC (3) Position – Latitude MMMM.MMMMM
in view
(6) Heading
0x302 100ms (4) Position – Longitude MMMM.MMMMM (5) Velocity. (Knots)
(Degrees)
(8) Vertical velocity. (9) (10)
0x303 100ms (7) Altitude. WGS 84. (Metres) Unused
(M/S) Status Status
(11) Longitudinal (12) Lateral Accel.
0x304 100ms Unused
Accel. (G) (G)
(13) Distance travelled since PBSPORT
0x305 100ms Unused Unused
reset (Metres)
*Default Identifiers. The identifier values can be changed using the configuration software.
1) If Satellites in view < 3 then only Identifier 0x301 transmitted and bytes 2 to 8
are set to 0x00.
2) Time since midnight. This is a count of 10ms intervals since midnight UTC.
(5383690 = 53836.90 seconds since midnight or 14 hours, 57 minutes and
16.90 seconds).
3) Position, Latitude * 100,000 (311924579 = 51 Degrees, 59.24579 Minutes
North). This is a true 32bit signed integer, North being positive.
4) Position, Longitude * 100,000 (11882246 = 0 Degrees, 58.82246 Minutes West).
This is a true 32bit signed integer, West being positive.
5) Velocity, 0.01 knots per bit.
6) Heading, 0.01° per bit.
7) Altitude, 0.01 meters per bit, signed.
8) Vertical Velocity, 0.01 m/s per bit, signed.
9) Status, unused.
10) Status, unused.
11) Longitudinal Acceleration, 0.01G per bit, signed.
12) Lateral Acceleration, 0.01G per bit, signed.
13) Distance travelled in meters since PBSport reset.
Page 19
Racelogic Ltd Using USB
Using USB
The first time you use the USB connectivity
of the PerformanceBox Sport to configure
the unit or transfer files to or from its CF
card, you will need to follow the instructions
below. You will also need to repeat this
procedure the first time you upgrade the
PerformanceBox Sport’s firmware.
• Connect the USB cable between the

PerformanceBox Sport and the
computer.
• The computer should now recognise
the presence of a new device; after a
short period of time a ‘Found New
Hardware Wizard’ window will appear (see image below).
• Click the option ‘No, not this time’ and click ‘Next’ (see image above).
• A new window will appear at this window click ‘Next’ (see image left and below).
• A new ‘Hardware Installation’

window will appear. Click the
button labelled ‘Continue Anyway’.
• At the last window click ‘Finish’ to complete the installation.

• After a short period of time a window will ask you if you wish to reboot your
computer; click ‘No’.
Now disconnect then reconnect the PerformanceBox Sport from its power supply. Your
computer should now recognise the unit. When you run the PerformanceBox Sport
Setup software it will recognise the USB connections.
Please note that, due to the nature of USB communications, the above procedure may
occasionally fail at various stages. Should this happen, please repeat the procedure
three or four times, if necessary, prior to requesting technical support.
Page 20
Racelogic Ltd Software Packages
VBOXTools and PerformanceTools

Software
Your PerformanceBox Sport comes with VBOXTools along with PerformanceTools
software.
VBOXTools is a much more in depth software package than PerformanceTools, and is

covered by the VBOXTools manual which will be automatically installed on your PC should
you decide to install VBOXTools. The software enables you to carry out complex analysis
of logged data and to set up a large variety of test setups.
PerformanceTools is a simpler version of VBOXTools and is more suitable for simpler

analysis such as lap timing and performance tests. This software is covered later in this
manual.
Page 21
Racelogic Ltd Trouble Shooting
Trouble shooting
Failing to Lock onto Satellites
If the PerformanceBox Sport is having trouble locking onto satellites then please follow the
checklist below for typical solutions:
1) Ensure that the antenna is placed in a position were it has an unobstructed view
of the sky.
2) Check the antenna connection with the PerformanceBox Sport; only small
amounts of dirt in the socket can cause a significant reduction in signal strength.
Also check the cable at the plug and along its length for any damage.
3) Check that the power supply is connected and free from damage.
4) If possible try another known working antenna, to confirm antenna functionality.
5) Perform a GPS coldstart and then leave the unit powered up in an open static
position for at least 15 minutes. See ‘GPS Coldstart’.
Upgrading the PerformanceBox Sport’s

Firmware
Occasionally Racelogic releases new versions of firmware (internal code) for
PerformanceBox products, often to introduce new features. New firmware can be loaded
into the PerformanceBox Sport using a computer and the supplied USB cable.
The latest firmware upgrade (.RUF) file for the PerformanceBox Sport is available from the
PerformanceBox website in the ‘Support’ section.
http://www.performancebox.co.uk/dlfirmware.html
If you need the latest file, download it from the website and copy it to your computer.
If you are upgrading the PerformanceBox Sport for the first time (or the first time on the
computer being used for the upgrade), please follow the instructions in the section ‘Using
USB‘ earlier in this manual before following the instructions below.
How to Upgrade the Firmware

• Press and hold the ‘◄’ button whilst the power is connected to the PerformanceBox
Sport.
• The PerformanceBox Sport will enter ‘Upgrader’ mode, indicated by solid RED
‘COM’ and ‘LOG’ LEDs and a solid GREEN ‘SAT’ LED.
• Connect the USB cable to the computer.
• Double-click the .RUF firmware upgrade file that you have downloaded from the
Racelogic website. This will automatically run the Upgrader software, in which you
can see the progress of the upgrade.
• At the end of the process disconnect the USB cable and then disconnect and
reconnect the power supply.
If you have any questions regarding the PerformanceBox Sport upgrade procedure, please
do not hesitate to contact support@racelogic.co.uk.
Page 22
Racelogic Ltd Specification
Connector Assignments
Connector 1 – Power (Dedicated 6V to 30V DC Power Connector)

Pin I/O Function
1 I Power +
2 I Ground
Chassis I Ground
Connector 2 – CAN (CAN Bus Connector, Serial Connection to

GPS Engine)
Pin I/O Function
1 O RS232 Tx (to GPS – for debug
only)
2 I RS232 Rx (to GPS – for debug
only)
3 I/O CAN High
4 I/O CAN Low
5 I/O Power +
Chassis I Ground
Connector 3 – GPS (GPS Antenna)

Pin I/O Function
1 I Signal
Chassis I Ground
Page 23
Specification
Velocity
Accuracy 0.2 Km/h (averaged over 4 samples)
Units Km/h or Mph
Maximum update rate 10 Hz
Maximum velocity 1000 Mph
Minimum velocity 0.1 Km/h
Resolution 0.01 Km/h
Latency >160ms
Distance
Accuracy 0.05% (<50cm per Km)
Units Metres / Feet
Resolution 1cm
Absolute Positioning
Accuracy 5m 95% CEP**
Height accuracy 10 Metres 95% CEP**
Resolution 1 cm
Heading
Resolution 0.01°
Accuracy 0.2°
Time
Resolution 0.01 s
Accuracy 0.1 s (0.01s for performance results
scanned in VBOXTools)
Acceleration
Accuracy 1%
Maximum 4G
Resolution 0.01 G
Memory
External memory support Compact Flash Card
Recording time Dependant on CF capacity. Approximately
4.4MB per hour at 100ms per sample
(10Hz) log rate, logging all standard GPS
channels.
Inputs
CAN Bus – RLVBMIC01 CAN connection for Racelogic modules
only.
VCI CAN Input – RLVBMIC01C Allows the user to log incoming CAN data
from other systems. Note: Unit does not
connect to other Racelogic CAN modules
when VCI CAN input is active.
Page 24
Outputs
CAN Bus
Bit rate 125 kbit/s, 250kbit/s, 500kbit/s & 1Mbit/s
selectable baud rate
Identifier type Standard 11bit and Extended 29bit 2.0A
Data available Satellites in view, UTC time, Latitude,
Longitude, Speed, Heading, Altitude,
Vertical velocity, Longitudinal acceleration,
Lateral acceleration, Distance since reset
Power
Input Voltage range 6-30V DC
Current Typically 70mA
Environmental and physical
Weight Approx 275 grammes
Size 105mm x 85 x 30mm
Operating temperature -10°C to +60°C
Storage temperature -40°C to +85°C
Definitions
** CEP = Circle of Error Probable 95% CEP (Circle Error Probable) means
95% of the time the position readings will
fall within a circle of the stated radius.
Hardware / Software Support
One Year Hardware/Lifetime Lifetime Software Support Contract is valid
Software Support Contract. for a minimum of 5 years from the date of
purchase and limited to original purchaser.
Contract includes telephone/email technical
support provided by local distributor and
firmware/software upgrades where
applicable.
Page 25
Module Dimensions
Page 26
Racelogic Ltd PerformanceTools Software
PerformanceTools Software
The PerformanceTools software allows you to view the driving data recorded by
PerformanceBox Sport in a ‘.vbo’ file. The software also allows you to display Lap times,
Acceleration, Deceleration results, and to carry out detailed analysis of driver and vehicle
performance.
Installation
Each PerformanceBox Sport is supplied with a CD containing the PerformanceTools
Software. Insert the CD into your computer, the installation should then auto run. The
Installation will place a shortcut onto your desktop for the main analysis software, and also
install USB drivers for upgrading your PerformanceBox. The software installation is also
available from the downloads section of the PerformanceBox website, along with the
current firmware release.
PerformanceTools Windows
PerformanceTools is made up of several windows, each displaying a variety of data in
both a graphical and textual form.
When the software is started for the first time after installation, and before any files have
been loaded, the windows visible will be the Toolbar, the Graph screen, the Graph:Data
screen, and the Graph:Map screen:
There are additional windows that can be displayed, according to the functions being
employed to analyse your data – these will be described in subsequent sections of this
manual.
Page 27
Graph Window
In the Graph window different channels can be plotted, either against time or against
distance, and up to four ‘.vbo’ files can be overlaid on the graph. The Graph window can
display large amounts of data at once, with the addition of various axes to aid analysis.
Graph:Map Window
The Graph:Map window shows the path of the vehicle, calculated from the latitude and
longitude data. In addition, a circuit overlay can be applied to the map window, allowing
you to see the position of the vehicle in relation to the bounds of a track.
Graph:Data Window
The Graph:Data window shows a table of the data of the following available channels:
• Speed • Distance
• Lateral Acceleration • Time
• Longitudinal Acceleration • Date
• Heading • Radius of Turn
• Height • Relative Height
• Satellites • Vertical Speed
• Latitude • POR (Power ON Reset) Distance
• Longitude • Centre Line Deviation
• UTC Time
There are a number of other channels which are shown, but these are not relevant to the
PerformanceBox Sport and will be blank. For reference, these channels are: Drift, Glonass
Satellites, GPS Satellites, Yaw Rate, Lat Acc from Yaw Rate, DGPS, Speed Quality,
Solution Type, and RMS Error Position.
Additional channels will also be displayed depending on whether or not the PB Sport has
been recording data via an input module (such as a FIM03, Frequency Input Module, or
TC8, Thermocouple Input Module) or from the vehicle’s CAN Bus (RLPBMIC01C only).
Window Sizes and Positions

Each of the three display windows can be resized by stretching the window (by holding the
mouse pointer over a window corner and then click-dragging when the pointer shape
changes to ); each window can be repositioned; and all of these windows can be printed.
The default position and size of each window can be reset from a function in the Tools
menu called ‘Arrange Windows’ (see page 59.)
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Software Basics
Opening PerformanceBox Sport Files – Load All
To load a file that has been recorded by your
PerformanceBox Sport, click on the Load All button on the
Toolbar. An ‘Open’ window will appear – navigate to the
directory on your PC that contains your PerformanceBox
Sport files and select the file you wish to view.
By default the ‘Files of Type:’ will be ‘PerformanceBox Binary Files (*.dbn)’, with a further
option of ‘VBOX Data Files (*.vbo)’.
Data Display
Once a file has been loaded the three windows will each display some information, as
described in PerformanceTools Windows on page 27.
Note how in the example above, the Graph window is showing speed in Km/h (Y axis), and
time in seconds (X axis); the Graph:Map shows the path the vehicle took whilst the file was
being recorded (in this example the Laguna Seca circuit in the United States); and the
Graph:Data window is displaying values from the file according to the position of the cursor
in the Graph window.
The Toolbar displays the file name and total run time next to the PerformanceBox logo.
Page 29
Graph Set-up
The Graph Set-up button brings up a list of options that apply to all three of the main
windows, and can also be brought up by right-clicking on any of the three main windows.
Each function is described in further detail in the following sections.
Moving Around the Graphs

Once a file is displayed the data from the file can be examined more closely using the
following basic functions: zoom, pan and cursor movement.
Cursor
The position of the cursors in the Graph and Graph:Map windows are linked and move
together, and the values displayed in the Graph:Data window update as the cursor is
moved through the file. The left and right arrow keys control the movement of the cursor. If
the shift key is simultaneously pressed then it moves faster across the screen; if the ALT
key is simultaneously pressed then it moves through the file one sample at a time (one-
tenth of a second.)The cursor can also be placed in the graph window by left-clicking the
mouse button at the desired cursor position.
Zoom
Zooming in on the data in the graph or map window can be done three ways.
• Use the left mouse button to click and drag a window from left to right around the
area of interest. Click and drag from right to left to zoom out.
• Use the up and down arrow keys on the keyboard to zoom in around the current
cursor position. Pressing the shift key at the same time makes the zoom happen in
bigger steps.
• If your mouse has a scroll wheel then this can be used to zoom in around the
current cursor position. Pressing the shift key before using the mouse roller ball will
make the zoom occur in bigger steps.
Pan
To pan the view in the graph or map window, put the mouse over the area you wish to pan
then click and hold the right mouse button and move the mouse in the direction that you
wish to pan.
Graph Screen X Axis

To swap the X axis from Time to Distance either press the right mouse button anywhere
on the screen or click the ‘Graph Set-up’ icon, then select ‘Graph Type’, then choose one
of the two options, ‘Speed Against Time’ or ‘Speed Against Distance’.
Page 30
Speed against distance is useful for overlaying laps with different lap times around the
same circuit (eg. different time, but same distance)
Speed against time is useful for examining performance files (acceleration and
deceleration.)
Graph Screen Y Axis

The default view on the Y axis is for speed, in either MPH or KMH. More axes can be
added to either side of the graph screen – see ‘Axis Setup’ on page 38.
Additional File Functions

By clicking on the small arrow next to the Load All button, a further set of file-loading
options is revealed:
Load Compare File

The Graph screen has the facility to load up to three more files for
comparison. Select one of the ‘Load Compare File x’ items and
choose an additional file to examine: the data will be overlaid in
the Graph screen, another data set will be displayed in the
Graph:Data window, and the comparison file’s path will be
overlaid in the Graph:Map window.
To remove a compare file, click on the ‘Remove Run’ icon in the

Toolbar and then select the relevant file to remove.
Append File to Main

PerformanceBox Sport files can be joined together using the ‘Append file to Main’ option.
This is a useful feature if you want to join track sessions together in order to carry out lap
time analysis on a whole day’s circuit practice, or to view an entire journey which was
punctuated by stops.
Page 31
Appending a file will join the beginning of the additional file to the end of the main file. If
you wish to append files to the middle of the main file it will be necessary to manipulate the
main file first using the Edit Data functions (see Editing a PerformanceBox Sport File.)
Note that if you have loaded a comparison file, this will be removed by appending an
additional file to the Main Run.
Open in Notepad
A PerformanceBox Sport file can be opened in Notepad by selecting the ‘Open In
Notepad’ option from the ‘Load All’ drop down list. Note that for large files, it may take
some time for Notepad to load all of the lines of data.
This function can also be used to open the other text files on your SD card such as the lap
time results files, Results.txt and Best.txt.
Load Circuit Map

This feature allows you to load a circuit overlay file in addition to your logged PB Sport
data, and is covered in the section ‘Circuit Overlays’ on page 51.
Editing PerformanceBox Sport Files

Sections of a PerformanceBox file can be removed using basic editing commands
accessed through the ‘Edit Data’ icon in the Graph screen toolbar. Note from the
screenshot below that each editing function has a keyboard shortcut.
Cut All Data before Cursor

This feature removes the entire file up to the cursor
position in the main memory (ie not any compare files
currently loaded) only. You can use this to select an
area of the graph you are interested in and then save
just a portion.
Cut All Data after Cursor

This feature removes the main memory file from the point of the cursor onwards.
Cut Data between Two Points

This feature removes a section of the main memory file between two specified cursor
points. When choosing this option instructions will appear on the screen:
Page 32
Saving PerformanceBox Sport Files

Save a file by clicking on the ‘Save’ icon in the main toolbar. If you have made changes or
edited your PerformanceBox file it is wise to save this file to a new name so that you do
not lose the original file.
A .vbo file can saved in two alternative formats:
• Circuit overlay file (.cir): a file created to display the bounds of a circuit, for drive-line
analysis.
• Comma-delimited spreadsheet file (.csv): a raw data spreadsheet file, with all
logged information in channel columns.
Printing Graph Data

You may print out the graph data currently being displayed by selecting an option from the
‘Print’ icon’s drop-down list. It is possible to print a single window (Graph, Data or Map) by
selecting the relevant options, or all three by selecting the ‘Print’ option (or by clicking the
‘Print’ icon itself, rather than its arrow.)
Exporting Graph Data

It is possible to export the graph or map as a picture file, which can either be saved or
copied onto the computer’s clipboard for use with other software. Simply click the ‘Export’
icon and then choose the image to export. A dialogue box will appear that will allow you to
choose several factors, including the format in which you wish to export the file:
Page 33
Selecting Channels
All channels logged by PerformanceBox Sport appear in the data window; all except speed
are initially greyed out, but the data can still be seen. To enable a particular channel and
make it visible in the Graph window, click in the tick box to the left of the channel name.
For example, to display lateral acceleration:
Click here to
turn the
channel on or
off
PerformanceTools will automatically scale the channel to its minimum and maximum
values and show it in the graph window. The enabled channel will then be highlighted in its
display colour.
The data table contains all of the logged channels from the PerformanceBox file plus
Lateral and Longitudinal Acceleration and Radius of Turn channels, calculated when the
file is first loaded. Scroll up and down the channel list to find the desired channel.
A channel can also be found by typing the first letter of the channel, for example ‘S’ for
Satellites, providing that the data table is the currently active window. If there is more than
one channel that starts with the same letter then press the key again until the software
stops on your desired channel.
Show Selected Channels Only

The data table channel list can be reduced to show only the ticked channels, by right-
clicking the mouse pointer in any ‘graph’ window (Graph, Data, or Map) then selecting
‘Show Selected Channels Only’. This is very useful when you are moving the cursor
through the graph window and wish to see the displayed channel’s data at the cursor
point:
Page 34
Page 35
Channel and Axis Setup

For each channel there are a number of attributes that can be configured, including those
relating to the y-axis. These are configured in the Channel Set-up and Axis Set-up
screens, which are accessed by double-clicking on any of the channels in the data table or
by right clicking the mouse button and selecting the ‘Channel scaling & Axis setup’ option,
or by clicking the ‘Graph Set-up’ icon on the Toolbar.
Channel Setup
Column descriptions:
Visible
The tick boxes in this column switch individual channels on or off in the graph window.
Channel Name
This column contains the names of the available channels.
Units
Shows the units of each of the available channel.
Smoothing
In this column a smoothing level can be applied to each channel individually. This can be
useful for the Longitudinal and Lateral Acceleration channels. The smoothing level number
directly relates to the number of samples used in the smoothing routine – the higher the
Page 36
value the smoother the trace will appear on the screen, but it will become less
representative of the response of the vehicle as it was actually recorded:
The example on the

right shows the Lateral
Acceleration channel
with a smoothing level
of 2.
This example shows

the Lateral
Acceleration channel
with a smoothing level
of 25 – note how the
individual peaks and
troughs are no longer
present, so the true
dynamic values of the
vehicle are now not
shown. Smoothing
Level should therefore
be carefully applied –
too little and the data
can be too ‘noisy’ for
easy analysis; too
much and valuable
information can be lost.
Page 37
Axis
Displays the axis with which the channel is associated. To change the associated axis,
click the mouse in the right hand end of the axis box once the channel has been made
visible. A common application for this is to display both the Longitudinal and Lateral
Acceleration channels, but to have them referring to one axis only:
Run 1
This column shows the selected colour for each active channel. To change the colour click
on the colour box of the channel and select a new colour from the colour selection box that
appears. The colour chosen will also be applied to the axis, should this be selected; for
example, if the Lateral Acceleration channel is used in green, so too will the Lateral
Acceleration axis, if it is used.
If compare files are also loaded then Run2, Run3 etc columns will be present in which the
colours of these compare file channels can be set:
Axis Setup
The Axis Setup window contains all the controls needed for assigning and configuring the
y-axis of the Graph screen:
Page 38
Column descriptions:
Visible
Each tick box in this column switches an individual axis on or off in the graph window.
Axis Title
Shows the title of each available axis. The axis title is edited by clicking on the box and
entering a new name.
Min / Max
The Min and Max boxes allow the scale ranges for each axis to be set.
Autoscale
The autoscale option causes the axis scales to automatically fit the minimum and
maximum values of the loaded channel.
Symmetrical
This option will cause the positive and negative maximum values on the axis to be the
same magnitude. The magnitude of these will be determined by the largest positive or
negative value of the channel.
Position
This option controls whether the channel axis appears at the left or right of the Graph
window.
Page 39
Analysing Your Data In PerformanceTools

PerformanceTools has three main features which will allow you gather results from data
you have logged.
This section is divided into two subject areas: Lap Time Results, and Performance (ie
Accel/Decel) Results. It also describes additional features which enhance the analysis but
which have uses within each main function, such as the G-Circle.
Lap Timing
Pressing the Lap timing button in the Toolbar causes the software to scan the loaded file
and apply loaded split file information to produce a table of Lap times, with a V Max for
each lap and with the fastest lap highlighted.
This facility also allows individual laps from the loaded file to be loaded and compared in
the main Graph window. In addition a circuit overlay can be loaded into the Graph:Map
window to aid with drive-line analysis.
Page 40
Start / Finish Lines and Splits

Before you can carry out any lap time analysis you must set a start / finish line in the file
you have loaded. The information pertaining to these points can be saved to start / finish
files for later use with new data from the same circuit, or for sharing with other
PerformanceBox users.
Defining start / finish lines and split points

To define a start / finish line, move the cursor in the Graph window to the desired point,
then press the SPACEBAR to mark a start / finish point, or press the Set Start / Finish
button in the Toolbar.
When the cursor is moved in the

Graph window the cursor in the
Map window follows this
movement so you can see
where the cursor point relates to
on the track. After setting a start
/ finish line a green dot will then
appear in the Map window at
the corresponding cursor
position.
In addition to the start / finish,

up to 20 split points can also be
set in the software.
To define the split points, press

the ‘S’ key at the desired cursor
location or select the ‘Set Split’
option from the ‘Start / Finish &
Splits’ drop down menu.
A separate finish line can be placed when the start line is

not also the finish line. This is used in situations such as hill
climbs, or for data analysis along a stretch of track that
does not end where it starts - such as “Bridge to Gantry” at
the Nordschleife in Germany.
Create a finish line by holding the SHIFT + SPACEBAR

at the desired cursor location or by selecting the ‘Set finish’
button from the ‘start / finish & splits’ menu.
Note: It is important to try to place the start / finish line at a
fast part of the circuit to reduce the effects of positional
error and to get the best lap timing accuracy.
Page 41
Loading and Saving start / finish line and split data

Click on the ‘Save’ option from the start/finish drop down menu to save to the start / finish
and split line information created in the Graph screen to a ‘.dsf’ or ‘.spl’ file.
Click on the ‘Load‘ button in the Start/finish drop down menu to load in a ‘.dsf’ or ‘.spl’ file.
If you have multiple .dsf files from various tracks, it is advisable to keep them stored on the
PC in directories named after the track.
Clearing start / finish line and split data

If the current start / finish and split file information needs to be cleared from the
PerformanceTools background memory and display screens, select ‘Clear All’ from the
‘Start / Finish & Splits’ menu in the Graph screen toolbar, or from the main ‘Tools’ menu.
Moving Splits
Splits can be moved by pressing ‘M’ in the Graph window and entering the number of the
split to be moved, or by selecting ‘Move split’ from the menu.
Show Split Info on Graph Chart

The start / finish and split lines can be hidden from view
by selecting the Show Split Info on Graph Chart option.
This is available either by right-clicking on any of the three main windows to bring up the
context menu, or from the Graph Setup button on the Toolbar. If you choose to hide the
start / finish and split lines they will still remain active – the software will still generate lap
time data even if the lines are not visible.
Gate Width
The width of the split gate can be set from the ‘Start, Finish
& Splits’ menu.
If you intend to create a .dsf file in PerformanceTools for

use at a circuit, where split points are placed on areas of
track which pass very close to each other, it may be
necessary to reduce the gate width accordingly: this will
ensure that you do not inadvertently drive back through a
split point even though you are on a different section of the
track. See the example on the next page.
Page 42
The circled area circled in green shows two

sections of track passing by each other by
only approximately 20m. If a split point is set
on this section, and the virtual gate has been
set too wide, the split results will be
displayed incorrectly.
Track proximity can be checked in Google

EarthTM using the measurement tool if you
are in doubt as to how wide the split points
should be created.
Split Names
Split points can be named from the option in the ‘Start, Finish & Splits’ menu. When the
Lap Timing – Split Line option is chosen to display lap times (assuming that split points
have been created) an extra column will display the split names.
Displaying Lap Times

Load the PB Sport .vbo file into the software, then define a start / finish
line (along with split points and a separate finish line if required) in the
manner described above, or by loading a .dsf or .spl file.
Press the Lap Timing button on the Toolbar.

The software scans the currently loaded file,
extracts lap times and Vmax for each
logged lap, and displays the data in a
results window.
Note: The fastest lap in the results table will

be highlighted for quick and easy
recognition (see example left.)
Including Split times

If you have set up split points in addition to the start / finish and wish to see the split times
displayed, click on the right hand arrow on the Lap timing button, then from the drop down
menu select ‘Lap Timing – Split Line’. The results table will show the split times as well as
the Lap times in the file.
Page 43
Naming the split files (see ‘Split Names’ above) from the option in the ‘Start, Finish &
Splits’ menu will result in the split names being displayed when the ‘Lap Timing – Split
Line’ option is chosen – see the example on the next page, which shows the split points
that have been set on corners at Silverstone Circuit and named accordingly.
Exporting Lap Time Results

The generated results can be exported into other software as a variety of document types
by clicking the Export Results button on the Toolbar and selecting the required file type.
Clearing Lap Time Results

To clear all the results in the results window, click the ‘Clear Results’ button on the Toolbar.
Lap Highlight
With lap data being displayed in the ‘Report Generator – Circuit Test’ window, individual
laps are highlighted in the main Graph screen by clicking on any of the values at the
bottom of individual lap/split data tables:
Page 44
Loading and comparing individual laps from the same file

Individual laps from the loaded file can be compared to each other in the main Graph and
Graph:Map windows. Each lap shown in the Lap timing table has a Graph Icon
associated with it in the right hand column. Clicking one of these buttons allows that lap to
be individually graphed:
You will now have one individual lap displayed in the Graph window, and one
corresponding column in the Graph:Data window. From the results window, select a
compare lap by clicking a different Graph Icon, in this example the next fastest lap:
Page 45
Result in the Graph window:
The main run is in red, the compare run in blue. In this instance the two laps have been
performed very consistently: the peaks and troughs, which indicate the braking and
acceleration points, sit on top of each other almost every time.
Note that the Graph window’s X axis is set to distance – this makes direct comparison of
braking and acceleration points possible as the distance covered on each lap will be
virtually identical. If comparison laps are loaded when the Graph window’s X axis is set to
time, the data is very much more difficult to analyse.
Result in the Graph:Map window:

Note how in this instance, the driver’s lines have
barely deviated between the two laps – the main run
in red is only just visible below the compare run in
blue.
Three compare laps can be loaded in total, allowing

for comparison of four laps at once (the main run
plus compare runs 1, 2, and 3.) Each compare lap
will have corresponding data displayed in an
individual column in the Graph:Data window. To
change the colours of each run, open the Channel
Setup window and pick the colours required from
the Run x columns.
Page 46
Loading and comparing individual laps from different files

Lap data created by individual users, and therefore not logged in one .vbo file, can also be
loaded and compared:
• Load the first file containing the lap data, set the start / finish line, and click the lap
timing button. The laps will appear in the results window.
• Load the next file to be analysed – ensure that the results from the first file have not
been cleared, and do not load the second file as a compare file.
• Click the laptiming button again and the second set of lap times will appear in the
results window.
• The individual laps can now be chosen as Main and Compare files in the same
manner as before:
In this example, the main run chosen is lap 8 from the first set of times (the same fastest
lap from the previous example.) The Compare Run 1 is lap 8 from another file, which is
again the fastest lap. See below to view the differences in performance as shown in the
Graph window.
Page 47
Result in the Graph window:
The main run (1:30.70 – the fastest lap from the previous example) is in red, the compare
run (1:26.10) in blue. Note in this instance how there are differences in the peaks and
troughs of the speed plots, indicating that the faster driver carried more speed before
braking, and accelerated harder.
Page 48
Replaying Laps (DriftBox Tools Only)

If you have recorded laps loaded into the software you can replay them, by
clicking on the Replay button. By default the cursor will move through the
Graph window and round the path in the Graph:Map window at the same
speed at which the file was recorded. However by clicking on the arrow to the right of the
button a faster replay speed can be chosen.
When the Replay button is pressed the Drift Meter and Sector windows will also appear,
but these can be closed if not required.
Whilst the file is being replayed the cursor in the Graph:Map will move around the path
taken. If more than one lap is currently being viewed there will be a cursor for each run,
and these will move around the circuit in a manner according to how the graph window x
axis has been set: if the Graph window is displaying speed over distance, the cursors will
move around the circuit together, as the distance covered during each lap will be virtually
identical. However, if the Graph window is set to speed over time then the cursors will
travel according to the actual lap times.
Note in this example (below) how the green triangle is behind the red and blue triangles –
this is a snapshot of three individual laps being replayed when the Graph screen has been
set to speed over time. This feature allows for ‘live’ analysis of where a driver is gaining or
losing time, and on which part of the circuit.
Page 49
Set Position Cursor Type

The cursors themselves are configurable: right click on any of the main windows (Graph,
Data or Map) to bring up the context menu (or click on the Graph Setup button on the
Toolbar.) Select ‘Set Position Cursor Type’ and choose the style and colour required for
each cursor. Each run can now display a different shape and colour of position cursor.
Page 50
Circuit Overlays
A circuit overlay is a file created to map the outer and inner bounds of a circuit, and is a
useful aid in drive-line analysis - comparison of lines taken by different drivers can help to
improve lap times.
NOTE: A circuit overlay is only a feature that can be used in software post-processing – it
is not vital that it is created or obtained prior to visiting a circuit unless specific drive line
analysis, that requires the track boundaries, is going to be carried out between lap
sessions.
Creating a Circuit Overlay

There are two ways that an overlay file can be created: either by driving around the circuit,
or by creating a .kml file in Google Earth and importing it into PerformanceTools.
Creating an Overlay File by Driving the Circuit

• Power up PerformanceBox Sport and let it acquire satellites for at least 5 minutes.
• Drive to the left hand side of the start of the circuit.
• Place the antenna on the left hand side of the roof.
• Insert the CF card, ready for logging.
• Drive round the left hand side of the circuit.
• Stop back at the place you started.
• Move the antenna from the left hand side of the roof to the right hand side slowly,
being careful not to cover the aerial – let it see the sky at all times.
• Drive at right angles across the track to the opposite side.
• Drive round the right hand side of the circuit.
• Load the logged file from the CF card using ‘File’ -> ‘Load All’
• Save using ‘Save’, select ‘Save as type’ and pick ‘Circuit file’ (‘.cir’).
Creating an Overlay File in Google EarthTM

Please refer to the Google Earth help files for instructions on
creating paths in the software. Once you have plotted a path
along the inside and outside of your chosen track, it must be
saved as a .kml file. This can then be imported into
PerformanceTools by clicking on TOOLS>Import Data
Once the .kml file has been imported, it can be re-saved as a .cir
file for later use with lap data from the circuit. See page 60 for
more information about importing .kml files.
Loading a Circuit Overlay File

The .cir file can be now be loaded into the Graph screen and viewed in the Map window.
To do this, first load a file logged from the circuit in question, and then click on the drop-
down arrow next to the Load All button. Select Load Circuit Map, and choose the .cir file
you have created:
Page 51
If you want to load a .cir file into PerformanceTools on its own, click Load All and then type
*.* in the File name field:
You can then select the .cir file and it will load like a normal .vbo file.
A library of circuit overlay files is available from the PerformanceBox website. If you would
like to share circuit files you have created please contact us and they will be added to
those already available.
Aligning Circuit Overlays and Laps

The standard positional accuracy of PerformanceBox Sport is 5m 95% CEP for Longitude
and Latitude. CEP = circle error probable.
95% CEP means 95% of the time the position readings will be within a 5m diameter circle
of the true position. This error is due to the changing state of the ionosphere, constantly
changing the time taken for the satellite signals to reach the earth. This means that
overlaid laps may appear to miss the edges of the track, especially if the laps or overlay
were logged several hours apart.
The Align Circuit Tracks feature allows post-processing analysis to counter some of this
positional error, by rearranging the driving lines or circuit overlay in the Graph:Map
window. This can be especially useful if the circuit overlay file has been created in Google
Earth, which is not always 100% positionally accurate (a good example of this, at the time
of going to press, is the Paul Ricard circuit in the south of France – the Google Earth
image is approximately 200m adrift of its true position.) It can also help to combat the
effects of positional shift that have occurred between sessions at a circuit, such as
morning/afternoon or one day to another.
Page 52
In order to be able to
view truer drive lines,
right-click on the Graph
Map - the option to align
either the lap data or
overlay will appear at
the top of the context
menu. Having chosen
which you wish to move
in the “Select run to
align” dialogue box, use
the keyboard cursor
keys to realign either the
circuit overlay or lap
data. Once you are
content that the drive
lines resemble the
actual lines taken, press
return.
Page 53
Importing a background image in to the Graph Map

You can import any image of your choosing into the Graph Map by right-clicking on either
the Graph:Data, Graph:Map, or Graph windows and selecting the Graph: Map Background
Image>Load option:
The image will need to

be resized and scaled
to fit correctly in the
Graph:Map window.
Page 54
Performance Results
Acceleration and deceleration results can be easily extracted from your logged data by
using the various performance results tools. These are available by clicking on the ‘Accel
results’ and ‘Decel results’ buttons on the Toolbar.
You can extract speed or distance data for acceleration and deceleration runs. Most of the
tests use standard parameters (such as 0-60 or 0-100) but custom results can also be
produced.
Producing Acceleration Results

Acceleration data can be produced and shown in a results table from the
currently loaded data file by selecting one of the acceleration test options
within the ‘Accel results’ drop down menu. Click on the ‘Accel results’
button to open a list of the following options:
• 0-VMax: This will tabulate speed, time and distance data, starting each time
the velocity data has a value of zero up to the maximum speed reached
during that acceleration period.
• 0-100 kmh (0-60 mph): This will tabulate speed, time and distance data,
starting each time the velocity data goes from zero up to a speed of 100
km/h reached during that acceleration period.
• 0-160 kmh (0-100 mph): This will tabulate speed, time and distance data
each time the velocity data goes from zero up to a speed of 160 km/h
reached during that acceleration period.
• 0-160-0 kmh (0-100-0 mph): This will tabulate speed, time and distance
data, starting each time the velocity data goes from zero up to a speed of
160 km/h then returning to 0 km/h reached during that acceleration -
deceleration period.
• 100-200 kmh (60-130 mph): This will tabulate speed, time and distance data,
starting each time the velocity data goes from 100 kmh up to a speed of 200
km/h reached during that acceleration period.
• 440 m: This will tabulate speed, time and distance data, starting from zero to
a total distance of 440 m.
• 18.7 m: This will tabulate speed, time and distance data, starting from zero
to a total distance of 18.7 m.
• 100 m: This will tabulate speed, time and distance data, starting from zero to
a total distance of 100 m.
• Custom: This will tabulate speed, time and distance data, starting over a
custom defined speed range e.g. 0-100-0 kmh.
For each of the test ranges the results table will show Speed, Time, and Distance in
10Kph or 10Mph steps.
Page 55
Creating a Custom Acceleration test

1. Click on the Custom option in the Accel test drop
down list. This will then open the following window:
2. Enter the speed of the start condition.
3. Set the end condition option, speed or distance.
4. Enter a value for the chosen End condition.
5. Press Scan to scan the loaded file and produce a
table of results for all tests fitting the custom test
setup.
Producing Deceleration Results

Deceleration data can be produced and shown in a results table from the
currently loaded data file by selecting one of the deceleration test options
within the ‘Decel results’ drop down menu. Click on the ‘Decel results’
button to open a list of the following options:
• 70-0 kmh: This will output the time and distance taken to decelerate from an
initial speed of 70 kmh to 0 kmh.
• 50-0 kmh: This will output the time and distance taken to decelerate from an
initial speed of 50 kmh to 0 kmh.
• Custom: This will output the time and distance taken to decelerate from one
user definable initial speed to another, e.g. 100 kmh – 0 kmh.
In all of the Decel tests if more than one run is performed an average distance is also
calculated and shown.
Any of the Runs on the table can be omitted from the average by deselecting the tick in the
use box.
Creating a Custom Deceleration test
1. Click on the Custom option in the

Decel test drop down list. This will
then open the following window:
2. Enter the speed of the start condition
3. Set the speed of the end condition.
4. Press Scan to scan the loaded file
and produce a table of results for all
tests fitting the custom test setup.
Page 56
Additional Data Analysis Features

The software has additional features to aid in data analysis, explained in this section.
Many of these features can be used as a part of the analysis whilst producing
Performance results.
The G-Circle
Pressing the G-Circle button produces a plot of the Longitudinal vs Latitudinal Acceleration
data.
A G-circle (or G-G Plot as it is sometimes known) gives a complete overview of how the
tyres are being used. There is a limit to how much G a tyre can generate whilst cornering,
and a set amount it can generate whilst braking/accelerating. There is often a small
difference between these two values, so you may be able to pull more G in braking than in
cornering or vice versa.
However, if you try and combine

corning whilst braking, then these
limits are reduced. The idea
behind a G-circle is that it tells you
how these can be combined. To
the right is a theoretical perfect G-
circle for a sample tyre.
You can see that the maximum

cornering force is 1g, and max
braking is 0.8g. However, if you
are already braking at 0.6g, then
your max cornering force is only
0.7g.
Plotting out your own G-circle lets you know if

you are exploiting your tyres’ true potential.
Ideally you should get a symmetrical plot, but

bear in mind that you can almost always
generate more G under braking than
acceleration, so the accelerating area will be
shallower than the braking part of the circle.
The example on the left shows a very good

spread of data indicating that the rider
(motorcycle) was able to accelerate and
decelerate whilst cornering to a very good level,
creating a symmetrical plot.
The G-Circle can be examined more closely by

zooming in as you do with the Graph:Map, and by right-click-dragging the current field of
view can be moved.
Page 57
Graph Measure Tool

This tool can be used to highlight a section of data in the Graph window and produce a
table that summarises the data captured in the window:
Measure
Window
Summary
box
Hold shift down whilst clicking and dragging to use the Measure Tool
The area of data that is displayed in the table is highlighted in blue in the Graph window.
This is often useful for quickly establishing average values between two points in a file. In
the screen shot example above the first gear section of the acceleration curve has been
highlighted and it can it can be seen from the table that an average Longitudinal
Acceleration during first gear is easily seen.
Creating a Measure Tool Window

To highlight a section in the graph window, move the cursor to the start of the section you
wish to highlight. Then place the mouse pointer over the cursor position and press and
hold the ‘Shift’ key, then click and hold the left mouse button. Keep the left mouse button
pressed and move the mouse cursor right to drag out a blue highlighted area. At the end of
the area you wish to highlight, release the left mouse button. On release of the left mouse
button a table of results for all channels in the highlighted area appears as in the
screenshot above.
Saving and Printing the Measure Tool Data Table

Click the ‘Save to file’ icon in the Measure Tool toolbar to save the data in the table in one
of two formats, .csv or ‘.txt’. Click the ‘Print’ icon in the Measure Tool toolbar to print the
table.
Page 58
Tools
Clicking on the ‘Tools’ icon on the Toolbar will reveal a drop-down list containing a number
of useful features, such as File Repair and the Exporting Data to Mapping Software facility.
Arrange Windows
The use of different screen resolutions or multiple screens
can cause PerformanceTools windows to be placed out side
of the default screen size, which is then not viewable when
the default screen is used.
This facility allows any PerformanceTools windows that have

been lost off the visible screen to be located back into the
visible screen area.
Export Data
This option allows the location data stored on a ‘.vbo’ file to be converted into a ‘.txt’ file
that may be used with Google Earth, Microsoft AutoRoute and Microsoft Streets & Trips, to
show the vehicle’s path in the mapping software. This option is also used to create a file
that can be used in Track Vision software.
Exporting Data to Google Earth TM
Data can be exported to Google Earth by selecting the Tools menu and choosing the
Google Earth option. The resultant file .kml is recognised by the Google Earth software
and allows data to be viewed on the satellite images.
Upon exporting the file, you will be prompted for an X and Y offset: this allows for data to
be correctly aligned on the satellite images – much of Google Earth is not exactly accurate
so some exported files, such as circuit overlays, may ‘miss’ the edges of the track. The
offset allows for this error to be corrected.
NOTE: if your data file has more than 65,000 sample points PerformanceTools will
automatically sub-sample the file to ensure the entire length of the file is represented in the
exported file. Google Earth cannot display files of greater than 65,000 samples.
Exporting to Mapping Software (AutoRoute or Streets & Trips)

Load the ‘.vbo’ file into PerformanceTools using the ‘Load All’ button from the main toolbar,
then click on the ‘Export Data To Mapping Software’ option in the ‘Tools’ menu.
A small selection box will appear, in which the export rate can be chosen.
Importing the Mapping file into AutoRoute or Streets & Trips

Open AutoRoute or Street & Trips. Click on ‘Data’ and then select ‘Import Data Wizard’.
When prompted, browse for the ‘.txt’ file you have just created with PerformanceTools and
Page 59
open it, then select ‘Comma’ as the delimiter and click ‘Next’. In column F2 select Latitude
as the column name from the drop down menu. In column F3 select Longitude as the
column name from the drop down menu and then click ‘Finish’. The program then
generates a map of your data location and places markers on the map at every data point
that was specified when the output file was, for example once every second.
Exporting To Track Vision

This option creates a csv file with the data in a format that Track Vision software can use.
Formatting MMC/SD Cards

Any new MMC/SD cards are formatted in the correct format suitable for PerformanceBox
Sport and there is no need to format the card. You can delete any files created on the card
by PerformanceBox Sport through your computer when connected to PerformanceBox
Sport or when the card is inserted in a card reader connected to your computer.
However if your card has a problem and the card needs to be formatted it is best to do this
through the PerformanceTools software CF card formatting facility.
Note: that the card will need to be inserted into a suitable card reader in order to format it;
it cannot be formatted through the PerformanceBox Sport and USB cable.
Import Data
Data created in Google EarthTM as a .kml file can be imported into PerformanceTools. This
is particularly useful for creating circuit overlays without having to physically drive the track
(see ‘Creating a Circuit Overlay’ on page 51.) Only .kml files can be imported, so when
saving paths created in Google Earth it is necessary to ensure the correct file type is
chosen (the other option is .kmz, and is not a valid import file type for PerformanceTools.)
File Repair
If the file being loaded into the software contains
dropped sample data (caused by travelling under
a bridge, for example) then Performance Tools
will prompt you to repair the file. This can be
done by clicking on the Tools menu and
choosing File Repair. Areas of dropped samples
will be then repaired.
Once the repair has been carried out is advisable to save the file and reload it. This will
ensure that all channels are correctly aligned in the Graph screen. Areas that have been
repaired will be represented in the Number of Satellites channel as 0.
A repaired file may still display the Dropouts message upon being reloaded. This is
generally due to the dropouts occurring at a time when the number of available satellites is
so low that an effective repair cannot be carried out (such as travelling through a tunnel.)
Page 60
Radius of Turn set-up

Click this option to open the Radius of Turn setup
window, in which the smoothing level and maximum
radius value can be set.
When smoothing is applied to data, the value of an

individual sample point is affected by samples
around it. As the effective Radius of a straight line is
infinite, the very high samples of data before and after a corner can adversely affect the
values of Radius in a corner. To reduce this effect it is advised to set a maximum radius
value to a fraction higher than the maximum radius of the corners you are examining.
Other Features
Some useful features that apply to the whole of the PerformanceTools software have been
included above the main toolbar. These are described in the following section.
Export Results
All Performance or Lap Time results can be exported by clicking on the
Export Results button on the Toolbar. Results can be exported in a variety
of formats such as Excel or Word document files.
Summary
You can view basic but important information about the main ‘.vbo’ file loaded into the
PerformanceTools software by selecting Summary from the menu. The information
displayed includes information such as the time at which the file was logged and its
duration, as well as any errors, such as loss of satellites during the file.
This summary may be printed or e-mailed using the icons at the top of the window.
Units of Measurement
The ‘Units of Measurement’ menu
allows you to set the velocity units to
km/h or mph and the distance units to
metres or feet. Once the units of
measurement have been changed
the file must be reloaded for the
changes to take effect.
Help
This menu allows you to view basic information about the PerformanceTools software. It
also provides a quick link to the user manual.
Page 61
Racelogic Ltd Contact
Contact Information
Racelogic Ltd
Unit 10, Swan Business Centre
Osier Way
Buckingham
MK18 1TB
England
Email – support: support@performancebox.co.uk
Email – sales: sales@performancebox.co.uk
Web: www.performancebox.co.uk
Page 62

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Racelogic Ltd Contents

PerformanceBox Sport with door open

Rear view showing connectors

What can you do with the PerformanceBox Sport?

• Measure your speed, distance and acceleration

What can you customise on the PerformanceBox Sport?

• USB interface for setup

PerformanceBox Sport Inputs and Outputs

Connecting power to the PerformanceBox Sport

SATS: COMS: LOG:

Solid GREEN light to indicate Illuminates YELLOW to

Logged File Format

An example of a PB Sport .VBO file is shown below.

File created on 08/07/2008 @ 11:18

Configuring the PerformanceBox Sport

When you connect to the

Running the PerformanceBox Sport Setup Software

Note: After changing any settings in

Once the logging mode and rate has

The log rate is shown as a frequency

As the time and date are critical to

Adding or subtracting an offset on the

Connecting an Input Module to the

Configuring the Input Modules

Configuring and using the VCI input

NOTE: When the PB Sport is configured in VCI mode it is not possible to

Enabling VCI Mode

The screen shot to the right displays

Configuring a VCI channel

Loading a CAN database file

DATA Base format types.

.VCI Racelogic CAN database file

Connecting a Display to the PB Sport

• FAT (upto 2Gb)

Racelogic strongly recommends the following media card brands:

The antenna is a magnetic mounting type for quick

RLVBACS065 – Ground plane

CAN Output (RLPBMIC01C Only)

Data format: Motorola

Update Data Bytes

• Connect the USB cable between the

• A new ‘Hardware Installation’

• At the last window click ‘Finish’ to complete the installation.

VBOXTools and PerformanceTools

VBOXTools is a much more in depth software package than PerformanceTools, and is

PerformanceTools is a simpler version of VBOXTools and is more suitable for simpler

Upgrading the PerformanceBox Sport’s

How to Upgrade the Firmware

Connector 1 – Power (Dedicated 6V to 30V DC Power Connector)

Connector 2 – CAN (CAN Bus Connector, Serial Connection to

Connector 3 – GPS (GPS Antenna)

Window Sizes and Positions

Moving Around the Graphs

Graph Screen X Axis

Graph Screen Y Axis

Additional File Functions

Load Compare File

To remove a compare file, click on the ‘Remove Run’ icon in the

Append File to Main

Load Circuit Map

Editing PerformanceBox Sport Files

Cut All Data before Cursor

Cut All Data after Cursor