Event computing workflowUsing SPORTident kit (SITiming section to be added)
A walkthrough of what's involved in using SPORTident (and SITiming) to produce results at an event. NB THIS PAGE IS UNDERGOING REVIEW (Nov. 2022)
Time sync the SI units
The stations internal clocks need to be synchronised before every important event or every month (whichever comes sooner) using the blue SI-Master station (this also doubles as the “Clear” station).
- Insert the purple card marked “Service/Off” into the blue SI-Master station, the display will cycle through its 3 modes of use. The third one “EXT MA” is the one you want, remove the card when it appears.
- Insert the black coupling stick with the thin end sticking out the bottom.
- Wake all the units with the “Service/Off” key.
- Place the SI-Master station on top of a control station, after a few seconds it will beep twice, the time has been synchronised.
When all the stations have been done, including the Start, Finish and Print stations, insert the Purple “Service/Off” card into each one (including the SI-master) until it beeps, this switches them off and conserves the batteries. The LCD display goes off when they are off.
See the Additional Info at the end for more details about time synching all equipment.
Important, clear old data from units
You must remove any old data from the Start, Finish and PrintStation units prior to use or you will not be able to use them for a safety check later. Insert the purple ‘clear backup’ card. If you have time synced the units as described above they are cleared as part of that process.
Section relating to SITiming to be inserted here.... then remainder to be checked.
Pre entries collecting hire cards
You can either use:
- Registration > Punch Reg by name (clear) - where you connect a USB station (accept the re-programming option) and then after inserting a card, search by part of name or Race Number, choose and Save.
- Entries > Search, select name then Modify entry and add a card number.
Entries on the day
- Add Entry – type them in from a paper entry form.
- Entry by Punch – competitors insert their own card and the info from the archive is used but you will need to select the course.
Download at the event with a laptop
Select Download
SI-Card Downloads
Choose one, normally Manual on Error or mispunch
Refresh the COM port list
Port: SPORTident USB Device(138242)
Splits Printer: select (Windows)EPSON TM-T88V
or to use the battery splits printer, select (Serial)SPORTident USB device.
Tick box to interactively request hire cards returned
Connect
You are now ready to accept downloads from competitors.
Download errors and problems
If the printout doesn’t start it usually means that some form of input is required. You can just fill in any missing details and then Save it and the printout will start or Skip it and fix it outside the download screen. Possibilities include:
- On the day paper entry hasn’t been processed yet
- Using a different card number to the one they entered with
- Completed a different course to the one they entered
- Miss-punched
- Hire cards should generate a popup asking for the card to be returned, click it and the printout will start
Safety Check
To ensure no one is still out in the forest you need to check that everyone that punched the start box has downloaded.
Data Collection > Read Punches (Slave) Place the start unit on top of the download box with the coupling stick
Connect
Repeat for any other start boxes or any other units.
Check outstanding Competitors
Using the PrintStation if no computer at event
Make sure you have cleared the backup of the PrintStation before you start downloads
When you get home, open AutoDownload and select the event or add it if you haven’t already.
Select Download > Print/Master Station Downloads
Manual will make you enter the names etc. of people not in the database for each download as you go along, probably the easiest if few competitors.
Automatic, Manual on Error is best for small number of entries, where you fill in bits as it goes along.
Automatic, Non-Stop is best for larger numbers of entries. But you will need to go into Entries and then edit each one with any data missing.
Plug the USB box in and place the PrintStation on top with the stick in the holes.
Refresh COM Port list
Select the SPORTident USB unit
Set Master/Slave to Slave
Connect
Follow instructions
Producing results
Select Results
Select Course
Do they look OK?
If the results have issues with missing/wrong names etc. you will need to go to Entries, click search to show all, then select one to view it, then select Modify Entry to edit and then Save when done.
Select HTML Results
Browse to the directory you want to put the results, suggest same place as all the other files.
Export Type = One page with all splits, no results without splits
Write Files
This will create an index.html file in the folder.
Rename that file to eg. 2014-03-04-event-name.html
For RouteGadget and Winsplits you also need to export an OE file, which is a CSV (comma separated values).
When everything is complete go to Backup Event and create a backup in the same folder as all the other related event files.
Up to get back to the Entry list.
Publish on the BASOC website
Open the event entry in BASOC ExpressionEngine
Go to Results field
Create a new line
In the Splits box Add File and browse to that file you just renamed and upload it
Save the entry and you are done.
Additional Info
Use a PrintStation as a USB input device
If you connect the USB adaptor to the PrintStation it can also be used for Punch registration, allocation and downloads. Sometimes when you try and connect it you will get a warning that it needs to be re-programmed for this use, accept the offer.
If you have used a PrintStation for downloads or registration it will need to be re-programmed as a PrintStation afterwards, select Reset Printout Station from the main menu.
Have you got the latest software?
(to be updated for SITiming)
Synchronise the time on the laptops and controls
The clocks in all the equipment drifts over time and needs to be checked prior to a major event to ensure that the clocks in all the computers and controls, start, finish etc. are the same. This should be done before you give the controls to the planner to put out.
On the laptop open www.time.is and it shows any differences. If it is out by more than a second you need to force Windows to update the time. This is complicated.
Open the Control Panel > Clock, Language and Region > Date and Time > Set the time and date > Internet Time > Change settings and then click the Update now button. Sometimes it fails, click Update again until you get a success message. Re-check www.time.is
Now open SI Config+ and set the time for the USB box and then put an SI-Master station (blue clear) on top and set the time for that. Then use that Master Station to time sync all the other units.
Changing the ‘On’ time for controls
Normally this is 30 mins for local events but for larger events it should be extended. The exact time depends on when and if you plan to ‘wake up’ the units before competitors start. 2 hours is usually enough to keep them awake for everybody after the first competitor wakes it up. But if you wake them up in advance (which is the recommended practice) you need to work out the maximum time from then to the first competitor getting to the control. This will probably be at least 4 hours.
Whatever the ‘on’ time of the blue SI-Master station is will be transferred to all the units you time sync with it. If you want to give particular controls a much longer time than most you adjust them individually using Si-Config+.
Resources for Computing & SI kit on Dropbox
This is a "read only" link to the files, you can download them but not update them. If you would like an edited version or a new file added send it to web@basoc.org.uk
SITiming Help (also to be edited)
Use context-sensitive help in SITiming.
Have multiple windows open for efficient operations
BASOC SPORTident kit
Previous entry about our kit, with photos.