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Timing is Everything!
Here's some pictures of the timing system I used this past Christmas season. We ( the kids on the Island and I) had so much fun with this, that I am really suffering withdrawal---BAAAAAD! Some of the kids (and big people, too, came back 2 & 3 times). Just got an email this morning from the store owner where I had this setup saying he and the cashiers missed not havin' me there with my slot cars. A couple of parents suggested that I keep the display up all year. Awww, Dude, I am so ready to do that.
The system program is called Lap Timer 2000 and is by Greg Braun at HOSlotCarRacing . It worked flawlessly for all 25 days I had the display up for the public. There are different car sounds (see the pic right below this narrative and I also posted a video link to Youtube for the "Sportscar" sound) you can choose from, along with varied race parameters. There's also a function that will give you the scale speed for each lap. This was a real crowd pleaser. Folks were amazed at just how fast these little cars were.
The sensor bridge, 15" Tomy track, power supply and wiring is from Paul at VIASUE Timing Systems . This sensor system worked great all month long. The only situation I had was, it missed a few laps on the NEO car and no more than 5 laps for the modified BSRT G3 cars, out of a whoooole bunch of laps. Not a big problem at all, really. The missed laps could be from me just not having the bridge aligned properly.
Paul was very, very helpful with all this. He's willing to do whatever it takes to get the system that you need to work for you. On the website, there is pricing of standard Tomy, Tyco, Life-Like track set-ups and the prices are right. Very right! He'll do custom track pieces, too, so if you want to do a sensor track on a "Country Bridge" or a wiggle track, he can probably do it. Just tell him what you want, send him the tracks and he'll get it back to you PDQ.
For around $100, I got the LT2K cd, 2 15" Tomy straights (with sensors installed and mounted on the steel plate), the LED light bridge, power supply and all the wiring/connections I needed---Just Plug'n'Play. Ya can't beat that. All you need is a computer with a large 25-pin printer connector, which I understand means that you'd need an older computer. Paul doesn't recommend using a USB adapter.
I'm so pleased with this purchase. Happy, happy, happy.
Check out the website and if you don't see what you need, contact Paul and tell him what you need & workout a deal.
I really wish I'd bought this a long time ago.
Probably, I forgot somethin', so ask question if you need to.
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Great Setup
Posted by Big-T on Tue, 2012-01-10 13:10The pictures and the info are great. No wonder the kids both big and small were attracted to your layout/display. :-)
So your saying that if I go to Viasue Timing Systems they provide a pretty sweet plug and play system. This system is pretty easy to install and set up... right?
Just for clarity, the race sounds are produced by the software, so if I wanted to mute the sound I can do it with the computer.
Thanks again for the article. I had seen this on HO Slot Car Racing but have never seen any other information on the software and setup.
Big-T
If I can do it...
Posted by JohnsIsland on Tue, 2012-01-10 13:50Ya know it's gotta be easy! It is definitely Plug'n'Play (after loading the software). And Paul will work with you on anything you need or what you want to do. He was the best to me. I mentioned that I might want to a combo track power/sensor track just to maybe tidy up all the wiring and he said send him the tracks, he'd fix it up and send it back to me. It don't get no better than that.
He only does 2 and 4 lane systems right now and I believe he keeps a few built up, ready to go---Tyco, Tomy, LL---9" or 15"... or send that custom 12.708" track you had to make to fit in your layout---heehee.
If you blow-up the 1st pic in the bottom pix, you'll see the "Silent" selection at the top of the drop-down. you can also select just "Beeps"
There's a 5 light (red to green) countdown under "Race" mode. To me, it's... "just ok". Wish it had been better. Not a big deal.
You can do Practice timed laps, Qualifying, save/print race reports, add driver names, car types (the software already has a list real drivers and cars).
Everything you need comes in one box. Please check the website, as he offers longer cables if needed. Also, he can do relay hook-ups for race control.
It's just really cool---And makes everything so much more fun. It was definitely well spent money for me.
When two or more minds are concentrating on the same subject, a 3rd, more powerful mind is created. Welcome to HOSR.
It's everything JohnsIsland
Posted by Big-T on Sat, 2012-03-10 22:10It's everything JohnsIsland said!!
I had thought about a timing system off and on for some time. After reading JohnsIsland's blog and researching a few things. I highly recommend VIASUE plug and play timing set up. Paul at VIASUE was most helpful and eager to work with me with my special request.
All I can say I installed the replacement track piece, installed the software connected the sensors to the computer(don't get too excited make sure you read the setup instructions) and I was literally off to the races.
When I have some time I will probably create a setup document for this product and software.
Thanks John!!
Big-T
Timing is everything/If I can do it
Posted by BareM77 on Wed, 2012-01-11 01:52Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for that !
I was looking for a viable lap-timing arrangement and this looks to be it.
Great photos and info, John - thanks again
Barry...
Posted by JohnsIsland on Wed, 2012-01-11 14:12you can have no idea how much anxiety I had after I hit "send" to pay for this system from Paul. I was flat broke and had to rob money from the food budget to get this. So, every conceivable bad thought (What if it's junk? What if I never receive it? What if it gets damaged in transit?, etc.) ran through my head, over and over. Mainly the "What if it's junk?" thought.
When it arrived (on 11/22 or 23, I believe), unscathed, I opened it up and installed the sensor track and bridge into the layout, ran and secured the associated wiring, loaded the software (didn't have a computer that worked until 12/6, unfortunately). But let me tell ya, when I finally did crank this up on that Wednesday in December, all those thoughts were dispensed and replaced the feeling of extreme joy. This system greatly enhanced the overall fun factor of the display and it's impact on the kids (and parents) that visited. Like i said before, I truly regret not getting this earlier in my slot car voyage.
In my opinion, based on a month full of use, you can't go wrong with this. And Paul will give you all the help you need. I asked him so many questions, that I'm surprised that he didn't tell me, "Look, let's just forget this and call the whole thing off. I can't take any more questions."
When two or more minds are concentrating on the same subject, a 3rd, more powerful mind is created. Welcome to HOSR.
timer
Posted by danvanman on Wed, 2012-01-11 20:54That looks like the software we use.
danvanman
Please Help with Lap Timer Switch Track
Posted by BarryO on Thu, 2012-02-23 22:58Does anyone have any tips on making a lap counter/timer switch track section? I've found blogs on other sites but I'm either too dumb to understand them or it's like little details are left out. I have tried using infra-red LED sensors and emitters and I cannot get them to work. All I accomplished trying to get those to work was catching an LED on fire from putting too much voltage to it!! Since I couldn't get the LEDs to work I decided to try a more mechanical solution and bought some magnetic reed switches. I got the reed switches to work with the software (Laptimer 2000) and even got them mounted under the track but when a car passes over the switch it trips the switch twice from each magnet in the t-jet chassis and it counts one pass as two laps. The only thing I haven't tried is the dead track section switch, I have no idea how to cut a section of the rail out of a piece of track. Any help or tips would be appreciated and I hope it was okay to post this here.
I don't...
Posted by JohnsIsland on Thu, 2012-02-23 23:19Have LT2K loaded on anything here at the house.
There's a way to change trip settings on there somewhere. I can't remember what it's called, though. It's in millisecond measurements and may be named as MS or delay setting in a drop-down box. Not sure if that will help, but I remember seeing it on the program. If it comes to me, I'll get back to ya. Sorry.
Have you tried Greg Braun, the LT2K program writer, at www.hoslotcarracing.com ?
He should be quick to recommend a fix.
John
When two or more minds are concentrating on the same subject, a 3rd, more powerful mind is created. Welcome to HOSR.
I'll ask around
Posted by Serge on Fri, 2012-02-24 08:47Barry, I'll ask around.
Maybe Sparky knows, I'll see him next week in Ferndale.
S
"That's all I can stands cause I can't stands no more" Popeye the Sailor
Double Trip
Posted by tabco on Fri, 2012-02-24 12:48Regarding the occurrence of double counts, while using reed switches, the setting is usually related to minimum lap time. The default is often "0".
Still getting weird results w/LT2K
Posted by BarryO on Tue, 2012-02-28 19:28Thanks to everyone for your suggestions and help. Right now out of the different chassis that I have these are the results I’m getting using LT2k with reed switches. It works with Model Motoring T-jet, JL ThunderJet 500 and AFX mag and non mag chassis. At least it counts one pass as one lap, thanks to JohnnyIsland’s suggestion (it’s the debounce setting). Chassis that won’t trip the switch at all are chassis with 4 dot wheels and the tall skinny hot rod/truck tires (I figure maybe it's because of the height) and AW Ultra G chassis, that I thought would work since it has the little dot magnet on it. Chassis that still count one pass as two laps no matter how many different debounce setting I try are AFX Xtraction, AW 4 Gear, Tyco, and Tomy chassis. Since I would like to get LT2K working with any type of chassis I guess it’s time to go back to trying to get the LEDs to work again. If anyone has any step-by-step detailed instructions they can point me to, kind of like a “How to Build a Lap Counter Track Section with LEDs for Dummies” I would really appreciate it. All the ones I’ve found and tried I haven’t been able to get the LEDs to work. The instructions on Gregory Braun's site seems to be missing some details, but more then likely it's just that I don't understand them. Thanks! BarryO
Not sure...
Posted by JohnsIsland on Tue, 2012-02-28 19:51What to say.
I ran TJet UltraGs, X-Traction UltraGs, Aw 4Gears, Tyco/Mattel 440-X2s, Tomy: SRTs. Mega-Gs, SG+ using LEDs without any adjustments. I just don't understand the system enough to help.
I don't know---maybe go to the site below and send an email, attn: Paul. He built the system I have. All I had to do was load the LT2K and plug in the timer gantry and I was off and runnin'. He's a really nice guy and was very helpful to me. If I do think of/hear anything, I'll holler.
http://www.freewebs.com/viasue/hotimers.html
Good luck, my friend.
When two or more minds are concentrating on the same subject, a 3rd, more powerful mind is created. Welcome to HOSR.
Thanks JohnsIsland
Posted by BarryO on Wed, 2012-02-29 17:20I'm going to attempt one more time to try to figure out how to get the LEDs working. If I can't get them to work I'll end up buying one of the Viasue Plug and Play switches. Having the lap counter/timer working properly with "some" of my cars adds so much more then just watching cars go around the track. (Sorry I misspelled your name the last time). BarryO