Time Drops®
Wireless Swim Timing System
Operator Training Guide
Liz Van Welie Aquatics · LVWASC Recorder
What This Guide Covers
Eight sections to get you timing confidently
01
Meet the Kit
Every hardware component and what it does
02
Setting Up
Wi-Fi, button assignment, meet programme export
03
Running the Meet
Race start, lane colours, fixing errors, loading times
04
Live Results
TV scoreboard and Time Drops Live! app for spectators
05
Advanced: Combining
Running multiple events in the same heat
06
Using Touchpads
Upgrading to fully automatic timing
07
Championship Meets
Scaling up for larger events
08
Troubleshooting
Quick fixes for the most common issues
01 Meet the Kit
Know your hardware before meet day
The Carrying Case
Everything you need, IP68 waterproof, signal yellow
IP68 Waterproof
Survives submersion — pool-side safe
CNC-cut EVA foam
Custom compartments for every component
Up to 12 lanes
Holds 2 buttons per lane (24 buttons) plus spares
Durable latches
Padlock holes for secure storage
Tablet space
Upper layer fits up to 11" tablet
⚠ Never leave the venue without checking all compartments are full
STC-1 — The Brain of the System
All wireless communication runs through this device
Battery
Rechargeable Li-Poly — 10 hrs / 3 hr charge
Clock accuracy
< 0.01 s / hour deviation (Swiss TCXO)
Wi-Fi
2.4 GHz only — built-in access point
Water resistance
IP65 — splash-proof and floats
Charging
USB-C connector
Weight
120 g (4.3 oz)
LED Status: �single flash = no Wi-Fi · double flash = wrong network · steady = ready
PB-2 — Wireless Timing Buttons
One push per swimmer finish. That's all.
Lane 1A — what the label means:
Lane 1 → which pool lane A → which of up to 3 buttons in that lane (A / B / C)
Battery
CR2032 coin cell — 500+ hours, several seasons
Water resistance
IP67 — survives a brief drop in the pool
Weight
32 g (1.1 oz) — comfortable lanyard included
Power
No on/off switch — auto-managed by STC-1
Timing accuracy
0.00003 s resolution; syncs to STC-1 clock
Push as the swimmer touches the wall — that's the only job!
SA-1 — Start Adapter / Touchpad Adapter
Wirelessly captures the race start from your starting system / Captures touchpad output and wirelessly transmits to controller
Compatible starting systems:
Battery
CR123A — 2,000 operating hours
Connection
Dual banana plug → START OUTPUT socket
IP rating
IP67 — waterproof, floats
Range
~300 m line-of-sight
No starting system? Use a spare PB-2 button configured as the manual START button.
The SA-1 also connects to touchpads — one adapter per pad.
Optional & Supporting Hardware
You may not need all of these — check with your club
Optional
ST-1 Mini-Starter
For pools without a starting system. Handheld mic + wireless transmitter. Needs external PA/speaker.
Optional
SBA-1 Scoreboard Adapter
Only needed for older numeric LED scoreboards with a serial (RS-232) interface.
Scoreboard
Amazon Fire TV Stick
Plugs into any pool TV (HDMI). Install the Time Drops Scoreboard app for live results on screen.
Required
GL.iNet Wi-Fi Router
Dedicated 2.4 GHz router for the timing system. Keep it separate from public pool Wi-Fi.
Hardware You Provide
Not included in the Time Drops kit — arrange these before meet day
Samsung Android Tablet
showing the Time Drops console app
Android Tablet
10"+ screen. Min Android 7.1. Not an Amazon Kindle.�Hard, protective case recommended.�Use a shared Google account — not your personal one.
Windows Laptop
Runs MM-Link and Hy-Tek Meet Manager. Windows 10 required. Pin the shared folder (e.g. C:\TimeDrops) to Quick Access.
USB-C Charger
Charge the STC-1 fully before every meet — 3 hours for a full charge, giving 10 hours of operation.
How It All Connects
Everything communicates wirelessly through the STC-1 controller
STC-1
Controller
PB-2 Buttons
(per lane)
wireless
SA-1
Start Adapter
Android
Tablet
Wi-Fi
MM-Link
Laptop
Hy-Tek
Meet Mgr
TV Scoreboard
(Fire TV Stick)
Time Drops
Live! Cloud
Spectators'
Phones
Wi-Fi = system network · Cloud = internet connection (optional but recommended)
Wi-Fi
Seperate wireless�connection
Can run on seperate wireless�connection or timing wifi
02 Setting Up
First-time steps and every-meet preparation
Connecting the Controller to Wi-Fi
One-time setup — only repeat if you change your router or password
1
Power on STC-1 — red LED flashes slowly = not connected
2
On tablet: open app → Menu → Controller Setup
3
Verify "Tablet Wifi" shows your timing network
4
Tap Copy to Controller ↓ — enter Wi-Fi password when prompted
5
Wait up to 2 minutes — smiley icon changes from 😟 to 😊
6
Wi-Fi LED on STC-1 double-flashes = connected and ready
⚠ Do NOT press the back arrow in the Wi-Fi settings screen — use the Android BACK button
Assigning Buttons to Lanes
Tell the STC-1 which button belongs to which lane
1
Menu → Buttons…
2
To assign a button to a lane, press a button. �Its icon turns green on screen
3
Drag the button to the correct lane slot (e.g. 3A)
4
Drag the SA-1 start adapter icon to the Starter A position
5
Repeat for all buttons and the start adapter
6
Tap SAVE — assignments are sent to the STC-1
Tip: grey icons = buttons previously assigned but currently out of range or off — they will reappear once powered on poolside.
3
4
6
Setting Up MM-Link & Exporting the Programme
The bridge between the tablet and Hy-Tek Meet Manager
MM-Link (Windows app) — microsoft.com/store/apps/9MV7DPML9LC2
MM-Link Setup (once only)
1 Install MM-Link from the Microsoft Store
2 Click Choose… → select shared folder (e.g. C:\TimeDrops)
3 Set the same folder in Meet Manager & in MM-Link
Exporting from Hy-Tek Meet Manager �(every meet)
1 Reports → Meet Program → select the desired session
2 Click Select All to select all events
3 Columns: Flat HTML; uncheck all Format options
4 Include: ✔ Records ✔ Time Standards ✔ Entry Times ✔ Heat Start Times ✔ Empty Lanes
5 Create Report → save as MeetProg.htm to C:\TimeDrops
6 Tablet updates automatically within seconds
⚠ Never select 'All Events' for a multi-session meet. One session at a time only.
Meet Manager - Reports > Meet Program
03 Running the Meet
Before, during, and after every race
The Console App at a Glance
Familiarise yourself before the first race
1
Menu (Settings, Buttons, Displays…)
2
Current event & heat description
3
Meet programme (long-press to jump to a race)
4
Status bar: MM · Starter · Controller · Cloud
5
Lane occupancy (green = occupied, red = empty)
6
Button signal & battery level per lane
7
Latched button times — swipe ← to reset, → to accept
8
Official final time (large) + seed time (small superscript
READY in top-right corner = good to go!
6 EMPTY
Starting a Race — Step by Step
1
Console shows READY
All checks are green, timekeepers are in position
2
Starter fires the starting system
SA-1 detects the signal wirelessly; mini-starter sends a beep to PA
3
Running clock appears on console
Race timer starts the moment the start signal is received
4
Double-check empty lanes
After the start — mark any no-shows as empty before they cause a timeout
5
Timekeepers press buttons at the finish
Each button push is logged with a precise timestamp
6
Times appear on screen per lane
Green = confirmed; yellow = 2 of 3 received; red = 1 of 3
7
Result is saved automatically
MM-Link picks up the file; Get Times > imports into Meet Manager when ready
⚠ IMPORTANT
Timekeepers do NOT press at the start — only at the finish when the swimmer touches the wall.
Running a Race — Step by Step part 1
Before, during, and after each heat
BEFORE
Check correct event & heat shown on console
Mark empty lanes red; mark no-shows before the race
Confirm all button icons show good battery & signal
Status bar shows MM · Starter · Controller all connected
READY appears in top-right corner
DURING
Starter fires — STC-1 captures start time via SA-1
Running clock appears on console
Timekeepers press button as each swimmer touches the wall
Watch lane colours — intervene for yellow/red lanes
Use FALSE START button if needed (requires confirmation)
Swimmer in wrong lane - → Long-press the lane → enter the correct swimmer name. Also update in Meet Manager for accurate import.
Running a Race — Step by Step part 2
Before, during, and after each heat
AFTER
All lanes green → result saved automatically
In Meet Manager: press Get Times (or Load Times in Maestro)
System Auto Advances to next heat — or use NEXT HEAT button
Manual corrections for incorrectly triggered buttons are possible from the previous race screens.
Yellow text background indicates times too far apart; investigate this discrepancy (e.g. timekeeper pressing button too late or too early)
Understanding Lane Colours During a Race
The system tells you exactly what's happened in each lane
Tip: you can also long-press on any lane at any time to see the full adjustment menu (Accept Partial, Reset All, Reset A/B/C individually)
GREEN — All buttons confirmed
All expected button pushes received. Official time shown in bold. No action needed.
YELLOW — 1 of 2 buttons received (2 btn setup)
Will auto-accept within a few seconds. Or swipe RIGHT to accept immediately. If race configured for 3 buttons, yellow will occur for 2 out of 3 buttons.
RED — Only 1 button received
Requires a decision: swipe RIGHT if time looks plausible; swipe LEFT to reject. Or long-press for more options.
Loading Results into Hy-Tek Meet Manager
Manual step after each heat — Meet Manager does not auto-detect
First time only
Interfaces → Set-up → Timing Console Interface → Generic Network File Sharing
Select data folder
Interfaces → Timer (GNET) → Select Data Set → Update Data Location → select C:\TimeDrops
After first heat (or test event)
Click Update Data Set, then click Previous Meet once to select the correct meet number (match the tablet display)
Every heat
Press the Get Times (F3) button in the Run Screen to import the result
Race number mismatch?
Click the Race # button and enter the correct race number shown on the tablet
For SwimTopia Meet Maestro: the Load Times button appears automatically when the result is ready
False Starts
⚠ False start actions CANNOT be undone. Confirm before pressing.
1
Once the race has started, a FALSE START button appears in the top-right corner of the console
2
Press FALSE START — you will be asked to confirm
3
This CANNOT be undone — no times are recorded for this race
4
The Mini-Starter has a separate RECALL function → press start trigger first, then PTT while holding
5
Restart the race as normal when the starter is ready
04 Live Results
TV scoreboard and spectator app
Live Results for Spectators & TV Scoreboard
Two ways to share results in real time
Time Drops Live! — Spectator App
1 Menu → Meet… → enable Publish on Time Drops LIVE
2 Share the 4-digit PIN with spectators
3 Spectators download 'Time Drops Live!' from App Store / Google Play
4 You can share a QR code from the Live timing app; print it out for in-person spectators
5 Results update in real time; swimmer names PIN-protected
Options: toggle Psych Sheet / Full Heat Sheet / Scoreboard / Results separately
TV Scoreboard — Amazon Fire TV Stick
1 Plug Fire TV Stick into any pool TV (HDMI port)
2 Connect the Stick to the same Wi-Fi as the timing system
3 Install Time Drops Scoreboard app from Amazon Appstore
4 On tablet: Menu → Displays → set Type to "TV"
5 Scoreboard updates automatically with each race result
6 SBA-1 adapter NOT needed — this is fully wireless
A multiplatform scoreboard app also works on any laptop or phone on the same Wi-Fi network
05 Advanced: Combining Events
Run multiple events in the same heat
Combining Events — What, Why & How
A time-saver common in school meets and club nights or long distance swim meets
What is it?
Two or more events swum simultaneously — in different lanes of the same pool, in the same heat.
Example:
Event 5 — Girls 9-10 Medley Relay
Lanes 1, 2, 3
Event 6 — Boys 9-10 Medley Relay
Lanes 4, 5
= 5 entries in one 6-lane heat
Key requirement
Each lane must be used by only one swimmer or relay team across all combined events. Lanes cannot be shared.
After manual re-seeding in Meet Manager: no lane is used more than once
→ Re-seed in Meet Manager so no lane overlaps across events
→ Export programme to Time Drops — combining detected automatically
→ Results are split back into separate event files after the heat
→ Printed heat sheets will NOT show combining — brief all officials
Advanced Combining Settings
Menu → Meet… → Combine Events/Heat toggles
Toggle
Default
What it enables
When to use
Relays
ON
Combine relay events with no lane overlap
Default — on for most meets
Individual
OFF
Combine individual events (same stroke/dist/age)
Enable for small club meets
Age Groups
OFF
Relax age group requirement
e.g. combine 9-10 with 11-12
Heats
OFF
Combine heats within the same event
Use if re-seeding is not possible
Distances > 200
OFF
Relax distance requirement for long events
e.g. combine 1K with mile events
Preconditions (always apply, regardless of toggles):
① Events must be directly adjacent in the programme · ② No lane occupied more than once across combined events · ③ Only Heat 1 can be combined (unless Heats toggle is on)
06 Using Touchpads
Upgrading to fully automatic timing
Using the System with Touchpads
One SA-1 start/pad adapter per touchpad — fully automatic timing
What You Need
SA-1 adapter
One per touchpad — replaces deck plates & cable harness
Compatible pads
Works with most commercially available touchpads
SNZ Compatible Electronic Timing
SA-1 on start and SA-1 on pads too = fully automatic
Up to 12 lanes
Touchpads supported at near end, far end, or both ends
Setup in the Console App
1
Menu → Buttons… → drag each SA-1 pad adapter to the correct near or far pad position → SAVE
2
Menu → Settings… → Touch Pads section → select Touchpads at near end or Touchpads at both ends
3
Configure options (see next slide) — then you are ready to race
4
Backup PB-2 buttons still work alongside touchpads for redundancy
WITH TOUCHPADS, TIME DROPS QUALIFIES AS FULLY AUTOMATIC TIMING �PER USA SWIMMING & FINA RULES
Touchpad Settings & Options
Settings → Touch Pads section in the console app
Start odd-lap races from far end
Allows you to start races of a single length from the far end of the pool, so that swimmers finish at the near end and can use the touchpads there.
Accept pad times without backup button
A touch on the pad in the final lap counts as the finish time even if no backup PB-2 button was pressed. Useful for practice sessions — use with caution in competition.
Promote backup times for scoreboard if late touch
If a pad is triggered more than 0.45 s after the backup buttons, the system shows the backup time on the scoreboard. Useful for younger swimmers who often finish with a soft touch. Does NOT affect the official time recorded in Meet Manager.
Use subtractive splits
Displays each lap split independently (e.g. 29.5 s per lap) rather than cumulative times (e.g. 29.5 / 1:00.0). Choose based on your scoreboard and reporting preferences.
Also configurable: Start delay (seconds after start before pads arm) · Split delay (seconds after each turn before pads re-arm for the next touch)
Reading the Touchpad Display
Colour coding and swipe gestures during a race
BLUE — Armed for split/finish
Pad is waiting for the next touch. Appears after the Start Delay (first split) or Split Delay (subsequent laps).
GREEN — Split captured
A split time was recorded. The subtractive split time is shown in the box (truncated to 0.1 s).
YELLOW — Split overdue
This lap is taking more than 50% longer than the swimmer's average lap time. May indicate a missed touch — check with the timekeeper.
RED — Missed split confirmed
The operator has confirmed a missed split by swiping the pad box up. The system adds a placeholder.
Pad gestures: Swipe UP → add a missed touch · Swipe DOWN → remove an extra touch (re-arms immediately) · Double-tap → Finish Arm (next touch = finish time)
07 Championship Meets
Scaling up for larger events
Running a Championship or Invitational
Time Drops scales to any meet size — with the right preparation
Pooling Multiple Systems (more lanes)
1
Combine buttons from multiple Time Drops kits into one system with more lanes or more buttons per lane
2
In Settings, increase the configured number of lanes
3
On the Buttons screen, drag the additional buttons into the extra lane slots and SAVE
4
Contact Time Drops to purchase higher-numbered lanyards for the additional lanes
5
All pooled buttons talk to the single STC-1 controller in use — only one controller runs at a time
Redundancy — Expect the Unexpected
Wi-Fi Router
Set up two routers with identical SSID and password so all components switch over automatically. NEVER run both simultaneously.
STC-1 Controller
Have a second STC-1 configured on the same Wi-Fi. All configuration is stored on the tablet — swap is hot-swappable between heats.
Android Tablet
Configure a backup tablet with the same account, lanes, and button assignments. Never run both console apps at the same time.
⚠ NEVER run two controllers or two console apps simultaneously — this causes completely unpredictable behaviour
Configuring Redundant Components
Set up and test everything the day before — not on the morning of the meet
Wi-Fi Router
→ Configure both routers with the exact same SSID and password — all components switch automatically if one fails
→ Both routers must be set to 2.4 GHz. On GL.iNet routers: admin page → Wireless → 2.4 GHz → Modify → Bandwidth: 20 MHz, Channel: Auto
→ Test: turn off primary router → verify all components reconnect to the backup. Check for subtle SSID misspellings (uppercase/lowercase, leading spaces, 0 vs O)
→ Once tested, never power both routers on simultaneously
STC-1 Controller
→ Set up the backup STC-1 on the same Wi-Fi via Controller Setup. Configuration data is stored on the tablet — no re-pairing of buttons needed.
→ Sync clocks before the meet: connect controller 1 → Reset Races → wait 1 min → swap to controller 2 → Reset Races again. Both clocks will be closely aligned.
→ Hot-swappable between heats (not mid-race). Backup takes over within 30 seconds of powering on.
Android Tablet
Both tablets must be signed in with the same team account, configured with the same number of lanes, buttons per lane, and identical button pairings on the Buttons screen. Note: switching tablets mid-meet will break the Time Drops Live! session — spectators will need to re-connect.
Emergency Swap Procedures
Any component can be swapped mid-meet — with proper preparation
Wi-Fi Router fails
1 Power off the failed router
2 Power on the backup router (same SSID/password)
3 All components reconnect automatically within 30–60 s
4 Verify the smiley face on the tablet returns to a smile
STC-1 Controller fails
1 Power off the faulty STC-1
2 Power on the backup STC-1
3 Wait ~30 seconds — tablet reconnects automatically
4 Do not swap while a race is running — only between heats
Android Tablet fails
1 Power on the backup tablet — same Wi-Fi, same account
2 Open the Time Drops console app
3 Re-import the meet programme if needed (export from Meet Manager again)
4 Do not run both tablets simultaneously at any point
Start Adapter (SA-1) fails
1 Reassign a spare PB-2 button as the manual START in Buttons…
2 Use a verbal start command + bullhorn; operator pushes START button at the starter's signal
3 Note this on the results — manual start times are valid for semi-auto timing
Key principle: rehearse every swap procedure the day before. A practised swap takes under 60 seconds and causes minimal disruption.
08 Troubleshooting
Quick fixes for the most common issues
Troubleshooting — Controller & Buttons
Most issues are Wi-Fi or battery related
Red LED flashing slowly
Controller not connected to Wi-Fi
Go to Controller Setup → Copy to Controller; re-enter password carefully
Smiley frowning + double-flash
Controller on different Wi-Fi than tablet
Query Controller Status → reconnect tablet to the same network
Process times out (> 2 min)
Incorrect Wi-Fi password
Repeat from step 4 of Controller Setup
Button icon grey in app
Button out of range or not yet on
Click button once to wake; move closer to STC-1
System waits, won't advance
Lane not marked empty; no button push
Mark vacant lanes red before each race; mark no-shows
Battery alert in app
CR2032 near end of life
Twist off the button back-cover counterclockwise; replace battery
Troubleshooting — MM-Link & Meet Manager
Data exchange issues and how to resolve them
MM-Link not connecting
Tablet & laptop on different networks
Connect both to the same timing Wi-Fi router
Results not appearing
Wrong shared folder in MM-Link or Meet Manager
Ensure C:\TimeDrops is set in both MM-Link and Meet Manager
Wrong meet number selected
Hy-Tek picks next meet by default
After Update Data Set, click Previous Meet once to match tablet
Get Times imports wrong heat
Race number mismatch
Click Race # button → enter the correct race number from the tablet
No data after Update Data Set
First heat not yet complete
Wait for first heat result, then click Update Data Set again
Live! app not updating
Cloud connection stale (left running overnight)
Fully exit and restart the Time Drops console app; restart tablet
Meet Day Setup Sequence
Print and laminate — keep in the carrying case
1
Charge STC-1 fully via USB-C (3 hours for full charge)
2
Set up Wi-Fi router — dedicated 2.4 GHz network, not public pool Wi-Fi
3
Power on STC-1 — place at pool edge with line-of-sight to both ends
4
Connect tablet to timing Wi-Fi; open Time Drops console app
5
Verify smiley face is smiling (😊) — controller connected
6
Click each PB-2 button once to wake them; distribute to timekeepers
7
Plug SA-1 into starting system; fire one test start to activate it
8
Open MM-Link on laptop — verify 'connected' shown in green
9
Export MeetProg.htm from Meet Manager → save to shared folder (C:\TimeDrops)
10
Verify tablet shows correct programme and top-right shows READY
Key Resources & Contacts
Everything you need is one URL away
User Manual
time-drops.com/manual.html
Quickstart Guide
time-drops.com/quickstart
Meet Checklist
time-drops.com/checklist
Tablet Compatibility
time-drops.com/tabletlist.pdf
YouTube Channel
youtube.com/@TimeDropsTiming
Live! Web App
live.time-drops.com
MM-Link Download
microsoft.com/store/apps/9MV7DPML9LC2
Support Email
support@time-drops.com
LVWASC Recorder: recorder@lvwasc.co.nz · Liz Van Welie Aquatics Swimming Club