Wind Gauges

FinishLynx has the ability to work with practically all standard wind gauges.

In Track and Field applications, it is customary to use the wind gauge for the sprint events: 100 meter dash, 100 meter hurdles, 110 meter hurdles, and 200 meter dash. FinishLynx comes with pre-configured settings for each of these events; however, the operator can either modify these settings or configure new ones as needed.

Most of the settings are configured in the Wind tab of the Options...

ClosedOVERVIEW

The Information Zone displays the current settings and readings for the wind gauge.

Wind Gauge Settings

 

Wind Gauge Configuration

ClosedHOW TO CONFIGURE WIND GAUGE SETTINGS?

Step 1

Connect the wind gauge to an available serial or network port.

Step 2

Click File | Options... from the Menu Bar.

Step 3

Click the Wind tab.
Step 4 Click the Wind Module:* drop-down to select the wind gauge used.

Step 5

Click to Serial Port: drop-down to select the communication port.
Step 6

Enter the data communication settings as required by your wind gauge manufacturer.

See Port Settings for more information.

Step 7

Click the Default Mode: drop-down menu to select the preferred mode.
Step 8 Click Ok.

Step 9

Exit and restart the FinishLynx software.
ClosedDEFAULT MODES

Option

Start time

Duration of reading

Manual

Set by User

Set by User

100 M

0.0 seconds

10.0 seconds

200 M

Expects operator to start reading manually

- forces a reading at 20 seconds if no entry made.

10.0 seconds

100M hurdles

0.0 seconds

13.0 seconds

110M hurdles

0.0 seconds

13.0 seconds
NOTE: Wind readings are usually taken when the athletes are in the home straight, so during the 200 meters, for example, the software does not take readings for the first 20 seconds of the race, expecting the operator to manually request a reading at the right time.

 

Wind Gauge Operations

ClosedHOW TO AUTOMATICALLY RECEIVE A WIND READING?

With FinishLynx configured to communicate with a wind gauge, the collected wind reading can automatically flow to FinishLynx.

  • To collect a wind reading directly from the wind gauge:
  1. Create a new Event.
  2. Verify the parameters in the Information Zone - click the Mode field to select a different pre-set or custom parameters.
  • When a start signal is received, FinishLynx will send a command to the wind gauge to start recording for a certain duration as defined in the Start and Duration parameters. The wind reading will automatically appear.

Wind Gauges - Pre-Set Values

Custom Mode Settings

ClosedHOW TO MANUALLY REQUEST A WIND READING?

In some cases, it is not possible to define the time from the start when FinishLynx should request a reading from the wind gauge. In these situations, the operator needs to manually send a command to the wind gauge.

  • To manually request a wind reading:
  1. Click Event | Manual Wind, or use the keyboard shortcut Alt-W.
  • FinishLynx will send a command to calculate a wind reading for the Duration set for the currently selected mode. The wind reading will automatically appear.
NOTE: The Manual Wind command works with all of the modes. When the Manual mode is selected, FinishLynx will always wait for this command to request a wind reading.
ClosedHOW TO USE A PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED READING?

FinishLynx stores received wind readings and it is possible to apply these readings to any event.

  • To apply a wind reading to an event:
  1. Click Event | Select Wind...
  2. Click to select a wind reading.
  3. Click Ok.
NOTE: Until the software is exited, all wind readings are stored in the software (up to 100 at any one time).   All the available readings will be shown, and they can be identified by the time that they were taken - the time relates to the system clock in your computer.

Selecting a Wind Reading

ClosedHOW TO RECEIVE THE WIND DIRECTION?

If a wind reading is taken by the Davis Pro Vantage Weather Station or Lynx wind gauge, the wind direction is displayed in the Wind Units field in FinishLynx.

Wind direction also appears in:

  • the LIF file,
  • the scoreboard output, and
  • printouts.
ClosedHOW TO SET A REMINDER TO CHANGE THE WIND MODE?

There is an option to be reminded to change the wind gauge settings when you open a 100m, 110m, or 200m event.

By default, the reminder is disabled.

  • To turn the reminder on:
  1. Click File from the Menu Bar and select Options. The Options dialog appears.
  2. Click the Wind tab.
  3. Select On in the Reminder: line at the bottom of the dialog.
  4. Click Ok. The wind gauge settings reminder is enabled.
ClosedHOW TO KNOW A WIND GAUGE IS OFFLINE?

The user can be warned when the wind gauge does not respond as expected. This feature is specifically added to support real time results when using Regatta Master.

For the Lynx wind gauge, a warning can be received as soon as there is a problem. For other wind gauges, a warning will only appear after a failed attempt to retrieve a reading.

  • To turn the warning off/on:
  • Click File | Options... and select the Wind tab.
  • Select Off or ON.
  • Click Ok.

NOTE:   Warnings are never received while capture or alignment is enabled.
NOTE: After a warning is received, there is a two minute hold before another warning will appear.
ClosedHOW TO MANUALLY ENTER A WIND READING?

Step 1

Select the line Wind in the Information Zone by clicking on it.

Step 2

Click in the Units area and select from the pop-up dialog the unit base you will be using for your readings.

Step 3

Enter the values from your wind gauge by typing in the information in the Reading fields.

Step 4 Hit the Enter key to store these values when the file is saved.
NOTE: A manually entered wind reading is indicated on the screen by a red font and on printouts with "(Manual)."
ClosedHOW TO SEND THE WIND READING TO A GILL COUNTDOWN TIMER CONNECTED TO A STANDALONE CONTROLLER

The Lynx Wind Module sends readings back to the wind gauge when an event receives a reading, when a reading is selected from the list, and when a reading is manually entered. This is intended to allow controlling the wind gauge from FinishLynx and displaying the reading on a Gill E49821 & E49822 Countdown Timer in Wind mode connected to the Standalone Wind Gauge Controller using only 1 serial port.

  • To set up a Lynx wind gauge, controller and supported display using 1 serial port:
  1. Configure FinishLynx to use the Lynx wind module.
  2. Select FL-DISPLAY on the Standalone Wind Gauge Controller.
  3. Connect the Lynx wind gauge to the Controller and a serial port (e.g. C-BOX or Camera Back).
    1. Note: Y-splitter required.
  4. Connect the Gill Countdown Timer in Wind Mode to the Controller.
NOTE: The data sent back to the wind gauge is in a fixed format required by the Standalone Wind Gauge Controller that will convert the format for supported display (currently Gill and Ostar). Compatible with Standalone Wind Gauge Controller 1.31 and newer.
ClosedHOW TO LOAD WIND MODE FROM THE EVT FILE?
Event Header Field #12 - Wind Mode
  • To set a default mode - use a simple (unquoted) mode string ('Manual', 'Custom', '100M', '200M', '100M Hurdles' or '110M Hurdles').
    • 41,1,1,Men 800 Meter Hurdles,,,,,,,,100M
  • To set all Wind parameters - use a quoted field that contains "mode,start,duration".
    • 41,1,1,Men 800 Meter Hurdles,,,,,,,,"Custom,5.0,15.0"
TIP: FinishLynx will look for either the English Wind Mode strings detailed above or those specified in the current language configuration.
NOTE: For modes that use a start and/or duration, if those are omitted, the default values will always be used.
ClosedWHAT'S NEXT?

Learn about the LapTime Module