Serial Cables

When using HY-TEK with various Timing Consoles and Alpha-numeric Scoreboard computers, the two systems are connected with a cable which is either a serial cable or a null modem cable. This cable plugs into a 9 pin male Serial COM port on the HY-TEK computer. Most Timing Consoles will have either a 9 pin male or 9 pin female port connector. Some older Timing Consoles have 25 pin ports. Most computers these days do not come with a serial COM port, so you will have to install a USB to Serial Adaptor.

The serial and null modem cables have nine wires in them, but normally only the 2 and the 3 wires connected to the 2 and 3 pins are used. The difference between a straight thru RS232 serial cable and a null modem cable is that the null modem cable makes the 2 and the 3 wires cross (the 2 pin on one end connects to the 3 pin on the other end). Some timing console devices use straight serial cables and some use null modem cables. Computer to computer, such as HY-TEK connecting directly to another computer running an alpha-numeric scoreboard, always uses null modem cables. If you make your own cable, we recommend wiring pins 2 for send, 3 for receive, and 5 for ground. These cables are generally available at most computer and electronics stores.

Timers that require straight thru RS232 cables:

CTS 4 and CTS 5 and CTS 6

OmniSport 1000

OmniSport 2000

Incomar Splash 1

Timers that require null modem cables:

CTS 6 (early versions only)

OmniSport 6000

BestBet Timer

Timers that require special cables:

OSM6

ARES 21

Omega Power Time

Kyrotech Tec-Timer

ALGE SWIM 2000

See also USB to Serial Adaptor.