Brian Clancy
Premium
Symprojects SPI-D Digital Speedo/Shift light Review
The Sim Hardware Forum is very pleased to continue the SymProjects Competition and the second product review today!
The review (and competition) for the SymProjects SPI-D digital speedo and shift light:
First Impressions:
The unit came VERY well packaged in a good sized cardboard box and had a generous covering of bubble wrap. Once I had discarded the packaging, I was pleasantly surprised by the size and quality of the unit. The L.E.D. measures a nice 60mm w x 28mm h, the board itself is only a little larger at 78mm w x 41mm h, with an overall depth of approximately 20mm. This is an ideal size compromise, allowing for a relatively compact installation, but having a display large enough to be easily seen if it is mounted near a monitor (allowing it to be viewed without having to take your eyes off the track!). The overall quality of the board itself is high, the finish of the PCB, layout, mounting holes and 'feel' of the unit all make to give an impression of a well made device.
Features:
The three digit speed display works very well with no visible interplexing or lag. It is connected to the PC with a mini USB cable, unfortunatly, unlike the GI-Max reviewed last month, it does not have provision to solder the USB cables leads directly to the board, but Cristiano has told me he will try to implement this feature in the next board revision. The other great feature is the shift light. The SPI-D comes complete with a very nice LED shift light (with plug and approx 45cm of lead) all made up, just plug it on to the board and program the RPM point in the SimDash software. This is a nice high quality LED unit, complete with fixings and is quite bright!
Shift light 
Back of Device
Software:
The 'Sim Dash' software is a quick and easy download from the SymProjects site. I was pleased to find it very quick to install and most intuitive in its use. Once you run the Sim Dash software you just click on the SPI-D banner. It then has a simple slider bar to adjust the brightness of the display, a couple 'tick' boxs to set 2 or 3 three digit display, MPH or KPH and to turn on or off the 'shift light' function and a box to assign the desired RPM for the shift light if desired. (See pic below)
Sim Dash v1.2
Using the SPI-D:
Once you have plugged the device in with a suitable mini USB cable and run/configured the Sim dash software, its time to play! I have built a special housing to display all the SymProjects products (pics below) but you can simply rest the SPI-D near the monitor or anywhere you like. The display is VERY bright at its max setting. Being able to check your speed, clearly, without taking your eyes completly off the screen is a big advantage, especially in testing when you are playing with downforce/gearing settings etc. This little unit really adds to the feeling of 'immersion', especially if you build it into a dash or a Dispaly unit.
There are some pictures of the unit being used in my 'display unit’ below.
What can be achieved, with a little thought, some very basic D.I.Y. skills and tools, and of course, Symprojects excellent devices!
Supported Titles:
Conclusions:
At £28.50, this is a really great device. Very well made, great functionality and good, easy to use software too. It’s pretty hard to find fault with it to be honest. If there was one gripe (and I'm being very hard here saying this) there is currently no option to purchase a box or stand for the unit. But luckily, the Sim Hardware Forum here at RD can help with that!
[FONT="]Value: [/FONT]93 points - Really, another top value item at pocket money prices
[FONT="]Quality: [/FONT]93 points - Top notch construction and finish
[FONT="]Functionality: [/FONT]97 points - With the built in shift light, its top marks again!
[FONT="]Buy One???: [/FONT]Oh YES! I have already owned one for a few months now! If you even vaguely like techie stuff for sim racing, this is a great item!
[FONT="]RD Rating : 283/300 - [/FONT]That’s another VERY high score for a Symprojects Product!
Race Department and I would like to thank Cristiano for his kind donation of the devices for the competition and review and the generous 5% discount for all RD members (just use this code at the checkout ' RD-FIVE-OFF ')[FONT="].[/FONT] The Symprojects Site can be found HERE
COMPETITION TIME!
If you would like to win the SPI-D that I have been reviewing here, entry is very simple. No questions, just post your NAME only HERE. The only condition is you MUST be an RD donator on the day I pick the winner. If you have already entered a previous Symprojects competition, you name will already be on the list so please dont Re-enter as there is no need
I will pick the winner (with a random name generator) on or around the 12 of November 2010, so get posting! ALL staff may ENTER with the exception of myself and Kris Vickers (as we are Sim Racing Hardware Forum Mods)
GOOD LUCK!
The Sim Hardware Forum is very pleased to continue the SymProjects Competition and the second product review today!
The review (and competition) for the SymProjects SPI-D digital speedo and shift light:
First Impressions:
The unit came VERY well packaged in a good sized cardboard box and had a generous covering of bubble wrap. Once I had discarded the packaging, I was pleasantly surprised by the size and quality of the unit. The L.E.D. measures a nice 60mm w x 28mm h, the board itself is only a little larger at 78mm w x 41mm h, with an overall depth of approximately 20mm. This is an ideal size compromise, allowing for a relatively compact installation, but having a display large enough to be easily seen if it is mounted near a monitor (allowing it to be viewed without having to take your eyes off the track!). The overall quality of the board itself is high, the finish of the PCB, layout, mounting holes and 'feel' of the unit all make to give an impression of a well made device.
Features:
The three digit speed display works very well with no visible interplexing or lag. It is connected to the PC with a mini USB cable, unfortunatly, unlike the GI-Max reviewed last month, it does not have provision to solder the USB cables leads directly to the board, but Cristiano has told me he will try to implement this feature in the next board revision. The other great feature is the shift light. The SPI-D comes complete with a very nice LED shift light (with plug and approx 45cm of lead) all made up, just plug it on to the board and program the RPM point in the SimDash software. This is a nice high quality LED unit, complete with fixings and is quite bright!
Shift light Back of DeviceSoftware:
The 'Sim Dash' software is a quick and easy download from the SymProjects site. I was pleased to find it very quick to install and most intuitive in its use. Once you run the Sim Dash software you just click on the SPI-D banner. It then has a simple slider bar to adjust the brightness of the display, a couple 'tick' boxs to set 2 or 3 three digit display, MPH or KPH and to turn on or off the 'shift light' function and a box to assign the desired RPM for the shift light if desired. (See pic below)
Sim Dash v1.2
Using the SPI-D:
Once you have plugged the device in with a suitable mini USB cable and run/configured the Sim dash software, its time to play! I have built a special housing to display all the SymProjects products (pics below) but you can simply rest the SPI-D near the monitor or anywhere you like. The display is VERY bright at its max setting. Being able to check your speed, clearly, without taking your eyes completly off the screen is a big advantage, especially in testing when you are playing with downforce/gearing settings etc. This little unit really adds to the feeling of 'immersion', especially if you build it into a dash or a Dispaly unit.
There are some pictures of the unit being used in my 'display unit’ below.
What can be achieved, with a little thought, some very basic D.I.Y. skills and tools, and of course, Symprojects excellent devices!
Supported Titles:
At £28.50, this is a really great device. Very well made, great functionality and good, easy to use software too. It’s pretty hard to find fault with it to be honest. If there was one gripe (and I'm being very hard here saying this) there is currently no option to purchase a box or stand for the unit. But luckily, the Sim Hardware Forum here at RD can help with that!
[FONT="]Value: [/FONT]93 points - Really, another top value item at pocket money prices
[FONT="]Quality: [/FONT]93 points - Top notch construction and finish
[FONT="]Functionality: [/FONT]97 points - With the built in shift light, its top marks again!
[FONT="]Buy One???: [/FONT]Oh YES! I have already owned one for a few months now! If you even vaguely like techie stuff for sim racing, this is a great item!
[FONT="]RD Rating : 283/300 - [/FONT]That’s another VERY high score for a Symprojects Product!
Race Department and I would like to thank Cristiano for his kind donation of the devices for the competition and review and the generous 5% discount for all RD members (just use this code at the checkout ' RD-FIVE-OFF ')[FONT="].[/FONT] The Symprojects Site can be found HERE
COMPETITION TIME!
If you would like to win the SPI-D that I have been reviewing here, entry is very simple. No questions, just post your NAME only HERE. The only condition is you MUST be an RD donator on the day I pick the winner. If you have already entered a previous Symprojects competition, you name will already be on the list so please dont Re-enter as there is no need
I will pick the winner (with a random name generator) on or around the 12 of November 2010, so get posting! ALL staff may ENTER with the exception of myself and Kris Vickers (as we are Sim Racing Hardware Forum Mods)
GOOD LUCK!
