Simple PhotoCell Timing System
(S.P.T.S.)
SOFTWARE DOWNLOADS

(c) Bryan Brown & Art McEwen 1997-1999
All rights reserved, not to be copied without permission.

All Scuderia McEwen software is designed to run on 286’s, 386’s, 486’s and up. The programs are written in QBASIC and you receive an executable version. Scuderia McEwen maintains control of all source code. DO NOT ASK FOR THE SOURCE CODE, we have invested too much time in our hobby to give this away for free. When you execute the programs, the version number of the program is found on the right hand side of each introductory and setup screen.

There are three files that need to be downloaded for S.P.T.S. You must create a directory on your system called C:\SCUDM to store the programs and parameter file.

First, download CHITI. The most important program for testing and tuning your installation. Before you start playing with PhotoCells, load and execute CHITI. When you get to the main (blue backgound) screen, entitled "SPTS Installation Helper", you will see the results of a continuously running detection loop at the bottom of the screen. This tells you the status of the data bytes, for all three potential ports (LPT1, LPT2 and LPT3). You can test your system if you have a printer connected to any LPT port, by simply turning the printer on and off while CHITI is running. As the printer sends and receives commands from your computer you will see the port data contents change. This will also tell you which LPT port you are connected to (you will need to update PARM.TXT, eventually, with this information). CHITI shows the status of each data bit and you will see the status changing between "BRIGHT" and "DARK". Once you have your PhotoCell and DB25 connections made, you can do your testing with CHITI. You should be able to change the status of the pins by moving your hand over the sensor (PhotoCell) or by moving your source light in towards or away from the sensor. This is a great tool for debugging your system and if you have any problems, we will be asking you to describe what is happening in CHITI to assist in debugging. If you can’t get any results from CHITI, then you must have a wiring problem with the DB25 connector.

Download the latest version of CHITI here:
CHITI.EXE (41KB)


Second, you need to download a file called "PARM.TXT" which contains a variety of parameters which you can use to customize your installation. For example, you can enter your Track Name, the lane colours etc. You can edit this file using any text editor, such as Notepad (Windows) or EDIT (DOS). Please make a backup copy of this file, in the very unlikely event that you mess it up! The file contains a description of each field and only the first record in the file is used by the program, the other records are ignored.

The first thing you must do is update the first record in PARM.TXT with the port address that you are using. You can determine this with CHITI. The default port address in PARM.TXT is "a" for LPT1.

There are two more parameters that are important to the success of your installation. The first is called "Minimum Lap Time" and is found in columns 37-38. You should set this value to the second less than your best lap times. If you do fast laps in 6.3 to 6.5 seconds range, then set the "Minimum Lap Time" to "06". This prevents any "Errant hits" in the first 6 seconds of your lap. If you do happen to drive a superb lap of 5.990, it won't register in S.P.T.S. If you are approaching the "Minimum Lap Time" you may have to drop the value in "PARM.TXT" by a second. The second technical parameter is called the "Delay in Milleseconds". Don't play with this value unless we tell you to!!! We will only change this value if you encounter installation problems and we need to work some of our "Black Magic".

Download the parameter control file here:
(You may have to use the right mouse button to save a TXT file)
PARM.TXT (2KB)


Third, after testing with CHITI, then you can down load one of our basic lap timing programs, either DINO (one lane), ENZO (two lane), MONTY (three lane) or PROST (four lane). The main feature of DINO/ENZO/MONTY/PROST is the large display timing that can be seen from anywhere in your slot race room. All of these programs will register an infinite number of laps but they only retain the first 60 laps in each session in it’s memory for subsequent analysis or printing. At YMR, our practise is to allow each driver exactly 12 laps for qualifying, just like Formula One. You can use it anyway you prefer. The basic timing programs all require access to c:\scudm\parm.txt in order receive your custom parameters.


Download the one lane version (DINO) here:
DINO.EXE (63KB)

Download the two lane version (ENZO) here:
ENZO.EXE (59KB)

Download the three lane version (MONTY) here:
MONTY.EXE (56KB)

Download the four lane version (PROST) here:
PROST.EXE (60KB)


If you experience some problems with "Errant Hits" (i.e. laps counted when no car passes sensor) or "Missed Hits" (car passes over sensor but not recognized), then you have some tuning to do. Refer to the Trouble Shooting section in this text or in CHITI. Generally, it means that the light source is not strong enough or it is too strong and you will have to play with the position of the light source and/or the sensors.

When everything is set up properly, you should have no "Errant Hits" or "Missed hits"!

Once you are fully installed (and we trust fully satisfied) we would appreciate a small donation to further our Research and Development. We will then send you all of our "Advanced Software", including our LEMANS (Enduro) and BERNIE virtual fuel simulation programs and MARIO our latest fully automated race management system. A demo of LEMANS is available on our web pages. LEMANS and BERNIE use the PhotoCell technology to full effect. When you pit with your car (i.e. stop the car on top of the PhotoCell), the LEMANS/BERNIE software recognizes this as a Pit Stop and starts to refuel your car with "Virtual Fuel". Every time you complete a lap, the fuel tank goes down. You have to watch your fuel gauge and make sure you don’t run out of fuel!! It is a game of slotting skill and strategy! LEMANS is designed for team racing and gets everyone at your race meet involved in the same race. May the best team win!

Donations to Scuderia McEwen Research and Development can be mailed to:

Bryan Brown
RR#2, Box 4014
Yarker, Ontario
Canada K0K 3N0


We are continually enhancing our software and creating new programs. Check the SPTS User Group News on our web pages for the latest developments.

Last Updated Jan18/2004

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