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FinishLynx File Formats for Meet Management Integration

Learn More About Lynx File Formats & Extensions

When using FinishLynx with a meet management program, there are a number of files that are created that allow one program to communicate with the other.  It can be helpful to understand what these files are, the purpose they serve, and where to find them. In general, the files are created in one of two places; either FinishLynx or the meet management software.

Meet Management File Formats

Meet Management files are used to create a schedule in FinishLynx and populate each event with start lists/entries. These files include:

.PPL File – a list of each competitor and their ID/Bib number (if used)
.SCH File – a list of each event, round and heat in the schedule
.EVT (Classic Event Log) – a list of each event, round, and heat with the ID, lane assignment, and name of each athlete entered. It may also contain other relevant information including affiliation. Open with a text editor like Notepad to view the contents.

FinishLynx Software Formats

Files produced by FinishLynx include:

.LIF File – This file contains the results of each event, round, and heat in the following comma-separated format: 

Place, ID, lane, last name, first name, affiliation, <time>, license, <delta time>, <ReacTime>, <splits>, time trial start time, user 1, user 2, user 3

This file is used by meet management software to populate results and score the meet. This simple text-based data format can then be shared across the network with race scoring programs or uploaded to the web and formatted for live results. Below is a screenshot of a .LIF file:

FinishLynx .LIF file screenshot
FinishLynx .LIF file screenshot

 

Meet Management Software Integration

To ensure successful integration of the two software programs, these files must be saved to a shared folder. In FinishLynx, set your input and output directory to that folder under the Database | Options

FinishLynx database options dialog box
Finishlynx Software Database Options Dialog Box

 

It is recommended to save these files to the meet management computer (if using more than one computer) as they are utilized by the meet management software. 

FinishLynx creates other files that should be saved to the capture computer as they can only be accessed by the FinishLynx program and may need to be reviewed after the meet is over.  These include the event files (Boys 3000.evn) and associated camera files (Boys 3000.io1). 

Create a folder on the C: drive and set the Event Directory to this location under the Event | Options. It is recommended that you create a new folder for each meet.

Finishlynx event options dialog box
Finishlynx Software Event Options Dialog Box

 

Have some specific questions about connecting FinishLynx with your meet management software? Contact tech support now

Remote Positioner Motor Home Repair Guide

The remote positioner for Lynx photo-finish cameras is a popular add-on that allows for the remote adjustment of cameras from within the FinishLynx software. The remote positioner contains small motors that enable the camera to tilt, swivel, or pan while mounted atop a tripod. In some cases—especially during tight storage—a motor can be broken and will require repair. If you have a broken positioner motor, Lynx will send you the replacement and you can complete the repair at your own convenience. Rather than sending your positioner back to Lynx, you can save time and money by replacing the motor(s) yourself. The process is very straightforward. After receiving your replacement motors, please follow the steps below. 

To begin, find yourself a work area that is flat, clutter-free, and well-lit. 

Necessary Tools:

  • 1/4″ socket driver
  • 3/16″ socket driver
  • Medium Phillips head screwdriver

Note: Some older Positioners will require a 5/16″ socket driver as larger nuts were previously used. 

If you’re only replacing the Pan Motor, skip steps 5-6, 8. 

Step 1: Turn the Positioner so the back legs are closest to you. Remote Positioner

Step 2: Begin by removing the 2 short screws from the back legs of the mounting plate.

  • Remove the 2 long screws from the front legs of the mounting plate and remove the plate. 
    Remote Positioner Step 2

Step 3: Remove the 4 screws from the base of the Positioner.Remote Positioner Step 3

Step 4: Flip the Positioner over and remove the bottom plate. Unplug the 3 cables. 

Remote Positioner Step 4

Step 5: Using the 3/16″ socket driver, remove the 4 jack screws from the sides of the serial plugs.Remote Positioner Step 5

Step 6: Using the 1/4″ socket, remove the 2 nuts from the circuit board; remove the board by pulling up and away.

Remote Positioner Step 6

Step 7: Remove the nuts and washers from any broken motors. Transfer the stand to the new motor. 

  1. Replace the old motor with the new motor with the wires pointed inward. Remote Positioner Step 7
  2. Replace the washers and tighten the nuts.Remote Positioner Step 7b

Step 8: Replace the circuit board.

  1. Tighten the nuts. (The motor mount nut may need to be adjusted for the board to fit.)
  2. Tighten the jack screws. (Over-tightening may cause the screws to break.)

Step 9: Plug the motors into the board taking note of the labels and motor positions — right, left, pan

Also keep in mind that the motors are upside down and therefore reversed.

Remote Positioner Step 9

Step 10: Replace the bottom plate with the pan motor to the back.

Step 11: Flip the Positioner over and tighten the 4 screws on the base.

  1. Tighten the two long screws on the front legs of the mounting plate.
  2. Tighten the two short screws on the back legs of the mounting plate. 

 

If you need any additional help, please contact tech support: 978-556-9780 or support@finishlynx.com

2016-17 Lynx Winter Holiday Schedule

Haverhill, MA – The Lynx Headquarters will be closed for an extended winter break during the 2016-17 holiday season in order to spend some time relaxing with friends, family, and loved ones.

Our Haverhill office will close on Friday, December 23rd while we attend our annual employee holiday party. This year the Lynx team will be returning to Dave & Busters to enjoy some food, drinks, and friendly competition in the form of arcade games. The office will reopen at 9:00 AM (Eastern Standard Time) on Tuesday, January 3rd.

Limited technical support may be available by calling the office and following the prompts to leave a message: (978) 556-9780. You can also submit a tech support web form and may receive a response via email.

 2016-17 Holiday Schedule

Close: Friday, December 23rd

Re-Open: Tuesday, January 3rd

From our Lynx family to yours, we wish you the best
over this holiday season and a very happy new year!

Santa Lynx

New FinishLynx 10 Software & 20,000 fps Vision PRO Camera

Vision PRO Photo-finish sports timing camera
Vision PRO Camera

The Most Powerful Sports Timing Camera Ever Made

We’re excited to announce two new product releases: The EtherLynx Vision PRO camera and FinishLynx 10. The (5L600) Vision PRO combines all the user-friendly features of the Vision camera, with the speed and power of the EtherLynx PRO. The Vision PRO immediately replaces the older EtherLynx PRO (5L300) as the new standard for timing high-speed sporting events like horse and greyhound racing, cycling, and motorsports.

Capture Up To 20,000 Frames Per Second

Chengdu Vision Pro Horse Racing Photo-Finish
Vision PRO Capture

The Vision PRO is, without a doubt, the most powerful sports timing camera ever released. The Vision PRO comes standard with 3,000 fps, but can be upgraded to 6,000 or 20,000 fps.  It builds on key features introduced in 2015 with the Vision camera (like power-over-ethernet and LuxBoost), while adding increased frame rates (3k-20k) and image heights (up to 2048 pixels) making it ideal for timing high velocity finish lines. The camera includes support for features like:

New FinishLynx 10 Timing & Results Software

FinishLynx 10 contains support for a host of new features, including several new add-ons for the Vision and Vision PRO cameras. Some of the major features in version 10.0 include:

  • Double Mode & 20,000 fps captures
  • Auto LuxBoost for LuxBoost-enabled Vision cameras
  • Video Display Module upgrade (output scoreboard data & images via camera HDMI port)
  • Electronic Viewfinder upgrade (Align camera using external video viewfinder)
  • Find & Reboot Vision cameras directly from software
  • Digital Upgrade Codes allow some camera upgrades to be unlocked via download
  • Set Default Total Laps for use with LapTime devices
  • Backwards-Compatible with every FinishLynx camera ever released
Downloads
NameFile Size
FinishLynx 10.01 Software3 MBDownload
Vision PRO Datasheet715 KBDownload

FinishLynx 10 Video Release Notes 

Learn More About the New Camera, Software, & Add-Ons

Show some love and share this post with your fellow timers.

Fix Vision Camera Ethernet Issues on Windows 10

Since the upgrade to Windows 10, many users have reported issues with the ability of the Vision camera to load to FinishLynx. Often, users will see the camera load only to have it red-line within moments.

A simple fix to the power management settings of the Ethernet port can solve this issue:

  1. Navigate to the Control Panel
  2. Open Device Manager
  3. Find the Ethernet Adapter (also possibly listed as Realtek Family Controller, Local Area Network etc.)
  4. Right click and select PropertiesDevice Manager Screenshot
  5. Select the Power Management tab
  6. Un-check the box that says “Allow the computer to turn of this device…”Power Management Tab
  7. Close the windows. Restart FinishLynx, power cycle the camera and attempt to load the cameras

If you continue to experience issues, please contact Lynx technical support at 978-556-9780 or by emailing support@finishlynx.com.

Protect Your Equipment from Unexpected Weather

Here in New England, weather is a constant surprise. With the common phrase, “See all four seasons in a day,” it’s safe to say we keep ice scrapers in our cars year-round — just in case.

If you’re lucky enough to be timing a race from the press box, most weather-related concerns aren’t as pertinent. But many aren’t so lucky. So how do you prepare for unpredictable weather at your races? What measures can be taken to ensure all of your sacred timing equipment is kept safe? There are at least two major elements that could be disastrous to your meet: water and wind.

Rain and Snow

Lynx camera - winter
Icy Lynx rain cover

Timers everywhere have stepped up their creativity when it comes to keeping their equipment dry. We’ve seen large Tupperware bins customized to fit a camera, cardboard boxes folded to cover a laptop, entire timing booths set up inside of cars even.

  • Lynx Rain Covers – The standard for rain protection, Lynx rain covers come with each photo-finish camera and have proven themselves time and time again. A clear benefit to this style is their snug fit, preventing the wind from carrying them away. Plus, their pliability allows for easy transportation and storage. Added bonus: they have been known to keep snow off the cameras as well!
  • Plastic Bags – We’ve heard many different tools for waterproofing, but one item is a unanimous must-have — Garbage bags. No matter what creative setup is in place, plastic garbage bags are always useful in a pinch. Plus, keep your RadioLynx wireless start receivers protected from the rain by using a plastic zip-lock bag with a hole cut in one corner for the antenna.
  • Plexi Covers – These tend to have their own set of pros and cons. On the one hand, their sturdiness offers a sure sense of reliability against the rain. Something to consider, though, is their bulkiness. If you have multiple cameras being moved from meet to meet, the hard covers can take up a good amount of storage space. As you can see below, the plexi covers are available for IdentiLynx video cameras too.

IdentiLynx camera with plexi plastic cover

Camera Plastic Box Cover
Modified Tupperware-style container

Wind

You have your camera covered, timing tent up, and finish line area roped off…but then the wind blows. A quick gust at just the right moment can dramatically affect your images if the camera isn’t secured. So how do you prevent gusts from ruining your event?

Every timer has their own preference for securing their precious cameras. Some prefer tripods over ladders, sand bags over ropes tied to stakes (or benches), and the list goes on. And the reason there are so many variations is that it’s not an exact science. So below are just some of the tips that could help with keeping everything in place.

  • Tripods  If you’re choosing to mount your camera on a tripod, you can attach a weight to the center to hang down and keep it in place. Alternatively, we’ve seen some timers attach the tripod to a large bucket filled with cement or use cinder blocks at the base of their tripods.

Anchor your tripod
Creative_Setup

  • Step Ladders – Popular among many timers, step ladders offer great stability, plus the option to send people up the ladder to adjust the camera as needed. Though most would suggest using a remote positioner to make camera adjustments. Ladders can easily be weighed down by hanging shot bags or sand bags on the rungs, attaching ropes to stakes, or attaching 5 gallon buckets of water, which can be emptied and stacked for easy transportation.

Camera Mounted on Step Ladder
Courtesy of Alan B.


“My camera sits top a ‘Little Giant’ Ladder. My RadioLynx receiver is also mounted up there. As well as control box. I went to this due to high winds at my track, this platform is very stable and allows for sandbags to be hung from the rungs. It’s also nice when setting up to be able to climb up there.”

 – Alan B.

If you have any interesting setup photos or helpful tips, be sure to share them with us! 

FinishLynx Software Version 9.10 is Now Available

July 22, 2016 – We have just released version 9.10 of the FinishLynx photo-finish sports timing software. Version 9.10 is the first major release in over a year and includes a host of new features. Some of the updates include:

  • New Smart Zoom feature that auto-fits the image in alignment mode
  • Lynx wind gauge feedback to support real time results with Regatta Master.
  • Zero gun test update
  • Easier AGC brightness access
  • Improved Enhance functionality
  • New Image Quick Adjust feature
  • 2 new shortcuts: Alt-B for White Balance and Alt-N for line labels
  • New Image Option defaults (including time tracking and show lines)
  • New scoreboard scripts (uTab3S_wind.lss & DakRTDExtended.lss) & script fields
  • New scoreboard running time controls (Run, Pause, Finish, Stop)
  • New LapTime features (RRS improvement and Edit Split option)
  • New Time Trial Mode improvements (split lines/overlays)
  • Improved “Find Time” flexibility in TT mode
  • Improved scoreboard support of start times for TT mode

View the release notes document for more details, photos, and a list of all the new features. Or check the release notes video below as we walk you through some of the new settings. To update your software, simply download the installer and input your serial number.

Download the Software & View Release Notes


FinishLynx 9.10 Release Notes Video

Enjoy the release notes video? Let us know by leaving a comment on YouTube.

How is the Camera IP Address Set?

Customers are often curious about how to set the IP address of the camera so it can be integrated on a network along with meet management computers, scoreboard controllers and other various network devices.

In short, this isn’t possible. When the cameras are loaded into FinishLynx, they are assigned an IP address that is one higher than the capture computer or the last loaded camera.

For example:

A capture computer with IP address 192.168.0.5 with assign an IP address of 192.168.0.6 to the first camera loaded. Any subsequent cameras are assigned the next address in the sequence. Therefore, the second camera loaded would be 192.168.0.7, the third camera: 192.168.0.8.

This applies to any EtherLynx or IdentiLynx cameras.

Knowing what IP address is assigned to your camera will help to avoid potential conflicts with other network devices or computers.

Sending Team Scores from Hy-Tek to ResulTV

1.   Create a Hy-Tek Source in ResulTV using the settings below.

Note: Port can be set to any desired number.

Hy-Tek to ResulTV - Image 1

2.   Create a new layout in ResulTV for Women’s Team scores.

  1. Insert a new object
  2. Set the source to local override, selected sources, Women’s Team Scores
  3. Set the field to display the desired information (typically team place, team name, or team score)
  4. Repeat for each desired object in the layout

Tip: Use Copy [Ctrl + c] and Paste [Ctrl + v] to avoid setting the source for each object

Hy-Tek to ResulTV - Image 2

Hy-Tek to ResulTV - Image 3

3.   Repeat Step 2 to create a Men’s Team Score layout.

4.   Check that the settings in Hy-Tek are correct.

Hy-Tek to ResulTV - Image 4

Hy-Tek to ResulTV - Image 5

5.   Send team score information from Hy-Tek.

  1. Use Request 3 for Women’s Team Scores; Request 4 for Men’s Team Scores

Hy-Tek to ResulTV - Image 6

Learn more about ResulTV Live Data Display software here.

Capture Button Serial Port Unavailable; Now What?

Capture Button Unavailable
FinishLynx Error: Capture Button Unavailable Error

“Capture button serial port unavailable; keyboard capture will be used.”

This common error message appears when starting your FinishLynx software. There are two scenarios which would cause this message to occur:

  • You’re using Auto Capture and do not use the Capture Button. In this case, no further action is required. Simply click Ok and proceed with running your meet. The Capture Button Serial Port doesn’t need to be assigned as no Capture Button is being used.
  • You are using the Capture Button (either alone or in conjunction with Auto-Capture) and either 1) the computer assigned your adapter a COM port number that FinishLynx is not looking for, 2) you opened FinishLynx prior to plugging in your USB to serial adapter, or 3) the Capture Button has not been assigned a COM port number by the computer.
    1. Connect your USB to serial adapter to your computer prior to opening FinishLynx.  In FinishLynx, go to File | Options and locate the Capture Button dropdown
      • If your Capture Button’s COM port is listed, choose that and click OK.
      • If no COM port is listed, proceed to Step 2.
    2. Check that the USB-to-serial adapter is recognized by the computer in the Windows Device Manager with a COM port listed
      • In Device Manager, it will be listed under Ports
        • If the USB-to-serial device is not recognized by the computer, then you will need to install the appropriate drivers.  If you are using an ATEN adapter supplied by Lynx, click here to download the driver from our website (must have internet access).
      • Once you have confirmed your computer recognizes the USB-to-serial adapter and has assigned it a COM port number, re-open FinishLynx and go back to Step 1 above.

Note: Also check that the camera is set to manual capture in the Camera I | Options | Capture tab | Capture Method

 

Contact tech support with additional questions.