| The fixed digit output from HY-TEK to Daktronics can also be used for matrix boards, but requires knowledge of how to select "items" from the fixed digit output for custom display on the matrix board.
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The following types of information can be displayed using the fixed digit output:
| 1. | Start lists by heat or section for running events and flights for field events.
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| 2. | Results by heat, section, or flight.
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| 3. | Complete results for any event and round.
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| 4. | Women's or men's team scores.
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| 5. | Award winners for award ceremonies.
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If using FinishLynx's ResultTV, you would use the Fixed digit choice to send data to ResultTV.
Cycle Screen Displays: A special and unique feature of HY-TEK's scoreboard INTERFACE is that if the amount of information needed to be displayed exceeds what one full scoreboard screen can display, HY-TEK's scoreboard INTERFACE software can cycle the "pages" through automatically or display any one "selected page". For example, suppose your matrix or fixed digit scoreboard can display 8 lines of information and there are 12 athletes starting in the mile. In the automatic method, the first 8 would be displayed and then, after a delay of 2 to 60 seconds (you select the delay time), the remaining 4 would be displayed. These two displays would be continuously rotated using the delay time until a new heat or result was sent to the scoreboard. This rotating method is especially useful for displaying complete results for an event with say 9 heats of 8, thus enabling everyone to see the order of finish for all 72 competitors as the results cycle through. In the "hold page" method, the start list or results can be paged as the announcer reads them.
Hardware Requirements and Hookup using Serial Ports and USB to Serial Adaptors
There are two serial port methods for connecting the HY-TEK MM computer to the Daktronics Venus computer via serial COM ports:
| 1. | RS232 cable
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| 2. | RS232 to RS422 cable
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The cable needs to be as long as the distance between the MM computer and the Daktronics scoreboard computer. For RS232, a booster will be needed for distances over 150 feet (45 meters). For RS232 to RS422, a booster/converter is required at both ends and this enables reliable transmission for up to 4,000 feet (1200 meters). Regardless of the means for transmitting data, connect one end of the RS232 system into any COM port on the MM computer and the other end into any available COM port on the Daktronics scoreboard computer.
Hardware Requirements using UDP
If UDP is the method for communicating with the scoreboard, then you simply need a wireless or LAN network. Enter the port number and the IP address of the scoreboard. To broadcast to all devices on the network, enter 255.255.255.255 for the IP Address.
Software Set-up within Hy-Tek
Click Set-up / Alpha Scoreboard Interface and select either Full Matrix, Fixed Digit, or Small Matrix.
Next go to the Run Menu and click Interfaces at the top.
Click Open/Close Serial Port and enter the serial port number where the serial cable is connected to the HY-TEK computer. MM will open the serial port.
Note: If you select UDP for the Connection Method, the Open/Close Serial Port will not be necessary or available.
If you are not actually connected to the scoreboard, enter 0 for the COM port to inactivate the opening of the COM port.
After selecting the Serial COM port, then click Interfaces again and choose Customize. Depending on your choice for the type of Daktronics Interface, there will be different sets of questions which allow you to customize how your scoreboard display will operate.