Configuration (equipment)
The module for the device that provides the times: what it is, whether it answers, the track and its loops with their indicators, the log and the latest passings; and its settings windows.
| Time | Transponder | Loop | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14:05:28.512 | KZ7AB3C | STA | 500 m Women — P03: lap 1 (10.62) |
| 14:05:28.740 | KZ7AB4D | STA | 500 m Women — P03: lap 1 (10.84) |
| 14:05:12.003 | KZ7AC9F | L1 | no race |
- The title (mode and device) and how it works.
- The windows: mode, settings, recorded passings, track and loops.
- The equipment switch (starts and stops the link), Restart, the status and the number of passings received.
- The track drawing, with the indicators of each line.
- The log.
- The latest passings.
The module
Timing mode…
Where: Configuration module
Opens the Timing mode window: decoder, manual, hybrid or photocells, the device (RACE RESULT, Ubidium, USB Timing Box, MyLaps, Chronelec, FDS, Microgate) and its connection.
Equipment settings…
Where: Configuration module
What is specific to the device: detailed connection, protocol options, commands, loop power, information. See below.
Recorded passings…
Where: Configuration module
Everything the equipment delivered is written to the database on receipt, even with no race or session loaded (photocells: transponder 1 = inner cell, 2 = outer; start: 255). The window searches them:
- period From / To (HH:mm:ss) or quick: 15 min, 1 h, 4 h, Today, All;
- equipment, passing type (Transponder, Photocell, Start, Manual), transponders (“1, 2, 255, 100-120”), loop, Read from memory, Session track, athlete (name, bib or reference of an athlete in the races in progress), Id from – to, displayed gap, maximum; Search;
- columns: Id, passing time, gap, type, transponder, athlete, loop, battery, equipment, No., memory, received;
- Copy (CSV) (the selection, or everything); right-click: start or end of the period = this passing, add to the transponder filter.
Replay the selection… gives the selected passings to the races in progress, in time order and with their original time. This is how you rebuild a missed race: load it, find its start and its passings here, select them, replay. Nothing is rewritten in the database.
Track and loops…
Where: Configuration module
The list of the track's loops, on a single grid: Active, Finish line, Name (passing type), Identifier (what the decoder sends: “Channel=1 LoopID=1”…), Position (m) after the track's zero (the middle of the bottom straight), in the racing direction. A loop checked “Finish line” carries a passing type (STA, STA2, BOX): it is the line where races finish their laps. For a race, all the other active loops are intermediate lines, other finish lines included.
- Add a loop, Add a finish line (STA, then STA2, then BOX), Remove, Sort by position, and Generate N evenly spaced loops (the first at… m from zero then every… m; name and identifier numbered).
- The Signal loops (start gun, photocells), collapsed: they have no position.
- The drawing follows what you enter; below it, “What a race on this line will see:” for the chosen finish line: its intermediate lines and their distance.
- Missed finish line: estimate the end of the lap between the surrounding lines (replaced by the real passing if it arrives late).
- At the bottom, what is wrong: no finish line, passing type given twice, duplicate name or identifier, loop without an identifier, position outside the track, two loops at the same place.
Empty list: a single “STA” loop, the finish line, which receives everything. With a USB Timing Box, a single loop: the finish line. Confirm applies.
Track dimensions…
Where: Configuration module, below the drawing (also in Track and loops and the Lanes panel)
Track length, turn radius or length of a straight (changing one computes the other), width of a lane; measured on the racing line. These are the dimensions of every track drawing: they follow immediately.
Equipment switch
Where: Configuration module, below the buttons
Starts or stops the equipment. Its name follows the timing mode: Decoder (decoder or hybrid), Photocells (photocell timer) or Gun (manual timing). At ON, FINISH connects to the device and reconnects on its own after an interruption (retrying every 3 s); the status can be read in the status bar (“Decoder: Connected”) and in the Configuration module. It is remembered: FINISH restarts the equipment at the next launch if it was ON.
Everything the equipment delivers is written to the database on receipt, even with no race loaded: nothing is lost (see Recorded passings).
At OFF, the loop of a decoder that allows it is set to 0% before the link is closed. Not to be confused with the Finish loop switch in the strip, which only sets the loop power.
Restart
Where: Configuration module, to the right of the switch
Applies the settings: stops then restarts the device.
Log
Where: Configuration module
The session log: connections, starts, races loaded and closed, files written, and every passing that does not become a lap, with the reason (loop without a line, disabled line, unreadable frame, unknown transponder, athlete in another race, race not started, debounce, lap below the minimum, passing too old, Passings OFF…). Repetitions are grouped (“and N more times in 10 s”). A handle above it adjusts its height; it is hidden with Show the log. See the scenario A decoder with no passings.
Latest passings
Where: Configuration module
The last 300 passings received: time, transponder, loop and result (“lap”, “below minimum”, “duplicate”, “no race”…). The quickest way to see whether the device is talking and where its passings go.
The indicators on the drawing: on each finish line, a red dot (device stopped or disconnected), yellow (connecting) or green (connected), and an indicator that lights up at each passing; on each ordinary loop, a green light for 0.1 s per passing.
The “Equipment settings” window
Cards, depending on the device. Apply saves and restarts the device if it is running; an error is shown in the window without bringing FINISH down.
Connection
Where: Equipment settings, first card
Network (address and port), serial port (USB), or either one for a Chronelec (a serial port chosen: USB; none: UDP, listening port 2009).
IP address
Where: Equipment settings › Connection
The address of the device on the venue network (127.0.0.1 for SIM on the same computer).
Port
Where: Equipment settings › Connection
0 = usual port (RACE RESULT 3601, Ubidium 443, MyLaps 5403, Chronelec 2008).
Serial port
Where: Equipment settings › Connection
The serial ports of this computer (COM3…), reread each time the list opens or with . For the USB Timing Box, FDS, Microgate, Chronelec on USB.
Speed (baud)
Where: Equipment settings › Connection
With Data bits and Stop bits. A USB Timing Box requires 19200 baud, 8 bits, no parity, 1 stop bit.
Parity
Where: Equipment settings › Connection
That of the device (often none).
Reconnect after
Where: Equipment settings › Connection
The delay before a new attempt after an interruption (3 s by default). FINISH reconnects on its own as long as the switch is ON; the passings in the device's memory are recovered with no loss or duplicates.
Protocol options
Where: Equipment settings, second card
Depending on the device: RACE RESULT Passing mode push (the decoder sends) or pull (FINISH asks), Pulse code (the number of the start gun or photocell plugged into the jack socket, 99999 by default); Chronelec Master mode (the decoder resends a passing until it is acknowledged); Ask for the state every (0 = never), Ask for passings every (0 = 250 ms); timers: channel of the Start and of Photocell 1 and 2, each active or not.
Set the device clock on connection
Where: Equipment settings › Protocol options
At each connection, the device clock is set to the computer's time. Essential for an indoor decoder without GPS: otherwise its clock starts from 00:00 at power-on and its passings are adjusted (with a message) or judged too old.
Detailed decoder log
Where: Equipment settings › Protocol options (unchecked by default)
Diagnostics: every frame received (“← …”) and every command sent (“→ …”) go to the log (160 characters at most, non-printable bytes as “<1F>”). Applies immediately, with the device running, without Apply. Uncheck it afterwards: the log fills up quickly.
Wait before clock synchronization (s)
Where: Equipment settings › Protocol options (FDS TBox)
On connection as with the “Set the clock” button: the TBox has time to settle on its link (5 s by default, 0 to 60; 0 = none). A countdown is shown next to the button.
Recover passings in memory on first connection
Where: Equipment settings › Protocol options
Checked: at the first connection, FINISH recovers the passings the device has kept (duplicates are ignored). Otherwise, only the new ones. After an interruption, recovery always happens.
Mapping: input assignment
Where: Equipment settings (FDS TBox)
Each TBox input (wired or radio transmitter, identified by its serial number) gives a channel to its times: channel (0 to 20), serial number of the transmitter, lockout (− / + in steps of 10 ms), Active, pulses, “Blocked”. Filters Wired / Radio / Active only; Read again. TBox connected: each change is sent to it then read back; stopped: last values, not editable.
Device commands
Where: Equipment settings
Buttons specific to the device, for example for RACE RESULT: Decoder status, Read the clock, Set the clock, Passings in memory, Start operation, Stop operation, Ping. A command that changes the state of the device () asks for confirmation. The answer is shown at the bottom of the window and in “What the device reports”.
Loop power
Where: Equipment settings (RACE RESULT, USB Timing Box)
The strength of the loop's field, in %. Too low: some transponders are not read; too high: they are read far from the line. Read the device's value; a new value (1 to 100%), Set: it is kept and sent at each activation (the loop is set to 0% on deactivation). Confirmation during a race.
Decoder configuration (Chronelec)
Where: Equipment settings, right-hand card (Chronelec / TAG Heuer only)
The settings kept in the decoder. Read the configuration fills in the fields (the decoder must be connected; an old decoder has no configuration). Change what is needed, then Write to the decoder: FINISH shows each change (old → new value) and asks for confirmation, rewrites the whole configuration in one block (untouched settings as they were read), then reads it back and says what the decoder kept.
- Time of day (Time of Day): passings carry the time of day (recommended); unchecked, the time elapsed since start. Match it with Passing time in the protocol options (FINISH warns you otherwise).
- GPS synchronisation: the clock follows the decoder's GPS receiver. Time zone: the difference from universal time (0 to 23 h, 0 to 59 min) added to the GPS time; the decoder keeps no sign.
- Synchronise the race time at hh:mm: the race time restarts from zero at that time of the decoder's clock. Generate a synchronisation pulse every n (0 to 99, unit not stated by the manufacturer).
Detection: levels, tones, loop type
Where: Equipment settings › Decoder configuration
- STA level, BOX level: detection threshold from 00 (very sensitive, read far from the loop) to about 60 (read only very close), up to 99. Apply now sends it without touching the rest (confirmation during a race) and reads it back in the status; Write to the decoder stores it with the configuration.
- Detect the maximum level: the time is taken at the strongest signal, above the loop.
- Loop type: passive (cable on the ground) or active (with an amplifier).
- Tones STA, BOX, MAN, CEL, BXX (0 to 9999): the frequency of each input; two neighbouring decoders must have different ones.
Remote decoder and outputs
Where: Equipment settings › Decoder configuration
Remote decoder connected by serial link or by fibre optic: a distant decoder sends its passings through this one; Remote decoder loop (1 to 16, B01 to B16) and Send give it its box; the Remote decoder GPS command sets its clock. Print passings (serial printer): a backup ticket. Output format: Chronelec at 19200 or 9600 baud (set the same speed in the connection); AMB Tranx is not read by FINISH.
Decoder network
Where: Equipment settings › Decoder configuration
Decoder IP address, Subnet mask, Gateway, Destination computer (Remote Host) (the address of this computer), then Write the network: confirmation, writing, read-back. After changing the address, set the same one in the connection. A decoder fitted with a Lantronix network module is set with the manufacturer's tool (addresses and ports).
What the device reports
Where: Equipment settings, last card
Version, clock and gap with the computer, batteries, levels, passings in memory, last passing, protocol…: filled in when the device is connected and has answered.