Quack is a project at yellowduck. Software, available on Linux, Windows and palmtop computers, takes track logs from a Garmin GPS receiver and allows extensive analysis of speeds and routes. Special functions make it suitable for use as a rudimentary datalogger.

The utility of quack is greatly enhanced since the cancellation of the artifical error generation (Selective Availability).

New! Prototype quack-generated MPEG of 50 laps of the Nordschleife, with a variety of drivers, vehicles and conditions.
Adam at Chris Curve

In our first installation on the ZXR750, we had a Garmin GPS III under the rear seat, with the standard antenna mounted externally on the left sidepanel. You can see the antenna in the big version of this picture.
GSX-R cockpit

Housing the GPS under the rear seat proved to be quite inconvenient, so in the second version, we mount it on the fairing stay, where the rider can see and manipulate it.
The external antenna is not required as the GPS can easily see through the bike's screen, althought it does benefit from the active antenna.
(See GPS fitment to the new GSX-R on Adam's GSX-R GPS Bracket)
(big picture 120kb).

Track logs

Nordschleife (Nürburgring), Subaru Impreza, Easter 99

Nordschleife Now SA is turned off, the vastness of the Nordschleife makes for excellent track logs with quack. Quack works best with data at this scale. Under SA, The fixed size of the errors meant that the bigger you go, the smaller the significance of the error.

Some of these laps had comparatively coarse track log configurations in the GPS-III with a standard antenna, yet at this scale they look pretty good.


In the examples below, the overlay of the raw track logs on circuit maps shows the effect of the uncorrected position errors.

Cadwell Park full circuit, ZXR750, 21st May 98

Cadwell Park The errors caused by GPS selective availability are clearly visible in these laps.
(Big picture 52Kb)

Donington Park GP circuit, ZXR750, 17th June 98

Donington Park These laps of Donington show even more variation.
(Big picture 50Kb)

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