⏱ Garmin Catalyst unboxing, setup and track test // IN DEPTH REVIEW - Will it make you faster?

[@AtypicalDriver]

0:00 Intro 0:30 Unboxing 3:27 Device setup 5:01 Car install 8:16 Track testing 9:31 Data review 11:26 My thoughts and commentary 24:58 Drawbacks

[@thelifeofguyon]

Thanks for the video - I was curious about the process of exporting the video to my PC with useful info and hopping to your drawbacks section answered that exactly. I also had the same experience with missing video, but only when I'd hit rough curbing or took an agricultural detour.

[@AtypicalDriver]

Glad it was helpful!

[@krasic]

Nice video. I bought a Catalyst recently and did my first DE day with it at Laguna Seca on 4/10. Didn’t realize you could download from Garmin connect, thanks for that tip!

[@AtypicalDriver]

Sure, glad it was helpful. Thanks for watching the video! Consider subscribing if you like this sort of nonsense. :)

[@Shooftheg]

FYI you don’t need to download from Garmin Connect to get the overlay data onto the video. See this video from Garmin: kzbin.info/www/bejne/raDMlqyOiKqfpZI

[@Kaos2244220011]

very thorough video, im a new local to Laguna Seca as well, hopefully ill see you out there once i have a car that i track day vs my toaster(element)

[@AtypicalDriver]

Hey welcome to the area and thanks for watching! Hopefully will see you out there soon. What kind of track toy are you considering?

[@Kaos2244220011]

@@AtypicalDriver probably just an EG or EK civic, I moved here to focus on school so I don't have a big budget lol

[@AtypicalDriver]

@@Kaos2244220011 Nothing wrong with that! It's all about having fun and enjoying your car no matter what it is.

[@rodelginger9414]

Thank you kind sir for this in-depth review of the Catalyst. I recently purchased Aim Solo2. Getting to the data is ugh... how do I even begin to describe how antiquated it is! Aim has a 2 part basic functions in YT which is ridiculous. lol Everything seem to be behind in times until this modern Garmin came around.

[@AtypicalDriver]

Really glad you enjoyed it and thank you for watching! Another guy I was with at the track said something similar, "I haven't even had my AIM out of the box and it's already outdated." I feel like the real value is in seeing the opportunities to improve and with AIM and some of the others you have to do a lot more digging through the data to find those insights. The Garmin basically tries to do that for you.

[@hsavinon]

Awesome....thanks

[@AtypicalDriver]

Hope it was useful, thank you for watching!

[@Shooftheg]

Thanks for the video. I just bought one myself, and will be using it this coming weekend at NJMP....I too have a Lotus (Exige), and one of the biggest issues I have when trying to record any data or telemetry for my track days is the tiny amount of space available in and around the car. I use Harry's, and having my phone on the windshield gets in the way of the views needed to fully see the track, the corners, etc....Did you find that the mounting location and size of the screen got in the way of your view when using it at the track? I found and bought a clamp with B size ball mount and am going to attempt to clamp it to the shelf (The one that runs across the car below the climate controls). If not, I'll mount on the windshield, but as low as possible, and bought a few RAM extension pieces so I can have the screen away from my view, and in front of the two center vents.

[@AtypicalDriver]

Hey thanks for chiming in. I actually just used the OEM Garmin mount but I have it mounted over on the passenger side, just a little above the dash. You do need a clear view of the sky to get a gps signal but I haven't had a problem with that position. I can still reach it from my seat prior to tightening my belts to start the timing before heading on track. Let me know if you'd like a photo of my setup, happy to take a pic.

[@Shooftheg]

@@AtypicalDriver I guess I’ll play around with it once I am at the track. My car is being tuned again now and I’ll probably get it back at the last second, before I go to the track so I won’t have time to play with it before the track day. I wouldn’t mind seeing your setup, sure!

[@SnowWhiteMR2]

Thanks for all the info! Do you know if you can connect Bluetooth headphones to it? Or is the catalyst read as "headphones" and will only connect to your car stereo?

[@AtypicalDriver]

Yes, you definitely can connect bluetooth headphones to it! I ended up using wired ones because I didn't have any bluetooth ones that could fit in my helmet, but it definitely supports bluetooth either headphones or car stereo. Thanks for watching!

[@Z06Man]

Great video. I’m considering upgrading to this from RaceChrono and I’m really interested in the audio coaching feature. I liked how you went with a wired headset in your helmet. Can you give me some more details on how you did this? What brand of headset? Are they integrated into the helmet somehow or separate? Thanks in advance.

[@AtypicalDriver]

Hey Kevin - great question and congrats on the upgrade! I think you'll be stoked with the Catalyst, there is a small learning curve but overall it's pretty easy. Be sure to enable ADVANCED RACE COACH to get the more audio prompting. As far as the headset, I just went super, super simple and got a pair of wired ear buds like these (amzn.to/3L2o29L) and an extension cord so that it would reach to the catalyst device audio jack like this (amzn.to/3L1pV6F) then you don't have to worry about charging batteries or anything fancy. But you'll have to remember to put the ear buds in before putting the helmet on and just learn a good technique to not knock them out as you fit the helmet.

[@Z06Man]

@@AtypicalDriver thanks.

[@mrshakey2533]

I just ordered this Garmin, as I have been doing track days for years now with zero devices, so this will be my first. My question is this, my car is pretty much a track only car and the interior is gutted, meaning no radio, no cigarette lighter, so, what do I do for a power source? I certainly dont want to be cutting and splicing brand new wires that came with the Garmin. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Great video by the way.

[@AtypicalDriver]

You're going to love it! Seriously it's the easiest device to use. Anyway in the box it does come with a hardwire kit already that has two bare end wires and an inline fuse. So you should be good to go!

[@mrshakey2533]

@@AtypicalDriver thank you for the reply, I just got it today, and yes, the bare wire with the inline fuse it just what I need.

[@racett5316]

Brow.. comes with a long cable to put the camera behind driver?

[@AtypicalDriver]

Nope the camera has to be positioned near the front mirror according to the instructions. It overlays a template to line up the cars fenders. Apparently this is for the software to do some sort of AI based on the cars position on the track as detected by the camera.

[@Supraking7mb]

Still watching well listening at wrk as this plays. Can you send files to other people or other users to compare times n stuff?

[@AtypicalDriver]

Thanks for watching (or listening!) There is NOT a way to export files and do direct comparisons to someone else turn by turn...at least not an obvious way to do it. It might be possible if you dig into the SD card contents and add files from a friend. But you can get an export of laptimes by session or trackday. I think the easiest way to do that part is actually with the Garmin mobile app...the Catalyst will upload your laps to the Garmin site and you can use the mobile app to get a quick list. Hope that helps!

[@Supraking7mb]

Thank you. I got the chance to use one this wkend during a race and it was nice. We had 4 drivers so it was way easier to use than aim solo but for a normal track day I couldn't hot swap it from car to car for bragging rights. Lol

[@anamateurateverything138]

You guys have to drive with the windows down? In the UK, we are only allowed to have our windows opened up to 25%.

[@AtypicalDriver]

I know, weird right? I actually wish we could leave them up, also probably more aerodynamic with them up!

[@saleen367]

Informative video, but here's what I don't like about the Garmin ... lack of OBD data and if you suck at driving, it won't necessarily make you better. It really just finds opportunity in your recorded data that shows where you did better and can be replicated. So in essence, if you're really slow, you'll be better able to repeat your best lap, but Lewis Hamilton has nothing to be worried about. 😉 On another note, if you allow an excellent driver to lap with your profile, it will give you a plethora of opportunities, some of which may be above your abilities or skill level.

[@AtypicalDriver]

Yeah the lack of OBD2 data bothered me at first too, but then I sort of realized that the Garmin system is focused solely on the output/results in terms of lap times and speed, not the inputs -- which leaves some of that up to you. But yeah I've thought about having a quicker driver drive my car with my profile on the Garmin to generate more suggestions from the system. BTW Check out my video on top 5 things I did to improve my driving since I mentioned coaching / Garmin there too.