Garmin Catalyst Driving Performance Optimizer

[admranger]

This sounds really interesting. Hearing folks dropping seconds off of their lap time at a track they’ve run before is pretty encouraging.

[FormulaMMM]

First-timer in adjacent garage had one of these at my last event. Pretty useless for him, but the level of available post-session information and corner by corner analysis is nuts. Amazing graphics, seemed user friendly.

Have Solo 2, felt like I brought a typewriter to a tech convention.

[F80Speed77]

Originally Posted by FormulaMMM

First-timer in adjacent garage had one of these at my last event. Pretty useless for him, but the level of available post-session information and corner by corner analysis is nuts. Amazing graphics, seemed user friendly.

Have Solo 2, felt like I brought a typewriter to a tech convention.

[jmg]

Got to use mine for the first time today! Install was easy, and I am really impressed with the post session analysis. I can't get the audio to work consistently through the iDrive bluetooth however, and I can't hear the Garmin itself if I just use the built in speaker. Through the iDrive, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, although I think it's the crappy iDrive's blutooth, which has always been inconsistent in all my BMWs. Anyone have a solution?

[jmg]

Originally Posted by dvq

Got my unit today, got a suction cup mount for the camera too.

Link to mount?

[sc_tr0jan_m3]

Originally Posted by jmg

Got to use mine for the first time today! Install was easy, and I am really impressed with the post session analysis. I can't get the audio to work consistently through the iDrive bluetooth however, and I can't hear the Garmin itself if I just use the built in speaker. Through the iDrive, sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, although I think it's the crappy iDrive's blutooth, which has always been inconsistent in all my BMWs. Anyone have a solution?

Bluetooth is known to have connection issues and it may lag when the Garmin send instructions, it has to reconnect quickly, then you miss half of the instruction. There's a whole FB group around Garmin users and issues and bluetooth is one of them. It's actually a really helpful group.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/647165782874898

Personally, I still use a wired connection to a headset in my helmet. Zero issues.

[FormulaMMM]

Originally Posted by sc_tr0jan_m3

Bluetooth is known to have connection issues and it may lag when the Garmin send instructions, it has to reconnect quickly, then you miss half of the instruction. There's a whole FB group around Garmin users and issues and bluetooth is one of them. It's actually a really helpful group.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/647165782874898

Personally, I still use a wired connection to a headset in my helmet. Zero issues.

This thing gives you real time fricking coaching??

Like what will it say?

[dvq]

Originally Posted by FormulaMMM

This thing gives you real time fricking coaching??

Like what will it say?

Before the turn it will tell you if you should brake later or earlier than before, wether you should enter slower or faster, if you need to apex earlier or later, and stay tight or track out at exit etc. it'll then give you confirmation after the turn wether you need to keep trying at the advice, did better than average, or did a new best. If you set it to advanced mode it will tell you this for almost every turn, and in basic mode it will only do it for up to 3 post session review segments you reviewed and accepted.

[dvq]

Originally Posted by jmg

Link to mount?

Garmin Mini Suction Cup Mount for Speak, Plus, Dash Cam 45, 55 and 65W, 010-12530-05 https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FN14VTR...UTF8&psc=1

[dvq]

Originally Posted by sc_tr0jan_m3

Bluetooth is known to have connection issues and it may lag when the Garmin send instructions, it has to reconnect quickly, then you miss half of the instruction. There's a whole FB group around Garmin users and issues and bluetooth is one of them. It's actually a really helpful group.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/647165782874898

Personally, I still use a wired connection to a headset in my helmet. Zero issues.

I use a single left or right Apple AirPod and have had zero issues since using it for the last 6 track days. Just make sure nothing else is pairing to it like your phone.

[FormulaMMM]

Originally Posted by dvq

Before the turn it will tell you if you should brake later or earlier than before, wether you should enter slower or faster, if you need to apex earlier or later, and stay tight or track out at exit etc. it'll then give you confirmation after the turn wether you need to keep trying at the advice, did better than average, or did a new best. If you set it to advanced mode it will tell you this for almost every turn, and in basic mode it will only do it for up to 3 post session review segments you reviewed and accepted.

Is it figuring all of this with your best as the reference point, its own track calculations, or a combination thereof?

[sc_tr0jan_m3]

Originally Posted by FormulaMMM

This thing gives you real time fricking coaching??

Like what will it say?

I recorded the real time coaching in my video here. I was doing a testing day with a friend and you can see the different type of instructing it provides based on the driver. Pretty interesting to see in person.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by sc_tr0jan_m3

I recorded the real time coaching in my video here. I was doing a testing day with a friend and you can see the different type of instructing it provides based on the driver. Pretty interesting to see in person.

The voice instructions are so much louder and clearer in your car. What are you using?

[dvq]

Originally Posted by FormulaMMM

Is it figuring all of this with your best as the reference point, its own track calculations, or a combination thereof?

The only thing there garmin unit knows about the track initially is the latitude and longitude of the start/finish for the track. Coaching is based on your best, how the garmin thinks you should optimize line through a segment, and most likely an internal G-G diagram.

[sc_tr0jan_m3]

Originally Posted by jmg

The voice instructions are so much louder and clearer in your car. What are you using?

For the video I had a direct feed of the audio instructions to the recording. My car doesn't have a sound system anymore.

I still hardwire into the garmin with a headpiece into my helmet. Zero issues and I can hear the instructions super clearly.

[NYG]

The data that it gives you after each session is incredible if you take the time to read it all and study it. One of the best tools I ever purchased.

[xxaarraa]

OK I joined the Catalyst bandwagon and bought one. My main reason for buying one was that it seems to automate the type of analysis I already do with racechrono - compare laps in a session to my PB lap and see where I can make gains. I need more seat time with it before I write a full review but so far, the setup/interface is really easy, the display is very high quality, and its very simple to pull the videos out of the device and onto a PC if you need to. Overall, really good first impression - seems like a well thought out and well made product.

Question for folks that have one - how do you merge an OBDII data file to the Catalyst video? The catalyst in itself does not come with an OBDII adapter, so any idea what OBDII adapter plays nice with it and subsequently, can you share your workflow on the PC showing how to merge OBD data with video? (using Virb Edit perhaps?).

It's really easy to pull out the video file in MP4 format from the Catalyst. It's also easy to pull the .FIT file from Garmin Connect. Virb edit software seems relatively easy to use and auto syncs the video with garmin's fit file. Only missing piece is to sync up OBDII channels for RPM and gear and I'm ready for my youtube fame!

[dvq]

Originally Posted by xxaarraa

OK I joined the Catalyst bandwagon and bought one. My main reason for buying one was that it seems to automate the type of analysis I already do with racechrono - compare laps in a session to my PB lap and see where I can make gains. I need more seat time with it before I write a full review but so far, the setup/interface is really easy, the display is very high quality, and its very simple to pull the videos out of the device and onto a PC if you need to. Overall, really good first impression - seems like a well thought out and well made product.

Question for folks that have one - how do you merge an OBDII data file to the Catalyst video? The catalyst in itself does not come with an OBDII adapter, so any idea what OBDII adapter plays nice with it and subsequently, can you share your workflow on the PC showing how to merge OBD data with video? (using Virb Edit perhaps?).

It's really easy to pull out the video file in MP4 format from the Catalyst. It's also easy to pull the .FIT file from Garmin Connect. Virb edit software seems relatively easy to use and auto syncs the video with garmin's fit file. Only missing piece is to sync up OBDII channels for RPM and gear and I'm ready for my youtube fame!

Suppose you could record OBD2 data with something like Harry's Lap Timer and export as csv and use something like racerender to combine the garmin's video with Harry's. Haven't really tried it myself yet, curious to know as well.

[sc_tr0jan_m3]

Gonna test a new mounting location in my e46 m3 for the Garmin. I was getting annoyed with how freakin large the screen is and to have it on the dash and in my field of view.

Garmin recommends that the screen is above the dash but I've been reading people not experiencing performance downgrades if it gets mounted more inboard and under the dash. So let's see... I'll have a member day on Sunday and will report back.

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by sc_tr0jan_m3

Gonna test a new mounting location in my e46 m3 for the Garmin. I was getting annoyed with how freakin large the screen is and to have it on the dash and in my field of view.

Garmin recommends that the screen is above the dash but I've been reading people not experiencing performance downgrades if it gets mounted more inboard and under the dash. So let's see... I'll have a member day on Sunday and will report back.

I've been wondering this exactly! Please do report back. You have a baseline to compare it with?

[sc_tr0jan_m3]

Originally Posted by DRLane

I've been wondering this exactly! Please do report back. You have a baseline to compare it with?

Not scientific but I had zero issues when it was on top of the dash suctioned to the windshield. When I checked the satellite quality even in the garage it seemed to be sufficient coverage.

So let's see. If I notice significant different times between the aim (above the dash) to the garmin (below the dash) then it might be worth rethinking.

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by sc_tr0jan_m3

Not scientific but I had zero issues when it was on top of the dash suctioned to the windshield. When I checked the satellite quality even in the garage it seemed to be sufficient coverage.

So let's see. If I notice significant different times between the aim (above the dash) to the garmin (below the dash) then it might be worth rethinking.

I was thinking of ripping out my CCC head unit, and like yours mounting inside the dash. Might as well make the hump useful. Would be great if it could accept an external sensor. If not, I might cut a window in the dash to ensure line of sight.