Almost every time we publish a video on YouTube, we get asked about the performance testing equipment we use. So we thought we’d give you a rundown of what it is, how it works, and how to buy one.
We used to use the VBox PerformanceBox to test the GPS performance as it was the newest and best device at the time.
However, the installation is rather clumsy and requires an external antenna to work effectively. It’s also quite cumbersome, making it difficult to pack and move (especially for any test that requires two of them to work in parallel).
So we started investigating other options and found Dragy (you can buy one here). As you can imagine, we were pretty skeptical about its effectiveness and how well it performed in our various test conditions.
We paid for this device and it is an unbiased review of this device, but if you use any of the links in this story, we will receive a commission as an affiliate of this device. Amazon.
We bought a device and compared it to our VBox. both drag and VBox Performance Box operate at 10Hz, which means they receive satellite updates 10 times per second.
A 10Hz device like this gives you an accuracy of plus or minus 0.01 seconds, for our purposes the best accuracy we really need. If you need more accuracy, you will probably have to spend more money on a 25Hz or higher device.
When we determined that both offered the same performance test numbers on the three cars tested, we bit the bullet and bought another and have now used these extensively for the year. via.
Things we like:
- Very compact (only one-third the size of the VBox PerformanceBox)
- It uses a phone app to connect to it – you don’t need to read results from the device screen or download data to interpret the results.
- Continuous operation time 10 hours per charge
- Comes with standard measurements, but can also set some custom measurements
- Works with Android (4.4 and up) and iOS (8.0 or later) devices via Bluetooth (no OBD required)
Things we don’t like:
- Every time you start the app, you’ll get a five-second ad
- You will need to purchase an aftermarket sun visor to hold the Dragy in place to ensure accurate results
In terms of its operation, it is quite simple. You control the device through an app.
Once you have paired it with the app, it will continuously wait for the signal from the app, and after receiving the signal, the device will start up and receive the GPS signal.
This process usually takes about 30 seconds, but can sometimes be faster.
You clip the device to the visor (you’ll need an optional mount for this) and then put the performance measurements you want to log into the app.
For us, it’s 0-100km/h, 80-120km/h, 1/4 mile and 100-0km/h braking. But you can send any number of variations there.
To our knowledge, there is also the possibility of overlaying speedometer numbers on video captured from the phone while the app is running. We haven’t tried the feature yet, but it was in development when we purchased our device and may already be available.
There is also the ability to overlay predicted lap times with video footage.
Once you’ve recorded your time, results will be provided including elapsed time, gradient changes, distances, intervals, and even a graph that overlays everything in one neat package. with temperature and altitude.
For us, this device does everything we need and is highly reliable. And while skeptical about it, it proved to be as good as our VBox PerformanceBox.
