FAQ's

What type of Motorsport activities is APEX for? 

• Road Racing
• Track Days/HPDE
• Autocross
• Road Rally
• Stage Rally
• Circle Track (asphalt)
• Street Performance

How do you install APEX? 

Peel off the double-sided tape on the base and mount the device on the dash in your direct line of sight; somewhere that you can glimpse the LED's at any point on the track (think shift lights). See our YouTube channel for installation videos!

Have a unique dashboard layout? Would you rather not stick the baseplate to your dash? Then the APEX Suction Mount is for you! Check it out under the "Shop" tab.

What are the mounting requirements for best GPS and Sensor accuracy? 

APEX is designed to be mounted universally; however, there are a few mounting requirements that provide the best accuracy for the 10Hz GPS and sensors in the unit.

• Mount perpendicular to the direction of travel (Colored back plate facing the direction of travel)
• Avoid mounting upside down, yawed left or right, or with the LED's facing out the windshield.

Does my phone have to be in the car while driving? 

Yes, in order to extract post-session data from the device, the phone must retain a bluetooth connection with the device. However, if you want the real-time display only, you can run the APEX device in the Freestyle mode, and leave your phone in the paddock.

Issues logging data? Bluetooth can have issues communicating if there is too much metal around the phone. Some vehicles' glove boxes can cause this issue. We recommend leaving the phone in your pocket, or in a secure in-car mount.

Does it connect to OBDII?

 No. APEX is stand-alone, it does not interface with anything other than your phone, and you as the driver of course! 

Why does APEX need to be calibrated? 

Calibration is only necessary when the device is mounted in a new location. Calibration zeroes out the sensors so that the data they record is as accurate as possible. Always re-calibrate if you put the device in a new car, or change the location of the mount in your car. Calibration is worry free, once you've selected your track you will be prompted to calibrate before starting the session. You can also calibrate the sensors by going to "Settings" then "Calibrate Device."

If the App prompts you to re-calibrate the device after you already calibrated it initially, it's usually because the device moved enough while on track that re-zeroing the sensors will help produce better data!

Where do I find the app?

 Search: APEX Pro LLC on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store. Or, just click on the link in the footer of this page. 

How do i connect APEX to my iPhone?

 Turn on Bluetooth, and turn on your APEX device

• Let the device "boot up"
• Open the APEX App, and tap the device with the highest signal strength
  • As of the latest iOS 11 update, you can now tell the App to remember a specific device the first time you connect
• If the device does not display, turn the bluetooth on your iOS device off, then back on.

How does APEX know if it is raining or if conditions change?

 The device does not know what the conditions are; it is simply measuring the grip level. It will recognize that the grip changes when conditions change, and the simulation will adapt and begin to show you a slightly different limit. So regardless of the real world conditions, the device samples data quickly enough to adapt to changing grip levels. 

The lights won't start - what am i doing wrong?

 First, check your Bluetooth connection. Ensure that the Bluetooth icon in the top right of the screen is blue. If it is red, reconnect to Bluetooth. After checking Bluetooth connection Make sure that you hit the "Start Session" button after selecting a track. The lights will turn red and green, and you are good to go on track! One flashing blue light means the device is connected via Bluetooth but the "Start Session" button has not been hit yet. 

What if I forget to calibrate the sensors and connect to Bluetooth before going on track?

 The device will prompt you to calibrate the sensors when you select a track and go to begin a session. Once you see the red lights go across the device, and the App says "Calibration Successful" the device is calibrated and ready to go! If you don't get that far, forget your phone, or forget to connect your phone to the device, simply turn the device on with the button on the left side of the display. The device will go into Freestyle mode. The feedback will not be as accurate, due to the sensors not being calibrated, but the light functionality will still provide insight on how to improve! 

What is my APEX score?

 APEX Score shows you how close to the limit of the car's performance you were driving, on average, during that lap. This is based on what the device has learned about the vehicle by your driving. Note that the lap average APEX Score is often too generous during the first two laps, or the devices "learning phase". Use your APEX Score as an objective measurement. It can be compared against different cars on the same track. Improvement in APEX Score is one of the best ways to determine if you are learning to use the car's available performance!

• Your score is not directly correlated with lap time
• The more you can consistently approach the outside of edge of the friction circle, the better your score will be!
• Have an experimenting mindset to improve your score
  • Try new things in low risk corners (lots of run-off, slower speeds, etc.)
  • Try braking earlier and softer, with more of an emphasis on a smoother brake release
  • Try using the steering wheel as little as possible

I can't pay attention to the lights AND drive!

 How long did it take you to learn how to glance in your mirrors consistently exiting a corner, or notice your water or oil temperature gauge on your dash while driving on the track? These are all things we do with our peripheral vision. APEX is very similar. Give yourself some time to adjust to the display, and use the post-session tools to find a couple of places to look at the LED's while on track. Allow yourself to naturally start to pick up on the display; the key to doing this is to have APEX mounted in your direct line of sight! You don't look at shift lights every time you upshift do you? 

APEX is sitting on my dash in direct sunlight - how hot can it get?

 APEX is designed to withstand hot conditions. That being said; treat your APEX as you would your phone. Being exposed to direct sunlight consistently will hurt the electronics in the device over time. We recommend removing the device from the mount on your dash, and storing in a shaded location whenever possible! 

Battery life?

 The lithium ion battery used in your APEX unit is very powerful, and on a full charge will be good to go for an entire day (or more!) of on-track activity. You will get 5 hours of active (on-track) usage from a single charge. You should always charge APEX for 2 hours before a day of track use. 2 hours are needed for a full charge. 

What sensors does APEX use?

• 2000 Hz 9-axis IMU
• 12-bit precision Accelerometer (+/- 4 G's)
• 16-bit precision gyroscope (+/- 250 deg/s)

Does my phone have to be in my car to record lap times and post-session data?

 Yes, however you may run the device in "Freestyle Mode" without connecting it to your iOS or Android device.