Sports Starting System

The Sports Starting System is a portable public address system and stand alone tone generation unit, with a selectable choice of simulated pistol shot, football siren and swimming tones for all type of activities including swimming, athletics, school and general sports. The Sports Starting System can be ordered with any combination of starting / shot tones depending on the intended use.

Sports Starting SystemWe are now shipping Version 2
While the new version has undergone extensive redesign of the internal circuit board it is similar in operation and performance to the original version with the following differences:

  • The single yellow LED strobe light has been replaced by a four LED white light, similar to those used for utility lights on vehicles. The new light should provide better performance when used facing into direct sun light.
  • The internal / external trigger switch has been re-purposed as a half volume start tone or shot signal for use in environments when full sound volume is not required, for example indoor use. The user can select between the 2 settings by use of the switch.

The sports starting system is safe and reliable to use in all weather conditions or in pool areas. Charging of the system from the mains can only be achieved while the system is switched off to prevent the system from being charged by the pool or in potentially unsafe areas.

The Sports Starting System provides a timer port connection for the operation with any timing system that is triggered by normally open or normally close contacts, these include:

  • Timing Solutions, Arpee / ATP 301 Electronic Timing and Finish Lynx used by Little Athletics,
  • Take Your Mark and Dolphin Wireless Stopwatch System used by Swimming Clubs and Schools.

An audio (AUX) connection allows audio signals to be input or output from the system to either a public address system or UHF portable radio system allowing race officials to broadcast information and events to competitors at the start line.

System control panel Sports Starting System - Control Panel
Standard items and features of the sports starting system include:

  • Talk through public address amplifier capable of delivering 30 watts (RMS) of power to the fixed speaker.
  • Microphone handset with Press To Talk (PTT) and starter button.
  • Microphone volume control.
  • (New) Full or half volume start signal selection.
  • Extension microphone cable.
  • Adjustable time keepers / competitors strobe light.
  • Normally open or closed contacts to interface with a timing system if used.
  • Auxilary input / output for audio / PA
  • Rechargeable sealed lead acid batteries providing 8 -10 hours continuous operation.
  • Mains charger pack (which will only charge the batteries when the system is switched off).

The sports starting system is portable (approx 4kg) and replaces the cap gun or starter pistol with an easy to set up and use electronic system that interfaces directly to various electronic timing systems, providing both normally open and normally closed contacts. The startup defaults can be set for:

  • the preferred tone or shot
  • normally closed or normally open contacts
  • call back/false start or no call back

All these setting can be manually selected during the set up period each time the system is switched on. Other optional tone routines and attachments (in any combination) include:

  • standard alert and evacuation
  • standard beep test (20 metres)
  • wireless microphone which operates up to 60 metres in an open environment.
  • wireless start button or timing trigger which operates up to 200 metres in an open environment.