Overview: Required Hardware & Software

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

➧ Daktronics OmniSport 2000 Console

Required: The Daktronics OmniSport 2000 console (purchased by your team)

This guide will cover steps to connect your console with Swimtopia Meet. Additional set up instructions for your Daktronics Omnisport 2000 timing system can be found on their webstie, ➞ See the Daktronics Support section.

Optional: Daktronics OmniSport Pro Swimming App 

The Daktronics app interfaces with the OmniSport 2000 timer and allows timing officials to control the competition through a Windows-based user interface. For more information  ➞  https://www.daktronics.com/web-documents/customer-service-manuals/dd3109473.pdf 

➧ 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 (increase RAM if using).
• Swimtopia Meet 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 Swimtopia Meet 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.

➧ Swimtopia Meet Windows Desktop App

The Swimtopia Meet 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 (Serial RS-232 cable)

Swimtopia Meet only supports a physical serial port connection between your computer and the Daktronics OmniSport 2000 console via a serial RS-232 cable is required.

There are different vendors of these USB-to-RS-232 cables. Amazon option:

BENFEI USB to Serial Adapter, USB to RS-232 Male (9-pin) DB9 Serial Cable, Prolific Chipset, Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7, Mac OS X 10.6 and Above, 1.8M（Not VGA）

⚠️ Avoid cheap generic cables, which often cause dropped connections or failures to connect.

You may need a USB Hub, depending on the number of ports available on your computer, or a special USB-to-RS-232 adapter cable if your computer does not have a serial port. This is common for modern computers, but also requires a software driver to tell Windows how to work with the cable (because it is not a normal USB connection). 

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 Swimtopia Meet

A swim meet in Swimtopia that has been merged to create a meet in Swimtopia Meet must be completed before Swimtopia Meet and Daktronics can be connected.

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

Swimtopia Meet and Daktronics Setup

Google Doc version of the steps ➞ Swimtopia Meet and Daktronics Quick Start Guide

➧ Step 1: Download the Swimtopia Meet Windows Desktop App

➧ Step 2: Connect the Hardware (Daktronics and Your Swimtopia Meet Computer)

• Connect the serial cable to the Results port on your Daktronics OmniSport 2000 console.
• 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.

➧ Step 3: Log in to Swimtopia Meet and Select Meet

➞ Log In, select a team (if affiliated with more than one), and select the meet

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).

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.

The desktop application is required to use a timing system with Swimtopia Meet. If you are on the web version, you will see a message and a link to instructions.

➧ Step 4: Start Daktronics

• Turn on the Daktronics console
• Press Enter to use the default timer name
• Set the date, then press Enter
• Set the time, then press Enter
• Press Enter to select “Swimming Mode”
   

» Note: If you are using an Omnisport 2000 with network capability, make sure that the network is disabled: Press [MENU]>[4]>[7]>[1]>[Down Arrow/NEXT] till "Network:  OFF" displays>[ENTER] then [MENU] to escape.
 

➧ Step 5: Add Daktronics to Swimtopia Meet

➞ Add Timing System Configuration in Settings

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

➞ Select Daktronics OmniSport 2000

➞ Establishing a Daktronics Connection

• Swimtopia Meet will automatically attempt to establish a connection with the OmniSport 2000 console.
• A green checkmark designates a successful connection.
• If the connection fails, ➞ jump to the troubleshooting section below for Connection Fails - Unable to Detect Timing Console

➧ Step 6: Download Events to the Daktronics Console

After the connection is established, download the meet's event list from Swimtopia Meet to the Daktronics OmniSport 2000 console. This ensures the console has the correct event, heat, and lane assignments for each race.

• Click the Download Events to Daktronics button in Swimtopia Meet to transfer the event, heat, and lane information to the Daktronics Omnisport 2000. This ensures both systems are aligned for the meet.
• Events will be downloaded in blocks, so this may take some time. If it gets stuck, there is a button to click to continue the process.
• When completed, the number of Swimtopia Meet events downloaded to Daktronics is shown.

➧ Step 7: Perform a Test Race

➞ Test Race Using Touchpads

The best way to run a test race is using touch pads if you have access to do so.

1. Start the race on Daktronics.
2. Touch the pads after 30 seconds.
3. Click to “STORE PRINT” the race data.
4. Note the Event and Heat on the Daktronics.
5. Go to that Event and Heat in Swimtopia Meet and Press “GET TIMES” to pull in the results.

➞ Test Race Using a Stored Race from a Previous Meet

If you do not have access to touch pads, see if you have a stored race from a previous meet.

• Select Menu/3/1 to see if you have a stored race from the last meet. If you see a number, then there is a stored race.
• Press ENTER twice to print the result on the paper.

• Then, go to any Event and Heat in Swimtopia Meet, manually enter your race number, and Press “GET TIMES.”

➧ Step 8: Mobile App - Enable Live Event/Heat Bar

Slide the bar to the right to enable the live event/heat bar feature in the Swimtopia mobile app.

Daktronics will automatically send information about the current event and heat being swum to the Swimtopia Mobile Live Event/Heat Bar.

It's best to do this when setting up the timing system, but you can access this setting any time through the timing system bar on the results data entry screen.