RaceHQ - Latest Timing Software Download and Setup videos

This has the latest timing software to download and has a series of videos that will help you get comfortable with the setup and use of the timing gate hardware and RaceHQ software. This article has:

1. Minimum Specification
2. Quick Start - Sprints
3. Quick Start - Pack
4. RaceHQ update steps
5. RaceHQ Setup Videos
6. FAQs and Tips
7. Using two or more systems at the same location
8. Missing Events in Saved Events
9. Battery Recommendations
10. Trolley Assembly

Before you start here is RaceHQ software and driver for the timing hub:

• RaceHQ - V3.22.86 - Download (16/12/2020) 

• WiFi Timing Hub (Dongle) driver: Click here to download. This is required for your WiFi Timing Hub to be recognised by your computer. 

• Remember we do weekly webinars, sign up HERE

• Also, check out our youtube channel for more video HERE

Please note: previous versions of RaceHQ will no longer be supported from this season. Please ensure you’re on the latest version of RaceHQ (the minimum being version being 3.22.86) prior to contacting Timing Solutions Support. 

Minimum spec

• Windows10, 8 or 7 (32 or 64 bit)
• I5 or I7 processor
• Quad-core processor
• At least 4Gb of RAM
• Anti Glare screen with at least 13" monitor Windows 7 or 8
• 3 USB ports
• Longest battery life possible

Quick Start - Sprints

1. Place the weighted bases on the track
2. Set up the Wireless Timing Gates
3. Connect the Timing Hub to your laptop computer
4. Open the RaceHQ software from your desktop
5. In the RaceHQ Setup screen connect your wireless timing gates, from inside track to out, one at a time
6. Connect your Wireless Start device/s
7. Press Continue and proceed to Race Screen
8. Run your Race

1. If using a wireless start device, connect the Timing Hub to your laptop computer
2. Open RaceHQ
3. If using a wireless start device, connect your wireless start device to the setup screen and press Continue
4. If not using a wireless start device press Show Non-Gated Race
5. Run your Race
6. Press the Space Bar to record finish times, or use the wireless transmitter to signal finish times

RaceHQ update steps

NOTE - how to do Software and firmware updates...gate firmware v1.24 needs extras attention via this video 

 

RaceHQ Setup Videos

1. Set up of bases and gates 

 

2. Close up of the timing gate and bases going together

 

3. Connecting the timing gates and start device to the laptop

 

4. Close up of how to turn on the timing gates and change batteries

 

5. Close up of the timing hub USB cord and start device

 

6. Having a detailed look at all the settings options in RaceHQ

 

FAQs and Tips

Here is a list of items that will hopefully help your experience with the RaceHQ app and hardware... Download the one page PDF here 

 

Windows Updates:

1. Currently, Windows 10 has a lot of regular updates coming from Microsoft
2. These updates may not always obvious, but they can make the laptop work harder than usual causing sluggish performance
3. There have also been some case of drivers for the timing hub and printers being uninstalled without warning
4. So if your computer is sluggish, misbehaving, not finding printers/timing hubs and/or has gone through a large volume of data, then this is most likely the cause
5. You can control when and if the laptop will do these updates - more

Optimal Reception – make sure:

1. This article has a number of if tips for Reception issues
2. Each gate can see the antenna on your timing hub
3. The start device/s can see (has a direct line of sight) your antenna on your timing hub
4. The antenna on your timing hub is pointing up towards the sky
5. The antenna is connected properly to the timing hub or the extension cord
6. The antenna from that timing hub is above head height and with a metal/aluminium structure in the way of its line of sight
7. If you still have poor reception then your timing hub could have been damaged, please contact us to arrange a quick turnaround repair

 
Timing Gates – make sure:

1. The arrow on the base of gates point along the finish line and towards the sunniest side of the track
2. You turn the gates on in order from the inside of lane one first, then the next gate etc.
3. Before you turn the next gate on – check the battery levels, reception levels and 4 green dots for alignment
4. Every gate shows four green dots, if not, stop and find out why you do not have four green dots
5. The pair of just you have just turned on, makes a beep when you walkthrough

 
Start device – make sure:

1. When you turn it on it connects to your set-up screen
2. Check the battery and reception levels

 
Troubleshooting tips:

1. Ensure the power settings on your laptop prevent the laptop from going to sleep
2. If using multiple sets of timing gates/devices, only have one system in “set up” at a time - more
3. Always do a test race before you start your first proper race to confirm all working
4. Ensure the timing hub and USB cords are protected from being unplugged/bumped/disrupted
5. Make sure the timing hub USB cord is plugged directly into the laptop, not via a USB multi-hub
6. If you have “alignment” issues with a yellow lane and a red cross, untick a lane and tick it back on. Note this indicator lets you still run a race but that lane will not get a time
7. If you get some crazy time (this is from the USB Hub getting disrupted), it will be best to try and go back to “set up” and come back into the “race” screen and do a test race. Otherwise, you may have to turn off RaceHQ – unplug the timing hub – wait one minute – plug the hub back into the laptop via a new USB port – restart RaceHQ and set up again (note the latest 3 series 3.22.86 onwards has this fixed)

 

Using two or more systems at the same location

If you are using two or more timing systems on the track then you need to make sure you only have one system in the setup screen at one point in time. Also, make sure you do not have your hub firmware 1.20 as this will cause issues.  If two or more systems are in the setup screen at the same time then these systems will be seeing and talking to other systems at the same time...which will cause issues.

 

So you can either make sure you only have one system set up and talking to their respective wireless hardware units at one point in time. Once that first system is in Race mode then you can turn on your next timing station and repeat the process.

Otherwise, if you use the "Use Preconfigured List" option found in Setting General then you can lock the gate/s and start device/s to a single laptop. 

 

Follow these steps to pair your devices to your laptop...Note you will only be able to use these gates/start devices with that laptop, so make them to make sure they all stay together.

 

 

 

Missing Events in Saved Events

If you are missing event dates events from your RaceHQ saved events screen follow these steps.

 

1. Go to Saved Events

2. Click on the "..."

3. Navigate to the prior season - Doc

 

4. Look in either Results or Pack for the Date folder you are looking for

5. Select the TS_Race_Data.rhq file

 

6. Then it should load up into your Saved Events Screen and let you upload all or edit etc

 

Battery Recommendations

From the graph and table below you can see that the best bang for the buck in the battery world with what we had tested is the Eclipse battery from JayCar - here 

These batteries as by the far the most cost-effective and have a very good run time when compared to other more expensive batteries.

 

The big note here is to absolutely not touch every ready general-purpose battery or every ready heavy-duty...as they are very low performers.

The firmware version used in the gates was v1.13 of using the power at a rate of 48 mA an hour. The new low power version available 1.41 uses only 12 mA per hour, which means you will get 4 times the life out of the same batteries. 

Rechargeable batteries

As the majority of AA recharge batteries are 1.2 v compared to a normal battery of 1.5 v, The combination of 4 x AA recharge batteries means you have 4.8 v with a brand new set. The minimum voltage required by the gates is 4.39 v so you are already close to the margin before you have started. So then the cost and benefit are not looking good for using recharge batteries. This is why we do not recommend you invest in them and the charger etc. 

Performance and cost table

Performance	Brand	Cost/battery	Hours Run time (old firmware v1.13)
1st	energizer ultimate lithium	$4.68	68
2nd	energizer advanced	$2.31	47.2
3rd	energizer	$1.03	43.2
4th	duracel normal	$1.46	43.1
5th	duracel ultra	$2.31	38.8
6th	eclipse	$0.45	38.5
7th	arlec alkaline	$1.01	38.2
8th	everyready general purpose	$0.95	4.8

 

Graph of performance by brand

The red dotted line is the minimum power of 4.39 v that the gates require to operate.

 

Trolley Assembly

Here are a few steps to help you assemble your Timing Solutions trolley...

 

1. You will receive the parts to your trolley in a box. They will be packaged such as below:

 

 2. Once unpacked you should find the below parts:

 

 

3. First you will need the base of the trolley, the turning base and the two steel axles, as per the below picture

 

4. The next step is to insert the steel axles into the appropriate spaces on the underside of the two sections of trolley base, allowing even space for the wheels. You may need a hammer to knock these steel axles into place as it is quite a tight fit. See picture below as to what the end product should look like

 

 

5. You can then turn over the trolley to its normal standing position and insert the two plastic rods. You will need to knock these into place with a hammer. Try to use the pre drilled holes in the plastic rod and base section into which it needs to be pushed as a guide. As you will notice, the plastic rods vary in length;

• The longer section needs to go through the large base section, as well as the smaller separate turning section. This rod is longer as it needs to push through two sections of plastic.
• The shorter section needs to be pushed into the section of base that already has the axle assembly in place. This rod is shorter as it only needs to push through on section of plastic.

 

 6. The next step is to screw in two screws into the underside of the trolley, specifically into the plastic rods that you've just inserted. You'll noticed a guidehole already in place. Using a hand drill or screw driver, drive a screw into the guide hole. This then secures the rod into place. The approximate location of these is indicated by the blue and yellow stickers in the picture below

 

 

7. Next you can attach the handle using the hinged bracket provided. You will need to drill four screws through one side of the hinge, and into the handle, and another four through the hinge and into the plastic base of the trolley. Be sure to have the hinge in the correct orientation

  

 

 

8. Attach the four wheels to the trolley: Push the wheels into place and then use the four split pins (or Retainer clips) to hold the wheels in place

 

9. Finally, secure the plastic block that holds the timing poles in place. This will have two 8mm holes drilled through in which will align with two holes drilled onto the trolley base. Using the 2 x 100m silver bolts and the 2 x wing nuts, secure the block into place. If you ever need to transport your gates you may find it beneficial to remove this block, with the gates still within it. 

  

 And now your ready to load it up with your Wireless Timing Gates and hit the track!