11 replies to this topic

[eshorer]

I have been having lots of Trackmate glitches that were probably a combination of old Trackmate hardware that's been overly exposed to the elements for 13+ years, potentially a bad relay, and/or an old and tired laptop.

 

So, I replaced the old Trackmate hardware with a new one, but it's still having intermittent problems (see attachment for latest glitch that comes and goes) Now I want to pick up a decent affordable laptop that I can take off the track and take indoors when the tracks not being used.

 

1) Which cheap laptop would you suggest?

2). What Windows operating system version do you think is most reliable with the latest Trackmate software?

 

Any other tips? 

 

Eddie

 

[mreibman]

ok, I'm a slot racer, but I also run the IT department for a mid market enterprise. And before my local raceway closed up, I maintained their computers running trackmate. So that being said, I'm coming to you with some direct experience in what you're up against.

 

Question #1: What cheap laptop would you suggest?

Answer: **NONE**

Although trackmate does not have much in the way of system requirements, Windows on the other hand is a pig when it comes to system resources.

My suggestion to you is that you have several vital pieces you must address if you would like to be successful with this.

Processor: MINIMUM Intel Core i5 w/4 cores

RAM: Minimum 12 GB, 16 GB recommended.

Hard drive: Probably min 256 GB, NVME. (NVME is the fastest option) this is 30% or so of your speed.

Interfaces: USB 3.0, even though the trackmate probably is still USB 1.1.

USB to Serial adapter, if needed, I now ONLY buy these: https://tripplite.ea...e-5-ft~U209000R

When you plug it in, make note of which port you put it in, and ALWAYS put it into the same port on the computer. THis is because of how windows changes the COM port number on USB ports. (I have a lot of past experience with that specific issue).

 

 

Question #2: What Windows operating system version do you think is most reliable with the latest Trackmate software?

 

You're stuck when it comes to this. THe only CURRENT OS shipping is MS Windows 11 64 bit.

This should be fine if you heeded the hardware above.

 

BONUS:

The screenshot you're showing appears to be no hardware on the com port, and it can be part of the USB port enumeration I referred to above.

[Jay Guard]

Hey Eddie:

I've got no dog in this fight but what about just upgrading to LapMaster?  It's a bit more expensive, but I think it's not so much for a 4-lane set-up and it's a lot less picky on the hardware side and it has a huge amount of race data that no other program offers.  I'm sure you are quite familiar with it from Electric Dreams so sorry to be Captain Obvious here.

 

At the moment I'm limping along with an ancient computer and SRT system so I really shouldn't be one to suggest anything.

 

However I did stay at a Holiday Inn once and am considering upgrading to the LapMaster system in the near future.

[nicky 65]

I have been having lots of Trackmate glitches that were probably a combination of old Trackmate hardware that's been overly exposed to the elements for 13+ years, potentially a bad relay, and/or an old and tired laptop.

 

So, I replaced the old Trackmate hardware with a new one, but it's still having intermittent problems (see attachment for latest glitch that comes and goes) Now I want to pick up a decent affordable laptop that I can take off the track and take indoors when the tracks not being used.

 

1) Which cheap laptop would you suggest?

2). What Windows operating system version do you think is most reliable with the latest Trackmate software?

 

Any other tips? 

 

Eddie

 

trackmatewoes.jpg

we have the same problem at RACE YA on Staten Island ..................it comes up after about an hour or 2 of practice 

[Bill Seitz]

I'm not very savvy on the later Windows versions, but a retired IT professional slot car friend told me that Windows 11 doesn't install the whole O/S on the computer, it's mostly cloud-based. The Win 11 computer must always be connected to the Internet or will not work properly, a constant issue for his club that doesn't have Internet access. I'm told by a Windows-using relative that the last half-way decent Win version is Win 7. It at least isn't cloud-based. A couple of other issues the IT guy has dealt with in getting the computer to talk to the track is the length and quality of the USB cables. There are a lot of crap-quality cables on the market, and USB starts having trouble on runs over 15'. Long runs require cables with repeaters/amplifiers.

[Fergy]

Ed - No need to overthink it, Windows 7 runs mine (latest version of Trackmate) just fine...

[Eddie Fleming]

I know nothing about this subject. I am just asking a question.

 

Will Trackmate run on a mac?

[eshorer]

In a word, NO.  Now MY questions, somewhat related: Does anyone here know if Trackmate will run on a Raspberry Pi? 

Eddie

 

I know nothing about this subject. I am just asking a question.

 

Will Trackmate run on a mac?

[eshorer]

 

Question #1: What cheap laptop would you suggest?

Answer: **NONE**

 I appreciate the response, but what I'm wondering is this: I have run Trackmate with almost no issues on an old machine running XP, so I'm thinking I "should" be able to get away with some low end Costco laptop. I don't believe Trackmate takes a crazy amount of processing power or memory to run. It just needs to function on a four-lane home routed track. Am I way off base given my requirements?

 

Hey Eddie:

I've got no dog in this fight but what about just upgrading to LapMaster? 

Because I've been very happy with Trackmate, except for the few glitches I've experienced, largely from the computer AND the Trackmate hardware being outside and exposed to the elements (spiders, especially). Which is why I want to switch to a laptop that I can take inside after each time I use it.

Eddie

[mreibman]

From https://trackmaterac...car-lap-counter

 

What computer do I need?
Lap counter can be used with a computer running Windows XP,7,8,10,11  32 or 64 bit.   It does NOT run on Chrome books or Mac computers

 

---

 

If your intention is to spend as little as possible on your laptop, go back to the specs I put up above for RAM and CPU, and buy something refurbished. Just make sure the hard drive is SSD or NVME based.

 

Mark my words also on the USB-Serial adapter and putting it in the same port all the time.

 

Quality is your friend here. I reiterate - you want something that will run windows well because Windows will be your resource hog, not Trackmate.

[Bill Seitz]

It shouldn't take any high horsepower computer to run one of these track systems. The hard work that requires some speed and low latency is done in the box. As long as the computer has the appropriate ports, USB or serial, it should work fine. Using adapters is where one can get into trouble, and then as I mentioned before, using quality cables that aren't overly long. A raceway owner I know uses a $200 laptop with his system on an 8-lane track. Windows has always had a lot of overhead, and if the software you have runs on XP, this is one of the best versions of Windows ever made in terms of reliability and not hogging resources. Keep all manner of other apps off the track system computer - just use it for that - and pretty much anything you can find that runs the Windows version you want works.

 

No Windows-based track system will run on Rasberry PI - it doesn't run Windows. Unix/Linux (Mac OS is Unix) doesn't run Windows either, although a nifty utility called WINE and it's commercially supported cousin "Crossover" enables running some Windows software. I use Linux and have Crossover, but I haven't tried running a track system using it. I have tried using some of the Windows-based home/club track software, and it doesn't work.

[eshorer]

I've had a Respberry Pi sitting here and never used it. I may be motivated to play around with it and who knows? It may just work. I'm pretty sure the Trackmate program itself doesn't take much to operate it. In any case, I'll pick up a laptop with Windows and take the advice of those above to keep it simple pared down.

Thanks everyone. To be continued...

Eddie

 

It shouldn't take any high horsepower computer to run one of these track systems. The hard work that requires some speed and low latency is done in the box. As long as the computer has the appropriate ports, USB or serial, it should work fine. Using adapters is where one can get into trouble, and then as I mentioned before, using quality cables that aren't overly long. A raceway owner I know uses a $200 laptop with his system on an 8-lane track. Windows has always had a lot of overhead, and if the software you have runs on XP, this is one of the best versions of Windows ever made in terms of reliability and not hogging resources. Keep all manner of other apps off the track system computer - just use it for that - and pretty much anything you can find that runs the Windows version you want works.

 

No Windows-based track system will run on Rasberry PI - it doesn't run Windows. Unix/Linux (Mac OS is Unix) doesn't run Windows either, although a nifty utility called WINE and it's commercially supported cousin "Crossover" enables running some Windows software. I use Linux and have Crossover, but I haven't tried running a track system using it. I have tried using some of the Windows-based home/club track software, and it doesn't work.