We're timing with a TAG 705 coupled to an Averatec laptop running SplitSecond's National FIS software . The connection is made via a USB to Serial connector by Belkin. That part works fine with no hiccups. This laptop is also connected to an ALGE GAZ scoreboard via a USB to Serial connector made by Sabrent. At the start of our event today, everything worked well and the scoreboard reported scores. Fast forward to late afternoon and the scoreboard stopped working and several dialog boxes began to appear on the computer (while running SplitSecond) indicating a "Buffer Overflow" on one of the comm ports. After closing ALL of the dialog boxes, the software (SplitSecond) just shuts down with the loss of about 8 entries. Does anyone have any ideas? Thanks in advance

I have seen this and in my case it had to do with a particular USB/Serial adapter I used for the display board. Not all adapters are created equal, some do not play well with SST. Try another solution for your scoreboard.

PC Card slots is your BEST option.

http://sewelldirect.com/quatech-rugged-serial-pcmcia-2port.asp

I use the Quad one because some times we need more than 2 ports.

Good product=$$

On the usb side (which suc-s) use the PA088
http://www.targus.com/us/product_details.asp?sku=PA088U

IP is the way to go, but will have to wait on account of funds!!

Chase

We used Radio Shack USB to Serial Adapters last season and they seemed to funtion OK other than all the cables all over. With the postings about the reliability of USB, I wanted to get away from it ASAP. After some research, I found a company that specializes in industrial automation that handles serial to ethernet adapters. We used a pair of the adapters last season to power a remote scoreboard, via a wireless network, at our start. The adapters worked great and we purchased more for this season. The company is B&B Electronics. The single port adapters are model ES1A. This year we purchased a dual port model ESP902. One port goes to our TIMY and the other port goes to our scoreboards. The devices come with 'virtual com ports'software and are fairly easy to install. We have one ESP902 for timing, 2 ESA1 units for our remote scoreboard and another pair for remote registration for the NASTAR Program. The adapters worked great as we used our complete system at the NASTAR Pacesetter Trials that we recently hosted.

All these adapters ran on our wireless network which also provides us with Internet access in our finish building. We are 100% wireless now with Alge TED's for timing and the wireless network for data and voice communications (VoIP)

B&B Electronic's web site is www.bb-elec.com

You can also increase the speed of transmission to a D-line LED display to 9600 baud. This will help keep the serial transmission from backing up and causing the buffer overflow. You have to increase the baud rate setting on the D-line to accommodate the new setting.

for example:


SE h 9