OmniSport 2000

The OmniSport 2000 is a multi-sport timing console made by Daktronics, Inc., of Brookings, South Dakota. It is the head end of a Daktronics swim-timing system: the unit that collects the finish signals from each lane’s T-7000 series touchpad and backup pushbuttons, receives the start pulse from the HS-200 Horn Start, runs the race clock, drives the scoreboard, and prints results on a built-in thermal printer.¹² The console ships programmed for swimming, diving, water polo, track, and pace clock operation, selected by sliding a sport-specific key insert into the console face, and it scores judged diving, synchronized swimming, and rodeo events through wired and wireless judge consoles.¹²³

The console’s first firmware release was on 16 August 2002, and later versions encode their release dates (version 16.02.23 was released 23 February 2016).⁴¹ Consoles shipped from June 2013 carry an Ethernet jack and are marketed as the OmniSport 2000e; earlier consoles lack the jack and can be upgraded by Daktronics.¹ Daktronics continues to list the console on an active support page, but its ProSwimming, ProDiving, and ProSyncro software interfaces are discontinued and no longer available for purchase; a dealer lists the 2000e console kit at US$2,695.²⁵⁶

Role in the timing system¶

The timers overview covers what a swim timing console is and the governing-body requirements that apply to every console. The OmniSport 2000’s part is the Daktronics implementation: in swimming mode it performs automatic timing and judging for up to ten lanes, with a touchpad at each end of the pool for near-end and far-end splits, one, two, or three backup buttons per lane, and relay take-off platforms, all read independently.¹ Near-end deck cabling connects to the J10 jack on the rear of the console and far-end cabling to J11; the start system connects to the J12 start input; scoreboards, real-time data feeds, and the results computer each have their own ports.¹

History and predecessors¶

The OmniSport 2000 is the third of Daktronics’ OmniSport swim timing consoles and the only one the company still documents; its predecessors survive mainly in the interface guides of Hy-Tek’s MEET MANAGER software and in period discussion among timing operators, and Daktronics publishes no manuals or specifications for either.⁷ The earliest of the line, the OmniSport 1000, was a results-and-splits console with a serial meet-computer interface, in the field by 1996; the OmniSport 6000 followed as the top model of the line in about 1995 or 1996. Each is covered in its own article.

The OmniSport 2000’s software first shipped on 16 August 2002. An early revision note shows the new console could be configured to work as an OmniSport 6000, and the console still offers OMNI 6000 as a selectable results-port protocol for older meet-management software.⁴¹

Design and hardware¶

The console face carries three two-line by 16-character liquid crystal displays, a recess for the sport insert, a numeric and menu keypad, and the built-in thermal printer, which prints event results and console settings in under 10 seconds.¹ The sport inserts are keyboard overlays that reconfigure the console for each sport: swimming (LL-2549), diving (LL-2566), water polo (LL-2569), track (LL-2573), and pace clock (LL-2581).¹ The right LCD warns the operator when the console is running on battery power, when the network cable is disconnected, and when printer paper is out.¹

The rear panel groups the system connections: two 1/4 in scoreboard output jacks (J2, J3), an Ethernet jack on 2000e consoles, a serial expansion port for the Pro software (J4), a real-time data port for matrix displays (J5), a results port for meet-management software (J6), switch inputs for track and rodeo pushbutton timing (J7), game-clock and shot-clock switch ports for water polo (J8, J9), the near-end and far-end lane harness connectors (J10, J11), the start input (J12), power (J13), and two judge-console jacks (J14, J15).¹ Diving supports up to nine judge consoles and synchronized swimming up to eighteen, split across the two jacks.¹ An internal backup battery keeps the timer running for approximately 10 minutes in a power failure.¹

Consoles fitted with a radio transmitter drive Daktronics scoreboards without signal cable, using eight channels and up to eight broadcast groups so that several consoles and scoreboard groups can share a facility.¹ Firmware updates load over the serial expansion port with Daktronics’ DakLoader2 utility.¹

Connectivity¶

Two cabling schemes bring the lane inputs to the console. An on-deck system runs a harness along the pool deck with a lane module at each lane; the modules are universal, daisy-chain together, and each carries one touchpad jack and three button jacks, with the relay take-off platform plugged into (or piggy-backed onto) button 3. Lane extension modules of 25 to 200 ft (7.6 to 61 m) span the distance from the console to the first lane. An in-deck system instead embeds conduits and junction boxes in the pool deck and walls, terminating in deck plates: an individual lane plate per lane (touchpad, three buttons, lane speaker, and remote strobe jacks), a start location plate for the horn start and auxiliary speaker, a bulkhead plate that combines start and lane data connections, and wall plates where the console itself is set up.¹ Throughout the system, the ground tab on every dual banana plug must line up with the black female jack for the timing system to work.¹

Software and operation¶

A race of up to 66 lengths is timed automatically: the start pulse starts the race clock, touch times log to the printer as they occur, and the console compares each lane’s finish time with its backup-button times, flagging discrepancies on the printout.¹⁸ The console stores approximately 50 races in a revolving memory, clearing the oldest automatically; when the Pro Swimming software is connected, stored races transfer to the computer.¹

The operator’s per-lane controls follow the lane status shown on the LCDs: lanes can be turned off, re-armed for a split or a finish when a touch was missed or spurious, and corrected with plus-touch and minus-touch keys; an arming delay of 0 to 99 seconds after each start and touch makes the timer ignore the pad while a finished relay swimmer climbs out.¹⁸ Edited and backup times are labeled on the LCDs and printouts, and a disqualification key marks a lane so printouts and the scoreboard show the ruling.¹ The always-ready start feature runs an internal time-of-day clock whenever the console is on and records every start signal, so a race can be recovered even if the timer was not reset when the gun went off.¹

Event orders hold up to 500 pre-programmed events numbered 1 to 999, each with a round and a distance from which the console computes the number of lengths for the configured pool; orders can be downloaded from Hy-Tek’s MEET MANAGER, built in the Pro software, or entered on the console, and the console requests the current start list from the results computer as each event is selected.¹ The built-in printer produces the race log, heat results with backups, lane-order and place-order results, relay exchange printouts with start-reaction and exchange times, and subtractive or cumulative splits.¹

The console reaches its computer software over the serial expansion port or, on the 2000e, Ethernet. The OmniSport 2000 Pro Swimming software mirrors the current race, stores and edits results (including substituting a backup time for a pad time), and passes touchpad, button, relay-exchange, and start-reaction times to meet management; Hy-Tek’s MEET MANAGER connects through the results port or, from version 5.0, over the network.¹⁹ Real-time data for matrix displays leaves the RTD port or the network as UDP broadcast packets from a static IP address, and up to four consoles can be named onto one network.¹

The diving and synchronized-swimming programs have their own Pro interfaces. The Pro Diving software receives judge awards through the console, handles multiple meets with events of unlimited divers in up to 99 rounds, scores synchronized diving, and imports and exports to third-party results programs such as DiveMeets.com and E-dive; Daktronics notes it does not verify dive sheets.¹⁰ The Pro Synchro software scores technical and free routines from two to eighteen judge consoles (wireless RC-100 or wired JC-100); the console itself only relays the judges’ inputs in its synchro mode.¹¹ Daktronics states that the ProSwimming, ProDiving, and ProSyncro interfaces are discontinued and no longer available for purchase, directing customers to its professional services for upgrade options.⁵

Other sport programs¶

In diving mode the console runs events of up to 25 divers in four dive orders of up to 13 rounds, scored by 2, 3, 5, 7, or 9 judges entering awards on judge consoles or the operator’s keypad.¹⁸ The judge consoles serve synchronized swimming as well, with technical and free routine panels; the console alone cannot score synchronized swimming, however, and must be set to its synchro mode and run from the Pro Synchro computer software.¹¹¹ Water polo mode provides the game clock, shot clock, scores, timeouts, and player penalties, with external game-clock and shot-clock switches on dedicated ports.¹⁸ Pace clock mode programs workout sequences per lane from swim, rest, pace, and circuit steps.⁸ Track mode times lane and non-lane races from pushbutton or gun-transducer starts with up to three finish buttons per lane, and a rodeo program scores timed and judged rodeo events with photocell or manual timing; the rodeo program has its own operations manual.¹⁸³

OmniSport 2000e¶

The 2000e is the Ethernet-equipped build of the console rather than a separate platform: the operations manual covers both and notes that consoles shipped prior to June 2013 do not have the Ethernet jack, which Daktronics can retrofit.¹ The network connection carries the real-time data feed and the Pro software and MEET MANAGER links that otherwise require separate serial cables. In its aquatics brochure Daktronics describes itself as the first in the industry to use Ethernet connectivity in aquatics timing; that is the company’s claim.¹² A dealer lists the 2000e console kit as part 0A-1240-0096.⁶

Specifications¶

Dimensions	4.3 in H, 20.5 in W, 9 in D (109 × 521 × 229 mm)
Weight	10 lb (4.5 kg)
Construction	Aluminum, water-resistant case
Displays	Three 2-line × 16-character LCDs
Controls	Sport-specific key inserts and numeric/menu keypad
Printer	Built-in thermal; paper 2.28 in (58 mm) wide, up to 165 ft (SF-1034)
Power	Mains wallpack transformer (J13); internal backup battery, about 10 min
Lanes	Up to 10, two touchpads per lane (near and far end)
Per-lane inputs	Touchpad, buttons B1-B3, relay take-off platform
Race length	Up to 66 lengths; about 50 races in revolving memory
Timing precision	Settable, hundredths default
Scoreboard outputs	Two 1/4 in jacks; radio option, 8 channels and up to 8 broadcast groups
Computer interfaces	Serial expansion, results, and RTD ports; Ethernet (2000e, from June 2013)
Judge consoles	Up to 9 (diving) or 18 (synchronized swimming)
Sport programs	Swimming, diving, water polo, track, pace clock; rodeo

Part numbers and accessories¶

• 0A-1240-0096, OmniSport 2000e Ethernet timing console kit (dealer listing).⁶
• 0A-1240-0003, console maintenance kit: cleaning brush, LU-1002 silicone lubricant, and the W-1267 serial cable.¹
• A-1801, USB-to-serial adapter for computers without a serial port.¹
• 0A-1240-0032, 50 ft (15.2 m) 9-pin-to-1/4 in cable for matrix displays.¹
• SF-1034, thermal printer paper.¹
• LL-2549, LL-2566, LL-2569, LL-2573, LL-2581, sport inserts (swimming, diving, water polo, track, pace clock).¹

Daktronics services the console through its parts exchange and repair-and-return programs.¹

See also¶

• Timers: the timing-console overview
• Gen7 Serial Timer: the current Colorado Time Systems console, the OmniSport 2000’s counterpart
• T-7000 Series Touchpad: the touchpad that reports to this console
• Daktronics Pushbutton: the backup button read on lanes B1-B3
• HS-200 Horn Start: the start system on the J12 start input
• Relay take-off platforms: the relay-exchange sensors read through button 3
• Daktronics: the manufacturer
• Equipment: the equipment reference

References¶

Footnotes¶

1. Daktronics, OmniSport 2000 Timing Console Operation Manual (ED-13312, Rev 16, 23 May 2019). ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶ ↩⁷ ↩⁸ ↩⁹ ↩¹⁰ ↩¹¹ ↩¹² ↩¹³ ↩¹⁴ ↩¹⁵ ↩¹⁶ ↩¹⁷ ↩¹⁸ ↩¹⁹ ↩²⁰ ↩²¹ ↩²² ↩²³ ↩²⁴ ↩²⁵ ↩²⁶ ↩²⁷ ↩²⁸ ↩²⁹ ↩³⁰ ↩³¹ ↩³² ↩³³ ↩³⁴ ↩³⁵ ↩³⁶ ↩³⁷

2. Daktronics, OmniSport 2000 console support (aquatics and track timing; diving and rodeo judging via RC-100 and JC-100 controllers; built-in thermal printer). ↩ ↩² ↩³

3. Daktronics, OmniSport 2000 Rodeo Operations Manual (ED-14843, Rev 3, 22 January 2015). ↩ ↩²

4. Daktronics, All Sport & OmniSport Revision Histories (DD3679410, Rev 06, 5 November 2024) (OmniSport 2000 initial software release 16 August 2002; OmniSport 6000 compatibility mode noted in version 3.1.7). ↩ ↩²

5. Daktronics, Swimming software support (“Daktronics ProDiving, ProSyncro, and ProSwimming interfaces are no longer available for purchase and have been discontinued”). ↩ ↩²

6. Olympian LED, Daktronics OmniSport 2000e Ethernet Timing Console Kit (0A-1240-0096) (dealer listing, US$2,695). ↩ ↩² ↩³

7. rec.sport.swimming, Timing Systems: Daktronics vs Colorado (August-September 1996) (period Usenet discussion; the Daktronics 1000 weighed against the CTS System 5, and the OmniSport 6000 described as newly introduced). ↩

8. Daktronics, OmniSport 2000 Swimming Quick Reference (ED-13584, Rev 8, 19 August 2013) (operation summaries and menu trees for the five sport programs). ↩ ↩² ↩³ ↩⁴ ↩⁵ ↩⁶

9. Daktronics, OmniSport 2000 Pro Swimming Software Installation & Operation Manual (DD3109473). ↩

10. Daktronics, OmniSport 2000 Pro Diving Software Installation & Operation Manual (DD3109489, Rev 0, 3 August 2015). ↩

11. Daktronics, OmniSport 2000 Pro Synchronized Swimming Software Installation & Operation Manual (DD3109495, Rev 0, 3 August 2015). ↩ ↩²

12. Daktronics, Aquatics Solutions brochure (DD1565872, Rev 07, June 2018), pp. 8-9 (OmniSport 2000e dimensions, weight, and the Ethernet-connectivity claim). Print document, not hosted online. ↩