Getting Started: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 20:04, 23 January 2023

Why use Split Second?

Split Second, Inc. started in 1990, creating software solutions for many sports, primarily ski racing. This has remained our main focus since that time. We are the main supplier of ski race software in the US and many other countries worldwide.

For Split Second, development and support of our software is not a hobby; this is what we do, day-in and day-out.

We maintain relationships with key organizations and encourage feedback from users. It is with help through these relationships that our products remain cutting edge and compliant.

Emphasis has always been placed on ease of use. Typically, after a small amount of practice with the software, users can intuitively find how to do the needed tasks.

Just Try It !

The best way to get familiar with the software is to install it and start "playing".

Simply download the latest software from the web page and install it. You don't need to buy or pay to use non-timing features. This means that you may use the software on as many computers as you want, and do anything you want, except interface to and manage timing, for free!

You may also connect timing equipment and practice timing without paying for anything. (The only restriction without purchasing a Key & License is that you'll be able to stay in a timing screen for only two minutes.)

Things to try (applies to National / FIS and Club):

Create a race (file)
Set up the header page
Enter competitors
Sort, edit, move, and delete data
Create reports
Connect timing equipment
Play with timing features
Play with Live-Timing

Which Software?

National / FIS

The National / FIS Software should be used for any alpine, snowboard, cross country, or masters events that are sanctioned as by a national governing body (USSA, ACA, NZSA etc.), or FIS. It's more rule-bound than the Club Software because sanctioned events are more structured.

At the lower levels, races sometimes don't fit well into the sanctioned rules, but every effort should be made to use the National / FIS Software for the event, so that the data can be made available for scoring or record keeping.

Please contact Split Second if you need help or advice with this.

If the event isn't a FIS, USSA, ACA, NZSA, etc.; use the Club Software.

Club

The Club Software is the simplest to use, yet probably the most powerful. It can be used to time virtually any alpine ski race, as well as be used for cross country, running, mountain biking, triathlon, or other individual, wave or mass start events.

Toolbox

The Toolbox is companion software currently under development that will interface to both the National / FIS and the Club Software. The Toolbox runs on a separate computer and communicates with the other software via a network. It's initial use will be as an announcer monitor, but will allow remote data entry and editing as an option.

System Requirements

The processor and memory requirements for Split Second's software are very modest, given the power of most computers.

If your computer was made in the last five years, there should be no problems with computer power. This software requires no more than 50Mb of hard disk space. Data files (races) are so small that you could typically store thousands of them on a computer before running out of storage space.

Basically, if other programs run fine, Split Second's software will run fine.

It's important that you have a good anti-virus software and keep it up to date. PC's have an annoying ability to get increasing clogged up with "stuff" that will eventually cripple even the most powerful processor. If your computer gets increasingly slow, you should consider clearing it out and reinstalling Windows from scratch. This should be done only by someone who knows what they're doing!

Operating System

Currently, Windows 11 and 10 are recommended. The software should work without problems with earlier versions of Windows but are not technically "supported" simply because we don't have any computers with earlier versions of the operating system in our office.

There is not a Mac version, but some users have successfully had the software running on a Mac with PC emulation software.

Connections for Hardware

If the software is being used with a Software Key to enable timing features; a USB port will be needed for the key.

Most timing equipment attaches to the computer via old style serial connections. These are nine pin, D-connectors; but unfortunately, these very rarely come with computers (especially laptops). The solution is to use adapters to get the needed serial ports. It's a matter of preference as to how you do this; the two main ways are either via a PC card (if your computer has one) or via a USB to serial adapters.

The number of USB ports needed can quickly add up. Depending on your needs and configuration, you may need a port for each of the following: software key, timer, scoreboard, printer, mouse, keyboard, and/or memory stick.

Having a computer with a number of USB ports may be helpful. More can be added by using a USB hub.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 ==Why use Split Second?==
-Split Second, Inc. started in 1990, creating software solutions for many sports, primarily ski racing. This has remained our primary focus since that time. We are the main supplier of ski race software in the US and many other countries worldwide.
+Split Second, Inc. started in 1990, creating software solutions for many sports, primarily ski racing. This has remained our main focus since that time. We are the main supplier of ski race software in the US and many other countries worldwide.
 For Split Second, development and support of our software is not a hobby;
 this is what we do, day-in and day-out.
-We maintain relationships with key organizations and encourage feedback from users.  As rules evolve and change, our products remain cutting edge and compliant, with help through these ongoing relationships.
+We maintain relationships with key organizations and encourage feedback from users.  It is with help through these relationships that our products remain cutting edge and compliant.
-Emphasis has always been placed on ease of use. Typically, after a small amount of practice with the software, users can intuitively find how to do the tasks they need.
+Emphasis has always been placed on ease of use. Typically, after a small amount of practice with the software, users can intuitively find how to do the needed tasks.
 ==Just Try It !==
-The best way to get familiar with the Software is to install it and start 'playing'.
+The best way to get familiar with the software is to install it and start "playing".
-Simply download the latest Software from the [http://www.splitsecond.com/software.php web page] and install it. You don't need to buy or pay to use non-timing features. This means that you may use the software on as many computers as you want, and do anything you want, except interface to and manage timing, for free!
+Simply download the latest software from the [http://www.splitsecond.com/software.php web page] and install it. You don't need to buy or pay to use non-timing features. This means that you may use the software on as many computers as you want, and do anything you want, except interface to and manage timing, for free!
-You may also connect timing equipment and practice timing without paying for anything. (The only restriction without purchasing a [[Keys & Licenses|Key & License]] is that you'll only be able to stay in a timing screen for two minutes.)
+You may also connect timing equipment and practice timing without paying for anything. (The only restriction without purchasing a [[Keys & Licenses|Key & License]] is that you'll  be able to stay in a timing screen for only two minutes.)
 Things to try (applies to [[National FIS Software : Introduction|National / FIS]] and [[Club Software : Introduction|Club]]):
@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 =====National / FIS=====
-The [[National FIS Software : Introduction|National / FIS Software]] should be used for any alpine, snowboard, cross country, or masters events that are sanctioned as by national governing body (USSA, ACA, NZSA etc.), or FIS. It's more rule-bound than the Club Software because sanctioned events are more structured.
+The [[National FIS Software : Introduction|National / FIS Software]] should be used for any alpine, snowboard, cross country, or masters events that are sanctioned as by a national governing body (USSA, ACA, NZSA etc.), or FIS. It's more rule-bound than the Club Software because sanctioned events are more structured.
 At the lower levels, races sometimes don't fit well into the sanctioned rules, but every effort should be made to use the National / FIS Software for the event, so that the data can be made available for scoring or record keeping.
-Please contact Split Second if you need help or advice on this.
+Please contact Split Second if you need help or advice with this.
-If the event isn't a FIS, USSA, ACA, NZSA, etc., use the Club Software.
+If the event isn't a FIS, USSA, ACA, NZSA, etc.; use the Club Software.
 =====Club=====
-The [[Club Software : Introduction|Club Software]] is the simplest to use, yet probably the most powerful. It can be used to time virtually any alpine ski race, as well as be used for cross country, running, mountain biking, triathlon or other individual, wave or mass start events.
+The [[Club Software : Introduction|Club Software]] is the simplest to use, yet probably the most powerful. It can be used to time virtually any alpine ski race, as well as be used for cross country, running, mountain biking, triathlon, or other individual, wave or mass start events.
 =====Toolbox=====
@@ Line 51: / Line 52: @@
 ==System Requirements==
-The processor and memory requirements for Split Second's software are very modest given the power of most computers.
+The processor and memory requirements for Split Second's software are very modest, given the power of most computers.
-So, if your computer was made in the last five years, there should be no problems with computer power. This software requires no more than 50Mb of hard disk space.  Data files (races) are so small, you could typically store thousands of them on a computer before running out of storage space.
+If your computer was made in the last five years, there should be no problems with computer power. This software requires no more than 50Mb of hard disk space.  Data files (races) are so small that you could typically store thousands of them on a computer before running out of storage space.
 Basically, if other programs run fine, Split Second's software will run fine.
-It's important that you have a good anti-virus software and keep it up to date. PC's have an annoying ability to get increasing clogged up with 'stuff' that will eventually cripple even the most powerful processor. If your computer gets increasingly slow, you should consider clearing it out and reinstalling Windows from scratch. This should only be done by someone who knows what they're doing!
+It's important that you have a good anti-virus software and keep it up to date. PC's have an annoying ability to get increasing clogged up with "stuff" that will eventually cripple even the most powerful processor. If your computer gets increasingly slow, you should consider clearing it out and reinstalling Windows from scratch. This should be done only by someone who knows what they're doing!
 ====Operating System====
-Currently, Windows Vista and Windows XP are supported. The software should work without problems with Windows 2000, but is not "supported" simply because we don't have any W2000 computers in our office.
+Currently, Windows 11 and 10 are recommended. The software should work without problems with earlier versions of Windows but are not technically "supported" simply because we don't have any computers with earlier versions of the operating system in our office.
 There is not a Mac version, but some users have successfully had the software running on a Mac with PC emulation software.
@@ Line 67: / Line 68: @@
 ====Connections for Hardware====
-If the software is being used with a [[Keys & Licenses|Software Key]] to enable timing features, a USB port will be needed for the key.
+If the software is being used with a [[Keys & Licenses|Software Key]] to enable timing features; a USB port will be needed for the key.
 Most timing equipment attaches to the computer via old style serial connections. These are nine pin, D-connectors; but unfortunately, these very rarely come with computers (especially laptops).
-The solution is to use adapters to get the needed serial ports. It's a matter of preference as to how one achieves this: the two main ways is either via a PC card (if your computer has one) or via USB to serial adapters.
+The solution is to use adapters to get the needed serial ports. It's a matter of preference as to how you do this; the two main ways are either via a PC card (if your computer has one) or via a USB to serial adapters.
 The number of USB ports needed can quickly add up. Depending on your needs and configuration, you may need a port for each of the following: software key, timer, scoreboard, printer, mouse, keyboard, and/or memory stick.
 Having a computer with a number of USB ports may be helpful. More can be added by using a USB hub.
-====Internet====
-At some point you'll almost certainly need to get online. There's a myriad of options to do this, but this should be taken into consideration along with the situation when choosing a computer to use with the software.