StackmatViewer - new tool, help needed

[Stefan]

I got my cable and started writing software to access the stackmat:

Details and the program are here:
http://www.stefan-pochmann.info/misc/stackmat/
http://www.stefan-pochmann.info/misc/stackmat/StackmatViewer.zip

This completes part 1 of my process. I can record and understand my stackmat signal, but I'd like to see other people's signals before continuing.

So here's where I need help: If you have a stackmat and a cable to connect it to your computer, please try my program and email me the "sound.dat" file it produces.

1. Connect your stackmat, turn it on, start it.
2. Download Recorder.jar, save it to your harddisk and run it. It records five seconds of sound data and stores it in file "sound.dat" in the same directory where you saved Recorder.jar.
3. Email me your sound.dat file to stefan.pochmannCUBEgmail.com (replace "CUBE" with "@").

If you want to visualize your sound.dat yourself, download Viewer.jar to the same directory and run it. Controls are explained on screen and are rather intuitive. If you want to listen to it, use Player.jar

 

[Mr.Toad]

I really appreciate your job, is very interesting. Thank you.

 

[Pedro]

you've been emailed

 

[Stefan]

Thanks, going to have a look at it now. The email address is in the readme.txt along with the instructions, btw.

 

[Zubon]

I would like to help but unfortunately I have a stackmat without a data port.

Do you know of any hacks where you can solder a jack to the circuit board therefore making your own data port?

If this is found out, I think it will help a lot of people who want to connect their stackmat to the computer.

 

[FatBoyXPC]

Zubon I think the port is just the one that goes to the tournament display but you hook it into your sound card's "Line In" (usually the blue circle).

I don't have a stackmat timer so I'm not 100% sure. I wouldn't mind one though for when I'm out and about and don't have my handy dandy CCT + spacebar

 

[Stefan]

Do you know of any hacks where you can solder a jack to the circuit board therefore making your own data port?

No, never heard of something like that, sorry. But I suspect that if it's possible at all, it's not an easy or pretty task.

Zubon I think the port is just the one that goes to the tournament display but you hook it into your sound card's "Line In" (usually the blue circle).

What's your point?

 

[FatBoyXPC]

I thought it was standard on the stackmat timer. Again, I don't have one so I'm not sure if they all come like that or just newer ones, or what.

 

[jfly]

Stefan,
I'd love to see the results of this. I still get lots of complaints about CCT not working still. If you don't mind, could I get the sound.dat files, and see how things work with the CCT implementation?

Thanks!

 

[TomZ]

Stefan, your PM inbox is full.

Here's a little remark: the signal is actually just RS232. It can be read using a COM port and a serial to 2.5mm cable. A much neater solution, in my opinion.

 

[StachuK1992]

Stefan, your PM inbox is full.

Here's a little remark: the signal is actually just RS232. It can be read using a COM port and a serial to 2.5mm cable. A much neater solution, in my opinion.

The emailaddress is in the readme.txt along with the instructions, btw.

 

[TomZ]

I didn't want to send him any results, actually. In fact, I don't even have that kind of cable.

 

[Stefan]

I'd love to see the results of this. I still get lots of complaints about CCT not working still. If you don't mind, could I get the sound.dat files, and see how things work with the CCT implementation?

Sure. I'll upload the files, will post again then. So far I only have Pedro's and mine, though. Let's see if I can get some more now that you posted your interest and with simplified instructions posted right here.

To all: Here are simplified and more direct instructions for how you can help:

1. Connect your stackmat, turn it on, start it.
2. Download Recorder.jar, save it to your harddisk and run it. It records five seconds of sound data and stores it in file "sound.dat" in the same directory where you saved Recorder.jar.
3. Email me your sound.dat file to stefan.pochmannCUBEgmail.com (replace "CUBE" with "@").

If you want to visualize your sound.dat yourself, download Viewer.jar to the same directory and run it. Controls are explained on screen and are rather intuitive.

 

[Stefan]

Stefan, your PM inbox is full.

I know, sorry. When I quit as admin, my quota was reduced much so I'm way over it now, and didn't took the time yet to clean that up. Email should work, though.

Here's a little remark: the signal is actually just RS232. It can be read using a COM port and a serial to 2.5mm cable.

I know. But my computer doesn't have a COM port and I suspect I'm not alone. I have 2.5mm to USB cables coming my way, will try if I can get that to work somehow.

[my email address]

Please remove that.

 

[Lucas Garron]

[my email address]

Please remove that.

Do you mind that I did that?

Also, Viewer.jar doesn't work for me. Will check the console.

EDIT: Never mind, works now. Although I temporarily had to disable the Ctrl-arrow setting I use for Spaces.

 

[Stefan]

Changed the Recorder slightly so it shows a message popup instead of playing your alarm sound before and after recording. And I wrote a Player, in case you're curious to *hear* what you recorded.

 

[jbrungar]

I just did this with my old timer thats about 2 years old and a new timer that has barely been used. The new timer is making a nice square wave like stefans, but the old one is not.

Old timer signal

New timer signal

 

[Stefan]

New program: StackmatTuner. This records and directly shows the signal. Please try it and let me know whether you see a somewhat stable image. Flickering is expected, the curve as a whole moving to the side isn't. Also, try changing the volume level, balance, etc of your microphone while StackmatTuner is running and observe how that changes the signal.

Joshua: Thanks for your screenshots. I predict if you lower the microphone volume, your old timer signal will look better. Also, it could have to do with the signal strength and this might depend on the battery strength. Please switch batteries between your timers and test again.

 

[jbrungar]

I switched batteries after someone else suggested that, but it made no difference. I will try playing with volumes and things now.


EDIT: Lowering the volume made the old timers signal better, but not as good as the new timers. The new timers signal started to look more like the old timers signal when lowering the volume.

Screenshots: http://www.filedropper.com/stackmattimersignals

EDIT2: I just had a play with the microphone effects that were enabled by default back when I got my laptop, which mess with the signal and had to be turned off for cct to work. http://www.filedropper.com/stackmatsignalmiceffects
Also, when I enabled all 3 of those settings at the same time, the signal became a flat line after about 5 seconds.

 

[Laura O]

With my normal configuration, microphone at about 50% it looks like this:


After raising it to 100% it looks like this:



My timer is quite new (I bought it about 2 months ago).
And it made those screenshots on a Mac.