Version 6 introduces a few new features, particularly the new Electronic Timing Interface which is a major enhancement for Summit System users.  Version 6.3 brings these new features into the main stream as the upgrades have undergone extensive real-race testing and this release is considered the main Race-Ready release for the 2007/2008 season.  Please review the following release notes and read the related sections and change notes.

New Electronic Timing Interface
The new EI was built mainly to address all of the Bib Entry functionality and flexible usage of the Summit System timers.  This required a whole new underlying timing architecture and so many other timing related changes have been added as well.  For bib entry features, Zone4 now supports Summit Posted Bibs, Bib+Time, Bib Sequence Entry, and Biathlon Range Data entry.  The Bib+Time feature along with specially upgraded Summit Timers now supports the ABM chip system, for seamless electronic and chip timing.

• More flexible Assignments.  You can now assign times to not only Starts, Laps & Finish, and Finish Only, but specific Lap timing points (allowing better handling of pursuit transition entry, exit times), Biathlon Penalty Laps, and a Starts & Laps & Finish assignment for small club time trials or training applications.
• A universal post-assignment architecture for all timing assignments.  This scraps the pre-filled Start Assignment and dedicated functionality for starts.  The new model there is no 3 second rule, and no automatic start-time grid.  This does mean a bit more work for the operator (if not using Summits) as the start assignment is no longer automated, but I was faced with two difficult choices.  It had become increasingly apparent that the concept of a pre-assigned start-grid was flawed mainly because it assumed that the starter would make no mistakes and that everything would work as well in reality as it should in theory.  Unfortunately, this assumption proved erroneous and very problematic when mistakes did happen.  I have seen races delayed many hours because the started got one person out of sync with the startlist, a novice, but very easy mistake to make.  And in Zone4, this scenario had never been adequately addressed, and when faced with trying to create a system that could not only take into account all the mistakes athletes can make, but also the starter, I realized that instead of trying to complicate the start assignment even more, the simplest and most powerful solution was to treat ALL timing assignments the same.  The Zone4 algorithms for sorting out double pulses, missed pulses and bib assignment does a very good job of dealing with less than ideal situations at the finish line, so it made sense to start treating them all the same.  And the flexibility of assigning the bib numbers AFTER the times comes in, offer the ultimate flexibility of not being wedded to whatever the startlist says.  If you have some problem at the start and have to delay by a minute, no problem, if your starter gets out of sync, no problem, if you get double, or missed pulses, no problem.  Although it sounds like more work, the start is so orderly and calm, I think in practice, the timer inside will find quite easy to handle the start assignment.  Overall, I believe this change is a positive step.
• The Instant Result screen now displays Starts.  This is especially helpful with the above Start Assignment changes as you can then easily follow what is happening out on the start line, and see who has just left.  The Startlist view displays both the original Assigned StartTime, and their actual just-assigned time.
• A "Lap" column had been added to the timing grid so you can clearly see what lap a specific time/bib has been assigned to.  It will either be S for Start, L1-9 for Laps, F for finish, and P for Penalty Lap.  This will greatly help sort out mistakes and help communicate what Zone4 has done when matching bibs and times.
• A more powerful Summit Control Panel with detailed information and control of each device.  The Device Monitor reports the communication status of each device, and allows you to reset and Device counts individually.
• You also have the ability to set the Wireless network number of the SRT base station.  This is set in an upgraded Custom Options section.

FIS/CCC Data Validation - you can now download CCC validation data and process your race file through a series of validation routines which help to clean up FIS and CCC racing licences and then uses the correct licences to update Club, Team, BirthDate, and other information.  These routines are able to do in a matter of minutes what used to take a race secretary countless hours before.

Manually Edit Sprint StartTimes - it had been requested to be able to give some manual control to the assignment of Sprint Heat Start Times.  After you have assigned bibs and times, you can now use 5. Assign Startlist -> 7. Manually Adjust StartTime to change heat start-times.

The Tools -> Update Latest Points menu item has been moved to the Checklist button  5. Assign Startlist menu.  This, in combination with the Validate FIS/CCC Data menu item now makes the Assign Startlist menu much more complete and process oriented.  There are now 7 numbered menu items in the Assign Startlist menu and as they are all related to generating your startlist, completing them in sequence will help ensure good data quality and accuracy.  The only item that isn't included that could potentially be, is the Internet->Download Validation Data and Internet->Download Points Files.  I've decided to leave those under the Internet menu as they are not something you necessarily have to do for each race, and they are very much internet-connection related which often isn't the case at race sites.  I may change this later based on feedback.

New VISTA compatibility rules have changed where Zone4 can store temporary and system files.  Please read the Zone4 Installation section for more information.

A great deal of time has been put into new documentation, especially concerning the new Electronic Interface.  I have put more time into addressing common questions and sticking points so I strongly recommend reading the following sections in order to be as informed as possible about the new features and for extensive advice on proper timing and system operation practices.  (The Upgrade Notes in the help files inside the program contain links to all the relevant new documentation sections.)

• FIS/CCC Data Validation
• Electronic Interface Setup
• Electronic Timing Interface
• Summit System Control Panel
• Tools -> Options -> EI Interface Settings
• EI Interface Testing
• USB To Serial Port Adapters