Daktronics Scoreboard Interface
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HY-TEK's Scoreboard INTERFACE software is designed to support Daktronics scoreboards controlled by a Venus 4600, Venus 5000, Venus 6000, Venus 6500, or Venus 7000 computer.

In order for HY-TEK to interface with Daktronics, the HY-TEK Scoreboard Interface Option is required.

HY-TEK outputs three types of formats for use by the Daktronics computer which puts the display on the scoreboard:

1. Full Matrix Alpha-numeric  
2. Fixed Digit  
3. Small Matrix Alpha-numeric (Message Board)  

Full matrix and small matrix boards operate identically, but for HY-TEK's purposes, a board that shows less than 16 characters across is considered a small matrix board. A board that can show 16 or more characters across can be considered a full matrix even if it only has one line for display. The fixed digit output from HY-TEK can be used for a fixed digit scoreboard or for a matrix scoreboard. This fixed digit output requires more work in creating the displays from within the Daktronics computer.

Alpha-numeric Boards
Depending on the size of the scoreboard, the amount of information that can be displayed at one time will vary. The following types of information can be displayed with full athlete last name and team abbreviation:

1.Start lists by heat or section for running events and flights for field events.  
2.Results by heat, section, or flight.  
3.Complete results for any event and round.  
4.Women's or men's team scores.  
5.Award winners for award ceremonies.  
6.Messages.  

Fixed Digit
This format is required if you have a Fixed Digit scoreboard and may require DakTrak software to be installed on the scoreboard Venus computer. Usually a fixed board has fixed lanes which can display only place, competitor number, and result.

The fixed digit output from HY-TEK to Daktronics can also be used for matrix boards, but requires knowledge of how to select "items" from the fixed digit output for custom display on the matrix board.  

The following types of information can be displayed using the fixed digit output:

1.Start lists by heat or section for running events and flights for field events.  
2.Results by heat, section, or flight.  
3.Complete results for any event and round.  
4.Women's or men's team scores.  
5.Award winners for award ceremonies.  

If using FinishLynx's ResultTV, you would use the Fixed digit choice to send data to ResultTV.

Cycle Screen Displays: A special and unique feature of HY-TEK's scoreboard INTERFACE is that if the amount of information needed to be displayed exceeds what one full scoreboard screen can display, HY-TEK's scoreboard INTERFACE software can cycle the "pages" through automatically or display any one "selected page". For example, suppose your matrix or fixed digit scoreboard can display 8 lines of information and there are 12 athletes starting in the mile. In the automatic method, the first 8 would be displayed and then, after a delay of 2 to 60 seconds (you select the delay time), the remaining 4 would be displayed. These two displays would be continuously rotated using the delay time until a new heat or result was sent to the scoreboard. This rotating method is especially useful for displaying complete results for an event with say 9 heats of 8, thus enabling everyone to see the order of finish for all 72 competitors as the results cycle through. In the "hold page" method, the start list or results can be paged as the announcer reads them.

Hardware Requirements and Hookup
There are two basic methods for connecting the HY-TEK MM computer to the Daktronics Venus computer via serial COM ports:

1.RS232 cable  
2.RS232 to RS422 cable  

The cable needs to be as long as the distance between the MM computer and the Daktronics scoreboard computer. For RS232, a booster will be needed for distances over 150 feet (45 meters). For RS232 to RS422, a booster/converter is required at both ends and this enables reliable transmission for up to 4,000 feet (1200 meters). Regardless of the means for transmitting data, connect one end of the RS232 system into any COM port on the MM computer and the other end into any available COM port on the Daktronics scoreboard computer.

Software Set-up within Hy-Tek
Click Set-up / Alpha Scoreboard Interface and select either Full Matrix, Fixed Digit, or Small Matrix.

dakscbd1

Next go to the Run Menu and click Interfaces at the top.

dakscbd2

Click Open/Close Serial Port and enter the serial port number where the serial cable is connected to the HY-TEK computer. MM will open the serial port.

   If you are not actually connected to the scoreboard, enter 0 for the COM port to inactivate the opening of the COM port.

After selecting the Serial COM port, then click Interfaces again and choose Customize. Depending on your choice for the type of Daktronics Interface, there will be different sets of questions which allow you to customize how your scoreboard display will operate.
   
Full Matrix Set-up
Scoreboard Size: Enter the actual size of your scoreboard. Rows are how many bulbs high and cols are how many bulbs wide. Rows of bulbs can be from 7 to 200 and columns of bulbs can be from 60 to 400. The number of characters that can be displayed across one line of the board is determined by the font size and the number of bulb columns. For example, if you have 96 bulbs across and choose a 7x5 font, the number of characters for one line is calculated to be 16: (96+1)/(5+1) =16.

Font Size: The font size should match the fonts available to your Real Time Data (RTD) frames in the Daktronics software. Your choices may be 5x5, 7x4, 7x5, 8x5, 8x6, 9x5, 9x7, and 11x7. The font size will determine how many lines can be displayed on your board and how many characters can fit across the board.

Number of Bulbs Between Lines: This determines how much space there will be between each line displayed on the board and, in combination with the font size, how many lines can be displayed. For example, if your board has 64 rows of bulbs and you choose a 7x5 font and 2 bulbs between lines, the number of lines that can be displayed is 7: (64+2)/(7+2) =7. If you choose 1 bulb between lines, the number of display lines is 8: (64+1)/(7+1) =8.

Double or Single Column: If you have a wide scoreboard with 275 or more columns of bulbs, you can have twice as much information displayed by selecting double column. You can experiment with this to get your best display.

Results Cycle Delay: Enter the number of seconds that a screen is displayed before the next screen in a series of screens is displayed. If all of the information to be displayed fits on one screen, then the one screen will remain until another start list or result is selected by the operator for display.

Baud Rate: This is the rate in bits per second that the scoreboard information travels between computers through the RS232 connection. This rate must match the rate selected when you configure your sign driver in the Daktronics software. Generally, 9600 is the best choice. Your choices are 1200, 2400, 9600, and 19200.
Show Field Event Results As: When displaying field event results on the scoreboard, you can have results displayed in Metric or English, regardless of the actual recorded measurement.

Show Multi Field Results As: When displaying field event results for combined-events such as the Decathlon, you can have results displayed in Metric or English, regardless of how measured.

Include Team Abbreviation: If you answer yes, the four letter team abbreviation for the athlete will be displayed along with the athlete's last name. This only works well in cases where the four letters are meaningful, such as USA, TENN, or FLA, and where you have a wide enough board to show all the information.

Fixed Digit Set-up
Number of Lanes on Board: This is the physical number of lanes that your board can show at one time. This can be from 1 to 10.

Results in Lane or Finish Order: If you have a fixed digit board with lanes painted in place, you should select lane order. However, complete results for a given event will always be in finish order.

The Fixed Digit Set-up also needs to know four other items discussed in the Full Matrix Set-up: Results Cycle Delay, the Baud Rate, and how to show field event and combined-event results.

Small Matrix Set-up
Small matrix boards are those that are too narrow to adequately display results on one line (i.e. less than 16 characters wide), but have room for at least three lines of data. HY-TEK's small matrix software will always display 3 lines of data only, so results will be cycled using 3 lines to display each result. The set-up for small matrix is exactly the same as for full matrix, except that the double column and showing team abbreviations do not apply. A board that is 24 x 64 would be capable of 3 lines, (24+1)/(7+1) =3, and 10 characters across, (64+1)/(5+1) =10. A sample result display might be:
Linehan
So Bronx
11:23.89

Full Matrix Software Set-up in Venus
The software set-up requires some understanding of how the Daktronics Venus 4600 / 6000 / 6500 / 7000 software works. The Venus software handles the actual display of "Frames" on the scoreboard. You must create two "RTD Frames" for use by MM. The first frame is for start lists and results and the second frame is for messages.

Setting Up the RTD COM Port:Your "Sign" should already be configured. To verify the COM port settings, enter the following: From the Main Menu of the Venus software, select "System", then "Exit". This should put you in the Venus Shell Menu. Select "Configure Devices", and choose "Communication Ports". Use the arrow keys to highlight "RTD-1" and press enter. Select the COM port that is being used to connect to the HY-TEK computer. Select the baud rate, usually 9600, to match the MM set-up. Then select "None" for parity, "8" for data bits, "1" for stop bits, "Disable FIFO" for FIFO level, "3000" for RTD buffer size, and "Standard" for RTD Protocol. After checking the configuration, press Esc several times to get back to the Shell Options. Select option #3, "Turn Sign Driver On". After completing this, the upper right corner of the Shell Menu should say (Sign Driver: ON). Enter back into the Venus Main Program by selecting option #1, "Display/Edit/Util".

Creating an RTD Frame: From the Main Menu of the Venus software, select "Edit", "Sequence", and "Name". Enter a name for your frame. After entering a name, and selecting "OK", click on the RTD name and press ENTER. Now select "Frame" from the menu at the top, select "Insert", and select "Real Time Data". It should now say at the bottom left: "RTD Frame: 2 of 2". Press F11 so that it says "GRP Frame: 1 of 2". Select "Frame" from the top menu and "Delete" to delete the GRP frame. Now it should say "RTD Frame: 1 of 1" at bottom left. It should also say at the bottom: "Entry:Change Hold:Steady 10.0 Exit:Stay". If it does not, then make the changes by selecting appropriately from the menu at the top. You are now ready to configure RTD-1.

Formatting the RTD Frame for Use by Hy-Tek: Press F11 so that the bottom left says "1 of 2". You are now ready to format frame 1 of 2. Select "Frame" from the top menu and select "Parameters". You will now set-up the frame to receive as many lines of data as determined by the scoreboard size and font height. To calculate the number of lines, divide the scoreboard bulb height by the font height plus the number of bulbs desired between lines. For example, if your scoreboard has 80 rows of bulbs, you have selected the 7 x 5 font, and you have chosen 2 bulbs between lines, divide (80+2) by (7+2), and the scoreboard can hold 9 lines of information. The number of characters per line is computed by dividing the width of the board plus 1 by the font width plus 1. For example, if your scoreboard is 128 bulbs wide, divide (128+1) by (5+1), and your scoreboard can handle 21 characters per line.

Using an example scoreboard of 80x128, a font of 7x5, and 2 bulbs between lines, there are 9 lines (each 9 bulbs high) with 21 characters possible per line. This is important to know for formatting frame 1 of 2. Press F11 until it says "Field: 1 of 128" at the bottom. Now follow these steps:

Press R for Row, and enter 1  
Press C for Column, and enter 1  
Press F for Font, and enter 1  
Press I for Item, and enter 101  
Press L for Length, and enter 21  
Press P for Port, and enter the RTD port number connected to Hy-Tek, such as 1  

That completes line 1 of the 9 lines. Press F12 to get to the next line which should now say "Field: 2 of 128". To do the next 8 lines, enter as follows, noting that C for Column will always be 1 and F for Font will always be 1 (assuming your font #1 is 7x5), R for Row increments by 9 (the line height), I for Item increments by 100, L for Length is always 58, and in this case P for Port is always 1:

   R =10   I =201   L = 21   P =1,   press F12
   R =19   I =301   L = 21   P =1   press F12
   R =28   I =401   L = 21   P =1   press F12
   R =37   I =501   L = 21   P =1   press F12
   R =46   I =601   L = 21   P =1   press F12
   R =55   I =701   L = 21   P =1   press F12
   R =64   I =801   L = 21   P =1   press F12
   R =73   I =901   L = 21   P =1   press F12

Now that Frame 1 of 1 is finished, press Esc, select "Seq" at top left, and select "Update/Quit".

Your sign and one frame are now configured. To put the Venus software into actual operation, select "Sign(Direct)" from the Main Menu at the top of the screen, select "Sequence", select the frame name, and select "Sel Frame". The Venus 4600 / 6000 / 6500 / 7000 software is now ready to accept data from Hy-Tek.

Fixed Digit Software Set-up in Venus
When the HY-TEK software is set-up for the fixed digit operation, HY-TEK sends data to the Venus computer in a standard format designed by Daktronics. To create the RTD frames needed to properly "extract" the "item" data, you may need to consult with Daktronics. Please note that the fixed digit operation from within HY-TEK can be used to send data to both Daktronics Fixed Digit boards and Daktronics Matrix boards.

For reference and for advanced users who can create RTD frame items, the fixed digit output stream is as follows for start lists (RTD 1), results (RTD 2), and awards (RTD 5):

   Field   Description   Length   Item
   1   Line 1 Lane   2   1
   2   Line 1 Name   10   3
   3   Line 1 Affiliation   5   13
   4   Line 1 Competitor #   4   18
   5   Line 1 Mark   10   22
   6   Line 1 Place   2   32
   7   Line 2 Lane   2   34
   8   Line 2 Name   10   36
   9   Line 2 Affiliation   5   46
   10   Line 2 Competitor #   4   51
   11   Line 2 Mark   10   55
   12   Line 2 Place   2   65
   13   Line 3 Lane   2   67
   14   Line 3 Name   10   69
   15   Line 3 Affiliation   5   79
   16   Line 3 Competitor #   4   84
   17   Line 3 Mark   10   88
   18   Line 3 Place   2   98
   19   Line 4 Lane   2   100
   20   Line 4 Name   10   102
   21   Line 4 Affiliation   5   112
   22   Line 4 Competitor #   4   117
   23   Line 4 Mark   10   121
   24   Line 4 Place   2   131
   25   Line 5 Lane   2   133
   26   Line 5 Name   10   135
   27   Line 5 Affiliation   5   145
   28   Line 5 Competitor #   4   150
   29   Line 5 Mark   10   154
   30   Line 5 Place   2   164
   31   Line 6 Lane   2   166
   32   Line 6 Name   10   168
   33   Line 6 Affiliation   5   178

   Field   Description   Length   Item
   34   Line 6 Competitor #   4   183
   35   Line 6 Mark   10   187
   36   Line 6 Place   2   197
   37   Line 7 Lane   2   199
   38   Line 7 Name   10   201
   39   Line 7 Affiliation   5   211
   40   Line 7 Competitor #   4   216
   41   Line 7 Mark   10   220
   42   Line 7 Place   2   230
   43   Line 8 Lane   2   232
   44   Line 8 Name   10   234
   45   Line 8 Affiliation   5   244
   46   Line 8 Competitor #   4   249
   47   Line 8 Mark   10   253
   48   Line 8 Place   2   263
   49   Line 9 Lane   2   265
   50   Line 9 Name   10   267
   51   Line 9 Affiliation   5   277
   52   Line 9 Competitor #   4   282
   53   Line 9 Mark   10   286
   54   Line 9 Place   2   296
   55   Line 10 Lane   2   298
   56   Line 10 Name   10   300
   57   Line 10 Affiliation   5   310
   58   Line 10 Competitor #   4   315
   59   Line 10 Mark   10   319
   60   Line 10 Place   2   329
   61   Event Name   20   331
   62   Round Name   10   351
   63   Heat Number   2   361
   64   Record #1 Name   10   363
   65   Record #1 Mark   10   373
   66   Record #2 Name   10   383
   67   Record #2 Mark   10   393
   68   Record #3 Name   10   403
   69   Record #3 Mark   10   413
   70   Record #4 Name   10   423
   71   Record #4 Mark   10   433
   72   Record #1 Holder   40   473
   73   Record #2 Holder   40   513
   74   Record #3 Holder   40   553
   75   Record #4 Holder   40   593

For team scores, the fixed digit output stream is as follows (RTD 3 for women's scores and RTD 4 for men's scores):

   Field   Description   Length   Item
   1   Title   20   1
   2   Division Name (if any)   15   21
   3   Line 1 Team Place   2   36
   4   Line 1 Team Name (short)   12   38
   5   Line 1 Team Abbreviation   4   50
   6   Line 1 Team Score   6   54
   7   Line 2 Team Place   2   60
   8   Line 2 Team Name (short)   12   62
   9   Line 2 Team Abbreviation   4   74
   10   Line 2 Team Score   6   78
   11   Line 3 Team Place   2   84
   12   Line 3 Team Name (short)   12   86
   13   Line 3 Team Abbreviation   4   98
   14   Line 3 Team Score   6   102
   15   Line 4 Team Place   2   108
   16   Line 4 Team Name (short)   12   110
   17   Line 4 Team Abbreviation   4   122
   18   Line 4 Team Score   6   126
   19   Line 5 Team Place   2   132
   20   Line 5 Team Name (short)   12   134
   21   Line 5 Team Abbreviation   4   146
   22   Line 5 Team Score   6   150
   23   Line 6 Team Place   2   156
   24   Line 6 Team Name (short)   12   158
   25   Line 6 Team Abbreviation   4   170
   26   Line 6 Team Score   6   174
   27   Line 7 Team Place   2   180
   28   Line 7 Team Name (short)   12   182
   29   Line 7 Team Abbreviation   4   194
   30   Line 7 Team Score   6   198
   31   Line 8 Team Place   2   204
   32   Line 8 Team Name (short)   12   206
   33   Line 8 Team Abbreviation   4   218
   34   Line 8 Team Score   6   222
   35   Line 9 Team Place   2   228
   36   Line 9 Team Name (short)   12   230
   37   Line 9 Team Abbreviation   4   242
   38   Line 9 Team Score   6   246
   39   Line 10 Team Place   2   252
   40   Line 10 Team Name (short)   12   254
   41   Line 10 Team Abbreviation   4   266
   42   Line 10 Team Score   6   270

Small Matrix Software Set-up in Venus
As previously described, the small matrix set-up is used when your Daktronics matrix board is too narrow to properly display one competitor's results on one line (i.e. less than 16 characters across).

Create RTD frame number 1 as described in the full matrix section and begin the formatting process also as described there. However, the layout will be different. As an example, if your board is 24x64, uses a font of 7x5, and 1 bulb between lines, there are 3 lines (each 8 bulbs high) with 10 characters possible per line. This is important to know for formatting frame 1. Press F11 until it says "Field: 1 of 128" at the bottom. Now follow these steps:

Press R for Row, and enter 1  
Press C for Column, and enter 1  
Press F for Font, and enter 1  
Press I for Item, and enter 101  
Press L for Length, and enter 10  
Press P for Port, and enter the RTD port number connected to Hy-Tek, such as 1  

That completes line 1 of the 3 lines. Press F12 to get to the next line which should now say "Field: 2 of 128". To do the next 2 lines, enter as follows, noting that C for Column will always be 1 and F for Font will always be 1 (assuming your font #1 is 7x5), R for Row increments by 8 (the line height), I for Item increments by 100, L for Length is always 10, and in this case P for Port is always 1:

   R =9   I =201   L = 10   P =1   press F12
R =17   I =301   L = 10   P =1    press F12  
 
Now that Frame 1 of 1 is finished for the small board, press Esc, select "Seq" at top left, select "Update/Quit". This single frame will be used by HY-TEK for start lists, results, team scores, and messages from Hy-Tek.

Your sign and frame is now configured. To put the Venus software into actual operation, select "Sign(Direct)" from the Main Menu at the top of the screen, select "Sequence", select the frame name, and select "Sel Frame". The Venus 4600 / 6000 / 6500 / 7000 software is now ready to accept data from MM.

Operation
The following information describes how to send information to the Daktronics scoreboard. Start lists and results can be sent to the scoreboard two ways. They can be sent from the HY-TEK computer by the HY-TEK operator directly to the Venus computer or the Venus operator can use a TSR provided by Daktronics to send a computer request into the HY-TEK computer to send back a particular start list or result.

Daktronics Track TSR: Daktronics has a TSR (memory resident program) that enables the Venus operator to send a request to the HY-TEK computer to display start lists, results, etc. If Daktronics has provided you with the TSR program named TRACK.EXE, it should be copied into your V6000 directory (or V4600 or V6500 or V7000) on the Venus computer. You must also insert the following line into the AUTOEXEC.BAT just before the line that says C:\V6000\runv6:

C:\v6000\track.exe 1

The number 1 stands for the RTD port number you are using on the Venus computer to connect to Hy-Tek. After inserting this line, you must re-start the Venus computer for the TSR to be loaded.

Operation from Within Hy-Tek: The usual method for operation from the Run Menu within HY-TEK's MM software is as follows:

1.Get heat on screen and press Ctrl-F10 to display start list.  
2.Enter results for a heat, section, or flight.  
3.Press Ctrl-F11 to instantly display these results.  
4.Press F5 for next heat and repeat steps 1, 2, and 3.  
5.After the results for the last heat, section, or flight are entered, press Ctrl-F12 to display compiled results for entire round.  

At any time from the Run Menu, you can display any start list, result, or team score by pressing Ctrl-F1. When you press Ctrl-F1, a selection box will pop-up on your screen as shown below.

dakscbd3


dakscbd4
Request Choices

Start Lists and Results: If you want a start list or result, enter the desired round, event, and heat (or section or flight) and enter your request for start lists or results. If you enter 99 for heat and 2 for request, it will mean complete results for the selected round and event.

Combined-events: If you need to display a combined-event, also enter the combined-event sub-event number. To display combined-event total scores for all sub-events, enter 99 for heat and 0 for multi.

Team Scores: Use request 3 and 4 for team scores. If you have separate team scores for divisions, enter the division number in the heat number slot. For example, suppose you are scoring class A (division 1) and class AA (division 2) in the same meet, enter request =3 and heat =2 to get girls team scores for the AA division; request =4 and heat =1 to get boys team scores for the A division. If an event is a Cross Country event, be sure to include the event number so that MM will put the CC team scores.

Award Ceremonies: If you have award ceremonies, enter 5 for request, enter the event number, and the award winners will be displayed for the event based on what you put in the HY-TEK Meet Set-up Part B for number getting awards. If the event is set-up as multi age group, the awards for each age group will be displayed on a rotational basis.

Paging: If a particular request has more than one screen full of information, the "pages" are cycled. A request page of zero means cycle all pages normally. To "hold" a particular page, enter the page number in the page field of the Ctrl-F1 call. This can be useful when an announcer is calling out the entrants in say the 16 person mile.

Operation from Within Daktronics Venus Computer: Please note that operation of the scoreboard can be done from two locations. If Daktronics has provided its special "Track TSR" software, an operator can be at the Daktronics computer requesting information for the scoreboard by pressing Ctrl-F1 and entering a request just as described previously for the HY-TEK operator. This means that control can come from the scoreboard operator or the HY-TEK operator or both at the same time. If both are operating, then there may need to be some sort of communication by phone link between the two operators so that one does not overwrite the request of the other.

No harm can occur by both operators requesting at the same time. Whichever one gets there first will get priority. The "Track TSR" is not required for the HY-TEK operator to control the scoreboard.