Sprint 8
From RaceTab Community Wiki
Product Description (from manufacturer web site [1])
Time up to eight individual lanes simultaneously with times, places, lanes and bib numbers for each racer. Synchronized start guarantees accurate finish times by eliminating separate start times. The Sprint 8 provides accurate timing by using one running clock. All eight separate finish buttons can be connected to the Sprint 8. Eight separate finish buttons record finishes and the timer’s large memory stores it all. The eight finish buttons can be assigned to a lane or an individual as needed. The Sprint 8 has a built in printer that automatically prints time, place, bib numbers, lane, select times, and select bibs. Printed results make it easier to keep and track athletes’ performances in meets and in training. The Sprint 8 can automatically send finish times to a personal computer during the race or after. There is a wide range of Software that supports the Sprint 8, for both the IBM compatibles and Macintosh PC’s. To make a bigger impression at a meet try out one of the large display clocks, this helps to gain audience participation.
Timing accuracy has been increased, the lane inputs are now sampled every .004 seconds. This sampling rate increases the accuracy of the timer nearly 100 times of the previous Sprint 8. Version9.X brings you internal NVRAM that can hold up to 6000-7000 times. Enough for your larger races. A total of 64K. Race results could never be easier than with the help of Time Tech.
New Sprint 8 design improves several features on the timer. With version 8.X there is a great improvement on keypad sensitivity, no more missed numbers. The menus are much easier to move around in. Simply press the ‘#” key to re-answer a question, or to stop a printout. Also in version 8.X select timing has become faster. No longer do you have to enter a bib number, press ENTER, and record the time with a finish button. Simply enter the bib number and press the ENTER key as the person crosses the finish line, that’s it! Now a Road Race can be stopped by pressing the STOP CLOCK button rather than turning off the unit. If you have previously run a Road Race and you wish to run the same type of race with the same lane type, timer type etc. all of this imformation is saved in RAM so you don’t have to re-enter the same information over and over again.
Please check out our other products that may be beneficial to the speed and accuracy of your race. Barcode wedge, computer software, data collectors and display clocks.
Importing from Sprint 8 to RaceTab
Native support via serial port:
- Importing from Serial Port (buggy)
Third party software:
- Importing From ASCII Win (recommended method at this time)
- Importing using Sprint8Export - Java app written by Doug Stutz of BYU-Idaho
Sprint 8 Manual
Here is the Sprint 8 Manual is available for download. (Source: Sprint 8 Downloads)
Technical RS232 Interface Section from Manual for Technical Reference Only
TimeTech TIMER TRANSMISSION Technical Information
Road Race
The TimeTech Sprint 8 stores and transmits both times and bibs. All data is stored in a Packed BCD ( Binary Coded Decimal ). The numeral re packed into each byte. To speed up transmission and to take better advantage of timer storage space.
Transmission is at 9600 Baud, No Parity, 8 Data bits, 2 Stop Bits.
Data is transmitted in 2 modes:
1) During the race, as each time is recorded 2) After the race, in a steady stream
For testing, you may want to begin by trying to receive in the first mode because things are happening slower. Here is a description of a program written for testing in this mode. For an actual race, you can use either mode, depending on whether or not you move your computer to the race site.
Test Program
1. Initialize the SIO to configurations noted above 2. Set up a loop to continually poll the SIO for data received. When data is received, convert that byte from BCD to ASCII and display it. 3. That's all there is to it.
MODE 1:
In this mode, because the arrival of data is unpredictable, we set up the SIO to generate an interrupt when data is received. In the interrupt service routine, we simply store the byte received in an array, increment the array index, and check to see if any more bytes have come in while servicing the first one. In the main part of the program, we check for a whole time ( 5 bytes ) having been received. When a whole time has come in, we convert it, store it to disk and display it. You can receive one finish at a time, store it in the buffer, then convert it and display it, so you have a chance to see what's going on immediately. In mode 1, serial data is transmitted as soon as a time is recorded, with no interchange whatsoever. If you computer is connected, it will catch the data. No initial byte is sent to the timer.
Mode 2:
To begin transmission in mode 2, the computer must send a byte containing a HEX 01 (Ctrl-A) to the timer. The timer receives the data at 9600 baud, No Parity, 8 Data bits, with 1 Stop Bit. As soon as the timer receives the HEX 01 it begins transmitting. No interrupt routines are needed in this mode. Just program the computer to continually read serial data until the EOF is reached.
In both real modes, transmission is in a steady stream, which leaves no time on the receiving end for anything more than storing in memory the data received. Conversion and storage to disk must take place after the transmission is done. In mode 1, there will be pauses that naturally occur between finishes.
Conversion
Basic
A time of 24 seconds is transmitted in Packed BCD as one byte with a value of 24 HEX or 36 DEC. To convert to ASCII, divide by 16. The result gives you the first numeral and the remainder the second numeral. For example, 36/16 =2 remainder 4. Multiply the first numeral by 10 and add the remainder : 2X10=20+4=24 Each byte needs to be converted in the same manner.
Data Format
Times are sent as a 5-byte string. Bibs are sent as 3 or 4 byte strings (3 for single lane, 4 for multi-lane ). In order to differentiate between the two, the first byte of each time or bib string is a code prefix. The 5 bytes sent for each time are Code, HH, MM, SS, TH.
HH = Hours MM = Minutes SS = Seconds TH = Tenths and hundredths of a second
The first table show the codes sent in a single lane race.
Prefix codes - single lane race CODE CODE # Bytes ( HEX ) ( DECIMAL ) SENT
Start time (s) A0 160 5 Finish Times A1 161 5 Bib Numbers C0 192 3 END OF FILE 0D 13 1
Sample Transmission
In HEX: A0 00 00 00 00 A1 00 28 12 39 C0 01 23 A1 00 28 13 99 C0 01 57 0D
AFTER CONVERSION
Start time : 00:00:00.00 Finish time : 00:28:12.39 Bib # : 123 Finish Time : 00:28:13.99 Bib # : 157 EOF
The second example shows the format for a multi lane race. In this case, the prefix codes also carry a lane number.
Prefix Codes Multi lane Race
CODE CODE #BYTES ( HEX ) ( DECIMAL ) SENT
START TIME (S) A0 160 5 FINISH TIMES A1-A8 161-168 5 SELECT TIMES B1-B8 177-184 5 SELECT BIBS C1-C8 193-200 4 END OF FILE 0D 13 1
Multi lane bib is one byte longer than single to allow for a 5 character bib number ( max. 99999). Single lane allows up to 9999.
Sample Transmission ( multi lane race with 2 wave starts )
A0 00 00 00 00 A0 00 10 03 23 A1 00 28 12 39 A3 00 28 13 67 B5 00 28 14 23 A2 00 28 16 01 C5 00 16 80 OD
After Conversion
Start time : 00:00:00.00 Start time : 00:10:03.23 Finish Time : 00:28:12.39 Lane 1 Finish Time : 00:28:13.67 Lane 3 Select Time : 00:28:14.23 Lane 5 Finish Time : 00:28:16.01 Lane 2 Select Bib : 00168 Lane 5 EOF
Select times and bibs always occur in pairs, with matching lane numbers. The time will be first.
Track
Data is transmitted over a serial cable to your RS232 port. Transmission is at 9600 Baud, No Parity, 8 Data bits, 2 Stop bits.
Data is transmitted in two modes:
1) During the race, as each time is recorded 2) After the race, in a steady stream
Data is transmitted as a code followed by a specific number of ASCII bytes, described as follows:
Data Types
New Event & Distance Code: A0H (160) or AFH (175) Followed by: 6 bytes Sample: A0 30 30 35 30 30 30 Translation: New Event 500 meters Necessary
Finish Time & Lane Codes: A1H-A8H (161-168) (1 to 8 designates lane) Followed by: 8 bytes Sample: A1 30 30 30 31 38 36 32 38 Translation: Lane 1 00:01:86.28
Bib Number ( non-lane events ) Code: C0H (192) Followed by: 4 bytes Sample: C0 30 31 32 35 Translation: Bib # 125 Optional:
Bib Number ( lane events ) Code: C1H-C8H (193-200) Followed by: 4 bytes Sample: C3 30 30 37 31 Translation: Lane 3 bib # 71 Optional:
New Lap Code: B0H (176) Followed by: Sample BO Translation: New lap starts here Optional:
Invalid Finish Code: B1H (177) Followed by: 2 bytes Sample: B1 30 34 Translation: Invalid finish 4 ( do not count the fourth finish in this event ). Optional:
End of Transmission Code: 0DH (13) Followed by: Translated: End of Transmission Necessary:
Sample transmission in Hex ( the /'s are not transmitted - they are just to help you read this )
A0 30 30 35 30 30 30 / A3 30 30 30 32 33 36 32 39 / A2 30 30 30 32 33 39 32 31 / A1 20 20 20 33 21 24 25 29 / B0 / A3 30 30 30 35 31 39 30 36 / A2 20 20 20 25 25 23 31 38 / A1 30 30 30 36 32 37 31 39 / A0 30 30 32 30 30 / C1 30 31 35 35 / C2 30 31 37 32 / C3 30 30 38 39 / A2 30 30 30 30 35 36 30 31 / A1 30 30 30 30 35 38 34 37 / A2 30 30 30 36 38 35 39 / A3 30 30 30 30 35 39 32 31 / B1 30 33 / A0 30 31 35 30 30 30 / A5 30 30 30 35 34 37 38 39 / A2 30 30 30 36 32 31 36 38 / A3 30 30 30 36 32 33 39 39 / C0 30 35 30 31 / C0 30 32 32 37 25 / C0 30 32 34 31 / 0D
Translation of Sample Transmission Even 500 00:02:36.29 Button 3 00:02:39.21 Button 2 00:03:14.59 Button 1 new lap 00:05:19.06 Button 3 00:05:52.18 Button 2 00:06:27.19 Button 1
Event 200 Lane 1 bib 155 Lane 2 bib 172 Lane 3 bib 89 00:00:56.01 lane 2 00:00:58.47 lane 1 00:00:58.47 lane 2 * 00:00:59.21 lane 3 Invalid finish 3 *
Event 1500 00:05:47.89 button 5 00:06:21.68 button 2 00:06:23.99 button 3 bib 501 bib 275 bib 241
In a non- lane event, bib numbers will always follow the finish times. In a lane event, bib numbers may be entered at any time, so they may precede finishes, be interspersed with finish, or follow finishes.
In event 2, the third time entered was a mistake, and should be disregarded ( example of an invalid finish ).
