Hi everybody,

Next season 2005-06, I have a race, a cross-country ski race, that I don't know well how to do it.

The start is at 1710 m, the midpoint is at 2010 m and the finish is at 2590 m. All the way going up.

We made last year for the first time, but with lots of problems with data.

Between the start and the midpoint there is communication with radio. We have to do it with GSM. And between the midpoint and the finish the radio signal is very poor.

There is no time to go from the start to the midpoint or to the finish between the start of the last racer and the finish of the first racer.

Last year we passed the starting TOD from the start to the midpoint and to the finish by a phone call ( GSM ). But at the finish of the race we found some of the times misspelled.

I would like to communicate the data directly from the start to the midpoint and to the finish somehow but directly from one timer to another.

We use a Timy PXE at the start, a TDC 4000 at the midpoint, and a TDC 8000 at the finish.

I have thought about sending the start TOD to the other timers by GSM with a SMS, so I need a computer at the start ( no problem ). This way, connecting Timy with RS232 to computer with Comtofile software, Nokia 6100 with data cable to computer with Nokia PC Suite software, I just have to copy data from timer and paste it to GSM, then send SMS ( to midpoint and to finish ).

Any body knows any better way ?

Carlos:

How far is it from the start to the midpoint and then to the finish? Is there anything big inbetween? We have successfully used radio modems with directional antennae to cover fairly long distances, but the circumstances need to be right for it to work.

The latest version of TT*ware might be useful to you as well. The software will now allow you to "dump" data from the start TIMY directly into the software. The precise TOD data will then overwrite the assigned start times yielding correct nets.

Although this will not get the start times to the finish instantly it will provide a solid backup to any radio solution you come up with.

An earlier demo version of TT*ware is available on the Phoenix Sports website.

Email us to receive a current demo.

Another idea we came up with for a Mt. Bike downhill client was to use two ALGE STB1 start beeps synced with the timers. Their series is too casual to have people start at assigned times so they could not input them into the TDC. One STB goes to the start of the course. The other STB1 stays at the finish and is plugged into the TDC. We put a switch to turn the horn off. The finish STB starts the TDC every interval that a rider comes to the start. The start radios the plate number down via walkie talkie. Seems to work pretty well. The STB1 has a very accurate time base in in for the price.

The problem is not how far but the mountains and the trees we have in between.
Between start and midpoint there are 1000 m in straight line, and between midpoint and finish there are about 2000 m in straight line.

As I said the is no radio signal with a 144 Mhz 5w transmiters between start and midpoint, and the signal is very poor between midpoint and finish.

We can't use TED because the signal doesn't arrive.

I've thought about using MOD with the GSM but don't know if it will work. Don't know either how to connect them together.

The big problem is to show the times ( correct times ) at the finish.
After the race we can send to the software the TOD data from the start ( Timy )and the TOD data from the finish ( TDC 8000). The calculation is made by the software ( Soft-Control ), this way, any error made by the manual input of TOD start at the TDC 8000 is avoided.

On the other way, the start is one racer each 30 sec. aprox. We have done it with a startgate. The times are very close to each other, so we used real TOD start, not 30 seconds signal.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Carlos,

I know that this may not be the best solution for the problem, however I have updated/enclosed a link to a demo program that I wrote to send TIMY pulses from the start and finish of cross country riders (equestrian) to course control. It works for me, please feel free to try it.

Regards,
George Proimos. www.delta-sports.com.au

I have tried your program.

I have used a Compaq PC with WIN 98 SE, Com Port 1 connected directly to TIMY and Nokia 6100 with USB data cable with Com Port 3.

It worked, but I had some problems with GSM connection because this demo closes itself after the third impulse received.

I’ve been looking for such a program. ( Is it freeware ? )

Now I have to do another test, and I need some help.

In the race, I will have to use a IBM notebook with WIN XP, no Com Port, connect TIMY with RS232 to USB adapter and the problem is that I can’t connect the USB data cable for the GSM because the computer uses the RS232 to USB drivers and each time I connect any of the cables, it keeps asking for drivers.

I have tried several times and I figured out that I just can have one of those cables connected, but not both of them.

Any solution ?


P.D. : It would be just perfect if you could make another program to read SMS and send start TOD to the timer at the finish line. Thank you

Carlos,

Thankyou for trying the program. I am glad that you found it potentially of use. The program is designed to terminate after three impulses are received as it is a demo.

With regard to your USB problem, there are a few ways to get around it (in what I consider to be an order of practicality):
1) Use a USB to two port serial adaptor (it only uses one USB port). An example of this adaptor can be found at http://www.cooldrives.com/usb-dual-port-serial-adapter-...-db-9-ftdi-chip.html

2) Use a PCMCIA serial port adaptor - more expensive, but reliable;

3) Use a Ethernet to serial adaptor such as the digi One SP http://www.digi.com/products/externaldeviceservers/digionesp.jsp

I am happy to help you out with a program to accept SMS times and put them into the TDC8000, but I don't have such a timing device to do testing with. There may, however be ways around this.

I am happy to discuss with you offline about your specific requirements and budget, so that I can develop something specific to your needs. Please feel free to send me a direct email (at georgiep@delta-sports.com.au).

Regards,
George.