SSDC v5, Race management for C7042 and PB-Pro Options

[awallace]

For the analogue pace car function, with SDDC does it record inputs to drive a real lap, or is it a set a speed and let it go?

Both. Start with the fixed speed pace cars, and then when you have that cracked, move onto the variable ones. The fixed speed ones aren't just fixed though - they work the throtle on each lap to try and reach/maintain a target lap time that you set. If you leave the target lap time as 0, then SSDC won't adjust the throttle on each lap.

[GregK]

My first reaction is WOW .........

My second is THANKS .............


Is the v1.04 firmware the one with InCar-Pro support or is there a later one??

[MrFlippant]

I'm with GregK, Wow and Thanks!

I do have a few questions as I play around. This is, of course, with a C7030 with PB-Pro SH (latest version).

1) Is it a bug or a feature that fuel load simulation is not active during free practice mode? It looks like fuel "burns" but there is no load simulation (updated throttle curves?) during free practice.

2) I enjoyed using a wireless keyboard and the F-keys to reset qualify, start/pause/resume/end a race in SSDC 4.x. I'd love to have those back.

3) I figured out how to put windows as tabs in the main window, which I prefer, but is it possible to have the leaderboard come up automatically when a race is started? I found out you can use CTRL-TAB to move between tabs, but I can't see if there's a way to reorder the tabs without removing the seldom-used ones. For example, I want to shift between Leaderboard and Race Management quite often during a series of races, but the others more rarely.

4) Just to be clear, is progressive braking not available for C7030? I couldn't tell any difference in braking power when I tried different settings, so I assume not.

5) Are you doing active throttle calibration with the C7030 as you did for C7042? I hope so, but haven't tested enough to tell.

6) Are progressive brakes only for the brake button? I noticed that if the brake button is disabled, progressive braking is grayed out, indicating that it's not available. This leads me to believe that it's linked to the brake button and not dynamic braking, and that dynamic would always be full brakes. I would prefer this to be the other way around, even if/when I switch to the APB to get the use of progressive braking. Ideally, the setting should be available to either or both dynamic and button brakes, as I know some people prefer to use one over the other, and vice versa.

7) Auto-track call wasn't working for me. I was only "racing" one car, so maybe it knew not to worry about it? I just expected a track call when I crashed and had to put my car back on, but it never came. Yes, this was during a race, not free practice.

Thanks a TON again for making this C7030 compatible, Andy! The DRAWW will likely be using this for all our tracks soon.

[Dave2302]

Hi Andy,

Great work as always, you are a credit and major player in our hobby

Been out of touch for a while due to 1:1 car project.

I have the old 6 car base with PB pro and SH.

Is there at the moment a way to get sector timing through a "special stage", so the sector times flash up on the screen with a total lap time as you pass the power base (start / finish line) at the end, or if not is this something you could add in the future, or do you indeed have plans to do this ???

Cheers Dave

[RikoRocket]

Slot-GP has this feature - see the website http://home.comcast.net/~rubenio/SlotGP%20Pro.htm but it is a while since we have seen Rubenio on the forum. I loved sector timing, but you need a really big circuit for it to be meaningful. If you have a 6 second lap then halving that doesn't give enough discrimination in my view. Try Slot-GP first (it is free) then ask Andy again if you think you really want it.

[mickman]

Hi Andy, I have a few questions regarding PACE CAR setup in v5.1 SSDC ** note: I've placed my Questions in brackets

Here's a typical scenario I follow

I do a few laps & record the cars laps using the PACE CAR Record.
I then set up a an endurance race with only one car (the pace car)
I set Driver specs. as follows

Pace Driver on
Variable throttle off
lane change off
lap time 10sec.
Start speed 20

note: If I set the start speed too high the car simply de-slots on first curve.

Car setup

Fuel tank Size = 20
Fuel TRank Speed = 90
( Q. my pace car's not burning any fuel ? )

Speed Limit Pit Lane & track calls = 40
( Q. Do I need to set this as I am not currently using PitLane.)

Throttle Map = Linear
( Q. in Free Practice is throttle linear only ? )

Track Calls = off.

I start the race: My pace car is moving around the track at a steady speed. if I adjust the cars START SPEED dynamically the car will slow or speed up.
( Q. does this mean that if i wish to have 5 pace cars, I must test each cars Start speed before a race to asertain whether that car will or will not simply de-slot at the first corner & if I wish to increase a cars speed alittle I must adjust the Start Speed ?)

p.s I'm having a ball with SSDC & the APB. Haven't had so much fun in years

Mick

[awallace]

( Q. my pace car's not burning any fuel ? )

Pace cars don't burn fuel. No point as they can't refuel. In any case, they need a head start!

( Q. Do I need to set this as I am not currently using PitLane.)

The speed limit is used for a number of things: track calls, out of fuel, end of race as well as pit lane.

( Q. in Free Practice is throttle linear only ? )

It shouldn't be. The throttle map that you set should work for free practice and all race types.

( Q. does this mean that if i wish to have 5 pace cars, I must test each cars Start speed before a race to asertain whether that car will or will not simply de-slot at the first corner & if I wish to increase a cars speed alittle I must adjust the Start Speed ?)

If you get the start speed about right for each car, and then set a target lap time, SSDC will try and achieve and then maintain the time.

Finally, the pace car recording stuff is only needed if you want variable speed pace cars. Constant speed pace cars don't need recordings.

Mr.F - thanks for the comments and feedback. In answer to your questions:
- Fuel load simulation is active always, but the throttle map is only updated as a car crosses the start/finish. So you need to cross the powerbase to see the effect.
- The function keys are going to be updated, so don't worry there
- I can activate the leaderboard at the start of a race. With the APB you can switch between the windows with the powerbase left and right buttons. Need to think about this for PB-Pro.
- Progressive braking is only available with the APB, regardless of what SSDC implies in the UI
- Throttle calibration is not possible on the fly with the PB-Pro, so I assume that every throttle is not perfect
- Progressive brakes are only for the brake button. You make a good point that this should also be the style of braking for dynamic brakes. Can alter that.
- I'll have a look at the auto track call option. It should have fired.

Glad you are having fun. That is what it is all about! I'm having fun on a little project too - tell you about it next week

[MrFlippant]

- Fuel load simulation is active always, but the throttle map is only updated as a car crosses the start/finish. So you need to cross the powerbase to see the effect.
- The function keys are going to be updated, so don't worry there
- I can activate the leaderboard at the start of a race. With the APB you can switch between the windows with the powerbase left and right buttons. Need to think about this for PB-Pro.
- Progressive braking is only available with the APB, regardless of what SSDC implies in the UI
- Throttle calibration is not possible on the fly with the PB-Pro, so I assume that every throttle is not perfect
- Progressive brakes are only for the brake button. You make a good point that this should also be the style of braking for dynamic brakes. Can alter that.
- I'll have a look at the auto track call option. It should have fired.

- Well, it ain't working for me in free practice. I can do any number of laps with no change in car power, but as soon as I start a race, I have less power on a full tank. Let me know if you want a trace or anything.
- YAY!
- Yes, please! How about keyboard arrow keys? I know I'm not the only one using a PC keyboard (wireless or otherwise) to work with SSDC.
- Aww. Whelp, I guess I'm not really losing anything that I had. ;-)
- Ok, that's unfortunate. Uneven throttles has always been an issue with me and the use of SSDC. Are you doing anything to help even them out, or am I stuck with the natural variances of shitty OEM throttles until I get an APB hooked up? 'cus that's not happening until I can easily run the track with no computer and still have a decent lap display tower.
- thanks! I'm sure those with the APB will appreciate that.
- Again, let me know if you want a trace or anything.

[fbc]

hi Andy

Well done on releasing V5 for PBpro. I saw it at Gaydon last week and it looks great. You truly have created a great piece of software that transform the digital scalextric experience.

I have a question relating to upgrading from V4 to V5. I have just installed V5, on to my PC, which already has V4 installed.

The problem I have is that V5 doesn't recognize the COM port - it shows 2 COM ports on the drop down, COM3 and COM10, but SSD doesn't seem to be able to connect using either. V4 is working fine using the same COM port/cable. I have disconnected my copy of V4 in case that was hogging the COM port but that doesn't seem to have had any impact.

Should I uninstall V4 before V5 will work?

I have downloaded the Microsoft Port monitor as suggested in the manual but haven't had a chance to install this to see what it shows.

Has anyone come across similar probelms upgrading from V4 to V5?

Rgds

Fbc

[350Zman]

How do I run in analog mode while using SSDC ?

[MrFlippant]

fbc, what version of Windows?
I'm using XP, and had v4 on it. I just installed v5 and it worked with no issues. Of course, don't have any other app open that uses the serial ports, especially SSDC v4.

[RikoRocket]

I've been running V5 and V4 on the same machine without any problems.

[fbc]

Thanks for your replies.

I discovered the problem. There is an option on the tool bar where you define which powerbase type you are using and mine was set at APB rather than PB pro. Once I changed this it picked up the serial port immediately

It might be useful to know for anyone else upgrading from V4

Many thanks again

[MrFlippant]

Andy mentioned that in Post #6, but it's a good reminder, especially to those coming to this thread late.

I also figured out my fuel problem in free practice mode. I hadn't selected a "race" with car/driver settings to free practice with. The default values for tank size and fuel burn are so high and slow that it takes a hundred laps before a fill up is needed. The needle barely moved during my testing, so I set up a car with the fastest burn rate and a tank size of 10. Even then it took almost 15 laps before I needed to refuel, which I would have expected much sooner at such a setting. I can't imagine how many laps it would take on any track, with the tank at 200 and the burn set to slow. Does anyone else feel like fuel burns a bit too slowly in SSDC 5? Is it possible that the burn rate is different for C7030 support than it is for C7042 support?

Now that I'm getting the gist of these changes to what I'm used to, it's time to fill up my driver and car databases and do some more serious "testing."

I'm more torn than I've ever been about switching to the APB. I just cannot imagine giving up my beautiful RichG Lap Display tower, which would go dark without a C7030 to give it data. When I can keep using that, preferably and especially without the PC doing the work, I'll probably make the switch that evening. :\

[mickman]

Thanks again for the much needed tips on getting up and running with v5.1

I`m taking notes in my personal slot blog if any user is interested.... might be helpful to new users running into similar issues.

I`ve managed to get several pace cars ripping around the track... looks great. can`t wait to finally add the pit lane.

This is truly a monumental time for slot car racing ... SSDC is paving the way.. nice one guys simply magic watching it evolve.

ENJOY