How to get your RCs top speed?
07-25-2018, 12:06 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
How to get your RCs top speed?
Hello all,
Back in the RC hobby after 10+ year hiatus and picked up myself a Traxxas truck and street car I've been enjoying and having fun with. I'm curious to finding the top speeds which I'm getting to with the current set ups I'm running. I'd like to track again after I do some modifications to see if top speeds are improved.
I've seen some ideas of people placing their smartphone under or on top of the body when doing speed runs to using speedometers.
What is a decent way to track as close to an accurate speed as one can? Are there also any affordable options as well? Would appreciate it any help and feedback! Thanks in advance!
Back in the RC hobby after 10+ year hiatus and picked up myself a Traxxas truck and street car I've been enjoying and having fun with. I'm curious to finding the top speeds which I'm getting to with the current set ups I'm running. I'd like to track again after I do some modifications to see if top speeds are improved.
I've seen some ideas of people placing their smartphone under or on top of the body when doing speed runs to using speedometers.
What is a decent way to track as close to an accurate speed as one can? Are there also any affordable options as well? Would appreciate it any help and feedback! Thanks in advance!
07-25-2018, 01:54 PM
#2
Either a handheld GPS, a smartphone with GPS app, or a radar gun. Probably the most economical is using a smartphone since most people have them these days. You could even buy an older one and just use it for a GPS app so you don’t destroy the actual phone you use everyday. I use an old iPhone 5 for my speed runs. The app accuracy is within 1mph of my full-size daily driver truck Speedo, so it’s close enough for me.
07-25-2018, 09:47 PM
#3
Everything quicksport said .
I never liked the idea of putting my everyday phone in my car just in case you crash at top speed and then left without a phone .
A cheaper 2nd hand phone would be better .
You could use the Traxxas app , but you need a receiver , wifi module , transmitter , magnet/sensor and probably a spur gear .
I use a Quanum GPS Logger from Hobbyking .
Tested against my car speedo and phone gps it seems quite accurate . ( logger plugged into rc with the rc on the passenger seat while driving at constant speed , then check the data matches your speedo ). Its pretty tough too ,( its actually for planes ) , and survived a couple of big crashes .
The main thing you want is consistancy . If it is 5mph out all the time you can tell if your car is faster after a mod . If its up then down you wont know if the car is faster or the gps is reading out of wack .
I never liked the idea of putting my everyday phone in my car just in case you crash at top speed and then left without a phone .
A cheaper 2nd hand phone would be better .
You could use the Traxxas app , but you need a receiver , wifi module , transmitter , magnet/sensor and probably a spur gear .
I use a Quanum GPS Logger from Hobbyking .
Tested against my car speedo and phone gps it seems quite accurate . ( logger plugged into rc with the rc on the passenger seat while driving at constant speed , then check the data matches your speedo ). Its pretty tough too ,( its actually for planes ) , and survived a couple of big crashes .
The main thing you want is consistancy . If it is 5mph out all the time you can tell if your car is faster after a mod . If its up then down you wont know if the car is faster or the gps is reading out of wack .
07-30-2018, 06:44 AM
#4
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thank you for the input 1Q and speedy. I have an old iPhone 6 plus...would that be too big to put into my RC car to use an app to track speed? Which app did you use for that? Always whats a decent and safe way to mount an older cell phone to record top speed runs without damaging it too much. I still use that phone as a back up alarm clock for the mornings lol.
07-30-2018, 09:18 AM
#5
Velcro, duct tape, rubber bands.. whatever works.
An iPhone 6 should be fine. The app I use is just called “Speedometer”. It’s free in the App Store. The speed readout is in green numbers. I can post a screen shot later when I have time.
An iPhone 6 should be fine. The app I use is just called “Speedometer”. It’s free in the App Store. The speed readout is in green numbers. I can post a screen shot later when I have time.
08-02-2018, 06:31 AM
#6
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 18
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks Sport. I will check that app out and see on how I can rig up a way to secure my spare phone to get some top speed runs the next time I have some free time to enjoy my RCs and also find a nice clean parking lot that's got plenty of room to open them up.
08-02-2018, 06:59 AM
#7
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
if it helps put your phone under the body instead of on top that way if you flip over the phone won't get damaged.
