Scoreboards

FinishLynx can send information to practically all commercially available scoreboards. Depending on the information sent, FinishLynx can make the scoreboard display information about competitors involved in the event in progress - a start list, or show running time from the event in progress; or it can show results from a previous event. Running time displays are usually stopped by a photo eye, but they can also be stopped manually.

ClosedWARNING

When a FinishLynx operator is connected to a scoreboard there are several things that should be borne in mind:

  • Information shown on a scoreboard is believed by those seeing it to be true.
  • If incorrect information is sent it will be believed - at first - to be true.
  • However, if an operator consistently sends incorrect information, after a while nothing on the scoreboard will be believed.
  • It is very difficult to “get the toothpaste back in the tube.” If you show a time on the display clock which is quicker than the athlete actually ran (because the photo eye was broken by a hand in front of the body, for instance), you will have a hard time convincing anybody that your official - slower - time read from the torso by FinishLynx is correct.

For this reason you should set the offset as described in Scoreboard Configuration to ensure that the time on the display clock is - preferably - about a hundredth of a second or so slower than the official time from FinishLynx. If you do this, athletes will be pleased by their times on the official results and not disappointed.

ClosedCONNECTING A SCOREBOARD

The scoreboard should be connected to a serial port ( Connection Box, Camera Back or Computer) or a network port ( Network ComPort (NCP) Plug-in required).

TIP: If needed, the serial port used for the Capture Button can also be used for a scoreboard or wind gauge. Contact FinishLynx Sales to purchase a "Button Splitter".
NOTE: If a photo eye is being used it should be connected to the Connection Box.
ClosedLYNX SCOREBOARD SCRIPTS

To communicate with a scoreboard, FinishLynx must talk its language. For this, FinishLynx uses text files called Lynx Scoreboard Scripts (*.lss) which can be tailored to send the information in the format understood by the scoreboard.

For more information about how to create a new or modify an existing LSS file, open the Example2.lss file located in the Lynx folder (C:\Lynx).

ClosedWHAT'S NEXT?

Learn how to use a scoreboard with FinishLynx: