Frequently Asked Questions

Answers to the 95 questions support gets asked most. Open a question for the full answer and the page that goes deeper.

Something just broke at the meet

The capture button stopped working mid-meet. What do I do right now?

Switch to keyboard capture: File | Options | General, set Capture Button to Keyboard, then tap the Space bar once to start and once to stop.

RadioLynx sent the start but FinishLynx never got it. Can I still time the race?

Yes. Press Repeat on the transmitter before the next gun: it resends the last start with its original time, so the race is still timed correctly.

My results are in military time (time of day). How do I fix it?

No start is applied to the event. Pick the right start from the list of starts and apply it; for a saved event use Event | Select Start.

The wireless start won't work and the meet can't wait. What's the fallback?

Run a wired start for the rest of the session: connect the start sensor by cable to the camera or connection box, set the Inputs tab to match, and set the RadioLynx port to None.

The scoreboard stopped showing FinishLynx data. What do I do?

Keep timing. The scoreboard is a display only: FinishLynx captures and times without it. Fix the board between races.

Automatic capture isn't triggering. How do I keep capturing?

Switch the camera to manual capture for now: Camera Settings | Capture tab, tick Manual, and capture with the button or the keyboard.

Buying, owning & repairs

Do you offer training?

Yes. Lynx offers remote video training at an additional cost, and can connect you with local service providers for in-person training.

Does Lynx offer operator certification?

No. Lynx training teaches your crew to run the system; it isn't a credential. For a recognized credential, look to your sport's governing body.

We just got a new Lynx system. What do we need, and how long does setup take?

A Windows computer (two recommended), a couple of hours with the quick start guide, and meet or event software for start lists (LynxPad, for track and field).

Where can I find a product price list?

There is no published price list. For the price of a specific product, ask Lynx sales for a quote on finishlynx.com's contact page.

Which FinishLynx package is right for me?

Lynx sells packages by sport, configuration and budget. US high school programs choose from Scholastic, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond.

How much does a repair cost, and how long does it take?

Submit the RMA first: the quote and shipping address come through the portal, and you approve out-of-warranty work before it starts. Put the date you need the unit back on the case.

How do I submit an RMA to repair my camera?

Through the Returns Portal, where you submit the repair request and then track the case by ticket number.

My repair says Completed. When will it ship?

Completed means the work is done and a sales order is on its way. The unit ships once you pay it (Pay Now) or send a purchase order.

What warranty comes with Lynx equipment, and how do I make a claim?

The terms are in the Lynx Warranty Agreement. To claim, submit a repair request in the Returns Portal like any repair and mention the purchase date; the team checks coverage.

Do you offer a loaner while my camera is repaired?

No, Lynx doesn't run a loaner pool. Ship expedited and put the date you need it back on the case; for a backup unit, ask sales for a quote.

How often does my camera need calibration, and how do I check the date?

At least every four years. The last calibration date is on the Setup tab of Camera Settings; past four years, FinishLynx shows a Timer tab as a reminder.

What is the most current version of FinishLynx, and should I upgrade?

The current release is always a free download from the Software page. Note your serial from Help | About before you upgrade, and try a new version before the season rather than at a meet.

Setting up: computer, camera & network

What are the minimum computer requirements for a laptop to run the FinishLynx software?

Any Windows computer from the last ten years or so. Windows only, no Mac, iPad or Chromebook; more RAM and storage help with large events.

How do I move FinishLynx and my plug-ins to a new computer?

Record every serial from Help | About on the old computer, install the current FinishLynx on the new one with the FinishLynx serial, then run each plug-in's own installer with its serial.

Where should my camera be located in relation to the finish line?

In the plane of the finish line: for athletics, 7 to 15 feet high, about the same distance back from the track, pointing down at about 45 degrees. The Lens Calculator picks the lens for your spot.

Which Ethernet cable should the camera run use, and how long can it be?

Buy Cat6 (shielded if it runs next to power), never copper-clad aluminum for PoE. About 100 m over copper; use fiber with converters for a long permanent run.

Is my older PoE switch enough for a newer camera?

Check the per-port rating: Vision-series cameras take 802.3at PoE+ (up to 30 W per port). A 15.4 W port can't power a Vision PRO X, so it boots on its injector but not on that switch.

Can I keep the firewall on? Which ports does FinishLynx need?

Yes. Allow Lynx.exe through Windows Defender Firewall for Private and Public networks, and open UDP ports 45780 (camera boot) and 41925 (camera communication).

What is the IP address of the camera, so we can ping it to make sure it is working?

The computer gives the camera the next address after its own when it boots (192.168.0.6 after a computer at 192.168.0.5). A camera that never booted has no address to ping.

Which computer gets 192.168.0.5, and what do the others get?

The FinishLynx capture computer takes 192.168.0.5; the cameras take the addresses just above it. Put an evaluate computer at 192.168.0.15 and the meet management computer at 192.168.0.90.

How do you set up networking for a Capture and a Read computer?

Static IPs in the same scheme (192.168.0.5 and 192.168.0.15), the same Workgroup, a shared meet folder with read and write rights, and Hardware Type set to None on the Read computer.

Can two FinishLynx computers share one camera?

No. A camera loads into one FinishLynx at a time. Use a white list to choose which computer loads each camera, and set the evaluate computer's Hardware Type to None.

Where does the IdentiLynx plug in?

Into the network switch, not into the photo-finish camera, powered over Ethernet. Connect it last, after the EtherLynx cameras appear in Hardware Control.

Can we use a second or borrowed camera with our system?

Yes, as long as you don't mix a Scholastic (FinishLynx LITE) camera with a non-Scholastic one. A borrowed IdentiLynx loads with default settings, so set it up again.

Will my older camera work with the latest FinishLynx?

Yes. Every camera, however old, works with the most recent FinishLynx, so there's no need to install an older version.

Running a meet: capture & timing

When should I press the capture button?

Press and hold it only while athletes are crossing the finish line, and release it to stop. Autocrop removes the blank stretches afterwards.

Can I use the keyboard to toggle capture?

Yes, as a backup: set the capture button to Keyboard in File | Options | General and tap the spacebar on and off. It's easy to lose track of, so the button is better.

Why does the running time keep going after the last finisher?

That's normal. Once FinishLynx receives the start, the Running Time box counts until the next event. Don't reset the clock inside the event.

Can I run FinishLynx without a camera, to practice or to drive a display?

Yes. Set File | Options | General | Hardware Type to None and restart. Events, saved images and scoreboard output all work; set it back to Ethernet before timing with the camera.

How do I recover an unsaved FinishLynx event after a computer crash?

FinishLynx auto-saves open events and images into C:\Lynx\Temp, so the event that was running can be recovered from there.

How do I access the FinishLynx hidden settings?

Hold Shift + Ctrl and click File | Options. Every setting, with FinishLynx's own description and default, is on the Other Settings page.

Can I use my EtherLynx camera as a LapTime device for capturing splits?

Yes. With the LapTime plug-in you set the laps per race and evaluate the image on each lap to create split times for every athlete.

How do I record and play back IdentiLynx video?

Capture into an event as with any camera, then click Play on the IdentiLynx image pane. Ctrl-click plays the selected frames, Shift-click repeats the whole video.

How do I export the video from IdentiLynx to post on the web?

Drag a box around the area you want, mark the first and last frame with the player controls, then Image | Export video writes an .avi file.

Start lists, results & meet software

What are lynx.evt, lynx.ppl and lynx.sch, and where do they go?

The files every meet program exchanges with FinishLynx through one shared folder: lynx.evt is the seeded events (the only one required), lynx.ppl the athletes, lynx.sch the event order. FinishLynx writes a .lif back.

Why aren't the athlete names loading into FinishLynx events?

FinishLynx isn't reading the folder your meet software writes to. Point the Input and Output Directory in File | Options | Database at the competition folder, then load the event again.

HyTek says "Results file for event not found" or my results aren't reaching the meet software. What's wrong?

Both programs must use the same shared folder, and the event must be opened from Load Schedule, not File | New. A blank event saves a .lif with no event number, which Meet Manager can't match.

FinishLynx saves the race but no .lif results file appears. Why?

The .lif is written to the Output Directory in File | Options | Database when the event is saved. If it's missing, that folder is wrong, read-only or on a computer FinishLynx lost contact with (error 3002).

How do MeetPro, MileSplit and Athletic.net RunMeet connect to FinishLynx?

Through the same shared folder as any meet software: MeetPro from Interfaces | F.A.T., RunMeet through the AthleticLOCAL app. MileSplit doesn't connect directly; MeetPro sits between it and FinishLynx.

Can FinishLynx push results out live, and is there an API?

There is no API. Two ways get results out while a race is evaluated: the hidden setting Database\LIF\AutoSave rewrites the .lif every few seconds, and a scoreboard script can send results over the network.

Can I put my meet's results online from FinishLynx?

Yes, after the meet: open the .lif files FinishLynx saved in LIF Viewer to see every race ranked, then download them as one file that opens in any browser, to email or put on your own website.

Get Times gives tenths in my meet software. How do I get thousandths?

Set File | Options | Database | Time Precision to Thousandths, save the event again and get the times again. A race with a manual start is limited to tenths.

FinishLynx says "This result is not in the start list" when I assign a lane. Why?

The athlete isn't in the loaded start list, or the event's Identify By setting doesn't match what you're typing. Reload the start list from the meet software, or add the athlete by ID.

Can one image score two events that ran together?

Yes. Evaluate and save the first event, then use Go to Event to load the second event's start list onto the same image and save it with File | Save As.

How do I mark a scratch, DNS, DNF or DQ in FinishLynx?

Right-click the athlete in the Place column of the Results, choose Status, then pick Did Not Start, Did Not Finish, Disqualified or Scratched.

How do I time cross country with cameras and no chips?

Like a track meet, except finishers are identified by bib instead of lane: set Identify by to ID on the line-scan camera and type each bib as you evaluate. A front-facing IdentiLynx makes bibs much easier to read.

What do I need to use an RFID chip system with FinishLynx?

The LapTime plug-in, and a reader that interfaces with FinishLynx. Not every RFID system does, so confirm compatibility before you buy; MYLAPS is Lynx's partner system.

My chip reads reach FinishLynx but nothing is marked on the image or in the results. Why?

Usually a LapTime setting: the event needs a start (reads before it are ignored by the Start Mask), the right number of laps, and for MYLAPS the hidden settings FillInTime and TotalLaps.

Error messages

Why am I getting a camera boot error?

Usually a cable or a switch port. Swap the Ethernet cables one at a time, then try another port on the switch; each error number has its own page in Troubleshoot.

"All start sensors failed to arm" pops up when I open an event. What now?

FinishLynx can't see a start input it expects. Set both start tabs in Camera Settings to match how you really start races, even the one you don't use, then load the event again.

Why do I keep getting an "Error arming event" message even though the RadioLynx is connected and working fine?

The wired start input is still on. Set Gun Sensor to None on the Input tab, then check the RadioLynx tab points at where the receiver is really plugged in.

Why do I keep getting the message "Error Aligning a Camera"?

No camera has booted yet. Wait for the camera's information line to appear across the top of the FinishLynx window before opening alignment mode.

Why do I get the message "Capture Button Serial Port Unavailable"?

Harmless if you use Auto Capture. If you use the button, its COM port wasn't found: plug the button in before opening FinishLynx and select its port in File | Options | General.

Why does my IdentiLynx load to 32% and then produce "Error 202"?

Some versions of Windows need extra permission to enable the camera. Close FinishLynx, right-click its icon and choose Run as administrator, then try again.

Why does FinishLynx say "Waiting for printer connection" when it starts?

A known Windows 11 printing issue that makes FinishLynx slow to open. Apply the Windows 11 print fix first, then remove printers you no longer use.

What does error 3002 mean?

FinishLynx couldn't write the .lif results file when the event was saved: the Output Directory is missing, not writable, or on a computer FinishLynx lost contact with.

I get "Error accessing a file" when saving a race. What does it mean?

FinishLynx couldn't write the race file. If the Event Directory is on a network drive, point it at a local folder on the FinishLynx computer.

FinishLynx asks for a serial number again after an update. What do I enter?

Read the prompt: it names the serial it wants. A built-in plug-in (Remote Control, Data Port) is removed with its uninstaller in C:\Lynx; the main serial coming back means it wasn't accepted, and Help | About says DEMO.

Cameras, lenses & image quality

What does an orange blinking boot light on my Vision-series camera mean?

The camera is powered and waiting for a connection from the computer. The usual causes are on the computer side: firewall, static IP, Wi-Fi, Hardware Type.

My camera keeps dropping out (going red) during a meet. Why?

The camera lost its connection to FinishLynx. First make sure only one FinishLynx is looking for cameras and apply the Windows 11 print fix on every Windows 11 computer, then read the BOOT light.

My IdentiLynx stopped loading after a Windows update. What changed?

Usually the computer: a conflicting network adapter (Wi-Fi on the same subnet), the firewall permission cleared, or the static IP lost. Check Camera Network in File | Options | General first.

The image is too dark at dusk or under lights. Which settings help?

Set Gain Method to AGC with Auto Iris, open a manual iris toward the smaller f-numbers, raise AGC Brightness, add light at the line, then lower the frame rate a little. LuxBoost helps once gain passes 150.

How can I correct overexposed or underexposed FinishLynx images?

With AGC and the gain between 70 and 90: reduce Brightness in steps of 5 for blown-out highlights, or reduce Gamma in steps of 0.05 to bring back detail in dark areas.

What factors affect the quality of my FinishLynx images?

Five things: the light source and where it comes from, the lens type, the frame rate for the speed of the athletes, depth of field (raise the camera), and lens speed (open the iris at higher frame rates).

My camera's lens won't focus, or the focus drifts. What do I check?

Sharp at some distances but not others: tighten the four silver screws on the back of the 8-48mm lens. Sharp at no distance: the CS-C mount adapter is wrong (exactly one 5 mm ring, or none for the 2.8-10mm lens).

How do I know if I have the remote lens?

A remote lens always has a cable coming out of the housing: a black cable with a 9-pin connector that goes to the camera's Remote port or to the Remote Positioner.

How do I use the Electronic Level Indicator in FinishLynx?

On an EtherLynx Vision camera with the option, adjust the camera's swivel until the indicator in FinishLynx shows green and 0.0 degrees.

Why is there a red (pink) tint on my IdentiLynx video feed when it boots?

The camera's infrared filter didn't switch on correctly during boot. Open the camera's settings in a browser and toggle the IR filter, rather than rebooting.

What type of light will help when capturing in poor or low lighting conditions?

Incandescent quartz-tungsten-halogen lamps, or metal halide overshadowed with halogen, spread evenly across the line. Ordinary AC lighting puts dark bars on the image; PLC and LuxBoost are camera options that help.

Can I repair the motor for my Remote Positioner at home?

Yes, in many cases. Troubleshoot walks through it, and the Remote Positioner Motor Home Repair Guide has the full directions.

How do I weigh down my tripod on windy days?

Use a wide-base tripod, tie it down with heavy sandbags or stakes, and put the weight on the side the wind comes from. A tripod that blows over can break the positioner, lens or camera.

Field events, wind & LaserLynx

LaserLynx basics: what it is, what it needs, and what to do if the laptop goes down

A laser distance-measuring system for throws and horizontal jumps. The sighting unit ranges to a prism on the target pole, and FieldLynx on a Windows laptop turns the reading into the mark; it isn't a stand-alone device.

NetExchange came with no serial number. How do seats and licenses work?

NetExchange has no software serial: its license lives in the green USB key. Each FieldLynx device connected at once uses one seat, and more seats come as a code entered in Help | License for that key.

FieldLynx fails to receive a wind reading even though the gauge is connected and working. How can I correct this?

If the gauge counts down and reads, check its battery and the USB-to-serial adapter; try the camera's C-Box or serial port instead. If the countdown never starts, check the connections and the Wind options.

Why can't I connect to the Access Point (AP) with my FieldLynx device?

The AP from Lynx is labeled with its details: an address in the 192.168.0.3x range and the SSID Lynx. Each FieldLynx unit needs its own static IP in that range; ping the AP from the wired network first.

Can I use an IdentiLynx camera with the VeriLynx profile to judge field events?

Yes. Any full-frame digital video camera can use the VeriLynx profile; the VeriLynx camera is the recommended model.

Does the Lynx Wind Gauge need calibration or maintenance?

It is solid-state with no moving parts and its datasheet calls it maintenance-free. Governing-body rules on calibration are quoted on the datasheet; ask Lynx about your gauge.