The USATF Convention, 2001

As is always the case when we get to the USATF convention, people want to know what is new in Lynx technology. Last year, LaserLynx was the standout new product. This year, it was RadioLynx. And why not? The prospect of eliminating start wire was enough to grab the attention of anyone who has ever set up a Lynx system for a meet.

RadioLynx is the new wireless start system that works with your EtherLynx system. The RadioLynx package consists of transmitter and receiver units, start sensor and the Serial Wireless software plug in. The Starter carries a small transmitter, weighing only ounces, with a short length of cable connected to a Normally-Open Start Sensor.

The Starter uses RadioLynx in the same fashion as a regular wired start. The time stamped signal is relayed back to the receiver unit. The receiver unit is connected to the serial port on your Connection Box. If there is any interference with the signal sent from transmitter to receiver, you can resend the time stamped start signal any number of times until it is received.

RadioLynx will take over the serial port on your C-Box. If the "loss" of a serial port is going to cause you any consternation, just ask us how you can expand your technology configuration options using SeriaLynx and VCPD.  

The ballroom at the Copley Marriott is filled with racing "eights".

The USRowing Annual Convention was held in Boston in December of 2001 and Giles Norton and Lucia Wade were in attendance at the event. They used the opportunity provided by the hometown location for this show to meet facility managers, coaches and race directors. Information was shared back and forth between these two groups.

Giles and Lucia were able to present the concept of Lynx technology to a number of new people and they in turn learned more about the technology needs, and desires, of the rowing community.

Lynx was invited to attend the Convention by members of USRowing. We are certainly pleased with the relationship that has formed between Lynx and USRowing in the last two years.

Beyond welcoming USRowing as a Lynx client, we have trained and worked with some of their operators and through collaboration, brought Lynx a greater understanding of the sport and Lynx technology's place in it. With USRowing, we have had the opportunity to showcase the benefits of Lynx technology to many in the rowing community.

Things go smoothly when there's a Lynx in the Garden.

It's hard to know whether the Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden are enjoyable or not - for the officials that is. On the one hand you have the kudos and the excitement of one of the premier indoor track events in the World, and on the other hand you have the complicated logistics of setting up at the Garden.

However, when Track and Field legends like Howard Schmertz - the Millrose Meet Director - write letters like this to you afterwards, it all seems worthwhile:

"Thank you one and all for your dedication and expertise in once again producing an exciting Millrose Games that moved flawlessly from beginning to end. You produced the meet with the precision essential for a live two-hour TV program…Thanks for the participation of the First Team and your great contribution."

Doug DeAngelis on the morning talk show circuit?

Katie Couric of the Today Show put in a call to Lynx President, Doug DeAngelis, recently. Doug thought it was a joke of some sort when he got the message, but it was Katie after all, doing some research.

In the ramp up to the Winter Olympics, the Today Show produced a segment on the sport of Speed Skating. Eric Flaim, four-time Olympian, two-time Olympic medallist and the only American to medal as both a long and short track speed skater, did his best to explain the particulars of each sport to Ms. Couric.

The on-screen conversation turned to the technology that surrounds the sport of Speed Skating, from the hooded skin-suit Katie was wearing to the technology that could determine a finish down to 1/2000th of a second.

Doug supplied a Lynx image that got some airtime during the segment. The image was from a World Cup event in which U.S. skater Apolo Anton Ohno's victory was decided by 7/1000th of a second.

Lynx operators have certainly seen such fractions of time that mean one place or the next. The time precision and what a single second in a race can mean to an athlete made an impression with Katie.

In demand with USATF Officials.

FieldLynx is certainly in demand. Sales of the product have spiked in the last few months and show no sign of slowing. We like to think that the technology is selling itself, though it could be the fact that we have advocates in the field that are making a real push to get officials trained in using this product. Each unit that leaves this office to be used at an event increases the visibility of this powerful event management tool. Each official that learns the software can in turn teach others. This has certainly factored into the recent surge in sales.

George Kleeman was instrumental in getting almost 200 FieldLynx emulators into the hands of USATF Officials while we were at this year's convention in Mobile, AL. Lynx produced a CD that, along with product information and software, has a emulator that will allow you to preview and practice FieldLynx Version 2.0 from your computer screen using your mouse as a stylus.

George organized an hour-long seminar in which Lynx was able to demonstrate the software to a room full of highly experienced Field Event Officials. Those in attendance had the opportunity to ask event specific questions and try various scenarios with the 2.0 emulator. It was a learning experience for all as experts in their events put FieldLynx to the test.

Jim Hume has also been busy with FieldLynx Clinics on the West Coast. Jim has recently come back to Lynx to purchase 12 FieldLynx software licenses after an initial purchase of 8 in the fall. I recently asked how his clinics were progressing. He responded that,

"The Officials Committee of the Pacific Association/USATF has conducted four clinics to teach our officials how to use FieldLynx. The association bought six Palm Pilots, and a number of other officials either bought their own, or already had one. As a former teacher, I created a nine page teach yourself document leading students step by step through using FieldLynx."

WHICH EXPANSION PROFILE DO YOU FIT?

System upgrades are in the spotlight. Read how a wide spectrum of Lynx owners have expanded their capabilities over time.

UPGRADE PROFILE #1: Brewer, ME

Brewer has been with Lynx since the early years. This is not surprising since company founder Doug DeAngelis graduated from Brewer High School. The theft, and subsequent recovery, of their system in 1997 did not stop the crew from Brewer from growing their system and their skills far beyond the day they first unpacked the system.

The team from Brewer moved the system around quite a bit timing events. This generated their solid reputation with the use of the equipment and brought them more events in turn. Their purchase of a running time clock benefited their timing services as well as the track team at Brewer High School.

The Maine Distance Festival has been a hallmark event for the Lynx operators at Brewer. It has also allowed them to generate income that was funneled back into their program. They have sold race images at the Festival for the last few years to athletes and spectators. The demand is always high for race images printed on paper, laminated or heat transferred on to t-shirts.

The operators at Brewer have made the system pay for itself and then some. In the past few years, Brewer High School has been able to purchase 8 FieldLynx units, a two-lane ReacTime Sprint Training System, and an alphanumeric Infield Display.

This leaves the Witches of Brewer with a well-rounded system of Lynx technology. With training devices, meet management through Lynx technology at the finish line and at field event venues, to the presentation of information to inform and entertain, Brewer has it covered with the system they have built through the years.

UPGRADE PROFILE #2: Baton Rouge, LA

One of Lynx's first customers was Louisiana State University. When they recently upgraded to the EtherLynx hardware, a few of the cameras they returned to Lynx had serial numbers in the single digits.

LSU has made upgrades to their system throughout the years. They added a Classic Color Camera when it came on the market, and did the same when Lynx began to offer the Remote Positioner and ResulTV.

In 2001, LSU sent Lynx six cameras and two Timer Boxes towards the purchase of one of the most advanced systems for Track and Field in the United States. Six EtherLynx Color Cameras could allow them to run two independent systems at one finish and cover three or four alternate finish lines at once.

The management of their field events has also taken a leap forward in technology this past year. LaserLynx, multiple FieldLynx units, and two Infield Display boards can communicate without wires thanks to the number of Wireless SeriaLynx units they now have in place at LSU.

UPGRADE PROFILE #3: Boston, MA

Boston University upgraded their SCSI hardware to EtherLynx and their software from DOS to the Windows-based FinishLynx32 in 2001.

In addition to new Finishlynx hardware and software, they will go wireless in 2002 by using two more recent Lynx products, ClerkLynx and Wireless SeriaLynx. We made mention of ClerkLynx in our newsletter dated May 2001 when it was used at the Penn Relays. That was its first field test. It is now another Lynx product that fits within the larger picture of Lynx technology.

Boston University will be able to create start lists "on the fly". A list of athletes created at the start line and sent via Wireless SeriaLynx can be imported into FinishLynx seconds before a race, or during one. ClerkLynx will allow the Clerk to seed athletes at the start line from a .ppl file generated by Hy-Tek.

Ideal for an All-Comers Meet, B.U. has already put the technology to use.

UPGRADE PROFILE #4: Durham, NC

The Durham Striders Track Club added the RadioLynx Wireless Start and a MicroTab display to their technology setup after seeing both at the USATF Convention in Mobile. They also purchased a copy of VCPD and a SeriaLynx unit in order to use these latest additions to their system in a configuration of their choosing.

They are now able to run two pieces of hardware, RadioLynx and the MicroTab display board, in the infield. Despite the fact that RadioLynx is connected to the serial port on their connection box, they are able to drive their new MicroTab scoreboard by installing the VCPD software on their FinishLynx computer and connecting it to their SeriaLynx unit.

The people at Durham Striders had visualized a setup and Lynx was able to help them achieve what they wanted with some discussion and by putting the right Lynx technology in place.

TIPS OF THE TRADE