Connecting a new scoreboard

FinishLynx talks to a scoreboard through a Lynx Scoreboard Script (.lss) written for that board, sent over a serial port or the network. To connect a new board you need its make and model, the matching script, and one scoreboard entry in Scoreboard | Options.

How to fix it

Find your board's script

  1. Note the make and model from the board's label.
  2. Look it up on the Scoreboard scripts page. Scripts that ship with FinishLynx are already in the Script list; if yours is missing, update FinishLynx, since newer versions add scripts.
  3. If you download a script, save it in C:\Lynx, then close and reopen FinishLynx so it appears in the Script list.
  4. If the board's manual says it accepts Alge (or Microgate) timing data, try Alge.lss, which comes with FinishLynx 13.10 and later.
  5. Some boards need extra hardware between FinishLynx and the board, such as the Nevco FinishLynx Interface box.
  6. If your board isn't listed, or you're not sure what it needs, use the button at the end of this page.

Connect the board

  1. Serial boards: connect the board's serial cable to a serial port on the Connection Box, the SERIAL port on the back of the camera, or the computer. Use the cable type the board's instructions call for.
    • On a laptop without a serial port, use a USB-to-serial adapter (its driver is on the Drivers and utilities page).
    • For a board with a DB9 RS232 port, support has recommended a null modem serial cable from that port to the computer, Connection Box or camera.
  2. Network boards: connect the board to the same network switch as the FinishLynx computer, and give the computer a static IP address on the board's subnet.
  3. Power the board. A serial race clock needs no extra software on the FinishLynx computer.

Create the scoreboard entry in FinishLynx

  1. Go to Scoreboard | Options and click New.
  2. Enter a name, such as "Race clock", so you can tell your scoreboards apart.
  3. From Script, choose your board's script.
  4. From Serial Port, choose where the board is connected.
    • A COM port on the computer, <Camera Name> (C-Box) for the Connection Box's serial port, or <Camera Name> (Body) for the 9-pin SERIAL port on the back of the camera.
    • For a network board, the network option its instructions give, such as Network (connect), with the board's IP address and port.
  5. Check Baud, Data Bits, Parity and Stop Bits. Choosing the script fills these in when it can; otherwise set them from the board's instructions.
  6. Set Running Time to Normal to show the running clock, and Results to Auto to show results.
  7. Check Paging and set Size to the number of lines on the board. Time is how many seconds each page stays up, and you can shorten it.
  8. Click OK, then close and reopen FinishLynx.
  9. Open Scoreboard | Options again and check the Status says Running.

The manual's Scoreboard Configuration page describes every setting in the dialog.

Test it

  1. Go to Scoreboard | Show Time of Day. If the board shows the time, FinishLynx is reaching it. Turn Show Time of Day off again before you open your first event.
  2. Open an event and start it. The running time shows after the start, and results appear once the running time is stopped and the first athlete is evaluated.

Check these

  • No other FinishLynx setting uses the same COM port, such as the capture button (File | Options | General tab). If the button and a board must share one port, Lynx sales has a Button Splitter for it.
  • The board is in its FinishLynx mode, for example "rd" on an Electro-Numerics Raceclock or Base Program on a MicroTab.
  • FinishLynx LITE doesn't send scoreboard output. See Known limitations and LITE vs full FinishLynx.

Example: a Gill (Gillporter) MS167 moving-message sign

  1. Use Gill_MS167.lss, which comes with FinishLynx 13.10 and later. Update FinishLynx if it isn't in the Script list.
  2. Serial Port: the COM port the sign is on, with Baud 9600, Data Bits 8, Parity None, Stop Bits 1.
  3. Running Time Normal and Results Auto, then click OK and restart FinishLynx.
  4. If the sign scrolls place, lane and name but never reaches the time, raise the Paging Time. See Time missing or clock won't stop.

Board-specific pages

Good to know

A VeriLight Ready-to-Start setup ends with a hidden setting under +Scoreboards and then +[#] for the VeriLight entry; the number is the entry's position in the Scoreboard list, so naming the entry makes it easy to find. See the VeriLight Quick Start Guide and the VeriLight Ready light card.

Good to know

Without a serial number FinishLynx runs in demo mode. You can test a scoreboard in demo mode, but only on a serial port, not a network connection.

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.

Contact Support

Related resources