The Troubleshooting page was created to provide answers to some of the most common questions that G2X users may encounter. If you are not able to resolve your questions using the following information, please email tim@racepak.com or call our tech support department at 949-709-5555.

Note: One thing to remember, when using the G2X is to not “out think” this system. What may appear to be a simple deviation from the instructions can affect the operation of the G2X. The software and hardware functions are all designed to interact seamlessly. If the instructions are followed as written in the manual, the logger is mounted in the correct orientation, the antenna is placed where recommended, power is supplied from at least a 12V source and the compact flash card is used exclusively in the G2X, the G2X will function properly and create data.

GPS Related

• I have no GPS satellites: Insure the serial cable supplied with the G2X is not connected to the Serial port of the G2X data logger. If so, this action will turn off the GPS board and prevent satellite acquisition
• My GPS data works at idle, but I lose data when I accelerate: This is related to electronic interference. Check the routing of the GPS antenna cable. More than likely, the cable will be routed near or attached to the Engine RPM cable. Move the cable away from anything that could provide interference. We have encountered situations where a digital camera mounted beside of the antenna has knocked the GPS data offline.

Engine RPM Related

• My Engine RPM data is incorrect: If Engine RPM data is correct in terms of rising and falling with the revving of the engine, but numerically is off by a percentage, the Pulses per Revolution dash setting is incorrect. For example, your actual Engine RPM is 4000, but the G2X is reading 2000 or 1000 or 8000. Recheck the Pulse per Revolution setting as outlined in the installation manual. Typically the Pulse per Revolution setting should match the number of cylinders of your engine.
• My Engine RPM data is correct at idle, but is way off when I rev the vehicle:This is due to an incorrect signal being received by the G2X. If you are obtaining your Engine RPM signal from an ECU or other output pins located on your vehicle, the signal is incorrect for the G2X.

Setting Start Finish with Display Dash Related

• I am not getting laptimes after setting start finish with the dash
1. Insure you are moving. The start finish can not be set while sitting still.
2. Insure you see the Set SF message on the dash.
3. Do not drive a complete lap with the Set SF message on the dash, before actually setting the start finish location. Attempt to set with 30 seconds after bringing up the Set SF message.
4. Insure you have GPS data. Setting start finish depends on speed and location.
• Can I set start finish if I am beside the track: Yes, just insure where you will be driving on the track is within 30-40 feet of where you are setting start finish. The G2X looks perpendicular to your direction of travel, when marking the start finish location.
• Can I set the start finish point if I am driving slower than 25 mph: Yes
• Can I set the start finish point if I am driving faster than 40 mph: Typically, yes but try to avoid roaring down the track at 100 mph while setting start finish.

Mounting of the G2X Data Logger Related:

• Can I mount the logger on it’s side or end: No, please mount the logger flat both front to rear and side to side and insure the X on the G2X logo is facing direction of travel
• Can I mount the logger under the seat, in the glove box, etc: You can, but it makes it really tough to access the compact flash card or to connect the serial cable to the logger, if you need to update.

Serial Cable Related:

• Can I leave the serial cable connected to the Serial port of the data logger: No, as this will disable the GPS data and prevent the logger from working.

Compact Flash Card Related:

• Can I use a Compact Flash card with more memory: Yes, but try to stick with standard 128, 256 or 512 MB cards. Unless you are running in a 24 hour event, 128MB of memory will be MORE that sufficient for any type of racing event.
• My G2X is not writing to my memory card: Insure you have the two things necessary for creating data, GPS Speed and driving faster than 25 mph. If you have those two things, then refer to the next question.
• I took the compact flash card out of my camera, etc and used it in the G2X, but there is no data on the card: The G2X must have a clean card, void of ANY data, when the card is initially installed into the G2X, in order for the G2X to format the card for use. Clear ALL data off of the card, then reinsert into the G2X
• I used my G2X compact flash card in my camera, etc and now the G2X will not write data to the card: See the above.
• I am pulling the compact flash card as soon as I stop the vehicle: If the G2X is still writing data to the compact flash card, data will be skewed or lost. Do not turn power off to the logger until the PWR LED stops flashing at the end of a run.

Track Mapping Related:

• I can not build a trackmap: If you did not pass start finish at least two complete times, there will not be a complete lap recorded by the G2X, which prevents a map from being created. The DatalinkII software must have one complete lap, before building a map.
• I have more than one map for a track and now my data does not overlay correctly: Insure you do not have different trackmaps loaded in different Runfiles.

To further explain trackmapping, graphed data is based on one of two items, time or distance. To further break it down, time is based on two things, time from when the data logger started recording data or time based on the start finish location. If you do not have a trackmap in a Runfile, all graphical data is going to be based on when the data logger started logging. For example, if you exceeded 25 mph on pit road, that is where your 0 time point will start for your first outing. On the next outing, if you exceeded 25 mph when you entered the front straight, that is where your 0 time point will occur for the second outing.

Now, if you attempt to graph Runfile data from both runs, the starting point for each run will be two totally different points, with hundreds of feet of difference. This makes it impossible to accurately overlay data. That is why a creating a trackmap is vitally important, following the FIRST run on the track. Do not wait until after the day is over and you have downloaded all the Runfiles (without trackmaps). If so, you will then have to manually load the trackmap into each Runfile.

After the same trackmap is in place for each Runfile, data can then be accurately compared as the 0 start point for every lap will be based on either the time from start finish or the distance from start finish, according to what mode you are reviewing data.

Track Segmented Related:

• I can not segment the track: See above Track Mapping Related information
• My segments locations are off: Note that from the factory, the default Start and End lateral G settings to create segments are 1 to start a corner and .5 to end a corner. These numbers must be adjusted according to the speed/lateral g capabilities of your vehicle and also according to where you wish to see corners start and end.
• How can I manually edit the trackmap? The Divide button controls many of the manual editing features. To add additional corners, place the mouse cursor in the graph area at the desired location to start a segment, then select the Divide button. Next, move the cursor in the graph area to the location to end a segment and again select the Divide button. At this time, position the cursor in the graph area, and using the vehicle position as noted by an X on the trackmap, move the vehicle between the two new segment markers. Finally, select the Corner button. This action will add a corner. Where the cursor is placed between segment markers defines where the chosen buttons (Divide, Merge, etc) affect the trackmap.

To further explain the segmenting process, if 1 is entered for Corner Start and .5 is entered for Corner End any time the vehicle exceeds 1 lateral g, a corner start marker will be placed. Any time .5 lateral g or less is noted, a corner end marker will be placed. If your corners start too early, decrease the lateral g number for Corner Start or adjust according to where you want each corner to start or end.

My PC Can Not Communicate With the G2X via the Serial Cable Related

• USB to Serial Adapter: Insure you have installed the drivers for the USB to serial adapter according to the instructions provided with the adapter. A quick test is to unplug and plug the adapter from the USB port. Your PC should provide an audible note or a visual note in the bottom right corner of the PC, if the adapter has been unplugged/plugged back in.
• Check the Com port setting of your PC: The DatalinkII software is defaulted to communicate through COM 1. If the COM or USB port you are connected to is not COM 1, the PC can not communicate with the G2X. To verify the Com port setting of your PC:

1. Minimize the DataLink II program and select the Start button located in the bottom left area of your computer display.
2. Select the Control Panel icon located in the small window.
3. Select System in the small window.
4. Select the Hardware tab located in the just opened Systems Properties window.
5. Select the Device Manager button located in the center/right of the Hardware page.
6. Locate the Ports (COM & LPT) in the currently opened list and double left click.
7. You will now see Communications Port assigned to either your serial port or to the USB to serial adapter.
8. Note the Com Port number, close all windows and return to the DatalinkII program
9. Select Settings, then Preferences from the Main Menu area.
10. Not the Logger Com Port window. Select the Com Port number that matches the Com Port number noted in the above process and select OK.

Downloading Data Related:

• I can not download data from the Compact Flash card: Insure the instructions were followed, concerning the installation of the reader
• Can I take a data file straight from the Compact Flash card into the DatalinkII software: No. A .ddf format file must be downloaded into the DatalinkII software using the New Upload green colored icon.
• I want to download using the serial cable: The G2X is designed to download using the Compact Flash card.

Building An Open Course Track Map Related:

An open course trackmap allows the user to overlay data much the same as a closed course trackmap. With a closed course trackmap, all graphed lap data starts from a zero point. This zero point is based on the start/finish as set in the trackmap.

With an open course trackmap, what we are trying to accomplish is allowing the user to overlay data based on the same start point, which syncs all the data. The endpoint of the trackmap is not that important, as we can only sync the data based on one point, which is start.

Building an open course trackmap uses the same commands as a closed course. Set 1, name the map. Step 2, select the track type.Step 3, Set Lap Start and Set Lap End.

To set lap start, the user places the cursor in the desired location to start the map, and then selects the Set Lap Start button. Then, move the cursor to the desired ending location and select the Set Lap End button.

Finally select the Create GPS Trackmap as found in Step 4. Remember, there will not be lap data, as this is not a closed course map.

Now, if you make additional open course runs, you will then be able to select the trackmap (upon downloading) just the same as if you were making laps on a closed course.

When comparing data between open course outings, remember it is necessary to place the data in Distance mode (View / DistanceX Mode). The reason for this is the fact that when you are looking at open course data in time mode, the zero or starting point is based on when the G2X started logging. That point occurs at different locations, as you might exceed 10 mph (if you have reset your G2X to start logging at 10 mph for example) 20 feet from the starting line on one run and 30 feet the next run. Time mode does not allow the user to overlay and compare data all based on the same starting point.

In the above example, you need to overlay data based on a set starting line point, not when the G2X started logging. If you place the graph area into distance mode, then all data will start from the Set Lap Start location assigned in Step 3.

For autocross, the G2X can be set to start logging with various channels. Some users have programmed the G2X to start logging at .2 or .3 accel g data. This allows almost instant logging start, as soon as the vehicle moves.

This information can also be found under the General section of the Forum.

Return to Top