FinishLynx LITE vs full FinishLynx
What the Scholastic package’s FinishLynx LITE can and can’t do, how to tell which one you have, and how to upgrade.
FinishLynx LITE is the edition of FinishLynx that comes with the Scholastic package for high school track. With a Scholastic camera it captures, evaluates and prints photo-finish results, and it works with start lists from LynxPad. The Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond track packages come with full FinishLynx.
The table compares a Scholastic system (FinishLynx LITE with a Scholastic camera) with full FinishLynx.
| Feature | FinishLynx LITE (Scholastic) | Full FinishLynx |
|---|---|---|
| Plug-ins | Not supported (for example, no Auto Capture plug-in) | Supported. Plug-ins such as Auto Capture and LapTime are add-ons (RadioLynx wireless start does work in LITE. See the RadioLynx row.) |
| Capturing the finish | Capture button, or the keyboard (spacebar) | Capture button, keyboard, or automatic capture with the Auto Capture plug-in (Button not responding? See Capture button not working.) |
| Scoreboard output | Not available | Sends running time and results to a scoreboard (See No scoreboard output in FinishLynx LITE.) |
| RadioLynx wireless start | Yes. RadioLynx is always the start sensor, so you only pick the port the receiver is plugged into | Yes. Pick the port and set Setup to Start Sensor on the RadioLynx tab (Steps are in RadioLynx not working.) |
| Wired start sensor | Yes. The start sensor cable plugs into the DB15-XLR cable from the camera (no connection box) | Yes |
| Cameras it loads | Scholastic cameras only | Non-Scholastic EtherLynx cameras, including older models |
| Mixing Scholastic and non-Scholastic cameras | No | No (You can borrow another school’s camera as long as you don’t mix a Scholastic and a non-Scholastic camera. FinishLynx LITE loads only Scholastic cameras, so a LITE system can only borrow a Scholastic camera. Check the label on the bottom of each camera (How to tell which one you have), or ask whether the other school runs LITE or full FinishLynx.) |
| More than one camera | Not supported in the Scholastic package | Yes |
| IdentiLynx video camera | Not supported in the Scholastic package | Yes |
| Wind gauge (automatic wind readings) | Not supported in the Scholastic package | Yes |
| Start lists and results with LynxPad | Yes | Yes |
| Installer and serial number | FinishLynx LITE installer and a LITE serial | FinishLynx installer and a FinishLynx serial (A LITE serial won’t work with the full FinishLynx installer. See Installing LITE.) |
How to tell which one you have
Check the package. The Scholastic package comes with FinishLynx LITE. The Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond track packages come with full FinishLynx.
Check the camera. The label on the bottom of the camera shows its model:
- 5L510: EtherLynx Vision Scholastic, the camera in the Scholastic package
- 5L410: EtherLynx Scholastic, an earlier-generation Scholastic camera
- 5L500 (Vision), 5L600 (Vision PRO) and 5L700 (Vision PRO X) are non-Scholastic cameras, so they need full FinishLynx
Still not sure? Reach out to Contact Support.
Borrowing or lending a camera? Ask the other school whether it runs FinishLynx LITE or full FinishLynx, and compare the camera labels. The full model list is in Which camera and software do I have.
Installing LITE
A LITE serial only works with the FinishLynx LITE installer; the full FinishLynx installer won’t accept it. If FinishLynx rejects your serial after an install or update, check which installer you ran and install FinishLynx LITE instead.
- Download FinishLynx LITE from the Software page. It’s listed as FinishLynx LITE, next to the full FinishLynx installer; pick the LITE one. You can also install from the Lynx USB flash drive that came with the Scholastic package.
- Close FinishLynx if it’s open, then run the installer.
- Enter your LITE serial number when prompted. It’s on the USB flash drive from the package, and under Help > About on a computer that already runs LITE.
Moving to a new computer? Follow Downloading, Installing & Moving to a New Computer and use the LITE installer. If you’ve lost your serial, reach out to Contact Support.
Upgrading to full FinishLynx
Plug-ins such as Auto Capture, scoreboard output and non-Scholastic cameras need full FinishLynx. IdentiLynx, a wind gauge and more than one camera aren’t supported in the Scholastic package.
Upgrading is a purchase, so Lynx sales quotes it: contact sales and they will confirm what your system needs.