Trackmate 9.53

[RichD]

From time to time I like to install the latest version of Trackmate. There is a site where you can upload Beta versions of the software. I did that recently with version 9.52. The files come zipped, I unzip them, install the program on my track computer and then run a few test races. I have been to several big races were untested software was used with disastrous consequences.
I was advised that version 9.53 was just issued to fix a bug in 9.52, it was not on the Beta download site,I had to go to the regular Trackmate site to find it. In that case it is free, but you have to order it and wait for an e-mail that includes a link. I have 9.53 installed and I will be testing it today. A PDF file with instructions is included with the file. Previous versions included instructions that were years out of date, but the new ones appear to be updated to include the latest features.

[RichD]

I did do test race yesterday, everything worked fine except for a track call if a remote button was used. If the button was held down too long the track call would be cancelled and power would come back on. This has been a problem with a number of past versions as well. Using the computer keyboard to do a track call does not cause the problem. If I remember to just tap the button there is no problem. I can alter the setup to include a minimal track call penalty delay to avoid the problem. Another person in my club has installed 9.53 on both of his track computers and not had the problem with either of those.

[bobbyraz49]

We run Trackmate on 2 Buffalo area routed tracks. I'm afraid to even try the latest version.

STAY SAFE !

[RichD]

The latest latest version does include some useful features. The download is free if you order it from the Trackmate site. You can have many different versions of Trackmate installed on your computer at the same time. When you install a new version it looks for the settings from the latest earlier version, so you do not have to fuss very much with the setup. If the program works OK you can keep it, if not you can uninstall it. If you like the new version you might uninstall the older one or just delete the shortcut.
One track that I race at has two shortcuts on the screen, but one goes to a version of Trackmate that does not work for some reason and that should get uninstalled.

[Maddman]

That track call glitch has been an ongoing problem with Trakmate My solution is to interlocked the power relay with the remote push buttons so that they can turn off the power and start a track call. Once the track call has started the pushbuttons are defeated and cannot restart the race. The race is restarted using the keyboard or mouse.

Details can be found here [URL REMOVED]

[gmcullan]

Luckily, I don't have too much of an issue with the track call buttons on my computer. Rev. 9.5.2 that is on the TrackMate beta site freezes the program with every use of the track call button. Rev. 9.5.3 fixes that issue. Evidently, Daniel has enough confidence in Rev. 9.5.3 so as to make it available right from his main page. Yes, you have to buy it, but the cost is $0.00. You almost immediately get a confirming E-mail with a link to download the product.

I currently have Rev. 9.5.3 installed on both of my tracks. My Banzai BuckTrax (one of the first tracks built by Dale Buck) currently features the most recent version of the TrackMate interface board and uses IR detectors with an IR light bridge. Originally equipped with a first generation TrackMate interface board, that board died after 20+ years of service.

I also have installed Rev. 9.5.3 on my HORacePro Slider (tm) banked oval. This track uses a second generation of the TrackMate interface board and dead strips. This track has a lot of versatility being a routed track with braid. I can run four HO, four 1/43, two 1/32, or two 1/24th scale cars on this track. All lanes have a polarity reversing switch. Primarily set up for HO cars, the TrackMate counter is not reliable with the polarity reversed for the other cars. As such, my plans for this summer, funds and health allowing, will be to upgrade this track to IR sensors and an IR light bridge. The IR sensor couldn't care less about track polarity, only that the IR beam is broken. Yes, there are ways to add switching for the dead strip sections, but that's just another layer of switches that need to be thrown.

[SlotsNZ]

I did do test race yesterday, everything worked fine except for a track call if a remote button was used. If the button was held down too long the track call would be cancelled and power would come back on. This has been a problem with a number of past versions as well. Using the computer keyboard to do a track call does not cause the problem. If I remember to just tap the button there is no problem. I can alter the setup to include a minimal track call penalty delay to avoid the problem. Another person in my club has installed 9.53 on both of his track computers and not had the problem with either of those.

This is not really a glitch at all.
Daniel stipulates you must use "momentary" make switches, that send a pulse as they "momentarily"' make/close the circuit.
You aren't meant to hold the switch down, just push it momentarily.

[RichD]

I use a high quality arcade type switch from Slot Car Corner. We did not have the problem with older versions of Trackmate, now in the heat of battle a person might hold the button down too long and get a premature restart. Possibly the older versions of Trackmate included some debounce. The ultimate solution would be to add an interlock to take the button out of the circuit. Before I got Trackmate and a laptop computer I used a TrikTrax counter along with a GrayLab timer and a track call system of my own design. That system has two control boxes on long extension cords. Each box has two arcade type buttons, a red one to turn off the power and stop the timer and a green one that turns the power back on and restarts the timer. If you are using Trackmate and have more than one button you would have a problem if more than one got pressed for a single incident.

[Wet Coast Racer]

We run Trackmate on 2 Buffalo area routed tracks. I'm afraid to even try the latest version.

I hear you on that! I think I may own the original version of Trackmate, purchased directly from Daniel quite a few years back.

It came on a CD Rom, as I recall; but the only used computer I could dig up to run it on used something called DOS, and didn't even have a CD Rom drawer. So a clever friend of mine copied it to a 3.5" floppy, and added a self-booting feature to make it turn on automatically when the power bar is switched on (this lights up the track and starts the power supply at the same time).

Windows updates are not a problem, eh?

[Maddman]

The problem occurs if you hold the Momentary switch down for a short period of time. If you just punch it the software works as it should. If you hold the switch down for a few seconds it will turn off and then turn back on. At least that's what the early versions of the software did. Haven't used TM4W for a while now.

As Rich indicated the solution is to interlock the PB with the power relay. I did that years ago. My track call push buttons can ONLY turn off the power and start a track call. Once the track call has started the push buttons are defeated and cannot restart the race. The race is restarted using the keyboard or mouse.

Details on my solution can be found here http://siberiaracing.altervista.org/.../Trackcall.htm

[bobbyraz49]

I don't want to fix something that isn't broken.

[RichD]

You can have a number of versions of Trackmate installed at one time, you can only open one of those at a time however. The download is free and the program installs in less than a minute. If you are still using an old version of Trackmate you may find that the latest version has a number of useful features. If you don't like the program you can just uninstall it.
If you still have the old DOS version of Trackmate that will not run on most computers that are using Windows. The earliest versions of Windows included a DOS emulator and could run the original Trackmate software. If you have an old Trackmate interface board you need to have a computer with a serial input or get a serial to USB adapter. The adapter includes some electronics and a driver must be installed for your computer to see it.

[bobbyraz49]

So.....am looking for a way to "race myself". Is it just running different cars with the same length of heats ?

Any other options ? TY

[RichD]

You could program a rotation race with timed heats as if you had more drivers. If you had a four lane track you would put in four different driver's names. You could have a different car for each driver or use a single car for all of the drivers. Pick a lane to start on, you will have to stay on that lane for all four heats. At the beginning of each heat the car should be at the starting line. During each heat obviously only the lane that you are in will register any laps. At the start of the next heat the computer will think that you are a different driver. After the last heat has been run you can go to View Data, then Race Results. For the best lap go to View Data, then Best Laps.

[bobbyraz49]

You could program a rotation race with timed heats as if you had more drivers. If you had a four lane track you would put in four different driver's names. You could have a different car for each driver or use a single car for all of the drivers. Pick a lane to start on, you will have to stay on that lane for all four heats. At the beginning of each heat the car should be at the starting line. During each heat obviously only the lane that you are in will register any laps. At the start of the next heat the computer will think that you are a different driver. After the last heat has been run you can go to View Data, then Race Results. For the best lap go to View Data, then Best Laps.

Thank you.
Do you know if Race Coordinator has any other options ? Just fishing for some options. Be safe