CVS Dolphin Wireless Timing System
Wireless Stopwatch Timing System
User Guide
Version 3.4
4th December 2024
Central Victoria Swimming Inc.

Introduction

This document describes how to set-up and run the Dolphin Wireless Timing System.
The Dolphin Wireless Timing System program runs on the laptop labelled CVSDOLPHIN.
Its purpose is to record the start and stop time for the swimmer in each lane of each race. When the Starting Official sounds the starting horn, time recording commences for each lane. As each swimmer finishes their race, the timekeepers for each lane will press the stop button on their wireless stopwatch, thereby sending a signal to the CVS-DOLPHIN computer to end timing for that lane.
The companion computer to the CVS-DOLPHIN computer is the CVSMEETMANAGER computer. This computer runs the Meet Manager program. Its purpose is to gather and collate the recorded times from the CVS-DOLPHIN computer, rank and order the times according to the rules of the swim meet and produce the necessary reports, not the least of which is the final ranking report for each Event.
Hardcopy reports are created on the CVS-MEETMANAGER computer and printed on the attached laser printer. Results may also be transmitted to the Meet Mobile service if that has been set-up before the meet commences. Set-up of Meet Mobile is not discussed in this document.

Equipment

The whole solution is comprised of the Dolphin Wireless Timing System, laptop  computers, printer and other ancillary items. Before commencing assembly ensurethat you have the following items at hand.

• Laptop computer(2)
• Printer (1)
• Yellow ethernet cable (1)
• USB printer cable (1)
• Dolphin Infinity loudspeaker (1)
• Dolphin Starter (1) with short dark grey cable (1) and metal bracket (1)
• Dolphin Base unit (1) with light grey USB printer-type cable (1)
• Dolphin Stopwatches (24)
• Microphone (1)
• External speaker with lead (1)
• Tripod (1)
• Extension lead (1) and power board (2)

Setting up the Timing Equipment

This section describes how to set-up the timing equipment which includes the Dolphin Infinity loudspeaker, the Dolphin Starter and the Dolphin Stopwatches. Set up of the other critical piece of timing equipment, the Dolphin Base, is discussed in the next section – “Setting up the Computers”.
3.1. The Dolphin Infinity loudspeaker and Dolphin Starter
This equipment is used by the Starting Official to communicate with the swimmers and start each race. It is comprised of a loudspeaker, microphone with start button, strobe light and the Dolphin Starter.

1. Mount the Dolphin Infinity loudspeaker on its tripod.
2. Attach the microphone to the Microphone 1 jack. Mount the microphone on the hook located to the left of the Microphone 1 jack.
3. Mount the metal bracket on the hook to the left of the microphone.
4. Connect the short, grey cable from the Dolphin Starter to the Start Output jack.
5.  Place the Dolphin Starter device in the metal bracket. The Dolphin Starter is a small device with an LCD screen, about the size of a cigarette pack.The Dolphin Infinity loudspeaker has an internal loudspeaker. A remote loudspeaker (included) can be connected to the External Speaker jack, if required.
6. Switch on the Dolphin Infinity loudspeaker.
7. Turn on the Dolphin Starter by pressing and holding the Reset button on the device until the LCD screen lights up.

IMPORTANT: The Dolphin Infinity loudspeaker will not run while plugged into mains power. Therefore, it is crucial that the battery within the device be fully charged before the Meet commences. While charging, a flashing green light will be seen. A solid green light will indicate that the loudspeaker is fully charged. A solid yellow light will indicate that about 5-6 hours of charge remains. A solid red light will indicate that about 1-2 hours of charge remains.
3.2. The Dolphin Stopwatches
The Dolphin Wireless Timing System includes twenty-four (24) wireless stopwatches, two for each lane of an eight-lane pool and eight spare. Each stopwatch is pre-configued to be used in a specific seat of a specific lane. It is vitally important that the  stopwatches be distributed correctly. For example, the timekeeper in Lane 4, Seat A will use wireless stopwatch “4A”. This stopwatch  must NOT be used to record a time for any other seat, in any other lane.
The stopwatches marked “A” and “B” are the ones primarily used in competition.
The stopwatches marked “C” are the spares – one for each Lane. If an “A” or “B” stopwatch for a given Lane fails (other than for a flat battery) that Lane’s “C” stopwatch can we retrieved from the stopwatch case, turned on and used in that Lane without any further action required.

1. Turn on each stopwatch by pressing and holding the Reset button.
2. The LED screen will light up and display the Lane No. and the Seat ID for that device.

As each stopwatch is powered on, the Signals screen of the CTS Dolphin window on the CVS-DOLPHIN computer will display the battery strength and signal strength of the stopwatch. Each stopwatch is powered by a standard 9V “transistor radio” battery.

Setting up the Computers

This solution uses two computers. One is called CVS-DOLPHIN. It runs the Colorado Timing Systems (CTS) Dolphin program. The Dolphin program collects the times transmitted by the wireless stopwatches. The other computer is called CVS-MEETMANAGER. It runs the Hy-Tek Meet Manager program. The Meet Manager program gathers the times collected by the Dolphin program, compiles the times and produces the results for each Event. The Dolphin.exe program runs on the CVS-DOLPHIN computer and the MeetManager.exe program runs on the CVS-MEETMANAGER computer.
The two computers connect via a standard ethernet cable, forming a two-device, wired network. A printer connects via a standard USB printer cable to the CVSMEETMANAGER computer.

1. Connect the two computers using the yellow ethernet cable.
2. Connect the printer to the CVS-MEETMANAGER computer using the USB printer cable.
3. Turn on and login to the CVS-DOLPHIN computer. The default user login is CVS SwimMeet. Provide the login PIN – 3550 (Hint: Bendigo’s postcode). IP Address: 192.168.100.1.
4. Turn on and login to the CVS-MEETMANAGER computer. The default user login is CVS SwimMeet. Provide the login PIN – 3550 (Hint: Bendigo’s postcode). IP Address: 192.168.100.2.
5. When the computers start-up they will automatically connect to each other when the ethernet cable is plugged in.

All the times transmitted by the wireless stopwatches will be sent to the C:\CTSDolphin\DolphinFiles folder on the CVS-DOLPHIN computer. For these times to be accessible to the Meet Manager program running on the CVS-MEETMANAGER computer, the CVS-MEETMANAGER computer must link to the C:\CTSDolphin\DolphinFiles folder.
On the CVS-MEETMANAGER computer, open the File Manager and click on the DolphinFiles (\\CVS-DOLPHIN (M:) link.The connection to the C:\CTSDolphin\DolphinFiles folder on the CVS-DOLPHIN computer will be created and the files resident thereon will appear in the CVSMEETMANAGER computer File Manager window.4.1. The CVS-DOLPHIN computer

1. Connect the Dolphin Base device to any free USB port.
2. Start the Dolphin.exe progam. A shortcut to the program can be found on the Windows Desktop System Tray. (Hint: It’s the icon that looks like a Dolphin).The CTS Dolphin window will appear.

Check the Dolphin program settings on the Settings screen. Make sure they match what is displayed below. Set “Event” and “Heat” back to “1” using the arrow icons. Position your mouse pointer over “Meet #:” and repeatedly right-click until its value is “1”. The value for “Channel:” is the Radio Frequency upon which all the devices communicate. It must be set to the same value on the Starter and every Stopwatch. It will usually be set to “4”. It can be changed if you encounter RF interference issues at the venue.Refer to the Appendix C – Changing the RF Channel , for how to do this.
Each time the Reset button (bottom right of every CTS Dolphin screen) is pressed or the Stop/Start button followed by the Reset button on the Dolphin Starter are pressed a new and unique file will be automatically created on the CVSDOLPHIN computer. The  filename will be incremented by a value of 1 each time either Reset process is executed. The times captured and transmitted by the Stopwatches will be written to this file. The file number to which the times for the current race will be written is described as “Race #:” at the top of every Dolphin screen. The operator of the CVS-DOLPHIN computer must record the Race # next to the appropriate Heat on a shared hard-copy of the Meet Program for later reference by the operator of the CVS-MEETMANAGER computer. This process will be discussed in greater detail later in this document.
Referring to Figure 7 above, when a successful wireless connection has been made and the stopwatch is ready for use the yellow “traffic light” will appear for it on the CTS Dolphin Live window. The yellow light means the stopwatch has been reset and is ready for a race to start. The red “traffic light” means that the stop button has been pressed on the stopwatch. The green “traffic light” means that the stopwatch is recording time.
A blank cell indicates that the Dolphin Stopwatch has not connected to the Dolphin Base. Check that the stopwatch is turned on and that it is configured to connect on the correct RF Channel. If all cells are blank, check that the Dolphin Base is connected to the CVS-Dolphin computer via the USB cable.
4.2. The CVS-MEETMANAGER computer

1. Click the shortcut to the Swim Meets folder on the Windows Desktop.
2. Click the folder for the current Season.
3.  Create a folder for today’s Swim Meet.
4. Copy the seeded Meet Manager database (<meetname>.mdb) to the new folder.
5. Optionally, copy any other files that are relevant and useful for the day’s Meet.
6. Start Meet Manager from the Windows Desktop system tray (Hint: It’s the one with the swimmer on it).
7. Select File → Open <meetname.mdb>.
8. Select Run, from the drop-down menu and check that you have loaded the correct Meet. You will be presented with this window.

Connect Meet Manager to Dolphin

This section describes how to connect the Meet Manager program to the Dolphin program so that Times can be retrieved. By its very nature, this process tests all hardware, software and network components of the system.
5.1. Perform a Test Start

1. Ensure all stopwatches are turned on and have made a good connection to the Dolphin Starter and the Dolphin Base. That is, the yellow light is on for each stopwatch on the CTS Dolphin Live screen and the Starter has a good signal on the CTS Dolphin Signals screen.
2. With the microphone in hand, hold either green “talk” button and press the “trigger” button on the side of the microphone simultaneously. The hooter will sound, the strobe light will flash and a signal will be sent (via the grey cable) to the Dolphin Starter which will in turn send a signal (via the RF channel) to each stopwatch to commence timing.
3. After a period of 30 seconds or so, press either of the black START/STOP buttons on each stopwatch. The time on each stopwatch will be automatically transmitted (via the RF channel) to the Dolphin Base and then (via the USB cable) to the CTS Dolphin program on the CVS-Dolphin computer. On the CTS Dolphin Live window every stopwatch should have a red light. This indicates that timing has been stopped by the timekeeper.
   • It’s worth noting at this point that timing has NOT stopped for the race. If you observe the Starter device you will see that it is still counting time. If the black STOP/START button is pressed again on one or more stopwatches its LCD screen will display a time that is the same as the time on the LCD screen of the Starter. The traffic light on the CTS Dolphin Live screen will once again be green.
   • Only when the process described in the next step is executed will timing stop for all lanes in the race and the times displayed on the CTS Dolphin Live screen committed and written to the DolphinFiles folder.
4. Press the Reset button on CTS Dolphin Live Screen. This will:
   ◦ write the times transmitted from the stopwatches to the *.d03/*.d04 files created at the start of the race
   ◦ reset the Dolphin Starter and the stopwatches making them ready for the next race
   ◦ make the *.d03/*.d04 files available for access by the Meet Manager  program
   ◦ create a new pair of *.d03/*.d04 files for the next race. The value in “Race #:” will be incremented by “1”.5. On the CVS-MEETMANAGER computer, from the Run window, select:Interfaces –> Timer (CTSD) Dolphin A –> Select Data Set stored from CTSDThe following window will appear.This window allows us to tell Meet Manager where to look for files written by the Dolphin program.
5. Press, Update Data Location. A Windows File Manager window will appear.
   Select DolphinFiles (\\CVS-DOLPHIN) (M:). There should be a single *.D03 file in that location.
6. Press Open. This will tell Meet Manager program to look into the correct folder on the CVS-DOLPHIN computer for recorded times.
7. Press the Next Meet button until a value representing the date and time of the Test Start appears in the Current Meet… fields. This information can be detected by Meet Manager now because a pair on *.d03/*.d04 files have been created on the M: drive by the Test Start.
8. Press the Close button.

5.2. Retrieve the times from the CVS-DOLPHIN computer
On the CVS-MEETMANAGER computer, from the Run window,

1. Select the Event and Heat for which you wish to retrieve the times. In this example, Event 2, Heat 1.
2. Press the Get Times: F3 button. The Select Download File window will appear.
3. Select the file with the same Race # that the CVS-DOLPHIN operator recorded next to Event 2, Heat 1 on the shared hard-copy of the Meet Program. In this example, the file for the Test Start is called “002-00000F0002.d03”. Note that this file name matches that seen via Windows File Manager earlier in these instructions.
4. Press OK to retrieve the times and write them into the Meet Manager database.

Running the Meet

This document does not describe all the activities performed by either the CVSDOLPHIN operator
or the CVS-MEETMANAGER operator during the course of a Meet.
Nevertheless, it is important to understand these points:-

• the CVS-DOLPHIN operator controls the pace at which the Swim Meet progresses. That is to say, the Starting Official will not be able to start the next race until the CVS-DOLPHIN operator has pressed the Reset button.
• It is vital for the CVS-DOLPHIN operator to be sure that all swimmers have finished before the Reset button is pressed. If the Reset button is pressed early the time for any swimmer who has not yet finished will be wrong. Manual times must be gathered from the Lane(s) in doubt.
• The CVS-DOLPHIN operator must take care to accurately record the Race # next to the correct Event/Heat on the shared Meet Program hard-copy. Failure to do so will result in times being incorrectly attributed to swimmers.

Packing Up

1. Turn off the stopwatches – hold down the Reset button until the LCD screen is extinguished.
2. Turn off the Dolphin Starter – hold down the Reset button.
3. Turn off the Dolphin Infinity loudspeaker.
4. Place the Dolphin Stopwatches, the Dolphin Starter, the Dolphin Base and their respective cables back in the correct place in the stopwatch case.
5. Create a folder for the Swim Meet under M:\<season>\ <meetname>/StopwatchTimes and Cut/Paste all *.d03/*.d04 files to this folder. This will ensure a clean start for the next Meet Director and save the recorded times for later reference.
6. Backup the Meet Manager database and save it to the M:\<season>\ <meetname> folder created above.
7. Shutdown the CVS-DOLPHIN computer. Place the ethernet cable in the case with the computer. Shutdown the CVS-MEETMANAGER computer. Place the printer cable in the case with the computer.

Appendix A – Concise Instructions

Following are concise, step-by-step instructions on how to set-up the Dolphin Wireless Timing System for a Meet. Please refer to the earlier sections of this document for more detail regarding each step.
Set-up the timing equipment

1. Turn on the Dolphin Stopwatches (Press and hold the RESET button).
2. Mount the Dolphin Infinity loudspeaker on the tripod.
3. Connect the Microphone to the Dolphin Infinity loudspeaker.
4. Connect the Dolphin Starter to the Dolphin Infinity loudspeaker.
5. Connect the Dolphin Base to the CVS-DOLPHIN computer.
6. Turn on the Dolphin Starter (Press and hold the RESET button).
7. Turn on the Dolphin Infinity loudspeaker.
   Set-up the computers
8. Connect the CVS-DOLPHIN computer to the CVS-MEETMANAGER computer using the yellow ethernet cable.
9. Connect the printer to the CVS-MEETMANAGER computer.
10. Turn on the printer.
11. Turn on the CVS-DOLPHIN computer. Login with the PIN – 3550
12. Turn on the CVS-MEETMANAGER computer. Login with the PIN – 3550
13. CVS-MEETMANAGER: In File Manager, select DolphinFiles (\\CVS- DOLPHIN) (M:)
14. CVS-MEETMANAGER: Delete all *.D03 and *.D04 files on DolphinFiles(\\ CVS-DOLPHIN) (M:)
15. CVS-MEETMANAGER: Start the Meet Manager program and load the Swim Meet database.
16. CVS-DOLPHIN: Start the Dolphin program.
    Perform a Test Start and get times into the Meet Manager database
17. Perform a Test Start. After 30 seconds, press STOP on all stopwatches.
18. When all stopwatches have been stopped, the CTS Dolphin Live window will show a time for each lane and a RED traffic light.
19. CVS-DOLPHIN: Press RESET on CTS Dolphin Live window. This will commit the times to the Dolphin program, reset the stopwatches and ready the Dolphin Starter for the next race.
20. CVS-MEETMANAGER: Meet Manager→Run →Interfaces→ Timer (CTSD) Dolphin A → Select Data Set stored from CTSD.
21. CVS-MEETMANAGER: Press Update Data Location
22. CVS-MEETMANAGER: Select DolphinFiles (\\CVS-DOLPHIN) (M:) → Open.
23. CVS-MEETMANAGER:Press Next Meet until a Meet with the time and date of the Test Start appears → Close.
24. CVS-MEETMANAGER: Press Get Times : F3
25. CVS-MEETMANAGER: Select file *-0001.d04 → OK

Appendix B – Timing Modes

9.1. A Word about Timing
Prior to the start of a the first race of the day, the Dolphin Starter screen will display the time 00:00.00 and each Dolphin Stopwatch will alternate between 00:00.00 and the word RESET on its screen. Both are ready to start a race.
When the race starts the Dolphin Starter and each Dolphin Stopwatch will begin to count time. When a timekeeper presses the black START/STOP button on his stopwatch the time displayed on his screen will not progress and that time will be transmitted via the Dolphin Base to the CVS-Dolphin computer. The Dolphin program will display that time and a red traffic light for that stopwatch. But the stopwatch has not stopped counting time! If the timekeeper has accidentally pressed the black START/STOP button on his stopwatch before the swimmer has finished he can press it again and his stopwatch will display the current time. No time has been lost. The traffic light on Dolphin screen for that stopwatch will turn back to green.
Indeed, both the Dolphin Starter and each stopwatch will continue to count time until their respective START/STOP and RESET buttons are pressed or the CVSDOLPHIN operator presses Reset.
If the RESET button on a given stopwatch is pressed the screen will display “——–” and time counting will continue. Pressing the START/STOP button will reveal the current time. When the START/STOP button is pressed and then the RESET button is pressed time counting will stop and the screen display will alternate between the last time captured and the word RESET. The stopwatch will be ready for the next race. All other stopwatches and the Dolphin Starter will continue to count time.
If the RESET button on the Dolphin Starter is pressed time counting will continue. When the START/STOP button is pressed time counting will stop on Dolphin Starter and all stopwatches. When the RESET button is subsequently pressed all stopwatch times will be written to the Dolphin program and a new pair of files will be created for the next race. The Dolphin Starter screen will display 00:00.00 and every stopwatch screen will alternate between the last time captured and the word RESET. All is in readiness for the start of the next race.
The CVS-DOLPHIN operator pressing the Reset button has the effect of doing all of the above at the same time. This is the preferred method for stopping the timing for the current race and preparing for the next race.
9.2. Modes of Operation
The Dolphin Timing System can be used in three distinct modes of operation namely:

• Electronic Start
• Synchronised Start
• Manual Start

Each these modes are discussed below.
Electronic Start
This is the mode in which most Swim Meets are conducted. It uses the Dolphin Infinity loudspeaker and microphone to communicate the start of the race with the swimmers and the timekeepers. In this mode, all stopwatches will start at exactly the same time.
When the Starting Official presses the red button on the microphone the hooter sounds, the strobe light flashes and a signal is sent from the Dolphin Infinity loudspeaker via the grey cable to the Dolphin Starter. The Dolphin Starter sends a signal via the RF Channel to the Dolphin Base and each Dolphin Stopwatch and timing starts.
As the swimmer completes his swim the timekeeper presses the black START/STOP button on his Dolphin Stopwatch to end timing for that Lane. The time captured on the stopwatch is automatically transmitted via the Dolphin Base to the Dolphin program on the CVSDolphin computer.
When all swimmers have completed their swim and each stopwatch has transmitted a time to the Dolphin program, the CVS-Dolphin operator will press Reset Timers (“r”) to reset the Dolphin Starter and the Dolphin Stopwatches and ready them for the next race.Synchronised Start
This mode can be used when the Dolphin Infinity loudspeaker is unavailable. In this mode, all stopwatches will start at exactly the same time. An alternate method of communicating the start of the race to the swimmers and the timekeepers must be provided.
When the Starting Official presses the START/STOP button on the Dolphin Starter a signal is sent from the Dolphin Starter via the RF Channel to the Dolphin Base and each Dolphin Stopwatch and timing starts.
As the swimmer completes his swim the timekeeper presses the black START/STOP button on his Dolphin Stopwatch to end timing for that Lane. The time captured on the Stopwatch is automatically transmitted via the Dolphin Base to the Dolphin program on the CVSDolphin computer.
When all swimmers have completed their swim and each stopwatch has transmitted a time to the Dolphin program, the CVS-Dolphin operator will press Reset Timers (“r”) to reset the Dolphin Starter and the Dolphin Stopwatches and ready them for the next race.Manual Start
This mode can be used when both the Dolphin Infinity loudspeaker and the Dolphin Starter are unavailable. In this mode, all stopwatches will NOT start at exactly the same time. An alternate method of communicating the start of the race to the swimmers and the timekeepers must be provided.
Upon a signal from the Starting Official, each timekeeper presses the black START/STOP button on his Dolphin Stopwatch to start timing for his Lane.
As the swimmer completes his swim the timekeeper presses the black START/STOP button on his Dolphin Stopwatch to end timing for that Lane. The time captured on the Stopwatch is automatically transmitted via the Dolphin Base to the Dolphin program on the CVSDolphin computer.
When all swimmers have completed their swim and each stopwatch has transmitted a time to the Dolphin program, the CVS-Dolphin operator will press Reset Timers (“r”) to reset the Dolphin Starter and the Dolphin Stopwatches and ready them for the next race.

Appendix C – Changing the RF Channel

The Dolphin Base, The Dolphin Starter and the Dolphin Stopwatches communicate with each other using a wireless radio frequency (RF) channel. Every device must be configured to use the same channel for the timing system to function correctly. This appendix will describe how to configure each of the devices.
The Dolphin Base

1. Connect the Dolphin Base to the CVS-Dolphin computer using the USB cable.
2. Start the Dolphin program on the CVS-Dolphin computer.
3. Select the desired Channel. Any Channel between 1 – 15 can be used.

The Dolphin Starter and each Dolphin Stopwatch must now be configured to communicate on the same Channel number.
The Dolphin Starter

1. Press and hold the RESET button. Press and hold the START/STOP button until the device enters Configuration Mode. This will take about 4 seconds.
2. The device will display TRIG CTS. This is the normal mode of operation for most Swim Meets. TRIG CTS means that when the Starting Official presses the red button on the microphone the Dolphin Starter will send a signal to all stopwatches and timing will be started.
   To change the starting mode to TRIG NC, press the START/STOP button. TRIG NC means that when the Starting Official presses the START/STOP button on the Dolphin Starter a signal is sent to all stopwatches and timing will be started. This mode of operation is generally NOT used at Swim Meets.
3. Press RESET. The Channel number is displayed. Eg: CHAN 04.
4. Press START/STOP until the desired Channel is displayed. The Channel number must match the Channel number set for the Dolphin Base.
5. Press RESET to exit Configuration Mode.

The Dolphin Stopwatches

1. Press RESET to turn on the Dolphin Stopwatch.
2. Press and hold RESET and press and hold either of the black START/STOP buttons to enter Configuration Mode. This will take about 2 seconds. The configured LANE for the stopwatch will appear.
3. Press either of the black START/STOP buttons until the desired LANE number appears.
4. Press RESET. The configured TIMER (stopwatch identifier) letter will appear.
5. Press either of the black START/STOP buttons until the desired TIMER letter appears.
6. Press RESET. The configured CHAN (channel number) will appear.
7. Press either of the black START/STOP buttons until the desired CHAN number appears. The CHAN number must match the Channel number of the Dolphin Base and the Dolphin Starter.
8. Press RESET to exit the Configuration menu.

This process must be completed on every stopwatch for the timing system to work correctly.

Documents / Resources

Dolphin CVS Dolphin Wireless Timing System [pdf] User Guide CVS Dolphin Wireless Timing System, CVS, Dolphin Wireless Timing System, Wireless Timing System, Timing System

References

• User Manual