How do I show live positions on a big screen at the finish area?

For a race or other event, the easiest setup is to use your timing/tracking provider’s live display and put it on a large TV or projector.

1. Choose what “positions” means: a live course map, a ranked leaderboard, or both. A leaderboard usually updates from timing mats; a moving map needs GPS trackers or participant phones.
2. Check with your timer whether their system provides a public display or full-screen link. For example, RACE RESULT supports configurable event screens, including a big-screen finish display; some GPS-tracking platforms also offer full-screen maps. (web.raceresult.com)
3. Connect a laptop to the screen with HDMI, open the display link, and use full-screen mode. Keep the laptop on power and turn off sleep/notifications.
4. Test it at the venue with the actual internet connection and screen. Confirm the update delay and what happens if the connection drops.
5. Make the display easy to read: large names/bib numbers, clear categories, high contrast, and sponsor logos only if they don’t crowd the results.

One important caveat: positions based on timing mats are only refreshed when participants cross a mat; they aren’t continuous GPS locations. For actual moving dots on a map, you’ll need GPS/phone tracking and a system that can show that feed on a screen. (support.activenetwork.com)

If you tell me the type of event and what timing/tracking system you’re using, I can suggest the exact setup.

The usual approach is to get your timing system to publish live results, then point a full-screen display at that output. Most race timing packages do this in one of three ways.

1. Use a timing package with a built-in display

• RACE RESULT's presenter lets you build your own live results dashboards, and a common use case would be a big screen at the finish line. All lists update automatically. The different lists, their position, style and behaviour can be adjusted in your event file.
• Wiclax lists LED screens, TVs, and tablets among its outputs, and has a local "Live" tab for commentators that shows results as athletes cross a line.
• LiveTime's RaceVision is a scoreboard that you hook up to any system on the network via ethernet cable or WiFi. That setup works without internet.

2. Use a live-results web page on a TV or LED board

• Many systems give you a web page you can open full screen. MYLAPS Speedhive's LiveTiming Web, for example, has a full screen mode to display it on TVs/scoreboards and a custom URL you can share.
• RunSignUp's Live Leaderboard runs on kiosks or Internet connected TVs, and if your timer uses auto-upload, this will drive near real time updates to your displays as long as you have Internet connectivity.

3. Hire a timing company with LED hardware

• Finished Results offers LED boards that show the running time, individual results as the runners finish, and dynamic team scoring, and can also run live video.

Choose the display format

• A "recent finishers" view suits a finish area well. RunSignUp describes it as ideal for setting up after the finish line so runners can see the times of the people who most recently finished.
• A full scrolling list works better for small races. RunSignUp suggests it where you want to show all finishers on a single big screen.
• RaceClocker has a similar "Live Finishers" view, with the newest finisher always at the top.

Practical checklist

• Confirm the screen can connect to the timing laptop over a local network, or to the internet if you're using a cloud results page. Cell coverage matters for cloud hosting; Finish Line Timing's live results, for example, are provided where good cell phone coverage is available.
• Test the display before race day, including a full list refresh, and make sure the screen doesn't sleep.
• Run a backup, such as a second laptop or a phone with the results URL.

If you tell me your timing software (or whether you have a timing company), the setup steps will be more specific. I did not find documentation for every platform, so check your vendor's manual for the exact steps.

To display live race positions and results on a big screen at your finish area, you need a combination of timing hardware to capture the data and display software to broadcast that information to the screen.

Here is how you can set up this system, ranging from simple, low-cost solutions to professional-grade setups.

1. Choose Your Data Source (The Timing System)

Before you can display results, you need a system that records finishers in real time.

• Professional RFID/Chip Timing: Systems like MYLAPS, Race Result, or Chronotrack use antennas and transponders to automatically detect participants. These systems integrate directly with software to output live data.
• Photo Finish / Video Timing: For high-precision events (like track or cycling), tools like FinishLynx provide frame-accurate results that can be fed directly to a display.
• Simple/DIY Solutions: If you are on a budget, apps like RaceClocker or Webscorer allow you to use your smartphone or laptop to log finishes. Some of these apps have "Finish Cam" or "Live Result" features that automatically update as you click or scan finishers.

2. Select Your Display Software

You need software that transforms the raw timing data into a visual "leaderboard" that looks professional on a big screen.

• Integrated Platforms: Many timing systems have built-in "Live" or "Cast" features. For example, RACE RESULT and Webscorer have specific modules that turn a browser window into a full-screen, branded leaderboard.
• Dedicated Display Software: Software like ResulTV (for FinishLynx) or ViewAll is designed specifically to take timing data and create broadcast-quality graphics, including logos, sponsor images, and real-time rankings.
• Browser-Based Solutions: If you have a simple web-based results page, you can often just open that page in a browser, hit F11 (or use a "fullscreen" mode), and project it directly.

3. Connect to the Big Screen (The Hardware)

• Connection: Use a standard HDMI cable for a direct connection from your computer to the screen (TV, projector, or LED wall).
• Wireless/Remote: If your screen is far from your timing tent, consider using a long-range HDMI extender or a wireless casting device. Some professional systems use local networks (or even the cloud) to sync data to multiple displays across a venue without needing long cables.
• The Display:
  • Projectors: A cost-effective solution for indoor or shaded areas.
  • LED Walls/TVs: Best for outdoor, high-visibility environments.

Quick Start Guide (The "Easy" Way)

1. Use a Web-Based Timing App: Use a platform like Webscorer or Throwdown Live that supports real-time cloud syncing.
2. Host the Leaderboard: Open the "Live Results" or "Leaderboard" page on a laptop.
3. Project: Connect the laptop via HDMI to your large screen.
4. Full Screen: Ensure the browser is in full-screen mode. As finishers cross the line and are logged in your timing app, the screen will update automatically.

Pro-Tip: Always have a backup plan (like a local hotspot or offline mode) in case your internet connection drops, as many modern systems are cloud-reliant. If you are running a complex race, test your cable runs and power supply at least a day before the event.

Use your race-timing system’s live results or presenter/scoreboard view and send it to a screen at the finish. The basic setup is:

1. Make sure timing data reaches the results software live from the finish-line timing equipment. Check that bibs and categories are being matched correctly.
2. Create a screen layout—for example, latest finishers with bib, name, time and place, plus a separate overall or category leaderboard. Many timing platforms offer a presenter or large-screen mode whose lists update automatically. ¹²
3. Open the display on a computer connected to the LED wall, TV or projector, then set the browser or app to full screen. A regular TV can work; a large LED wall may need its own video processor or display computer.
4. Test before the event: confirm updates appear when a test result comes in, text is readable from a distance, and the display doesn’t sleep or show private operator screens.
5. Plan for connectivity. Use a wired connection where possible, and verify whether the display can run over the venue’s local network if internet service drops. Some systems support local-network screens. ¹⁴

If you don’t already have timing software, look for one that supports your timing hardware and offers a live leaderboard or finish display. For example, RACE RESULT describes a Presenter designed for big finish-line screens, while other platforms provide live displays for TVs and LED walls. ¹⁴