RALLY COMPUTER SOFTWARE
Contents
1. then the odometer s is immediately increased or decreased by the mileage entered For example 0 154 or 0 21 CALCULATE amp STORE CORRECTION FACTORS Helps you calculate a correction factor then and store it as one of three factors Factor choices are 1 Pavement 2 Dirt and 3 Other After storing the factor you are given opportunity to switch factors NOTE When calculating a factor for you the program assumes that the mileages that you input were measured using the factor that is currently in use SHOW SWITCH CORRECTION FACTORS Shows the three factors and lets you choose the factor you wish to switch to and begin using The factor change is performed at the mileage were the button was pressed LOAD MILEAGE PRESETS INTO ODOS Immediately LOADS any Mileage Presets that are set into the appropriate odos CLEAR MILEAGE PRESETS Clears all Preset Mileages page 16 Compu Rally User Manual Start End Leg INITIALIZE Prepares the computer for a new leg The only CALC odo is zeroed the MISC odometer is left alone and the value for the O M odometer is asked for in case Official Mileage does not revert to zero at the Outmarker CHECKPOINT Asks for the Official Mileage at the control and suggests the Official Mileage where you pressed the button Then the program shows you a Critique of the leg you just ran If you have set up a Data File the program will then ask if you want the data written to disk This feature2. you will see the arrows on the screen begin to move toward the center of the screen If the arrows are lined up in the middle and the display shows 0 points you are EXACTLY on time As you deviate from the CAST you will see the arrows move off center and the points number begin to get larger Adjust the car speed to keep the points register at zero and the arrows aligned in the middle If you arrive at a control with the arrows centered and the POINTS showing zero you should have a score of zero or at least a very low score If not ask the navigator to display the data file to find out what went wrong Turns at a specified mileage can be easily found if the navigator sets the Mileage alarm register The Mileage alarm register on the top right of the screen will count down to zero as the given mileage is reached An audible alarm will sound when you are within 1 100th of a mile of the given setting The alarm will sound only while the car is moving If there is no current given mileage to watch setting the register to the callback mileage for the leg can give useful information Setting the Mileage Alarm register to zero clears it from the screen page 23 Compu Rally User Manual FAQ s 1 I m getting more than 1 pulse to the program each time a magnet passes the reed switch What s wrong Before we attempt to answer let us ask you a question Are you getting exactly 2 pulses each time the magnet passes the reed switch If
3. MISC 0 525 pel your odo readings 0 0 1 525 ERROR 18 rror between the 2 ated ade etna PERPE PEPEL EEE A Current Time and the Correct Time POINTS 1 EARLY 31 MPH is your current speed CURRENT 14 17 25 31 MPH 30 00 MPH is the current speed CORRECT 14 17 35 30 00 MPH 45 00 is preset Speed 1 ERROR 0 00 10 45 00 20 00 20 00 is preset speed 2 Tog Hr Mins pavenene 1 000 ToD means time is currently being shown as Time of Day You can toggle between Time of Day and Elapsed Time modes Pavement CF indicates that you are using the pavement odometer correction factor 1 000 is the mileage at the last speed change page 15 Compu Rally User Manual Odometer Control REVERSE DIRECTION Toggles the odometer s between forward and reverse START STOP Toggles the odometer s between running and stopped RESET TO ZERO Resets the odometer s to zero LOAD VALUE Allows you to load a odometer value into the odometer s in one of several different ways 1 If anumber alone is entered then the value loaded is a PreSet to be loaded when the Load Mileage Presets button is pressed This value can be cleared by pressing the Clear Mileage Preset button 2 Ifa C for CALC a M for MISC or an for is entered then the value in that odometer is loaded immediately into the odometer s 3 Ifa number is entered followed immediately by a or
4. etc to mount the magnets We use fast drying epoxy cement The inside of a wheel is a good place for the magnets as the centrifugal force generated by the spinning of the wheel actually helps hold the magnets on Next bend a metal strip so that one end can be mounted for example clamped using hose clamps to something which tracks the wheel and the other end can hold the reed switch about 4 away from the track of the magnets On a car with McPherson struts the metal strip can be bent in an L shape and clamped to a strut using hose clamps We often use a 3 L shaped shelf bracket from a hardware store Solder each of the two leads of the reed switch to one of the leads of some two conductor wire Run the wire into the passenger compartment taking care not to have the wire near any high voltage wires or exhaust pipes page 12 Compu Rally User Manual Determining Your Miles Pulse Factor Two programs TIRESIZE EXE amp GREASE EXE have been included to aid you in determining your miles pulse factor TIRESIZE EXE asks information about your tire and based on the information given gives a rough estimate of your miles pulse factor GREASE EXE uses the old grease spot method of determining your miles pulse factor It is more involved as you actually make measurements with the car but gives a much more accurate estimate of your miles pulse factor To use this method put a small spot of grease or other material on the tr
5. is very helpful even if no Data File is set up as it can be used during a rally to check if a pause was entered etc This feature can be used to settle disputes between the driver and navigator or possibly the rallymaster INPUT LEG SCORES INTO SCORING DATABASE Allows you to manually input scores from the various legs into the scoring database SHOW OUT TIME FOR CURRENT LEG Shows your current OUT TIME If Car Zero Times are being used the Car Zero Time is also displayed This feature can be used to prove to the driver that the OUT TIME is correct PRELOAD NEXT OUT TIME In the case you are given your Next OUT TIME in the instructions you may use this feature to Preload it Then when you Initialize the suggested OUT TIME will be this SHOW LEG BY LEG SCORES Shows you the Scoring Database including a total score accumulated page 17 Compu Rally User Manual Time Control PAUSE Allows you to input a Pause in decimal minutes or in seconds If a number alone is entered it is taken in decimal minutes If an S is on the end of the number the Pause is taken as seconds For example 5 or 30S GAIN Allows you to input a Gain in decimal minutes or in seconds If a number alone is entered it is taken in decimal minutes If an S is on the end of the number the Gain is taken as seconds For example 5 or 30S BOUGHT TIME Similar to a pause but logged on the critique as Bought Time plus can be carrie
6. no then it sounds as if you have an alignment problem between your magnets and reed switch If yes the problem might be the magnets that you used You see each time the reed switch sees either the north or south pole of a magnet it switches When glued down the magnets we specified will only have one pole facing the reed switch But most other magnets would have both a north and a south pole facing the reed switch so the reed switch would switch twice each time it saw the magnet once for the north pole and once for the south pole Here s a diagram showing the different magnet types You ll note that the button magnet that we specified the top magnet in the diagram has its north and south poles on the opposite faces of the magnet while most magnets the lower magnet in the diagram have its north and south poles on opposite ends of each face SIDE TOP VIEW North Pole South Pole a S North r4 mm gt COMMEN T As the magnet passes t switch switch s one pole up switches As this passes t switch switch s the nort and t he reed the reed ees only facing magnet he reed the reed ees both h amp south Pole L Pole Also at fast speeds it is theoretically possible that the bottom magnet might also begin to miss pulses due to the short distance between magnetic poles It is suggested that you use the type magnet that we have listed pole
7. odometer While you are running the Transit Zone the error displayed will be the time you have to reach the end of the Transit Zone Many times the Odometer Calibration leg of a rally will be run like a Transit Zone 6 The STUPID DRIVER just went blowing by the turn How I get the computer back right If by chance or should we say when you over shoot a turn and need to back up have the navigator set the odometers to run in reverse the instant you come to a stop Also do your best not to lock up your tires coming to a stop to prevent odo error Do not reverse the car until the navigator confirms that he has put the computer in reverse Then back up the car to the proper point and have the navigator put the odo s back into forward while you engage the forward drive gear of the car Again do not move until the navigator confirms that the computer is in forward mode Should you miss the turn to the extent that you must turn around and retrace your route pick a reference point such as sign or fence post and have the navigator stop the odo s Then turn the vehicle around at the earliest convenience Have the navigator put the odo s into reverse mode with them still stopped As you pass back by the reference point have the navigator restart the odo s which will now be running in reverse At the point you return to the course have the navigator place the odometers back into the forward direction While the process of error recove
8. usage counter or other Trojan Horse in the program but if you use this program you have a moral and ethical obligation to register it Paid registration gives you your own personalized serial number which when typed into the configuration program is displayed on the opening screen of the program instead of SHAREWARE COPY and eliminates the POP UP reminder to register your copy You are welcome to share SHAREWARE copies of CompuRa y s Rally Computer Software with your friends and associates for their evaluation To convert a registered copy of the CompuRally Rally Computer Software to a SHAREWARE version run the CONFIG program and type SHAREWARE for your NAME and 0 for the REGISTRATION NUMBER This documentation file and the MAILER file must be provided with all copies of Compu Rally s Rally Computer Software Because of piracy problems Compu Rally must INSIST that CompuRa y s Rally Computer Software be distributed only EXACTLY as provided by CompuRally page 3 Compu Rally User Manual Unmodified copies of Compu Rally shareware files may be distributed by shareware distributors provided 1 the files are clearly identified as unregistered shareware and 2 the cost of the distribution is nominal Otherwise no version of Compu Rally s Rally Computer Software may be sold without the prior written permission of Compu Rally After a short evaluation period ethical users must register their copy of Compu Rally s Rally Computer Sof
9. CompuRally RALLY COMPUTER SOFTWARE VERSION 5 05 C opyright 1989 2002 All Rights Reserved CompuRally CompuRally c o J eff Ballinger c o Mike Strawbridge 1406 Old Charleston Road 340 Wild Oak Road Cleveland TN 37312 Cleveland TN 37323 Table of Contents SEUBBR 3 OVERVIEW sickest 5 PUG 7 CONFIGURING THE PROGRAM TO YOUR SYSTEM 8 DEFINING THE KEY LAYOUT coscssccssssscsssossssssssssssssossesecsnssivessessvorsenssessernssecs 10 INSTALLING THE PROBE AND MAGNETS 12 DETERMINING YOUR MILES PULSE FACTOR ees 13 GETTING TARIE Oaa distet can 13 THE THREF ODOMETER S 4 ouod e ai 14 SCREEN EXPLANATION ettet ttt ttt ttt ttt ttti 15 ODOMETERICONTR OL donis 16 STAR TEND LEGS ates aste dep EA dr 17 TIME CONZBOL cand 18 SPEED CONTROL D i censis tav d cb i E 19 DISP ica MUERE eta OE LM 20 MISCELLANEOUS y toam 21 PARALLEL PORT INTERFACE d dtes itum 20 RALLY DRIVING WITH THE COMPURALLY COMPUTER 23 ENG ENTE 24 Too many Pulses Hall Effect vs Reed Switch Remembering Key Layout Incorrect Speed Change Transit Zones Overshooting Turns BLANK KEY LAYOUT SHEED bore a eU etate 28 Compu Rally User Manual LEGAL STUFF CompuHally s Rally Computer Software is a unique program and has taken many hours and many rallies to develop Two decades of rally a
10. T used at the last speed change This is handy if the wrong speed was input in at the last speed change Display TOGGLE ODOS BETWEEN AND Toggles the Odos between hundredths and thousandths display TOGGLE TIME BETWEEN 4 AND Toggles the Time between hundredths minute and thousandths minute display TOGGLE BETWEEN NORMAL AND EMERGENCY SPEED Toggles between EMERGENCY speeds and Normal speeds Time for the leg is increased by 20 TOGGLE BETWEEN ELAPSED AND TIME OF DAY Toggles the Time displayed between Time of Day and Elapsed Time from the last Control page 20 Compu Rally User Manual Miscellaneous REDRAW SCREEN Pressing this button clears and redraws the screen PUT ODOS CALCS ON HOLD Stops the program from UPDATING the odos It acts as though the car is sitting still at the location where the HOLD button was pressed while the odometers continue to count in the background This feature can be used to do several operations at one point in space and time Pressing the HOLD button again releases the program from HOLD and the odometers and calcs update immediately to their correct values SHOW HELP SCREENS Shows three Help screens which display the buttons you have chosen to call up the features of the program SET MILEAGE TIME ALARM Sets the Countdown Mileage Alarm The mileage alarm compares the Mileage you enter to the O M odometer displays the difference on the upper right
11. UR car number By knowing YOUR car number the program will know how far off from the Car Zero Time you should be CONFIG EXE can be rerun to change the configuration options As a matter of fact you will probably need to run CONFIG EXE before each rally to change the name of the Data File to which the data for each rally is stored page 9 Compu Rally User Manual Defining the Key Layout Just as you set up the options for the rally program you can reconfigure the key layout to your own personal taste To do so run KEYSETUP EXE The program will show a table of functions that the program does and all you do is press the button you choose to activate that particular function Below and on the following page is the layout we use You will notice that the ODO CONTROL is laid out in groups of four keys The only problem might come if your Function Keys are laid out in two rows instead of one The layout you use is up to you ODO CONTROL Reverse Reset to Direction Start Stop Zero Load Value Master all odos F5 F6 F7 F8 Calculation Odo Miscellaneous Odo di amp Official Mileage Odo 3 t Calculate amp Store F Load Mileage Presets into FA Correction Factor Odos Show Switch Correction Alt F Clear Mileage Presets F1 START END LEG Initialize Show OUT TIME for Alt B reset for new leg Current Leg ChecKpoint K Preload next OUT TIME Alt O Input Leg Scor
12. ble on conventional rally computers however it is the one adjusted by many of their functions which adjust time MI SC Odometer The MISC odometer is an odometer whose use is left to your discretion It is not used by the program to do any calculations of any sort This can be used for interval mileages or anything you like O M Odometer The O M odometer is the odometer that the program uses to keep up with the Official Mileage in the rally This is the odometer used with the Mileage Alarm Speed changes are referenced to this odometer register This is the register visible as mileage on conventional rally computers page 14 Compu Rally User Manual Screen Explanation CALC MISC amp O M are your three odometers Currently both the CALC and O M odos are reading 1 525 miles both are running in the forward direction the in front of the numbers and neither one is stopped there is no S after the number The MISC odo is reading 0 525 miles as the navigator chose to zero it at the last speed change Mileage Alarm shows the difference of the O M odo from a preset Alarm Mileage The alarm was set for 2 000 miles The mileage alarm beeps when it is within 0 01 mile of the alarm mileage POINTS is the calculated error expected score if you were now entering a control The arrows above POINTS are analog displays of your error CURRENT is the Current Time CALC 1 525 Mileage Alarm CORRECT is the Correct Time to
13. conventional rally computers the navigator would calculate the difference between the two speeds for the distance in error and then input a pause or gain to make the correction With the CompuRally Rally Computer Software it would be tempting to just re input the speed change at the earlier mileage This would be a serious mistake however In case have not read this in the description of the feature CAST AT A SPECIFIED MILEAGE I will repeat this again WARNING DO NOT DO A SPEED CHANGE USING A SPEED CHANGE MILEAGE LESS THAN THE MILEAGE AT THE LAST SPEED CHANGE You do not have to be at the mileage for the speed change but speed changes MUST be input in the correct order By inputting a speed change at a mileage which is less than the previous speed change you are in effect inputting the speed change out of order To handle this situation choose UNDO LAST SPEED CHANGE and then re input the Speed Change at the proper mileage You could also handle the situation as those with a conventional rally computer would do calculate the difference and input the pause gain page 26 Compu Rally User Manual 5 How do I handle a TRANSIT ZONE To run a Transit Zone a place in the rally where you are given a time to traverse a distance instead of a CAST stop the CALC odometer at the beginning of the Transit Zone and enter the length of time for the Transit Zone as a Pause When you reach the end of the Transit Zone restart the CALC
14. d over to the following legs SET TIME Allows you to set the Time in your computer FINE ADJUST TIME Allows you to finely adjust the Clock to match Official Time For example 4 2 or 15 page 18 Compu Rally User Manual Speed Control SET PRELOADED SPEED 1 Sets the Primary Speed Preload SET PRELOADED SPEED 2 Sets the Secondary Speed Preload CAST AT SPECIFIED MILEAGE Performs a speed change at a mileage that you specify This feature is most often used when the O M for a speed change is given in the route instructions The first thing you will be asked is the mileage at which to change speed The O M at which you pressed the button will be suggested You may press ENTER to take the suggested mileage or type in an O M for the speed change If however you wish to base the speed change mileage on one of the other odos merely put a C for the CALC odo or an M for the MISC odo immediately after the number For example 12 352M would tell the computer to do the speed change at 12 352 on the MISC odo Also instead of a C or M you may type a at the end of the number input The speed change mileage is then set to the suggested mileage the when the button was pressed plus the number input For example 1 5 would be 1 5 O M Next you will be asked for the speed to which you wish to change The PRIMARY PreLoaded speed is suggested If the speed change mileage has already past the compu
15. ead of the tire to be measured Roll the car forward in a straight line until the grease spot touches the pavement twice Next measure the distance between the grease spots and input that value into the program The program will then give you an estimated miles pulse factor If you have two magnets on the wheel you should have a Miles Pulse factor of approximately 0 0008 0 0005 with three 0 0005 0 0003 with four 0 0003 0 0002 Getting Started To start Compu Rally s Rally Computer Program run RALLY EXE The program will read the Configuration Options file RALLY CFG that you set up when you ran CONFIG EXE the Key Layout file KEYS CFQG file and then begin with the program configured to meet the needs of your system page 13 Compu Rally User Manual The 3 Odometers The CompuRa y Rally Computer Software allows you control over three separate odometers CALC MISC and O M The odos can be manipulated individually or all atonce Before explaining the methods of manipulation at your control an explanation of the three odometers is in order CALC Odometer The CALC odometer is the odometer that the program uses to calculate time Manipulating this odometer drastically affects time so if you do not know what you are doing don t mess with this odometer After you learn how this odometer works this is a very powerful odometer This odometer should always be set to zero at the start of each leg This register is not normally visi
16. es into Scoring Database Ctrl Ins Show Leg by Leg Scores Ctrl PgUp page 10 Compu Rally User Manual TI ME CONTROL Pause P Set Time T Gain G Fine Adjust Time A Bought Time B SPEED CONTROL Switch to Preloaded Set Preload Speed 1 Alt S Speed 1 F9 Switch to Preloaded Set Preload Speed 2 Alt D Speed 2 F10 i Change Speed used for CAST at an ODO reading C last speed change Alt C Ctrl Undo last Speed Change Backspace DI SPLAY Toggle Odos between Toggle between NORMAL Alt E and and EMERGENCY speeds Toggle Time between G Ctri Right e e Alt T H 4 MI SCELLANEOUS Redraw Screen ENTER Set Mileage Time Alarm M Show HELP Screens Log Commented Mileages Alt L Put odos calcs on HOLD H page 11 Compu Rally User Manual Installing the Reed Switch amp Magnets We have found that one of the easiest and by far one of the cheapest methods of reliably generating pulses based on movement of the car is by using a reed switch to detect magnets on a wheel of the car One could possibly more easily put the magnets on the driveshaft of the automobile but an undriven wheel is usually chosen so as to prevent errors when spinning the tires on loose surfaces We suggest mounting 3 to 6 magnets evenly spaced around the inside of an undriven wheel You can use glue tape cement
17. ile input BLANK MILES PULSES The distance in miles that will equal 1 pulse INTERFACE TO USE Whether you are using a Mouse Parallel or our Custom Serial Interface The Mouse is useful in testing features and playing with the program in the house Every time the RIGHT button is pressed a pulse comes into the program All other mouse buttons and movements are ignored Please note to test the program using the Mouse you must load the Mouse driver before starting the rally program CLOCK CORRECTION FACTOR Used to reduce the inaccuracies of the time keeping of 80286 and newer processors WARNING This factor is only good for 24 hours after starting the program OR 24 hours after setting the clock NOT ADJUSTING THE CLOCK WHICHEVER COMES LAST It can be calculated for your computer using the following formula CORRECTION FACTOR Correct of Seconds Seconds on Your Clock page 8 Compu Rally User Manual MAX The number of points leg that are a max for the leg This will vary for different rallies The most common is 200 The number input here is the highest number up to 999 displayed for points in large numbers in the program CLAIM TIME Whether or not Claimed Times will be used in the rally If you choose Yes the rally computer will suggest an Intime to Claim when the CheckPoint key is pressed CAR ZERO TIME Whether or not Car Zero Times will be used in the rally If you answer YES it will ask for YO
18. in a variety of vehicles without any difficulty page 6 Compu Rally User Manual Files The following files are included in the Compu Rally s Rally Computer Software package MANUAL PDF Compu Rally s Rally User Manual CONFIG EXE Program for setting up options for RALLY RALLY CFG File where your option choices are stored KEYSETUP EXE Program for choosing YOUR key layout File where YOUR key layout choices are stored RALLY EXE Compu Rally s Rally Computer Program ALPHA ENC Data file used by RALLY EXE ALPHAS ENC Data file used by RALLY EXE NUMBER ENC Data file used by RALLY EXE SSCRN ENC Data file used by RALLY EXE GREASE EXE Program to help determine a miles pulse factor TIRESIZE EXE Program to help determine a miles pulse factor page 7 Compu Rally User Manual Configuring the Program to Your System Before starting Compu Rally s Rally Computer Software you must set up the configuration file for your computer by running the configuration program CONFIG EXE which has the following options DATA FILE NAME The name of the data file in which you want to store the critique data to disk If you do not want to save the critique data to disk input NUL RALLY NAME The Name of the Rally This name will be put in the data file where the data is saved to disk If you wish to omit the name in the data f
19. larm Show HELP Screens Log Commented Mileages Put odos calcs on HOLD page 29
20. nd computer experience are distilled in Compu Rally s Rally Computer Software A lot of functionality has been compressed into this small package and more features are being added on a continuing basis CompuRa y s Rally Computer Software is an unbelievable value Where else could you purchase a full featured rally computer for the price of running one rally or approximately 10 of the cost of standard rally computer easily costing 1000 or more If you find Compu Rally s Rally Computer Software useful and enjoyable you can help support future improvements by registering your copy CompuRa y s Rally Computer Software is a user supported program developed and written by Jeff Ballinger and Mike Strawbridge of CompuRally Countless hours of work and expensive resources went to develop and fine tune Compu Rally s Rally Computer Software Non registered users are welcome to use CompuRa y s Rally Computer Software for a reasonable evaluation period Reasonable means a couple of testing sessions It does not mean until someone notices that your version of the program still shows the SHAREWARE reminder Once you ve evaluated CompuRally s Rally Computer Software ethical use of the program requires registering your copy CompuRa ly s Rally Computer Software is not and never has been Public Domain Every version of CompuRally s Rally Computer Software included a Copyright Notice and a prohibition against sale or modification There is no
21. part of the display and sounds an alarm when the O M is within 0 01 miles of your alarm mileage Setting the Mileage Alarm to zero turns off the Mileage Alarm and removes its display from the screen If a number is entered followed immediately by then the mileage alarm is set to the current O M what it was when you pressed the Set Mileage Alarm button plus the number entered For example 1 55 would set the Mileage Alarm to 1 55 If a number is entered followed immediately by a T then the alarm becomes a Time Alarm set for the number of minutes you input For example 1 5T would set the Time Alarm to 1 5 Minutes after the time when the SET MILEAGE TIME ALARM button was pressed SHOW PREVIOUS LEGS Allows you to review critiques of previous legs that were stored to disk This feature works ONLY if a Data File has been set up LOG COMMENTED MILEAGES TO DISK Writes commented Mileages to disk in a file named MILES DAT The log will contain three columns of information 1 Actual Pulses 2 O M and 3 Your Comment This could be handy while running a rally also but was mainly designed for rallymastering page 21 Compu Rally User Manual Parallel Port nterface For evaluation purposes you can easily build a very crude Parallel Port Interface by putting together the circuit shown below The circuit is extremely simple and can easily fit in the hood of a 25 pin connector As one can see the circuit i
22. ry requires excellent cooperation between the driver and navigator the process can be accomplished very quickly and accurately With proper execution the maximum error incurred will be only a few 1 1000ths of a mile page 27 Compu Rally User Manual Blank Key Layout Sheet ODO CONTROL Reverse Reset to Direction Start Stop Zero Load Value Master all odos Calculation Odo Miscellaneous Odo Official Mileage Odo Calculate amp Store Load Mileage Presets into Correction Factor Odos Show Switch Correction Clear Mileage Presets Factors START END LEG Initialize Show OUT TIME for reset for new leg Current Leg Checkpoint Preload next OUT TIME Input Leg Scores into Scoring Database Show Leg by Leg Scores TIME CONTROL Pause Set Time Gain Fine Adjust Time Bought Time page 28 Compu Rally User Manual SPEED CONTROL Set Preload Speed 1 Switch to Preloaded Speed 1 Set Preload Speed 2 Switch to Preloaded Speed 2 CAST at an ODO reading Change Speed used for last speed change Undo last Speed Change DI SPLAY Toggle Odos between THER ER and Toggle between NORMAL and EMERGENCY speeds Toggle Time between TEUER amp 33 ERE ER Toggle between ELAPSED and TIME OF DAY MI SCELLANEOUS Redraw Screen Set Mileage Time A
23. s and thus switches twice page 24 Compu Rally User Manual 2 Can I use a hall effect sensor instead of a reed switch Yes but let us explain why WE don t Mostly hall effect sensors cost more than reed switches Also reed switches are easier to find as they can be purchased at any Radio Shack which can be very convenient in times of emergency Several have expressed concern over using something as cheap as a reed switch to produce the counts Are they reliable We have never had any problems with them And I mean it WE VE NEVER HAD A SINGLE REED SWITCH GO BAD We have several reed switches with more than 100 000 miles We just leave them on the car with no problem It is very understandable however if you already have a hall effect sensor hooked up in the car that you might want to use it A hall effect sensor requires power to operate and with the current levels that some hall effect sensors draw when they operate it could be very dangerous to attempt to use power from your laptop parallel port to power the hall effect sensor If it pulls more current than your parallel port can safely deliver it could burn out your parallel port USING A HALL EFFECT INSTEAD OF A REED SWITCH IS NOT WORTH BURNING OUT YOUR PARALLEL PORT Below is a circuit showing how to build an interface for a Hall Effect sensor We have tested Hall Effect sensors with success We are currently in the process of designing a driver s display which will also
24. s quite crude but does signal the computer that a pulse was generated by the reed switch It has one problem NOISE It signals the computer several times instead of just once This is a problem for running rallies but is fine for evaluating how the program works in the car PHONO 0047uF JACK To eliminate this multiple triggering of the circuit above we suggest building the filtered circuit shown below While still small enough to fit in a 25 pin connector hood it is more complex and is much more difficult to throw together It does however effectively filter out the noisy switch of the reed switch The chip used in the circuit is a 74HC14 Schmitt Trigger To make the circuit use less power connect all of the unused inputs pins 4 6 8 10 12 on the chip to 5V pin 1 on the chip page 22 Compu Rally User Manual Rally Driving with the CompuRa y Computer Position the computer so that the screen is visible from the driver s seat If the screen looks totally black remove your polarized sunglasses as many laptop screens are polarized Assuming that the navigator has entered the correct OUT TIME and CAST you will see on the screen an indication of your error either early or late from your present location When beginning a leg you will be watching the error count down to the time you are to leave As the error drops to around 10 15 early begin accelerating to the given speed As you get close to being ON TIME
25. safely provide the power and hookups required for standard Hall Effects sensors Remember however that with the current levels that some hall effect sensors draw when they operate it could be very dangerous to attempt to use power from your laptop parallel port to power the hall effect sensor If it pulls more current than your parallel port can safely deliver it could burn out your parallel port WE MAKE NO CLAIMS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THE CIRCUIT BELOW IS SAFE USE IT AT YOUR OWN RISK We are currently developing an isolated safe interface for a hall effect sensor Call us for more details ED WIRE 5VDC ELLOW WIRE SIGNAL 0047uF BLACK WIRE GROUND page 25 Compu Rally User Manual 3 How will I ever be able to remember which keys do what Let me answer the question by telling you how we handle this potential problem We use small labels on the keys of our keyboard You wouldn t attempt to use a conventional rally computer without labels on the buttons and knobs and switches We even color code our odometer labels so that the groupings are easier to pick out for us One good thing about our program is that you get to pick the keys that are used for the various features Hopefully the key layout will make some sense to you You picked them 4 I ve just input a speed change and now I realize that the speed change should have been done 0 50 mile earlier What can I do to correct this With
26. ter recalcs using the speed change at that mileage and then updates to your current mileage WARNING DO NOT DO A SPEED CHANGE USING A SPEED CHANGE MILEAGE LESS THAN THE MILEAGE AT THE LAST SPEED CHANGE You do not have to be at the mileage for the speed change but speed changes MUST be input in the correct order By inputting a speed change at a mileage which is less than the previous speed change you are in effect inputting the speed change out of order If you have not yet reached the speed change mileage the program will display an information box about the speed change on the screen Upon reaching the mileage the speed change will be done by the program and a beep sounded to alert you that an operation has been performed and the display box is cleared If BEFORE reaching the mileage you want to change this speed change just type in a new speed change page 19 Compu Rally User Manual which will overwrite the older speed change or type in a new speed change at a mileage of zero to clear the speed change NOTE The Preloaded Speed features may be safely used while the display box is displayed on the screen You may safely set and or switch to Preloaded Speed 1 or 2 UNDO LAST SPEED CHANGE Removes the last speed change SWITCH TO PRELOADED SPEED 2 Switches to the PreLoaded Speed 2 SWITCH TO PRELOADED SPEED 1 Switches to the PreLoaded Speed 1 CHANGE SPEED USED FOR LAST SPEED CHANGE Allows you to change the CAS
27. the magnets This method is generally quite easy to install and also quite cheap around 10 setup so that the entire reed switch magnet assembly could be left on a rental car without much loss page 5 Compu Rally User Manual With the CompuRa y Rally Computer Software it is possible to interface the computer to the car using either a parallel printer port or an RS 232 serial port A schematic of our parallel port interface which can handle over 5000 pulses mile is supplied in the documentation An assembled amp tested Parallel port interface is available for only 59 95 from The 59 95 also includes a reed switch A Microsoft compatible mouse can also be used as an interface This method is limited to approximately 500 pulses mile but is usable ESPECIALLY FOR EVALUATION PURPOSES as it allows for easy evaluation at the desktop without mounting anything in the car If the use of the serial port is necessary the program also supports our custom Serial Interface Box for up to 4500 pulses mile To many people what to do about mounting the laptop in the car is the big hurdle to be overcome Many feel that mounting a conventional rally computer would be easier but a small table or platform on which to mount the laptop could be made just as easily as mounting a conventional rally computer The laptop can then be bungee corded down to the table or platform to hold it securely We have mounted a Panasonic CF 150 laptop
28. top it requires only 256K RAM a single floppy drive and either a parallel or serial port A CMOS or Real Time Clock is required to run the program The program does not require a hard drive All this and the cost to register your version of CompuRally s Rally Computer Software is only 149 95 That s less than even 20 of the cost of many conventional rally computers Some of the above and beyond features of CompuRally s Rally Computer Software include 3 Separate Odometers Displays Mileage in Thousandths Operates with Car Zero Times CZT s Keeps up with Bought Time Super Accurate Correction Factors Updates the Screen 9 times per second Internally Reads and Updates Odos over 75 times sec Updates continue while inputting Speed Changes etc Log Data to Disk for later review great for rallymasters Mileage Time Alarm with Countdown Display HOLD allows many operations at once without stopping car Automatically handles Emergency Speeds Custom larger more readable fonts Super Accurate Calculations to prevent internal errors FAST operation due to the use of assembly routines With the Rally Computer Software pulses for measuring distance are generated through the use of magnets and a reed switch Magnets are mounted glued taped etc to the inside of a non driven wheel of the car and a reed switch is mounted in the line of the magnets so as to make and break with the passing of
29. tware Prices are shown CompuRally Rally Computer Software 149 95 Parallel Interface amp Reed SwMOB 59 95 CompuRally Rally Computer System save almost 10 199 95 Add 5 for Shipping Handling Don t bother scrounging everywhere for an envelope just print the INSTANT MAILER REGISTER DOC included in this archive Thank you for your support NOTICE This program is provided on an as is basis without warranty of any kind expressed or implied including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose The entire risk as to quality and performance of this program is with you the user Should the program prove defective you assume the entire cost of all necessary repair servicing or correction In no event will the authors be liable to you for any damages including any lost profits lost savings or other incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use or inability to use this program Your use of this program constitutes your acceptance of these terms page 4 Compu Rally User Manual Overview Compu Rally s Rally Computer Software allows you to use your compatible laptop computer as a full featured rally computer The program has the features found on even the most expensive conventional rally computers costing upwards of 1000 plus many that they do not have The program does not require a fancy expensive lap
Download Pdf Manuals
Related Search