7 replies to this topic

[eshorer]

Whenever I plug in a 2nd large screen LG TV monitor to EITHER of my laptops (an older one using a PC cable, a new one using an HDMI cable), Trackmate runs normal for anywhere from 20 seconds to 3 minutes (and everything in between) before the car stops, and the timing on TrackMate stops running. I have access to the "Pause" button, and it will work again for a few laps after pausing and hitting the "Continue" button. If I UNPLUG the cable to the 2nd monitor it runs without a problem from the laptop. I've turned the Sleep mode and Screen Saver modes off, so that's not it.  Any ideas? 

Eddie

[Ramcatlarry]

You may need the $100 'video splitter'  to amplify the signal.

 

An 'amplifier' should have its own wall wart power supply to do the work.

[eshorer]

You may need the $100 'video splitter'  to amplify the signal.

It looks like the splitters come in two types, $10. or $50., with I assume the difference being the more expensive ones amplify the signal. Since I'm going from a laptop with its built-in monitor to the TV monitor, would I just let one of the two that split off hanging there unused, and hope that the amplified signal does the trick? I guess it's worth a try. Do you happen to know if there are "amplified" cables, or something of the sort. 

Eddie

[Pappy]

I had to shorten the cables and disconnect my desktop monitor to get my LapMaster counter to work with two 55" monitors.

[MSwiss]

I ran into an issue with my drag strip with adding a monitor at the end for the guys to write down their times after they fetch their car out of the shutdown.

 

I needed to buy a cable with a built in signal booster.

 

 

I'm not sure if it will solve your issue, but my point is they do sell a cable with a built in signal booster.

[Sloter]

This is good to know. I just installed a new 43 inch smart TV to use as a monitor. I am also in the middle of building a wooden track so I will have to wait to see if I have this issue. Great info guys.

 

Thanks

 

Bob

[eshorer]

I had to shorten the cables and disconnect my desktop monitor to get my LapMaster counter to work with two 55" monitors.

 

 

I ran into an issue with my drag strip with adding a monitor at the end for the guys to write down their times after they fetch their car out of the shutdown.

 

I needed to buy a cable with a built in signal booster.

 

Screenshot_20240814_075956_Chrome.jpg

 

I'm not sure if it will solve your issue, but my point is they do sell a cable with a built in signal booster.

Dan from Trackmate thinks it may be some electrical interference, perhaps caused by some of the cables too near to the power source. Today I was able to run with the laptop and the large TV monitor both on, and everything worked fine and it didn't "freeze" or time out. HOWEVER, it counted a lap on a lane I wasn't running on. There wasn't even a controller hooked up to it. So I've definitely got a gremlin or two at work. I should mention, this is with a Dead Strip, not a light bridge. I'll get back to it for some extensive testing when I get back to town in a couple of weeks. Thanks guys. 

Eddie

[eshorer]

**UPDATE** It seems to be solved. First, to recap: When hooking up a large TV monitor in addition to my laptop running TrackMaster software with a deadstrip, the program would STOP at anywhere from 20 seconds to 3 minutes. I did hours of various testing, including purchasing a booster splitter, and a separate booster VGA cable, A booster cable arrived today, but it was solved before I even opened the pack. Another piece of the mystery: When I had cars going around and around at half throttle with a rubber band on the controllers, it was fine, and even ran for an hour straight in Practice mode. As soon as I started DRIVING one of the lanes, it would stop. Not really freeze, since I could move the mouse, abort the program, and restart it. 

So, the answer? ::drumroll:: Apparently the Power Supply I was using was the culprit! I don't know why, how, or if it suddenly went bad. All I know is that when I hooked up my original Trinity Power Supply, it's working without any glitches. I hope this assessment isn't premature, but I ran through the equivalent of five, three-minute races without a problem so far. I'll post an update after I host a Farrout race on October 5th.

Eddie