Anyone using their phone as a Speedo for their buggy?

ElijahTurtle

Are any of you guys using your cell phones with a speedometer app? I thought about doing this with my buggy & eliminating the speedo in the dash. I like the looks of the old school speedometer, but I know it won't be very accurate with the small front tires I will be running.

gr8cobbler · Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 3:39 pm Post subject:

I've been romancing the idea as well. There are several dashboard apps out there. I downloaded Car Dasboard and my phone came with one called Car Panel. I'd question the accuracy just a bit, not sure what the GPS refresh rate is for phones. I need to play with it more. I'm thinking it would be close enough for me most of the time and some of the other features would be cool too, MP3 playlists, Pandora, Maps etc. A Nexus7 with a 7" screen at $199 would be a great size for a buggy dash, could probably use your phone as a hot spot for it. I'd be sure to make that removable too. The Actual GPS speedos run about $300 and don't offer the other features. Something of a trade off.
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jeromevw312 · Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 3:48 pm Post subject:

I just downloaded a speedometer app for my phone for this purpose the other day. My speedometer wasn't even close to right last time I had my buggy on the road, so I figured with the app why bother fixing it. Let us know what app you went with and how it works. I was using the app while driving in my car the other day, and although it seemed pretty accurate, it was slow to update the screen.
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Gary0302 · Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 4:07 pm Post subject:

I have used Car Dashboard (Android App) for a couple of years now. I knew that my current front wheel sizing was slightly different from standard; this app let me gauge the difference. This app seemed to be dead on with the speedometer in my Toyota 4Runner. Here is a link to a few other apps that I use with my Droid X:

http://www.eastcoastdunebuggies.com/smartphone_apps_droid_x.htm
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bornred62 · Samba Member Joined: January 09, 2005 Posts: 190

You guys are a wealth of information.I had thought about installing a GPS unit as i was having one hell of a time trying to calibrate my auto meter speedo .After reading this topic i found on the internet a plug and play gps sender for my speedo less than 200.00 bucks.It will be here soon and my speedo will show actual mileage.

subwayaz · Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 6:04 pm Post subject:

My GF used her phone for our Speedo during our cross country trip in my 79' Rivera Camper and wow was I surprised how off the Bus speedo was off. So we used her phone for the remainder of the trip.

Lo Cash John · Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 7:09 pm Post subject:

I just played with a speedometer app this weekend. It's for the iPhone and it's from DistinctDev, Inc.

I was curious how accurate my speedometer is on my ZX-11 so while driving down to Daytona for Bike Week I installed this app to see. The appeal to this app is that it's got a "Maximum Speed" indicator on it. While heading south on I-95 I made the jump to"Ludicrous Speed" for just a brief few moments, then back to "normal" cruise speed. When we stopped for gas, the app showed a max speed of 91mph. While my eyes weren't glued to my speedometer while blasting down the road, I can assure this reading was off by about 50-60mph. My only guess is that we didn't maintain that velocity long enough for the app to lock the reading. Not sure if this would be an issue with most normal driving in a buggy.
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Dale M. · Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 7:48 pm Post subject:

Something to consider if using cell phone app..... Gendarmes may not consider it a legal speedometer and cite you for what ever they write you up for.... Just a heads up.... States have different laws about speedometers and most want speedo with odometer to figure the miles vehicle had traveled....

Dale
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ElijahTurtle · Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 8:09 pm Post subject:

Yeah, I don't think Texas has any laws about a functioning speedometer. If they did, it would be included in the annual safety inspections as a checklist item. But that is a point to consider.
I have a speedo app on my phone & I have tried it out in my other vehicles to test it's accuracy. It seems to be fairly accurate & updates pretty fast when it is pinging off numerous satellites. It does take a few seconds to catch up during hard acceleration though. My biggest concern with speed accuracy is all of the school zones around here. There are about 5 of them withing a few miles of my house & they all get patrolled fairly heavily & I just don't like the idea of risking a ticket due to a stock speedo that is way off because of the tires.
I will have to check out the Car Dashboard app & compare it to the one I have for functionality & accuracy. Thanks for the heads up on that one.

itfitz98 · Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 10:28 pm Post subject:

newguy13 · Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 1:24 am Post subject:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com....rch_result

or the Pro version

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.codesector.speedview.pro&feature=search_result

looks promising - I will install the free one on the Razr Maxx in the morning and give it a try.

donbarnes · Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 7:57 am Post subject:

I used to run an entry-level Tom-Tom GPS as a speedo, but got tired of putting it away when I went somewhere, so I got one of these and love it- Mounts in a regular gauge hole and self-calibrates no matter what tire size..

http://www.dakotadigital.com/index.cfm/page/ptype=...prd292.htm

The 8K Pulse Generator shown at the bottom of that page was easily adapted to the original VW speedo cable coming out of the front spindle and works great without making any sensor rings running off a rear cv-joint...
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Wetstuff · Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 9:35 am Post subject:

i went thru a batch of GPSs before I found this MIO. It has the largest MPH representation of all the other brands I bought.

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I have used as my 'speedo' in my Ford Escape for the last 5+ years. The MPG is quite clear. (excepting direct Sun on the screen) Date and time are handy... Eventually, I will make a bracket to sit behind the steering wheel of my Manx.

Jim
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slalombuggy · Posted: Mon Mar 18, 2013 9:54 am Post subject:

I use a Garmin Zumo 660, also has built in mp3 player and a bunch of other stuff, it's a bit over the top for a gps. I took it on part trade for rebuilding a buggy. I also have a speed on the dash, but nothing going to it. With 20" tires on the front and 26 on the rear, it's not even close. I did hook it up for a bit after I finished the car. The 0-60 times were INCREDIBLE Wink

It's just there now to satisfy the boys in blue.......

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dschwerdt · Posted: Tue Mar 19, 2013 6:21 pm Post subject:

I'm using a Tomtom One. Kind of small (and old!), but an app called TripMaster (the Tomtom One will run specific apps) makes the speed almost full screen. The app is free on-line, and loads from your computer. The GPS units are slow to refresh, but an old one should be cheap on CL. Also, the model One is small so I just unlpug power and put it in my pocket. I have a windshield mount that puts it right in the line of sight.
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boomerang · Posted: Thu Mar 21, 2013 7:12 am Post subject:

Another option, you can combine the old school analog look and simple GPS operation by using a GPS speedometer, like those sold by Speedhut.com. Autometer has a GPS sending unit that can actuate almost any brand analog gauge, too
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HeidelbergJohn4.0 · Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 9:31 am Post subject:

manicmndy · Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 7:25 am Post subject: speedometer app

Classic camber has an app that is petty cool http://appfinder.lisisoft.com/app/bugspeedometer.html

Mike_CNYBuggy · Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 7:45 am Post subject:

I use Speedometer Pr0 for Iphone
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/speedometer-pr0/id367586865?mt=8

It's pretty cool, has lots of options, can do analog or digital display, but the coolest thing is you can put it in HUD mode and it displays upsidedown and backwards so you can set it on your dash and see the reflection in your window.

In the buggy I set it in the passenger seat and I can see it dead center on the windshield, pretty cool.

EDIT: Also, in NY you do not have to have a working speedo but you do have to have an odometer but it being functional is not a requirement. My last 2 inspections stickers have the same mileage written on the back since the speedo cable broke.

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Mike_CNYBuggy · Posted: Tue Apr 09, 2013 7:56 am Post subject:

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Anyone using their phone as a Speedo for their buggy?
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