Start Clock

Platform: 📱 Mobile only

See also: Registrations & Start Lists, Connection & Reader Setup, Running a Standard Race

When you need this

You're managing the start area at an orienteering event with individual start times. You need a large visible clock for participants lining up, audible countdown beeps so everyone knows when the next minute starts, and voice announcements of who's due to start. Optionally, participants read their chip to confirm their start registration.

Entering Start Clock Mode

From the event list, tap the event you want to time. A menu appears with the available modes. Tap Start Clock to enter Start Clock Mode. The screen shows a large clock display synchronized via the Navisport server, filling most of the screen.

Before entering Start Clock Mode, make sure the event has registrations with assigned start times. The mode uses start times from the registration data to determine which participants to announce each minute.

The Clock Display

The clock dominates the screen — large text (72–140px depending on device) showing the current time in HH:MM:SS format. This is designed to be readable from several meters away by participants waiting in the start place.

The clock is automatically synchronized for accuracy via the Navisport server. Tap the clock in the header bar to trigger a manual sync — useful if you suspect the time has drifted or if the device was offline when the mode was opened.

Below the clock, the names of participants being called to the prestart are displayed — these are participants whose start time matches the offset time shown on the clock. This gives both the start official and the participants a clear view of who should be coming to the prestart area.

Countdown Beep Sequence

Start Clock Mode plays an audible countdown sequence each minute to signal the approaching start:

  • :50 — A single warning beep (different tone). This alerts participants that 10 seconds remain.
  • :55, :56, :57, :58, :59 — Short countdown beeps, one per second. Participants prepare to go.
  • :00 — A longer start beep (distinct tone). This is the go signal.

The beep sequence repeats every minute automatically. You don't need to press anything — the clock runs continuously.

The start beep can be toggled on or off in Settings if you prefer silent operation or are using a separate start signal.

Participant Announcements

At each minute mark (:00), the app announces the time shown on the clock (the offset time) and the names of participants whose start time matches that offset time. These are participants being called to the prestart area — not the ones starting right now. For example, with prestart set to 4 minutes, at real time 10:01 the app announces "Ten-oh-five. Virtanen, Mäkinen, Korhonen" — calling them to come to the prestart now, 4 minutes before their actual start.

This serves two purposes:

  • Participants hear their name and know they should come to the prestart area now
  • The start official gets audio confirmation of who should be arriving at the prestart

The names are also displayed on screen below the clock, so participants can visually confirm they're being called.

Note that at the same moment, the start beep serves a different group — the participants whose start time matches the real time. They are already at the start line and the beep is their go signal.

Chip Reading for Start Confirmation

If a USB chip reader is connected, participants can read their chip to confirm their start registration. This is optional but useful for verifying that the right person is starting at the right time.

When a participant reads their chip, the system validates the registration and responds with one of these outcomes:

  • Accepted — The start is registered. The app plays a success sound and the participant can proceed.
  • Already registered — The participant has already confirmed their start. The app announces "you are already registered."
  • Invalid start time — The participant's assigned start time doesn't match the current minute. The app announces "invalid start time."
  • Future start time — The participant is early. The app announces "your start time is [time]" so they know when to return.
  • Not found — The chip isn't linked to a registration with a start time. The app announces "registration details incomplete."

This validation prevents participants from starting at the wrong time and gives immediate feedback without the start official needing to check manually.

Prestart Time

The prestart setting determines how many minutes ahead of real time the clock display runs. This creates a dual behavior at each minute mark:

  • Names/announcements serve participants whose start time matches the displayed (offset) time — they are being called to the prestart area NOW, with N minutes to prepare before their actual start.
  • Beeps serve participants whose start time matches the real time — they are already at the start line and the beep is their GO signal.

For example, if prestart is set to 4 minutes:

  • When real time is 10:00, the clock shows 10:04
  • The start beep at :00 is the GO signal for participants with start time 10:00 — they are at the start line
  • The names announced and displayed are participants with start time 10:04 — they should come to the prestart area NOW
  • These are two different groups of participants at the same moment

Common prestart times:

  • 3 minutes — quick check, suitable for training events
  • 4–5 minutes — standard for competitions with chip verification and card clearing

When a participant reads their chip at the prestart, the system validates whether their start time matches the current offset time. If they arrive too early (their start time is still in the future relative to the offset clock), the app announces their actual start time so they know when to return.

Start Place Filtering

When an event has multiple start places (e.g., different courses starting from different locations), you can filter which participants are shown and announced by the start clock.

Open Settings and select which start places to show. Only participants whose course has the selected start place number will appear in the display and be announced by the app.

This prevents confusion when multiple start officials are working different start places — each phone shows only the participants relevant to that start place.

Landscape Mode

When you rotate a tablet to landscape orientation, Start Clock Mode switches to a split layout:

  • Left side — The large clock display with countdown
  • Right side — The list of participant names due to start at the current minute

This layout works well when the phone is mounted horizontally at the start area, giving both the clock and participant names maximum visibility.

Settings

Tap the menu icon to open Start Clock settings:

  • Start beep — Toggle the countdown beep sequence on or off
  • Prestart time — How many minutes ahead of real time the clock runs. Names shown match this offset time (calling participants to prestart), while beeps fire at real-time boundaries (the actual start signal).
  • Start place — Select which start places to show and announce

Settings take effect immediately — no need to restart the mode.

Scenario: Managing a multi-class start area

You're the start official at a regional orienteering event with 120 participants across 6 classes, all starting from the same start place with 1-minute intervals. You have your phone mounted on a stand at the prestart area, with a USB chip reader on the table. The actual start line is a short walk away from the prestart.

Setup (10 minutes before first start)

  1. Open the Navisport app and find today's event in the event list
  2. Tap the event, then tap Start Clock to enter Start Clock Mode
  3. Tap the clock in the header to sync — confirm the time matches the official event clock
  4. Open Settings: enable start beep and set prestart to 4 minutes
  5. Connect the USB chip reader and confirm the green USB indicator in the header bar
  6. Mount the phone where participants can see the clock from the prestart area

Running the start (first starts at 10:00)

  1. At 09:59:50, the warning beep sounds — participants with start time 10:00 prepare at the start line.
  2. At 09:59:55, the countdown beeps begin — :55, :56, :57, :58, :59
  3. At 10:00:00, the start beep sounds — participants with start time 10:00 GO. Simultaneously, the app announces "Ten-oh-four. Virtanen, Korhonen" — calling these participants to the prestart area (their actual start is in 4 minutes).
  4. Virtanen and Korhonen hear their names and come to the prestart. They can optionally read their chip for verification.
  5. Four minutes later at 10:04:00, the start beep sounds for Virtanen and Korhonen — they GO from the start line.
  6. This cycle repeats every minute: the beep starts one group while the announcement calls the next group to prestart.

Handling edge cases

  1. At 10:03, a participant reads their chip but their start time is 10:05. The app announces "your start time is ten-oh-five." They step back and wait.
  2. At 10:07, someone reads a chip that isn't in the system. The app announces "registration details incomplete." You direct them to the registration desk.
  3. At 10:12, a participant reads their chip again after already starting. The app announces "you are already registered." No duplicate is created.

Prestart in action

  1. With prestart set to 4, the clock shows 10:04 when real time is 10:00. At this moment: the beep is the GO signal for participants with start time 10:00, while the names shown (start time 10:04) are being called to prestart — giving them 4 minutes for chip check and card clearing before their actual start.
  2. Continue until all participants have started. The clock and beeps run continuously without intervention.

The start area ran smoothly with one phone, one reader, and one official. Participants always knew when their start was, and chip confirmation caught timing errors before they became problems.

Tips

  • Mount the phone at eye level or higher so the clock is visible from the waiting area. A phone tripod or clamp works well.
  • Keep the volume up — the countdown beeps and voice announcements need to be audible over crowd noise. Consider connecting a Bluetooth speaker for large events.
  • If you have multiple start places, use one phone per start place with the start place filter set accordingly.
  • The clock sync ensures your start clock matches the finish timing. Tap the clock to re-sync if you notice any drift during the event.
  • In landscape mode on tablets, the split layout gives participants both the countdown and their names at a glance — ideal for mounted displays.
  • Set the prestart time to match your start procedure — 4 minutes works well when you need time for chip check, card clearing, and a brief course instruction.