AiM SOLO 2dl vs. Vbox HD2

[e36clubracer]

I’m weighing the options on both. I know the vbox is roughly twice the price but the software seems to be a little more feature rich. People complain the AiM software is hard to use but I feel confident I’ll be able to figure it out.

I’m kind leaning towards AiM because it seems better setup for a car that’s not a full blown race car. Also seems to have a larger install base to share data.

Anybody have any experience using either? I’d couldn’t find much on here for people using the vbox unit but seems fairly popular on Rennlist.

[dparm]

AIM software is a little clunky but there are a gazillion people using it and lots of resources to get yourself comfortable. There is a new version of RaceStudio coming soon that's in beta and has been previewed.

The install base is the biggest reason, IMO. Being able to share data and swap with others will make you a better driver, hands down.

[Kelse92]

I recommend the AiM. Like said above, there’s just so much more widespread use and support of the system that you can share data with others and learn from them etc. If you’re not racing and don’t need a full-blown AiM dash, just buy a Solo DL2 and be done with it. If you want to get extra fancy and have super easy video/data overlay buy the SmartyCam too.

[dparm]

FWIW, the AIM stuff is even used by professional race teams. I have seen Smartycams inside IMSA cars.

And if it's any consolation, the Cosworth software is pretty crap too. It's not intuitive, has lots of quirks, and takes a long time to get setup the way you want.

[dogbone]

The AIM Solo 2DL is very very accurate. I was out at a track today and it was giving identical times as the transponder down to the hundredths. Yes, the AIM software is old and clunky at times—-a lot of times. But it CAN generally do what you want it to. If you look in my build thread, I am constantly providing screen shots from the AIM software to illustrate something. There’s so much good stuff in there to look at.

Don’t know anything about the Vbox. But the AIM is worth the price of admission.

[dogbone]

Oh—-and the AIM support is incredible. They have offices on the East and West Coast. You can always talk to a human being. And they are very responsive.

[Ximian]

There is a beta version of AIM Race Studio 3 out that shows great improvements and delivers things that were missing. For example, the most important thing to me is a built-in Google Earth type view so you don't have to export your GPS info to analyze it in a different tool. You can download the beta from their web site, but it does require signing up for an account. I'm assuming they'll have a monthly plan where they'll store your data so you can more easily sync it between devices and hopefully a good mobile app.

With this update, AIM looks even better than it did. Note that it does have some bugs still.

[SYT_Shadow]

Aim Solo 2DL for the win. Easy-ish to use, massive install base, super accurate

[fanatic1]

Originally Posted by e36clubracer

I’m weighing the options on both. I know the vbox is roughly twice the price but the software seems to be a little more feature rich. People complain the AiM software is hard to use but I feel confident I’ll be able to figure it out.

I’m kind leaning towards AiM because it seems better setup for a car that’s not a full blown race car. Also seems to have a larger install base to share data.

Anybody have any experience using either? I’d couldn’t find much on here for people using the vbox unit but seems fairly popular on Rennlist.

VBOX HD2 is awesome, ability to compare laps side-by-side and never misses a session, idiotproof. Downside is the installed base is much smaller (as evidenced by the comments here). At Laguna this weekend and will post up some images next week

[e36clubracer]

Originally Posted by fanatic1

VBOX HD2 is awesome, ability to compare laps side-by-side and never misses a session, idiotproof. Downside is the installed base is much smaller (as evidenced by the comments here). At Laguna this weekend and will post up some images next week

That’s the main reason I am even entertaining the vbox hd2. The side by side comparison is something that is great if you have someone faster than you throw down a lap and then you can directly compare to you.

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by Ximian

There is a beta version of AIM Race Studio 3 out that shows great improvements and delivers things that were missing. For example, the most important thing to me is a built-in Google Earth type view so you don't have to export your GPS info to analyze it in a different tool. You can download the beta from their web site, but it does require signing up for an account. I'm assuming they'll have a monthly plan where they'll store your data so you can more easily sync it between devices and hopefully a good mobile app.

With this update, AIM looks even better than it did. Note that it does have some bugs still.

Did you figure out how to compare laps between different sessions in the new Beta?

[rhyary]

Originally Posted by Ximian

There is a beta version of AIM Race Studio 3 out that shows great improvements and delivers things that were missing. For example, the most important thing to me is a built-in Google Earth type view so you don't have to export your GPS info to analyze it in a different tool. You can download the beta from their web site, but it does require signing up for an account. I'm assuming they'll have a monthly plan where they'll store your data so you can more easily sync it between devices and hopefully a good mobile app.

With this update, AIM looks even better than it did. Note that it does have some bugs still.

I installed the beta on the same computer as the current version and it completely crapped out the installation of both versions.

I will have to wait for the off season to get into the new version. Will give me something to do in the winter

[Ximian]

Originally Posted by DRLane

Did you figure out how to compare laps between different sessions in the new Beta?

I don't think that functionality is there yet. You might have to export laps in RS2 and make a new "session" to combine them.

If the functionality is there, I just haven't found it with the constant prompts to log in to use RS3.

[Ximian]

Originally Posted by rhyary

I installed the beta on the same computer as the current version and it completely crapped out the installation of both versions.

I will have to wait for the off season to get into the new version. Will give me something to do in the winter

The beta should be installed in the default location (C:\AIM_SPORT\RaceStudio3_beta) which has a folder name that shouldn't conflict with the stable versions. Tracks and sessions were missing from my beta install but once I closed and opened up the beta again, the tracks loaded on their own.

I had to specify the data folder location for the imported sessions (C:\AIM_SPORT\RaceStudio3\user\data)

[DRLane]

Wish we knew more about their mobile IOS application. I thought a public beta was supposed to be launched earlier this year.

[dparm]

Hey now, I created an official data analysis/telemetry thread and you chumps didn't even bother posting this info there? C'mon.

https://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1507756

[Ximian]

Just a warning -

If some channel value doesn't make sense in Race Studio 3 beta, it's probably a bug. For example, GPS position accuracy values can be very incorrect.

[rhyary]

Originally Posted by Ximian

The beta should be installed in the default location (C:\AIM_SPORT\RaceStudio3_beta) which has a folder name that shouldn't conflict with the stable versions. Tracks and sessions were missing from my beta install but once I closed and opened up the beta again, the tracks loaded on their own.

I had to specify the data folder location for the imported sessions (C:\AIM_SPORT\RaceStudio3\user\data)

I did install the Beta into its default directory.
Not only it messed up the non beta software, it messed it up even after I removed the beta. I had to delete the rs3 completely and re-install a new copy.

I also downloaded or copied data into \rs3betadata\ directory to make sure the data is separated.

A note to all RS3 users, the software allows you to export almost any customization. I strongly recommend creating a \AiM-Export directory and export into it the device config, user profile, tracks, etc etc. Export every thing you need to wipe the software clean and reinstall fresh copy. copy that export directory to a USB drive. If your laptop dies, you can be up and running quickly.

In the download setting, select a data directory that is not in the AiM path, so if Aim messes something in its default paths, you data is not there.

I keep my data separated by years. So for 2020 my data directories are:
For Laps:
c:\aimdata\2020\laps

And for video (I unchecked "same directory")
c:\aimdata\2020\video

[e36clubracer]

Has anybody tried installing the AiM software on a couple different virtual machines to analyze laps side by side? This could be a way to get that feature without the software actually supporting it?

Also you could install the beta on a VM to test with as well. That would be the way I'd handle it.

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by e36clubracer

Has anybody tried installing the AiM software on a couple different virtual machines to analyze laps side by side? This could be a way to get that feature without the software actually supporting it?

Also you could install the beta on a VM to test with as well. That would be the way I'd handle it.

I have both the legacy and beta running on my Mac via VM ware with Windows 10. No issues thus far. While I like the UI for the beta it's far from complete. No sense using it over the fully featured product.

[sc_tr0jan_m3]

AIM has been around for ages, but the updates of firmware/software/hardware comes at a snail pace. People have been waiting for a Mac/iOS version of their software for YEARS, but still no end in sight.

VBox appears to be more willing to lead the charge. If you head over to Rennlist, the Porsche guys love their setup. The HD2 setup supports the two camera setup and even live streaming right from the box compared to the AIM that requires a whole bunch more components to make it work.

I've had a SoloDL since they've come out, but pretty close to pulling the trigger for a VBox.

[TrackEnthusiast]

There is another option for those who want to spare some bucks (my case). Recently, I've put together some code to use a GoPro as video and GPS along with the MLaptimer app. It is very straight forward to use, no need for wiring into any ECU neither pairing different devices via bluetooth. All you need is to go out on the track while recording with the GoPro and with the MLaptimer app. By the way, the MLaptimer for iPhone is a really cool app, specially if you consider that the car sensors (but the GPS) are very accurate.

The code I've put together will parse the MLaptimer low res GPS track with the high res GPS track from the camera, sync everything together, and output a csv file for rendering videos with Dashware or RaceRender. Even better, it also outputs a .vbo file, which can be used in CT to analyze the driving, with very good quality (of course, quality depends on how good you set up the GoPro). Check the results below and access www.easy-telemetry.com to know more. Note: processing the app files is free, but there is a little fee for processing GoPro files.