A live speed overlay for IRL bike and car streams
On a bike tour, a road trip or a run, a speedometer on screen gives viewers a feel for the ride. Your iPhone already has the GPS, so put its speed in your overlay.
Vision account required. You build the overlay in the editor. · Updated
How it works
What you need for a live speed overlay
Install the free 1UP Vision app on your iPhone. In the Vision editor, create a variable with the Vision Companion source and the metric Speed (km/h) or Speed (mph), and insert it into a text layer. In the app, open Sync → Live Location, pick your overlay and tap Start sharing. Your speed updates live in OBS or your IRL streaming app.
- An iPhone with the free 1UP Vision app and location access set to Always
- The Vision Basic plan or higher for variables
- Your overlay as a browser source in OBS or an IRL streaming app like Moblin
Step by step
Set up the speed overlay for your IRL stream
Install the app and sign in
Install 1UP Vision from the App Store and sign in with the account you use for Vision, or scan the QR code from Vision's settings on your computer.
Create the speed variable
Open your IRL overlay in the Vision editor and choose Overlay → Variables. Click New, pick the Vision Companion source and set Metric to Speed (km/h) or Speed (mph). Keep Decimals at 0 and use the key speed.
Put it in a text layer
Add a text layer, click Insert Variable and pick speed. Type km/h or mph after it and choose a large, bold font. Add more variables the same way, for example Altitude (m) or Heading (°).
Start sharing your location
In the app, open the Sync tab and tap Live Location. Under Destination overlay, choose the same overlay and tap Start sharing. Allow location access Always, so sharing continues while the phone is locked or you use another app.
Test it before you go live
Walk or ride a few metres and check that the value changes in your preview. Under Live Stats the app shows your speed, the GPS accuracy and your coordinates. On the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island, a Live Activity shows your speed and how long you've been sharing.
How often the speed updates
While the app is open, it reads GPS at the highest accuracy every 2 seconds or 2 metres. In the background, it switches to every 5 seconds or 5 metres to save battery. Readings that are less accurate than 50 metres are dropped, so the number doesn't jump around in tunnels or between tall buildings.
Sharing keeps running in the background. If you force-quit the app, it stops.
Altitude, heading and distance
Besides speed in km/h, mph or m/s, the Vision Companion source offers altitude in metres or feet, heading in degrees, GPS accuracy and coordinates. Use a visibility rule to show a layer only above a certain speed or altitude.
There is no trip distance yet. The Distance today metric comes from Apple Health and counts walking and running, not kilometres on a bike or in a car.
The map layer (beta) and your privacy
Vision also has a Minimap layer that shows your position and route on a live map. It's in beta and not available in every account yet.
A map shows exactly where you are, and Vision has no privacy zones or delay. Start sharing only once you're away from home, turn off Show Route Trail if you don't want your route on screen, and use a separate overlay for IRL streams. Speed, altitude and heading don't reveal your position.
Troubleshooting
If something is not working
- The overlay shows a dash? Sharing isn't running, or the app sends to a different Destination overlay than the one on stream.
- Sharing stops when the phone is locked? Set location access for 1UP Vision to Always in the iPhone settings, and don't force-quit the app.
- No value indoors? GPS needs a clear view of the sky. Readings less accurate than 50 metres are dropped.
- No Variables entry in the Overlay menu? Variables need the Basic plan or higher.
FAQ
IRL speed overlay: common questions
Can I show mph instead of km/h?
Yes. Pick the metric Speed (mph) for the variable. The app itself always shows km/h.
Can I show the distance I've travelled?
Not yet. Distance today counts walking and running from Apple Health, not distance on a bike or in a car.
Does it work on Android?
Not yet. The app is available for iPhone.
Can viewers see where I am?
Only if you add a map or your coordinates to the overlay. Speed, altitude and heading don't reveal your position.
