Share a camera between two computers

No, a camera can't be shared between two FinishLynx computers. A camera loads into one FinishLynx at a time. What you can do is choose which computer loads each camera, so they stop pulling cameras away from each other.

How to fix it

Choose which cameras this computer loads

Do this on each FinishLynx computer:

  1. Go to Help | Find Cameras...
  2. Check Use White List. Every camera on the network is listed
  3. Select the cameras this computer should load and click Add. A "W" appears next to each one on the white list
  4. Cameras without a "W" are ignored by this computer, so the other computer can load them

FinishLynx keeps the list in the hidden setting Hardware\Ethernet\WhiteList. Hardware\Ethernet\BlackList does the opposite: the cameras listed there are ignored and any other camera can load. For a primary and a backup computer, the backup can white-list its own cameras while the primary black-lists them.

Good to know

  • An EtherLynx camera needs the "updatefw" upgrade code (Camera Settings > Setup tab > Upgrade Code) before it can use the white list. EtherLynx 2000 cameras (5L100 and 5L200) can't use it
  • A computer that only evaluates races doesn't need to load any cameras: set its Hardware Type to None. See Capture-and-read FinishLynx setup
  • Scoreboards: drive them from one computer. Set up the scoreboards in Scoreboard | Options on that computer only
  • More on running two systems side by side: Known limitations

The White List Management page of the manual has a video and more on the primary and backup setup.