Garmin Catalyst VS Porsche Track Precision App | Which is better for YOU?

In this video we compare the Garmin Catalyst Lap Timing system to the built in Porsche Track Precision app from properly equipped Porsches! One of these is really unreliable and the other is lacking some serious data!
I mentioned that the Porsche app uses your phone but it does look like most of the time it’s using your car’s GPS antenna which should be about 10hz. However the position accuracy isn’t quite the the same as Garmin since the Garmin adds accuracy via the camera.
Buy a Garmin Catalyst here and help support the channel! amzn.to/3FKfyUa
My iPhone suction mount: amzn.to/3hdXlEc
Want to add Carplay/Android Auto/Navigation/Track Precision App to your Porsche with PCM 4.0 for FREE?? Here's the how-to: rennlist.com/forums/718-gts-4...
Much of the Garmin and Porsche b-roll is sourced from their respective press sites.
MORE INFO:
---------------------------------
***Learn more about the Porsche Track Precision App-
Porsche Initial Press Release for the Track Precision App: newsroom.porsche.com/en/innov...
Recent Updated Press Release (more cars!): newsroom.porsche.com/en/2022/...
Track Precision App with Jorg Bergmeister: • Porsche Track Precisio...
Track Precision App Free Drive Mode: • Porsche Track Precisio...
-----------------------------
***Learn more about the Garmin Catalyst:
Press Video: www.garmin.com/en-US/newsroom...
Great in depth videos about Garmin Catalyst: kzbin.infosearch...
Jet Fuel only is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com

[@JetFuelOnly]

In the video I mentioned the Porsche Track Precision app uses your phone's GPS. This is sometimes the case, but a closer look shows it uses the car's GPS antenna most of the time which is a 10hz antenna. The accuracy for position on the track still doesn't match the Garmin, probably because of how the Garmin uses the camera image to determine lateral position.

[@michaelcheshareck3275]

@@JetFuelOnly thank you, I gathered that from the reviews I’ve seen. I’m so new at tracking that without something showing me I can’t tell which lines or braking points were the best, and the Garmin should help with that. Real coaching with a live instructor is probably my best option, especially if they can drive a couple laps in the car with a Garmin so it can see better lines for me to run. But at a track day like my last one where I’m solo in the car any electronic help I can get with learning is welcome.

[@JetFuelOnly]

Thanks to a viewer, he noted that raw videos can be extracted from iPhone. You need to go to the Files App - select On My iPhone, then Track Precision. They are in there! Appreciate all you viewers who add to the content!

[@bmwmpower8655]

Great summary and feel you've done an accurate and comprehensive representation of the pros/cons of each. Nicely done!

[@JetFuelOnly]

Thank you!

[@chrisnolke]

Really well done video and comparison!

[@TrackMonkey327]

Nice review. I have a Garmin Catalyst that I use in my Honda S2000 time trial car. It works well most of the time but sometimes when I try to start it on grid, it fails to start. Rebooting (which takes time) typically fixes the issue. Because of this, I also run a first-gen AIM Solo as a backup lap timer. The AIM Solo unit doesn't offer what the Garmin or Porsche units do but it has never failed me. It simply works for lap timing, every time.

[@onlinesearch4134]

As always you have the best videos. Enjoyed this. Looking for the best option. I will be using the Apex track app and device. Garmin may be a good choice. I just don’t like the large tablet. Smaller device would be nice.

[@RudyP18]

Great video - you really went into a lot of depth to compare these options. I've only used Catalyst but I have to agree with all you said. One weird thing with catalyst though is that it takes a long time to render the overlay video on the catalyst itself. Not a huge deal but surprisingly slow...

[@JetFuelOnly]

Agreed. It’s gotta be about the graphics processing ability in it or something

[@chrishart5474]

Good review and complete agree with view Porsche app being unreliable, I’ve now got the Garmin ready for the upcoming season

[@michaelcheshareck3275]

Great video. While I don’t have a Porsche, but a M3 Comp Xdrive, the Garmin looks like a great way to go. I just did my second track day in my G80 (only other track experience is M track days, M school at thermal, and a track day at Sonoma in my car), my first time at Laguna Seca, and my first time on my own without an instructor, and managed a 1:41.88 according to a RaceBox I borrowed on my 7th session. Since I’m so new to track driving,, having the instructions from the Garmin would really help me to understand where I can cut my times down. I’d love to get a 1:39.XX when I go back to Laguna Seca in September. We will have to see how many people are at the event to see if I can get a clean run in without traffic, though.

[@JetFuelOnly]

One thing to know about its advice is that it doesn’t know the limits of your car. All advice it gives seems to be based on your best performance. It’s up to you to look at the recorded data and determine how much more you can push in various areas.

[@mikem4708]

I agree with you, but as I have 2 track car, I use garmin to compare performances or pros/cons. Learning and improvement with garmin is an absolute « must go » for me . Greetings from France 😉

[@danhow942]

When it works, it’s awesome but it cannot be relied upon. Garmin all the way.

[@andyhou9543]

exactly like you said, Porsche app really sorry for reliability , it didn't record when you need it, I feel so disappoint when I race last week in China, Immediately order Garmin Catalyst. Hope next time will have good result .

[@philtechGT3]

I have confirmed information that Porsche Track Precision use the car’s GPS. Making it much more reliable

[@redzone5655]

Would you please do an update of the integration of the Porsche App and the OEM dashcam? The dashcam has QHD capabilities. Regarding value, I would say Porsche still wins so far.

[@AutoPilotgogogo]

Great comparison. I have an AiM system in my 992 GT3 (AiM Solo 2 DL + SmartyCam HD), but have tried to also get the Track Precision App working as a backup. The Track Precision App has been a nightmare so far. I can’t get it to work because it won’t recognize that my iPhone is properly synced to the car. It keeps prompting me to connect to the vehicle hotspot, even though my phone’s settings indicate that I’m already linked to the car via both WiFi and Bluetooth. My dealer has been very little help with the issue. I was hoping it would be a nice, clean data logging and lap timing solution since it’s integrated into the car. To get a similar amount of data channels from the AiM, I would need to hardwire tap the AiM Solo 2 into the car’s CAN bus instead of using my current OBD-II connection. I was hoping to not have to do that. But based on my inability to get the Porsche app working, the lack of dealer support, and your reports of its unreliability, it gets a big fat zero from me. If GM can include a built-in lap timer/data logger with camera in their performance cars, why can’t Porsche?

[@JetFuelOnly]

Have you updated the app lately? Most people have the app working pretty well these days. However I feel ya, just the other day I had the same problem you did. I ended up shutting down the car, and letting it go to sleep completely then trying again and it worked.

[@michaelpGT3]

App connectivity is a complete mess on the 992. Unfortunately it doesn't seem to play nice with wireless CarPlay. My work around is to connect the phone to car via USB. Do this BEFORE you start you car. Also great video!! Think I'll be getting a Garmin for next track season.

[@JetFuelOnly]

Thanks!

[@AutoPilotgogogo]

Thanks, Michael. Do you connect via the USB in the center armrest storage area?

[@michaelpGT3]

@@AutoPilotgogogo Yes, I bought an extra long lightning cable to run from the armrest to the phone mounted on windshield.

[@335i101]

I have a new 911 TTS with Porsche dashcams….i still can’t get my video to show and my data doesn’t populate, even though everything says it connected and the lap timer starts on CarPlay…🤬

[@JetFuelOnly]

I know it’s supposed to work with Porsche dashcam but have yet to try. It seems overall the track app experience is a mix of good and bad for some people. My last event it recorded 3/5 sessions for me. Try using a phone to see if it works that way for video.

[@AhmadAlAjeel]

Does the track precison app work on the 2024 macan GTS?

[@JetFuelOnly]

I believe so. Just download and try, it’s the only way to know. It’s free

[@DarkTouch]

i've found that on apple, the porsche app is not just unreliable, it's virtually useless, ~5% reliable. on android however, the programs is >95% reliable, but still not perfect. On apple, the phone disconnects randomly from the car WiFi. that is the main problem, and once that happens you lose or don't even get any recording. On android, the main problems are to make sure to start and stop it properly and that you don't run out of space on your phone. other than that, the WiFi is rock solid and never really fails. So there is a big difference between phone OS with the app. for comparison, on Android if I have 12 sessions on a weekend, I will lose 1 session, usually because i forgot to click "finished" and "done" at the end. With apple, 12 sessions, I will get 2 or 3 PARTIAL recordings, 2-4 laps only, and zero recording for the rest of the sessions.

[@JetFuelOnly]

Sorry to hear yours has been so bad. Mine is pretty reliable these days. I would say 75-80%. I fixed one of the main problems and that was that I had a shortcut on my phone where I tap my phone three times it would pull up my hotel app to pull up a room key. Well, the track would simulate tapping three times and when that app opened it killed the Porsche app recording. So I deleted that shortcut and it’s been a lot better. As for the Wi-Fi, do you have anything else that’s trying to connect? I know that my GoPro will sometimes steal the Wi-Fi.

[@ruleslawyer]

1hz gps is a no go for useful data. The track precision app doesn't seem meaningfully different than a lot of the other phone based track timer apps. You need external gps. Phone cameras often look like jello with track vibrations and Optical stabilization. Trying to connect a bunch of devices- phone, car, external camera, gps all at once is a nightmare to make work smoothly.

[@JetFuelOnly]

I was wrong on that. The track precision app does in fact utilize the cars 10hz gps. This is shown in how close the times are between devices. Not meaningfully different? It gathers data from Porsche that OBD systems can’t do. That’s very meaningful I would say. I personally haven’t had any jiggly footage myself. Agreed on running additional equipment. However the dragy lap app and GPS unit does a great job too. I did a video on that. Pretty easy setup.

[@ruleslawyer]

@@JetFuelOnly What you can get over OBD varies so much, but the most important parameters are typically available. Ideally you have a can bus logger, but those are either super expensive or not integrated well. I'd argue that by the time you need more than obd can give you're probably ready to graduate to sometime like aim anyways. Phone is really model specific. Last time I tried was an iphone 12 pro. Apparently the cheaper models without the ois look better. It was still useful for review, just annoying to watch and not useful for sharing. Still something app users should be aware of and disable if they can for track video. Personally I'm about ready to graduate from a catalyst. The lack of obd logging is starting to be an issue. However the biggest one is the lack of export so I can look at the data in 3rd party tools and on a nice large monitor. However if you want another interesting system to look at, try a road keeper by race keeper. Its a pretty slick system aimed at this market.

[@ChrisW988]

Anyone find out how to add nav for free?

[@JetFuelOnly]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/h4G1ooVqbMRsp9E

[@JetFuelOnly]

rennlist.com/forums/718-gts-4-0-gt4-gt4rs-spyder-25th-anniversary/1307811-oem-navigation-retrofit-diy.html

[@SteveReed33]

Track precision uses the cars GPS. It’s much, much faster than the phone GPS. External GPS units aren’t needed as long as the car has NAV.

[@JetFuelOnly]

At times I found this wasn’t truly the case. I could see it in the resolution of the data as well. But yes sometimes it shows the GPS in the car is being used. But after a second look I think most of the time it is on car GPS.

[@SteveReed33]

Yea I have seen it do all kinds of stupid things as well. Sometimes the entire data feed gets jammed up and the GPS gets stuck with it. Lump that in with all of the other stability issues that it has. I personally use Harry's lap timer on an old phone with external GPS as my backup.

[@MoveUpMedia]

718 owner here with Nav & Sport Chrono. I REALLY wanted this to work. Sadly, the experience is so buggy and inconsistent, I would never rely on it in critical moments. Speaking of which, in Free Drove I notice the app will record one, maybe two videos but after that it stops (despite indicating that it’s recording). That’s frustrating, especially when I thought I captured a cool moment only to find out later the video wasn’t recorded. It is odd that Porsche has allowed this app to exist in such a buggy state for so long. A quick check on the App Store reviews supports this. Furthermore, I found that there would be odd moments where it wasn’t communicating well with the car and somehow data seemed incorrect (e.g. indicating I was in a different gear). If they sort out the quality issues, this will be tons of fun!

[@philtechGT3]

As an owner of a 992 GT3, the Porsche Track Precision is 100% free for me. I’ll keep the Garmin’s money for a fresh set of tires. I owned a 2020 718 GT4 (without nav but with carplay), it was frustrating not being allowed to use the Track Precision app. Now in Europe, nav comes as standard in 718 since 2021 I think

[@kaiwang1782]

You are not missing out a lot. I tried track precision on my gt4, it's really buggy and connection drops randomly. I got the Garmin and it's much more consistent.