Computer Port Conflicts
Copyright (c) 2000, by Lab Software Associates
While this document describes how to test using the Lab Software Associates SwimMeet 5.7 program, before you use your computer at a meet to automatically input times from a Timing System console, it is very important to test the connection for COM port conflicts whatever meet management program you may use.
You can test initially by setting up the equipment (no need for the pads, etc) with the Meet5.7 PC computer connected to the Timing System console by the cable you plan to use at the meet.
Use Meet5.7 Setup | Timing System to tell the program what kind of timing system to expect.
Test by using Meet 5.7 Results to pull over times to a test heat of swimmers by using the Get Race button..
Do you see "Can't find Event #, Heat #" ? Then try using the Race # button to access a race that you can find by looking at the console itself. Does this work?
If not, try clicking the M- button to access the data in the prior meet (or session) in the console).
Use the Get Race button again and/or the Race # button.
If you still don't see any times, try clicking on the Sys(2) button (Perhaps your COM port is really COM2)
Don't give up yet. Close everything down, check all the cables are properly plugged in, restart the timing system console again, then the PC computer and re-open the Meet5.7 program.
Start over again at Test above.
Do you get a Communication error 68 message? Try again making sure to test both Sys(1) and Sys(2) and try M- and or M+ .
If you still cannot get times to pull across to the Results panel you may have an IRQ or other conflict in your computer.
You MUST check the COM port settings before using the computer at the meet.
Go to Explorer Start | Settings | Control Panel | System | Device Manager | and click on the various COM ports you have shown, check out, for each, the General, Port Settings and Resources to see if the same IRQ (Interupt Request) settings are being used for more than one device.
Often a laptop's modem or mouse pad/ball/stick is set to COM1 or even a GPS device.
It has even been known for a computer maker to add a second parallel printer port on a plug-in board, which also contains an extra serial port, when the full number of possible serial ports are already present. In that situation, the extra port would set up an automatic conflict by using the same IRQ as another COM port.In that case the board would need to be changed!
If the term IRQ setting means little or nothing to you, we strongly urge you take the computer to a qualified computer technician for help! Do not try to change the IRQ settings unless you are technically knowledgeable!