Set the time parameters:
Parameter setup:
In this example, the start beeps will be given at …11:58:15, 12:00:00, 12:01:45 … 12:59:30, 13:01:15… Note that the start beeps will sound at different minutes/seconds in the hours that follow.
The custom setting is valid from 12 hours before First start time to 12 hours after First start time. Start Clock will then transition from after to before First start time, which may cause a time shift of the next start beep.
For Time zero, first start time is given by the zero time point.
Set sound volume of Start Clock:
Off.
On.
Maximum.
Select type of sound:
Loud and clear beeps.
Subdued beeps.
Ding-dong beeps.
Automatically maximize in main timing window:
Fullscreen. In fullscreen mode, there is no menu available in the main timing window. To enter Settings, long press (tap and hold) in the main timing window. For devices that do not have physical back and home buttons, Swipe upwards from the bottom edge of the screen to show these buttons.
Max brightness.
Choose colour theme:
Light theme.
Dark theme.
Custom theme.
Tap custom to pick text and background colours for:
The Normal, Ready, and, Start colours can be chosen to resemble a traffic light (for example, red-orange-green backgrounds).
Edit a short message, which is displayed in the main timing window.
Select text colour.
Align text (left, center, right).
Delete text.
Adjust the text size.
Position the text vertically.
Control if and how fast the text is flashing.
Adjust text transparency (opacity).
The background colour is defined by Normal, Ready, and, Start background colours, respectively.
Enter zero time point hh:mm:ss.
If using Time zero together with Start list, read more under Start list below.
The entered value ±hh:mm:ss.ss is added to current time.
Display a picture or a logo.
Select and preview background image.
Where to place the image. Tap to toggle between the 9 different positions. Works best for small images that don't fill the screen.
Display a cropped image, the entire image, or a fitted (stretched) image. Tap to toggle. Works best for images that are larger than the screen.
Rotate image. Tap to toggle between Auto, 0°, 90°, 180° and 270°.
Stop displaying the image.
Reduce image size (1—100%). Use decrease/increase buttons or move slider.
Display an imported start list, or try this function with the built-in demo start list.
Interval start — Start Clock shows the participants who will start at the next start signal. All contestants start with a fixed time interval.
Chasing start (pursuit) — Start Clock displays each competitor as his/her start time is approaching, then gives a start signal. Settings for chasing start:
The number of participants that can be displayed simultaneously is maximum 30 (15 if one column landscape), but is usually limited by the screen size.
Import start list from XML or CSV file.
Show details about the imported start list.
Show the start list.
Specify how to display the participants. Tick the data fields to be shown. Tap, hold and drag to change the order.
Select one or two columns in landscape orientation. Always one column in portrait orientation.
The names of the participants are read out by speech synthesis (speech services by Google).
Adjust text size of start list.
Adjust text size of clock.
Create the start list, either in XML format, or, in CSV format (Comma-Separated Values).
Transfer the file to be imported (the start list) to the device (phone/tablet). This can be done in several ways, for example, by emailing or downloading the file.
The start list can be imported from within Start Clock, from your email, or, through a file manager.
During the import:
When tapping on an XML/CSV file, Android uses the file extension to determine that the file is handled by Start Clock, and then sends the file to Start Clock. If there are several apps that can handle this filetype, Android will ask which app to use.
If another app (not Start Clock) starts when you tap on the XML/CSV file, then that app has been set as the standard app for this filetype. It could for example be the MS Excel app, an office app, or any similar app. Go to Android's settings, select Apps, and tap into the app that starts instead of Start Clock. Now clear this standard setting.
Note – This is a description of Android's handling of filetypes (MIME types), which is used when opening a start list from an email app or a file manager. It is not applicable when importing from within Start Clock (or, from a file manager if Open with is used), because the picked file is then directly sent to Start Clock.
Select time source:
This device. Use the internal clock of the device.
Use GNSS time (Global Navigation Satellite System; GPS, Glonass, Beidou, Galileo, and/or, INRSS).
Start Clock adjusts the time given by the device's internal clock with a correction, which is updated once per second with GNSS time. If no GNSS update is received, the built-in clock is used, adjusted with the latest correction.
Place the device in an open area with a clear view for a large part of the sky. Trees and buildings as well as weather conditions may prevent accurate timing. Reliable GNSS time is achieved only after several minutes of use. Do not use indoors!
Tap on the satellite icon in the main timing window (upper right corner) to display GNSS status:
Locating satellites (blinking).
Running, fair quality.
Running, good quality.
GNSS unavailable. Android™ Location switched off.
Android permission Location not granted.
GNSS failure.
Timestamp a series of events, for example, capture finish times (or, split/lap times).
Time captured manually when button pressed/released.
Time captured by an external gate, for example, triggered by breaking a laser beam.
Select one or two columns in landscape orientation. Always one column in portrait orientation.
The captured times are read out by speech synthesis (speech services by Google).
Adjust text size of the captured times.
Adjust text size of clock.
Icon in the main timing window
Press (or, release) the button to capture the time.
Menu items in the main timing window (not visible in full screen mode)
Show a list with the captured times.
Share the captured times by email.
Delete all captured times.
External gate interface
The external gate is connected to the device through the headset interface. The signal from the gate shall correspond to the button Play/Pause/Hook (the centre button) of the headset.
Resources:
Try the function by connecting a headset and use the centre button to simulate the signal from the gate.
The start window is used when it is allowed to start before and/or after the start signal.
The custom parameters control when the colours of Ready, Start, and, Normal are used.
The parameters t1, t2, t3 are relative to Go! (the start signal).
Custom configuration examples.
Detect a false start by connecting an external start gate to the device.
False start.
If the gate signal is received before the given reaction time has elapsed, a false start is signalled:
The false start detection is activated at the first Get ready beep and is deactivated during the start second when the reaction time has elapsed. Outside that time window, any signal from the start gate is ignored.
The start gate is connected to the device through the headset interface. The signal from the start gate shall correspond to the button Play/Pause/Hook (the centre button) of the headset.
Resources:
Try the function by connecting a headset and use the centre button to simulate the signal from the start gate.
Automatically take a picture at the start signal using the back facing or the front facing camera. If False start is enabled, pictures will only be taken at false starts.
Icons in the main timing window:
A picture has been taken.
Show/hide preview.
Error when taking picture. Click on the icon to display an error message.
Customize camera settings:
Select rear or front camera.
Position of the image preview. Tap to toggle between the different positions.
Adjust size of the image preview.
Insert date and/or time on each picture. This post-processing of the picture is resource-intensive for old devices.
Position of the timestamp. Tap to toggle between the different positions.
Format controls date and/or time format. The date formats shown below are the English UK versions. They will be adapted to the language settings of your phone/tablet.
Adjust text size of the timestamp.
Set flash option (off, on, auto).
Request the camera to prioritize speed (low latency) or quality. Some cameras ignore this setting.
If the start clock in the main timing window is not properly displayed, try to switch off the graphics hardware acceleration for the clock. Normally, it should be enabled.
To open the system settings dialogue, enter the settings window and tap 7 times within 17 seconds on the blue ribbon at the bottom of the screen.
Android is a trademark of Google LLC.
