Smith electric speedometers

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As far as your speedo is concerned you are just a point in space constructed by time signals from the satellites. Can I ask how you know your GPS under reads on a hill. Known distance and stop watch? Or another GPS?
 
it can also give issues in arias with restricted vues. mine has never lost signal but will show a drop in speed for VERY short times ( i am talking yards meters ) when i am in the mountains.

Steves said:
I think the only problem with GPS are tunnels and if riding around a war zone.
Click to expand...
 
bill said:
it can also give issues in arias with restricted vues. mine has never lost signal but will show a drop in speed for VERY short times ( i am talking yards meters ) when i am in the mountains.
Click to expand...

Yes, you are right, in the mountains also as you say due to a reduced sky view. Signals are line of sight, so satellites low on the horizon will be blocked.
 
even with the the minor issue of slight signal loss and known total loss in tunnels i would not trade mine for the cumbersome to setup smiths. so far in almost 13.000 miles they have trouble free and have exelant back lighting. i also get a kick from the altitude feature when in the mountains. now all it needs is an ambient temp option.
i highly recommend the legendary instruments.
 
Steves said:
As far as your speedo is concerned you are just a point in space constructed by time signals from the satellites. Can I ask how you know your GPS under reads on a hill. Known distance and stop watch? Or another GPS?
Click to expand...

It was comparing to a cycle speedo, triggered by a magnet on the front wheel.

You’ve inspired me to do more tests, against the rev counter.
 
bill said:
it can also give issues in arias with restricted vues. mine has never lost signal but will show a drop in speed for VERY short times ( i am talking yards meters ) when i am in the mountains.
Click to expand...
This also happens on "concrete canyons" on cities, where you loosen line of sight and there is high levels of signal bounce.
 
yes that can be an issue but who in there right mind would want to ride in that environment LOL. the next easiest to install and setup was the autometer pro cycle instruments as once wired up the setup was to hold down the trip set while you turn on the power, ride it over a 2 mile distance and push the reset button again.DONE. the issue was cost and a far cry from stock appearance but still a nice set of gauges.
 
bill said:
yes that can be an issue but who in there right mind would want to ride in that environment LOL. the next easiest to install and setup was the autometer pro cycle instruments as once wired up the setup was to hold down the trip set while you turn on the power, ride it over a 2 mile distance and push the reset button again.DONE. the issue was cost and a far cry from stock appearance but still a nice set of gauges.
Click to expand...
I ride in concrete and glass canyons a lot. Not perfect but my city is exploding in construction projects.
 
Wiki says:

Some GPS devices do not take into account the vertical position of the car so will under report the speed by the road's gradient
Click to expand...

Maybe my cheapo speedo doesn’t do 3D.
 
I stuck on a cheapo because I only want to know how fast I'm going. I do consider it nice to have an odometer however. For my riding habits I already know where I am.... Not wandering too far afield on this little old rock sled.
 
All is well after doing the set-up a few times.I love that both gauges give a smooth read out while in operation.
Thanks for the help
 
Triton Thrasher said:
Wiki says:



Maybe my cheapo speedo doesn’t do 3D.
Click to expand...

Ok probably doesn't. Find it odd, but maybe there is a cost benefit to the manufacturer. Every GPS I have ever come across from phones, mountaineering/walking equipe, watches, to high end aviation stuff uses a 3D position. Accurate speed (velocity to be correct) and distance is an integral function of these devices.
 
I obviously (that word again!) have no idea what it costs to build to these different specs, but altitude and 3D doesn’t matter all that much on a speedo on an old bike.

It must matter up a mountain and it’s pretty important in aviation, whether high or low end.
 
Myford said:
Got mine pretty close, reading 5 or 6 high and to be honest I've lost the will to correct it. I guess reading a little high is no bat thing. Both gauges work very well, and brings a smile to my face every time I see them go through their techy boot up every time I turn it on.
They do mist up a bit in the damp though.
Terry
Click to expand...
I have just completed the calibration process on mine and found an easier way.
I downloaded a GPS app called SpeedBox onto my phone then duct-taped it (with padding) to the fuel tank.
After each run, where the speedo was reading high, I would stop beside the road and go through the "Set PPU" process and increase the number. Started with 4705, which I got from calculations, and gradually increased to 5180, which is pretty close to bang-on for me.
Much easier and more accurate than measuring wheels or rotations per mile!
Hope this helps someone
Cheers
Rob
 
robs ss said:
I have just completed the calibration process on mine and found an easier way.
I downloaded a GPS app called SpeedBox onto my phone then duct-taped it (with padding) to the fuel tank.
After each run, where the speedo was reading high, I would stop beside the road and go through the "Set PPU" process and increase the number. Started with 4705, which I got from calculations, and gradually increased to 5180, which is pretty close to bang-on for me.
Much easier and more accurate than measuring wheels or rotations per mile!
Hope this helps someone
Cheers
Rob
Click to expand...
I did the same procedure as Rob and am very pleased.Have about 10,000 miles with these Smith gauges once you get them dialed in.Love the smooth needles
 
I had both my speedo and tacho mechanicals reconditioned last year. Smooth as a .... uhhhhh.... baby's bottom.
 
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