Which capture button cable do I need?
Two kinds: a 9-pin serial to 3-pin XLR cable with a USB-to-serial adapter (older), or the current USB-to-XLR cable with no adapter, which is Windows 11 compatible. Each needs its own driver.
There are two ways to connect the capture button (the hand-held plunger) to the FinishLynx computer:
- Serial cable with a USB adapter (older setup): a 9-pin serial to 3-pin XLR cable. Plug the 9-pin end into a serial port, or into a USB port through the USB-to-serial adapter supplied with the system.
- USB capture button cable (current): a USB-to-XLR cable that plugs straight into a USB port with no adapter. It is compatible with Windows 11, where some USB-to-serial adapters have driver problems.
A 3-pin XLR to 15-pin cable is for the start sensor, not the capture button.
Each type needs its own driver, both in the Drivers section of the Software page: the FTDI driver for the USB capture button and the ATEN UC232A driver for the older adapter. Capture button not working walks through the driver and the COM port setup. To get a cable, ask Lynx support.
Talk to Lynx Support
Tell the team what you’re seeing and what you’ve already tried. They’ll follow up by email or phone.
Goes deeper
- Capture button not working — Troubleshoot · Software · FinishLynx · Capture
Related questions
- Why doesn't the computer recognize the USB adapter (COM ports)? — Usually the driver was never installed, or an old one was carried over by a Windows update. Install the right driver for your adapter (FTDI for the USB button, ATEN UC232A for the older adapter), then plug it in.
- My USB adapter is installed, but the COM port isn't listed in the dropdown. — FinishLynx reads COM ports when it opens, so plug the adapter in first and restart FinishLynx. If Device Manager shows a warning on it, reinstall its driver; current versions already list every port type (TypeMask -1).
- 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.