StartTime V

From Libre Aquatics Wiki, the free aquatics reference

The StartTime V is an electronic starting device made by Swiss Timing Ltd of Corgémont, Switzerland, for swimming, athletics, and speed skating. It generates the start signal for the race: a sound through its built-in high fidelity loudspeaker and any connected external loudspeakers, an optical flash, and a start pulse to the timing console.¹ It is sold in two versions, with a start and microphone unit (article 3481.930) or with an e-gun trigger (article 3481.931); neither the e-gun nor the microphone unit is compatible with the earlier StartTime IV.¹ This article is a starting point; the start-systems overview covers the shared background that applies to every starter.

Design and hardware¶

The main unit measures 395 by 192 by 160 mm, weighs 5.8 kg, and is protected to IP43. Setup is menu-driven through an LCD and keypad, and power comes from an integrated 12 volt, 7 Ah lead-acid battery with an indoor-only charger; the battery holds its charge for up to 12 months when not in use, and a battery indicator shows four levels of charge. The operating range is -10 to +50 degrees C, the storage range -20 to +70 degrees C, and the unit is rated for 20 to 80 percent relative humidity, non-condensing.¹

In the microphone-unit version, the starter gives the start from the start and microphone unit (SMU) while the microphone amplifies the verbal commands; in the e-gun version, pulling the trigger of the electronic gun plays the sound, fires the flash, and sends the start pulse, and a second pull within a programmable delay plays the false-start sound. The e-gun replaces the traditional powder gun, which Swiss Timing notes is difficult or prohibited to import in most countries.¹

E-gun and microphone unit¶

The two trigger heads are interchangeable but not sold together: the unit runs with the e-gun or the microphone unit depending on the sport and the client’s needs.¹

The e-gun measures 280 by 35 by 140 mm, weighs 820 g with its cable, and carries a 7 m cable. It takes a 7 to 18 volt DC input and is protected to IP64, a higher rating than the main unit. Its integrated flash lasts 0.1 s, is visible in sunlight beyond 200 m, and radiates 360 degrees horizontally and 90 degrees vertically.¹

The start and microphone unit measures 118 by 25 by 80 mm without its buttons, weighs 650 g with its cable, carries a 7 m cable, and is protected to IP43. It holds the START push button, the SPEAK connector for the microphone, the READY 1 and READY 2 indicators, and a LOW BATTERY warning.¹²

The e-gun is the current form of Swiss Timing’s electronic start gun, a flash gun the company introduced to replace the powder pistol and its transducer. Swiss Timing first used the electronic gun at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games, initially with the earlier StartTime IV; the StartTime V succeeds that unit, which is why its e-gun and microphone unit are not compatible with the StartTime IV.³¹ Independent coverage of the design notes that the gun makes no report of its own and sounds only through the loudspeakers, so that every athlete hears the start at the same instant rather than as the sound reaches them across the pool or track.⁴⁵

Operation¶

At power-on the unit runs a self-test: the LOW BAT (red), READY 1, and READY 2 (green) indicators light in sequence and the display shows the Swiss Timing logo. Setup is menu-driven, with presets for swimming, athletics, and speed skating; changing any value within a preset switches the sport selection to a custom mode (CUS).²

By default the start sound is a bang, the false-start sound is a bang followed by a whistle, and the false-start timeout, the window in which a second trigger pull is read as a recall, is 4 seconds; the timeout is programmable.² An optional Wireless Recaller module adds wireless false-start recall; the recall menu entry and function appear only when the module is fitted.²

Audio¶

The StartTime V contains a high fidelity loudspeaker and an enhanced internal amplifier, with a public-address output of up to 2 x 20 W. A SPEAKER connection drives external loudspeakers, and a LINE OUT feeds an external amplifier with its own speakers; internal speaker, external speaker, headset, line out, and microphone levels are adjusted separately.¹²

The user manual specifies the limits for external speakers: the recommended load per amplifier is between 3.2 and 16 ohms, and any speaker combination inside that range is acceptable; a 2 ohm load is possible but, the manual says, results in increased distortion and loss of output power. Speaker polarity must be kept consistent or sound quality degrades. Loudspeaker cables can be extended to 30 m with 0.75 mm² cable or 50 m with 1 or 1.5 mm² cable, and the microphone cable to 30 m.²

In swimming, the external outputs drive Swiss Timing’s in-block lane speakers and mobile loudspeaker sets, placed so that all swimmers hear the start simultaneously.¹

Connections¶

The unit connects to Swiss Timing’s Quantum timing console, and its rear panel carries connections for the microphone or e-gun, timer, external flash, speakers, line out, and charger.¹² A cable on winder (article 1865.050) links the StartTime V to the timing device over a 50 m cable.¹

The OMEGA Flash Start, a visual start signal for athletes who are deaf or hard of hearing, is powered by the StartTime and connects with a 25 m cable (article 3481.951.25); a variant with an extension cable is also sold (article 3481.951.05).¹

Care and maintenance¶

The unit is fused by a fast fuse F1 (10 A) and a slow fuse F3 (5 A), and spare fuses are supplied. Swiss Timing directs that only the supplied charger, or one it has approved, be used, to avoid damaging the battery.²

Specifications¶

Main unit:


Part numbers	3481.930 (microphone unit), 3481.931 (e-gun)
Dimensions	395 × 192 × 160 mm
Weight	5.8 kg
Speaker	Built-in high fidelity loudspeaker and amplifier
Public address output	Up to 2 x 20 W
External speaker load	3.2 to 16 Ω recommended; 2 Ω with increased distortion
Speaker cable runs	30 m at 0.75 mm²; 50 m at 1 or 1.5 mm²
Battery	Integrated 12 V, 7 Ah lead-acid; self-discharge 12 months
Battery indicator	4 levels
Operating temperature	-10 to +50 C
Storage temperature	-20 to +70 C
Relative humidity	20 to 80%, non-condensing
Protection	IP43
Certifications	CE, RoHS

E-gun and microphone unit:

	E-gun	Microphone unit
Dimensions	280 × 35 × 140 mm	118 × 25 × 80 mm (without buttons)
Weight	820 g (with cable)	650 g (with cable)
Cable length	7 m	7 m
Power	7 to 18 V DC input	(from main unit)
Flash	0.1 s; sun-visible >200 m; 360° horizontal, 90° vertical	(none)
Protection	IP64	IP43

References¶

Swiss Timing, StartTime V Electronic Starting Device datasheet (10-2015). ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³
Swiss Timing, StartTime V User’s Manual (3481.560.02, Version 1.2, March 2018). ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸
Swiss Timing, e-GUN Electronic Starting System datasheet (EGUN_3434_1303, 09-2013) (the e-gun as a new-generation flash gun replacing the powder gun and its transducer, used for the first time at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games and operated with the earlier StartTime IV). ↩
Core77, Omega’s Olympic Electronic Starting Pistol Redesign (the electronic gun debuted at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, makes no report of its own, and sounds only through speakers wired behind each competitor). ↩
Swisswatches Magazine, To a Millionth of a Second: How Omega’s Timekeeping Lab Revolutionised Olympic Timing (the electronic starting pistol replaced the traditional revolver at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, first for short track and speed skating, with loudspeakers behind each starting block so all competitors hear the start simultaneously). ↩

Last updated July 27, 2026.