FinishLynx Version 10.11 & Remote Control Plug-In

Posted on March 28, 2019 - 2:18 pm by lgreenwood14

March 2019 – Version 10.11 of the FinishLynx photo-finish timing software is now available to download, and we encourage all Lynx timers to update their software immediately. FinishLynx 10.11 was developed to now include the Remote Control Plug-In at no additional charge.

Many FinishLynx operators may not be familiar with the Remote Control Plug-In. Originally the plug-in was developed primarily for use with high-speed sports where the FinishLynx image size is extremely large. Thanks to Athletic.net and AthleticLIVE Image Export, there is now functionality for the plug-in which allows timers to export individual athlete race photos to a scoreboard or display in real-time as they finish.

It’s not new to share photo-finish images, as pointed out….we have done the manual method for years. The exciting part is the automation of doing it in real-time without the timer doing anything, and for each individual athlete to get their own.
-Dan Bowdoin, Athletic.net

Using the Remote Control Plug-In with the image export is a game-changer for use at any size meet. It has been used at high school dual meets and 10-team college meets, as well as at the New Balance Nationals Indoor meet. What about those who are looking to export IdentiLynx image? Not a problem! IdentiLynx captures can also be incorporated into the export, as seen below.

One of the core beliefs at Lynx is to provide unparalleled support to the FinishLynx community in every aspect. In addition to tutorial videos, quick start guides, and technical support just a call or email away, we also always have, and always will offer free software updates. And the software updates are backwards-compatible across all generations of Lynx camera, so no customer gets left behind.

Additional Resources & Videos

Upgrade Vision Cameras from Home with Instant Upgrade Codes

Posted on February 7, 2017 - 10:02 am by lgreenwood14

FinishLynx instant upgrade code screenshot — FinishLynx Instant Upgrade Codes

Version 10 of the FinishLynx sports timing software was released in November 2016 alongside the new high-end Vision PRO camera. Version 10+ brings many new features, one of which is the ability to upgrade camera firmware using special one-time redemption codes. We call this feature Instant Upgrades. Now many of the most popular camera upgrades can be enabled right from your computer.

When you purchase a compatible Vision upgrade, you will receive a digital code via email that can be redeemed immediately. Simply type the code inside FinishLynx to instantly activate the new add-on. You no longer need to ship your Vision camera back to the Lynx headquarters to enable features like LuxBoost, VDM, PLC, and other popular add-ons. Save time, save shipping costs, and save headaches with Instant Upgrades.

Simply update your FinishLynx software to version 10.01 or later to enable instant upgrades today. See the table below for a full list of compatible add-ons.

Upgrade Option	Part Number	5L500 Vision	5L600 Vision PRO
LuxBoost 4	5LLUX4	✓	Standard Feature
LuxBoost 8	5LLUX8	✓	✓
Frame Offset	5LFO	✓	✓
Electronic Filter	5LEF	✓	Standard Feature
Video Display Module*	5LVDM	✓	✓
Electronic Viewfinder*	5LEVF	✓	✓
Phased Light Compensation	5LPLC	✓	✓

*Note: The VDM and EVF add-ons require use of the HDMI port on the camera back. As a result, only Vision cameras sold in November 2016 or later are compatible with these add-ons by default. If your Vision was purchased before November 2016, you can ship it back to Lynx for an HDMI hardware upgrade. This will enable compatibility with the VDM and EVF upgrades.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which camera add-ons are not compatible with Instant Upgrades?

Instant Upgrades are only compatible with specific add-ons for Vision-series cameras. At this time, you will still need to send your camera back to Lynx for the following upgrades: Timer-Enabled, High-Resolution, Internal Battery, Internal Level, and all frame rate upgrades (6k, 20k, etc.)

Is my Vision or Vision PRO camera compatible with Instant Upgrades?

Absolutely. Just download the latest version of the FinishLynx timing software (version 10.01 or later) to enable instant upgrades and several other new features. Read more about all the FinishLynx 10 features here.

Why is my older Vision (2014-15) not already compatible with EVF or VDM?

In November 2016 we updated the Vision camera’s HDMI port settings to ensure the reliability of HDMI-connected devices—this update is essential for the VDM and EVF plugins. If you are interested in using the HDMI port on a Vision camera sold before November 2016, you can ship it back to us for an update. Any Vision or Vision PRO camera sold between November 2016 and today is already compatible with these plugins.

Looking for more FinishLynx tinkering to do from your couch? Visit our blog post on how to repair/replace your Remote Positioner motors at home. And visit the FinishLynx YouTube Channel to watch setup and support videos for every skill level.

Update: FinishLynx USB Adapter Compatibility with Windows 8

Posted on March 25, 2014 - 12:45 pm by lgreenwood14

Our technical support team has tested FinishLynx version 8.2+ and determined that the software is fully compatible with Windows 8 and 8.1. However, some Lynx users have experienced compatibility issues problems with their USB-to-serial adapters. In some cases, out-of-date USB drivers may cause problems on Windows 8 devices – making them unable to connect properly. Fortunately, this is a very easy fix. Simply download the latest device drivers for your model of USB-to-serial adapter and install them on your Windows 8 devices. This will ensure compatibility on race day. The latest Windows 8-compatible drivers can be downloaded from manufacturer websites. We’ve also included some instructions below for some adapters commonly used with FinishLynx systems. Please update your USB drivers if you use Sabrent, Prolific, or ATEN serial converters. See the directions and downloads below.

Note: If you are upgrading your computer to Windows 8 and have a Sabrent USB-to-Serial adapter (see right), you must follow the instructions below in order to update the Sabrent drivers.

1. Download the USB Driver listed below

FinishLynx USB to Serial Driver Download

2. Download the file below (Ser2pl64.sys)

Ser2pl64 (.sys) Serial-to-USB Driver Patch Download

3. Extract the file to your Windows 8 Driver folder

C:\Windows\System32\Drivers

Windows 8 Replace USB Driver Confirmation

4. Restart your computer with the new driver

Note: You may also purchase a new Serial-to-USB adapter to avoid any potential conflicts with 3rd party drivers. Simply contact Lynx or buy the adapter online from NewEgg.com.

5. Your Driver Update is Complete

Prolific USB Adapter Compatibility

The directions above will work for all Sabrent USB-to-Serial Adapters that ship with FinishLynx. If you have the older “Prolific” model, you’ll need to use the following driver to ensure compatibility with Windows 8.

Prolific USB Adapter Driver PL2303 (Windows 8)Download

ATEN USB-to-Serial Converter

All current FinishLynx systems ship with ATEN USB-to-Serial Converters. We have not encountered any issues with Windows 8 compatibility. But we still recommend to you update your drivers to prevent any future issues. The latest ATEN drivers can be found below.

ATEN USB Serial Adapter Driver Download

Software Update: FinishLynx 8.23 is Now Available

Posted on October 2, 2013 - 3:49 pm by lgreenwood14

A new version of FinishLynx has been released and is now available for download. FinishLynx version 8.23 contains a number of updates, including support for the new IdentiLynx PRO XS & XR video cameras. FinishLynx 8.23 is free for all Lynx customers and we recommend you update your software in order to take advantage of new features and bug fixes. A full list of features can be found in the software release notes below.

Download FinishLynx Now

New Features in FinishLynx 8.23 Include:

The front LED of the 031 IdentiLynx camera is now turned off during boot.
This version adds support for the IdentiLynx-XR and IdentiLynx-XS Cameras.
Exported video (AVI) files that reach 2GB are now kept instead of being deleted.
Fixed a problem with combo boxes on Windows 8.
Hidden setting comments can now be formatted with newlines. The comment for MainFont takes advantage of this.

Introducing the FinishLynx 8.2 Software Update

Posted on January 3, 2013 - 5:06 pm by lgreenwood14

FinishLynx Version 8.2

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Key New Features

Scroll wheel.

mouse scroll wheel

You can now use the mouse scroll wheel to scroll scrollable elements in FinishLynx (lists and the image windows). For simple lists, scrolling the mouse wheel will move the list up or down. In the image window, it will move the image backwards or forwards (left and right).

The image scrolling works with both EtherLynx images, and IdentiLynx video frames.

Aspect ratio control.

Note: All the changes in the presentation of the image of this feature are reversable, and do not affect the timing precision of the original image


The image above has a perfect height-to-width ratio (circles appear round)

Image is too narrow. You can now “stretch” images which appear compressed	Resulting Image on FinishLynx Screen, Bitmaps and Printouts

Image is too wide. You can now “compress” images which appear stretched.	Resulting Image on FinishLynx Screen, Bitmaps and Printouts

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