Do
Give it sky
Satellites live overhead. Glass is fine. Metal, carbon, and people are not.
How to
Where To Place Your GPS For Cleaner Lap Times
Phone GPS, RaceBox, and Dragy all need a clear view of the sky. Mount high, keep the antenna level, and wait for a lock before you leave pit lane.
Why placement matters
Lap timing is a sky problem. Your phone, RaceBox, and Dragy all read satellites overhead. Metal, carbon, a roof liner, or your body between the antenna and the sky makes the trace wander and the finish line fuzzy.
LapsHub times free with phone GPS. Pair a RaceBox Mini, Mini S, or Micro when you want 25 Hz, or a Dragy Pro over BLE. The mount rules are the same: high, level, open sky.
The short version
Do
Mount the phone high
Suction cup on the windshield. Top of the phone toward the sky, not tucked under the visor.
Do
Put the puck on the roof
A metal roof is the default for RaceBox and Dragy. It sees the sky and uses the roof as a ground plane.
Do
Wait for GPS lock
Start the session in the paddock. Do not roll until the GPS badge looks healthy.
Don't
Skip the cup holder
Low, boxed in by metal, and bouncing. That is how you get a wandering line.
Don't
Keep it out of your pocket
Your body blocks the sky. A phone in a pocket or a bag is a terrible GPS antenna.
Phone GPS
Most phones keep the GNSS antenna near the top edge. Mount so that top edge can see the sky through glass. A suction mount high on the windshield is the usual track-day setup.
- Place the phone on the windshield, not the dash vent, not the center console.
- Point the top of the phone up and toward open sky. Avoid the metal rearview stalk and the visor.
- Heated windshields, thick tint, and A-pillars can soften the signal. Nudge the mount toward the largest glass area.
- Convertibles and cars with small windows still go high. Use whatever glass sees the most sky.
- The mount has to survive a hard stop. Follow your organizer rules for devices in the cabin.
RaceBox, Dragy, and other GPS pucks
A dedicated receiver wants the same sky, just with a better antenna. Pair a RaceBox Mini, Mini S, or Micro, or a Dragy Pro, in Trackers, then put the puck where the sky is.
- Metal roof: mag-mount on the roof, centered if you can, away from roof racks and shark-fin antennas.
- Carbon roof, targa, or convertible: high on the dash with sky through the windshield. Keep it level.
- Do not put the puck in the trunk, under the dash, or under a tonneau.
- Keep it flat. A puck on its side loses satellites.
- Stay a little away from radios, radar, and big inverters. They can add noise.
RaceBox and Dragy vs phone GPS →
Do not put it here
If you cannot see a decent patch of sky from the antenna, the trace will lie. These are the usual misses.
- Cup holder, door pocket, or center console.
- Pants, jacket, or a bag on the seat.
- Glovebox, under the dash, or under the seat.
- Under a carbon or metal cover, including some aftermarket roofs.
- Loose on the passenger seat, sliding on every brake zone.
Lock, then roll
Open LapsHub, pick Phone GPS or your paired RaceBox or Dragy, and start the session while you are still in the paddock. Give it a short wait in open sky so the receiver can lock.
If the GPS badge stays weak, move the mount before you go on track. A better mount beats a better alibi.
FAQ
Where should I put my phone for lap timing?
High on the windshield with a suction mount and a clear sky view. The GNSS antenna is usually near the top of the phone. Do not use a cup holder, pocket, or glovebox.
Where should I put a RaceBox or Dragy?
On a metal roof with the mag mount when you can. On carbon roofs and convertibles, place it high on the dash, level, with sky through the windshield.
Can I time laps with the phone in my pocket?
No. Your body blocks satellites. Mount the phone or use a RaceBox or Dragy with a sky view.
Why is my GPS trace jumping?
Usually a blocked antenna: cup holder, pocket, metal, carbon, or no lock yet. Move the receiver high, wait for lock in the paddock, then roll.
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