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Trackmate wiring 6.2 instructions

Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 2:42 pm
by Jani Soderhall
I scanned the instructions you get with the Trackmate and post it here, for common access.

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/Jani

Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 10:25 pm
by Marcus Seyffarth
I thought the large 25 pin could be used to connect one of those "drag-racing-countdown-trees".

Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:14 pm
by Peter Harnischmacher
Thanks to coneracing.com + Jani for the quick delivery of trackmate 6.8 to
"the bärlinerslalomfuckers" and I'm happy here the connection instruction to have found!
I think it is the same as our box?

cheers prikel

Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 12:54 pm
by Peter Harnischmacher
it works good!

Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 11:44 am
by Ricardo Damborenea
Does anyone know how to connect an external LED timing display to a Trackmate?

Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 12:40 pm
by Jani Soderhall
I don't think you can do that, but as we have some interaction with the Trackmate from ExcelMate, it should be possible to create such an add-on controlled by the PC. Maybe you could talk directly to Marcus about it? His software already shows the running time on the PC display, so I'm sure he could send a signal out to a LED display connected to the PC. Do you know of any low cost large size LED displays? I'd love to have some, but they need to be rather large to be useful to the audience, or have several in different locations. But then cost adds up again. It would for example be really nice to have displays at the end of the course so that riders can see them as they usually don't hear very well the announcer down at the bottom of the course.

/Jani

Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 12:52 pm
by Ricardo Damborenea
This is what we are trying to buy: a large display to put at the end of the run but ideally with no pc involved (just for training).

Trackmate sends timing info through the serial port to the PC, so we were wondering whether and how an external display could read the info. We are starting to explore options, so I'll keep you posted on prices and providers.


I'll PM Marcus to see if he has a POV on this. Thanks!

Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 1:35 pm
by Jani Soderhall
Ricardo,

I think you will not be able to manage without a PC. My understanding is that the communication that the Trackmate sends out is intended only for PC use and you need to "decipher" it using PC type commands. The Trackmate sends out a long string of information, comma separated or fixed length (do not recall) that needs to be cut up in pieces and interpreted. When the clock is running it does not actually send out the time. That must be handled by the display/PC based upon the start signal, so unlikely that you could do with only a display without built in interpretation capabilities.

/Jani

Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 6:56 pm
by Michael Stride
If you want a system for pratice, the RU Ready screens are great. Clear and running off 9v battery. combined with two tape switches and wire you have a great practice system, and we use it for our races.

At the end of each run the time is displayed. When the next rider takes his run he resets and starts the system automatically when he crosses the start.

If a racer fails to complete the course you just press the tape switch. We modified the clocks simple to work with a simple on/off action.

http://www.gunfighter.com/timers/index-equestrian.html

http://www.gunfighter.com/timers/pics-course.html

We dont use the light beams any more, just tapes. Much more reliable.

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Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 8:56 pm
by Sj Kalliokoski
Could you tell more about modification for simple on/off?
And how you connected tape switch to system?

Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 9:00 pm
by Michael Stride
The system output to a US telephone cable plug and wire, which they use to carry the switch input and the power from the 9v to the normal IR bean unit.

Its easy to find which wires are which and I just soldered two wires to those points on the P.C.B.

Then all you need to do is connect two tapeswitches to those points. Its pretty easy to figure out and very simple in operation.

Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 9:00 pm
by Ricardo Damborenea
That's what we need ! Problem is we already have a trackmate (actually, two!)

Posted: Mon Feb 28, 2011 9:06 pm
by Michael Stride
Yeah, I see the problem.

With the price of LCD panels coming down hopefully something will improve for races. But for practice you probably wont have mains power.

I feel visable screens really add to to fun at practice and race sessions.

Hopefully someone clever can do something with the track mate.

Re: Trackmate wiring 6.2 instructions

Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 4:48 am
by Josh Howard
I am building a brand new system and will add that feature. If i could get my hands on a trackmate i could do exactly what you want as well.