Hardware & Software Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following components and steps completed:

➧ The CTS System 5/6 or Gen 7 Console

➞ Recommended Swimming Software

Version 1.233 or greater. We support version 1.232. However, in rare cases, the communication interface's instability will cause the Swim software interface to reboot. We highly recommend upgrading.

➞ Recommended Firmware Version

Version 1.44 or greater.

➞ Software & Firmware Version Identification

If you need to set up your CTS timing system, ➞ see the Colorado Time Systems Support section at the end of this guide.

➧ A Computer or Laptop

A 64 bit version of Microsoft Windows 7+ (preferably 11+) is required for the Windows Desktop Application Installer (next section).

RAM Recommendation: We suggest at least 4 GB RAM to ensure long reports etc display efficiently. Chromebooks are not a good fit since they usually only have 2 GB RAM. If you need to use a Chromebook make sure to increase the RAM.

Meet Maestro is not designed to work efficiently with iPads or mobile devices for running your meet or printing reports. You may see sub-optimal results on these devices.

➞ See our Meet Maestro Technical Details - System, Internet, Offline Support, Meet Access... article for more technical information. 

» Tip: The timing configuration is per computer, not per session/team/meet. If you have a laptop set up to use a timing system, it will use that timing system for any session, so it's possible to configure two different computers to input times differently.

➧ Meet Maestro Windows Desktop App

The Meet Maestro Windows Desktop App must be installed on the computer or laptop.

If you have a Mac with software that runs Windows (i.e., Parallels), our Windows app can be run on a Mac. 

➧ A Physical Connection

A physical serial port connection between your computer and the CTS timing console via a serial RS-232 cable is required.

➞ CTS 5/6

The type of connection used by the CTS System 5/6 is a serial RS-232 cable.

Connecting a CTS 5/6 to a modern computer requires a special USB-to-RS-232 adapter cable, which also requires a software driver to tell Windows how to work with the cable (because it is not a normal USB connection). There are different vendors of these USB-to-RS-232 cables - example device on Amazon.

On CTS System 6, you will connect the serial cable to "COM PORT 1".

➞ CTS Gen 7

For CTS Gen7, the USB to serial port conversion is handled inside the timing console, so a simple USB cable is sufficient.

It is critical to ensure the cables are compatible with your computer and operating system, and to test your system well before meet day!

➧ Access to a Merged Swim Meet in Meet Maestro

A swim meet in SwimTopia that has been merged to create a Meet Maestro meet must be completed before Meet Maestro and the CTS console can be connected.

➞ See our Quick Start Guide - Setting Up Meets if you need to complete this step.

Meet Maestro and CTS Setup

➧ Step 1: Download the Meet Maestro Windows Desktop App

➧ Step 2: Connect the Hardware (CTS and Your Computer)

• Connect the serial cable to the applicable port on your CTS console (System 6 is "COM PORT 1").
• If using a USB-to-serial adapter, connect the other end of the serial cable to the adapter.
• Plug the USB end of the adapter into a USB port on your computer.
• Power on your CTS System 5/6 or Gen 7 timing console.

➧ Step 3: Configure the CTS Console in Meet Maestro

➞ Log In

After the desktop application is installed, log in with your SwimTopia credentials (you need to be a Site Admin for your team, or be assigned to a Role with permission to manage swim meets).

➞ Select a Meet

You will only see meets that have been merged in this interface. (if you use the same credentials to manage multiple teams, you will be prompted to select the team first)

If this is a multi-session meet (virtual or otherwise), you will be prompted to select your session. If not, this step is not displayed.

➞ Add Timing System Configuration in Settings

Timing Setup options are found under Meet Maestro Settings (gear icon). Select to Add Timing System Configuration.

➞ Select the applicable CTS timing console

Our desktop application is required to use a timing system with Meet Maestro. If you are on the web version, you will see a message and a link to instructions, as seen below.

➧ Step 4: CTS System Timing Console Detection

After you have selected the CTS System 5/6 or CTS Gen 7 option from the Meet Maestro Timing Setup screen, Meet Maestro will automatically detect and read the configuration of the CTS Console.

➞ Detect CTS Devices

If Meet Maestro cannot detect a CTS device, it will display an error message. This could be due to a number of factors (i.e. unplugged cord, bad serial port cable, etc). After correcting the problem, press the retry button. For troubleshooting information, ➞ see Unable to detect any devices.

➞ Select Device (automatic if only one is detected)

➞ Detect and Select Event Sequence 

Meet Maestro will read the Event Sequence names from the console and automatically select slot 9. You can choose a different slot or reprogram the slot on the configuration screen. If you choose a different slot and later restart Meet Maestro, Meet Maestro will remember and default to that slot instead.

➞ Select CTS Meet

Meets are identified by timestamp in the CTS Console. By default, Meet Maestro will select the most current date as the ‘Selected CTS Meet.' 

You can choose a different meet on the configuration screen. Once you have selected a meet, Meet Maestro will remember and default to it, in case you restart and Meet Maestro reconnects to the CTS console.

➧ My meet is not recent or not in the list provided

If you cannot locate your meet in the list provided, or see the message below, there are two possible causes to consider: 

1. The CTS date/time is not correct.

The CTS System 6 has a built-in battery. If the battery is not charged and dies, or is drained from being unplugged too long, the CTS will not have its system time set.

The list of CTS meets is named by their date (for example: 06/25/25 8:56 AM). If the battery is dead, the meet dates will automatically be set to 12/31/02. This date could display for multiple meets, making it difficult to know which meet is correct. ➞ how to set the CTS date/time

2. A test race is needed to 'write the meet'

The CTS console needs to first write the meet, for Meet Maestro to detect the meet from the CTS console. This doesn't take place until after the first times are captured. It's important to run a "test heat" on the CTS console to connect to the correct Meet from Meet Maestro. 

You do not need to progress to the next event/heat on CTS, but it must capture the times in order for the CTS console to begin writing the required files. If the CTS system date/time is not the issue, the need for a test race might be.

➧ Timing System Bar Display - Selected Meet

The selected meet will be displayed in the timing console bar on the time entry interface as a reminder of which meet is being utilized. This can be changed by clicking on the gear icon if incorrect.

➧ Step 5: Confirm the CTS Timing Console Configuration

Once the Detection steps are complete, you will see the configuration screen. It is broken into a few sections.

➞ Device Info and Connection Status

At the top of the configuration screen, information is displayed about the CTS Console and Meet Maestro's connection status.

➞ Event Sequence

The CTS Consoles have a meet configuration mechanism called Event Sequences. These sequences affect the event display in the console and define the expected length of the race. It is therefore important that your sequence is programmed properly.

Meet Maestro will select sequence slot 9 by default. To change slots or rename the sequence select the Change Sequence Number button. If you select a different slot, Meet Maestro will remember your preference for this meet.

Meet Maestro does not write the sequence automatically.

To write the sequence:

• Click on the Write Sequence button (This can take many minutes to complete)
• Meet Maestro will write the event sequence to the selected slot
• Meet Maestro will automatically update the name to match the 1st 20 characters of the meet name

» Note: The current event on the CTS Console does not automatically update after the event sequence is written. To see it updated, you must change the event.

➞ Selected Meet

As stated above, meets are identified by timestamp in the CTS Console. By default, Meet Maestro will select the most current date as the ‘Selected CTS Meet.' We also allow meet admins to select a CTS meet from a list provided.

➞ SwimTopia Mobile App Settings - Enable Live Event/Heat Bar

When this setting is on, the current event and heat will be published in the Live Event Heat Bar of the SwimTopia Mobile App. 

» Note: The SwimTopia Mobile Live Event/Heat Bar keeps your athletes and parents up-to-date on what’s happening in the pool in real-time. And when using a timing system, updates happen automatically! ➞ See Enabling the SwimTopia Live Event/Heat Bar to learn more.

➞ Troubleshoot

If you are experiencing issues with your connection, this is also where you can Restart Connection as a last resort or select to Download Logs for further investigation.

For common error scenarios and debug steps ➞ See CTS System 5/6 and Gen 7 - Troubleshooting Guide

Test and Run the Meet

➧ Test Before Meet Day

Once the setup is complete, you can run the meet. We highly suggest saving time for some test runs to ensure a smooth meet day!

To prevent premature delivery of upcoming swim reminders and live result notifications to Pro users of the SwimTopia mobile app during testing, an early start warning pop-up will display to confirm whether or not you intend to start the meet early.

This warning will only display if two conditions are met:

1. The "Enable the Live Event/Heat bar" setting is checked (see above)
2. The meet or session start time is in the future (not earlier than or equal to the current time)

» Note: This warning will display for each test performed until the confirmation to start the meet is selected (or start the session in a multi-session meet scenario). When "Yes..." is selected, the estimated start times will be adjusted, and the notification process will begin. There is no option to revert back to a pre-notification state.

➧ Run the Meet

As each race is completed and the times are stored on the CTS console, Meet Maestro will receive the data automatically. You will see a button to GET TIMES on the timing system bar within the results/run interface.  

After completing the setup steps and testing you're ready to run your meet ➞ See CTS System 5/6 or CTS Gen 7 Timing Consoles - Running Your Meet

➧ Edit CTS Settings in Meet Maestro

All of the settings configured during setup can be changed by pressing the gear icon in the timing system bar (i.e. changing the data directory, writing the configuration file, changing the session number, or changing the number of timers per lane). You do not need to go back to the main Timing Setup screen under the meet settings.

➞ CTS System 5/6

➞ CTS Gen7 Timing Console

PRODUCT SUPPORT

"Customer Happiness" is not just a team name at SwimTopia, it's our mission!

➧ Colorado Time Systems Support

If you have questions specific to your CTS system or setup, please reference their support resources below. Meet Maestro seamlessly integrates with CTS to pull in times, but they are the experts at helping you configure your CTS System.

• CTS System 5/6: https://coloradotime.com/products/system-6-timing-console?hsLang=en
• CTS Gen 7: https://coloradotime.com/products/gen7-swim-timing-serial?hsLang=en
• Product Support
  • 1-800-287-0653 or 1-970-667-1000
  • Email: support@coloradotime.com
  • https://coloradotime.com/support/support-request

➧ SwimTopia Support

If you run into issues during setup or while testing that seem related to the connection between the timing system and Meet Maestro (or you're not sure), we have multiple options to assist:

• Reference our CTS System 5/6 and Gen 7 - Troubleshooting Guide article.
• Submit a Support Ticket (Or click "Submit a request" at the top of any Help Center page)
• Business Hours Phone Support (M-F 9am-6pm CST): 877-856-2940 (Option 2)
• After Hours (Emergency Meet Day) Phone Support: 877-856-2940 (Option 6)

You can download logs under the settings on the timing system bar to provide in your support ticket.

➧ Meet Maestro Help Resources

We're here to help! If you need assistance before or during your meet, we want you to be able to reach us as quickly as possible.

Click on the located at the top right, and you can self-serve through our extensive topic-organized online Help Center, submit a support request, or contact us via phone. 

We also provide a remote troubleshooting option under the Help icon to create a read-only replay of the steps you are taking when an issue occurs. Before reaching out to us, slide the bar to Enable Remote Support, and retrace your steps to recreate the issue. Include the "Session Id" in your ticket or call.

➧ Additional Resources

In addition to this checklist, we have training options covering all of the functionality Meet Maestro has to offer to make your meet day a splashing success!

• Help Center ➞ See the Meet Maestro section
• ▶️ Training Videos - Meet Management with Meet Maestro
• Additional Training Videos ➞ Check out our YouTube Channel
• Workshop Webinars ➞ Sign up for live Workshop Webinars (when available)
• Community Center ➞ Check out our Community section for many tips and tricks
• SwimTopia Reddit ➞ connect, and share tips on our Admin's Hub

➧ League Admin ➞ See the League Management section for league-specific guides

➧ Team Admin ➞ See our Meet Maestro - Essential Settings Guide for a Successful Meet (after meet entries are merged)