I am new to ski race timing. I have timed two races so far, one scored and one unscored. I am not the chief of timimg and have been on the system B timer. In the second run of both events, my start order in the second run has not followed the start order on the second run start list generated by the system A computer. This has led to frequent edits on the racer in the gate causing some minor delays and occasionally putting the wrong skier on the course if I forget to hit enter after inserting the correct bib number. Is there any way to correct my second run start order without editing the start number on every single competitor?

DanS

Please tell us what system you are using. Is this a Split Second question? We think that you are concerned that your second run start list does not match on the primary and backup system. I can't possibly match unless the data is exactly the same. So just copy the data from the primary system onto the backup computer. There is no rules that says you can't. Time the second run and it should allow you to have both internal start lists match. Remember that the important thing about backup timing is that the timer and it's printer should be recording raw times without human intervention. You have to be prepared for the complications if you choose to also connect the timer to a computer with software.

Fred,

I am using Split second. I was hoping there was a way to sort my first run competitors to match up with the system A bettter.

I like having a computer on system B because I need to communicate with the start (the guy on system A is communicating with the finish)to tell them when to send the next racer. The software tells me how long the previous racer has been on course and what the bib numbers are. The other big advantage is the timing log, which is very convenient to pull out TODs for first and last competitor while actively timing, or to look for a TOD that might have been missed on system A.

DanS

Also, if I did as you suggested would I not lose all my times from system B? I guess if all times were from system A in the first run, I don't need my B times. Perhaps I should save my first run as a seperate race, then I could copy A's data top get a more acdcurate second run start list without losing my times?

What do you think?

DanS

Dan -
What we do is save the file on the B computer as filename-RUN1-B or something similar. We also do this on the A computer. For the second run, we open the A file on both computers so that they match. Also, we don't lose the B computer times from the 1st run.

Well I guess A computer did a bibo on the top 30, so you would do the same. Or just 15.

Just do the same thing as the A person does. The places should be the same.

Also why does it takr so lomg to put the right person in your start window??

Just get the impulse, and swap with the right bib number, but dont hold up the race!!

Hope this helps

Vhase

Also you in the same room as A timer person??

Just ask him how to do a Bibo

Chase

Dbond, well said, this is what I will do. FKP said essentially the same thing.

DanS

Hi Dan:

What you're doing in your timing room is very unorthodox and invites problems. You said your A system operator is in communication with the finish and you are operating B system and communicating with the start. You also said that you, as B system operator, are advising the starter when to send the next competitor.

The usual, and safe way to divide up the duties on electric timing is to have A system operator in communication with both start and finish. The A system operator needs to be advising the starter when to start the next racers AND needs to hear from the finish controller which competitor is crossing the finish line.

If your B system has an operator, he/she should be listening in on the same line as the operator of system A so he/she is also aware of what is happening at the start and finish. As noted by FKP, though, you need to remember that the B system only needs to record raw times of day without operator intervention. There really should be no need to connect the B system timer to a computer as well. Remember that you can't just substitute net time from B system for a missed net time on A system anyway. You need to do an Equivalent Electronic Time calculation if going to B system for a missing time. This means working from raw TOD records.

As Chase wrote, you really shouldn't be doing anything with your B system that would hold up a race!

Steve