A network is a series of devices which are connected together and can communicate with each other, normally via an Ethernet connection or Wi-Fi. This could be part of a local area network (LAN) using a switch or router, or devices which are connected directly to each other.
Network Basics
When setting up a network there are some fundamental requirements that must be considered.
- Each device has an address, called the "IP address".
- Each IP address in a network must be unique. Do not use the same IP address twice.
- An IP address consists of 4 number blocks (each having a value between 0 and 255) separated by a period, e.g. 192.168.1.100
- In local networks, IP addresses usually start with 192.168.x.x (this is a reserved address space not used in the Internet).
- When two devices in a local network (e.g. computer and timing system) want to communicate with each other, they should be in the same subnet, i.e. they need to have the same first three blocks of the IP address (but different fourth block!), e.g.
Timing System: 192.168.1.201
Computer 1: 192.168.1.101
Computer 2: 192.168.1.102
Automatic (DHCP) vs. Fixed (Static) IP
IP address can either be assigned automatically or fixed to specific values, which option you choose will primarily depend on the setup of your network.
When connecting devices to a network which contains a router, such as your wi-fi network at home or the office, the router will usually assign IP addresses automatically using a technique called DHCP. This is the preferred method of working as the DHCP server will ensure that the same IP address is not assigned twice and is the default setting on all operating systems and RACE RESULT hardeare.
When connecting systems without a router (e.g. direct connection between computer and system, or local network using an unmanaged switch), static IP addresses need to be assigned to both the timing system and computer. For RACE RESULT systems refer to the network settings menu for the system to set a static IP address if required.
How to set static IP address in Windows
In order to connect to a network device such as the RACE RESULT Decoder, your computer needs an IP address in order to communicate over the network. If you are using a router, an IP address will automatically be assigned. If you are directly connecting to a decoder, your computer needs a static IP address set. In most cases, the RACE RESULT Web Server will automatically assign a static IP address. In the case that it does not, you can follow these general steps to set one. For more details on networking see Ethernet/Network Connection.
Your steps might vary depending on your operating system but the concept is the same. Below are examples of Windows 10 and Windows 11
Windows 10
- Navigate to the settings on your computer. This can be found under the Windows start menu by clicking the gear icon labeled settings.
- Select Network & Intenet from the list.
- Select Properties for your Ethernet adapter. If you have multiple Ethernet adapters, make sure you are selecting the correct one! Do NOT select the WiFi adapter.
- Navigate to the section labeled IP settings. You should see IP assignment is set to Automatic(DHCP)
- Select Edit
- Change the drop-down from Automatic to Manual and toggle on IPv4
- Enter the below IP address settings
Windows 11
- Navigate to the settings on your computer. This can be found under the Windows start menu by clicking the gear icon labeled settings.
- Select Network & Intenet from the list on the left
- Select Ethernet.
- Next to the section labeled IP assignment, select the EDIT button. If you have multiple Ethernet adapters, make sure you are selecting the correct one!
- Change the drop-down from Automatic(DHCP) to Manual and toggle on IPv4
- Enter the below IP address settings
Alternate Option
If either of the above two options gives you an error you can try setting these settings through the control panel instead of the Windows 10/11 settings menu.
- Open Control Panel
- Select Network and Internet > Network and Sharing Center
- On the left, select Change Adapter Settings
- Right-click your Ethernet Adapter and select Properties
- Select Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4), then select properties
- Apply the settings listed below
Verify IP Settings
To verify that the IP address is set, you can open the RACE RESULT Web Server and look in the bottom left-hand corner to see if the IP address set appears. It should show 192.168.1.100. Note, if you are also connected to WiFi you will see a second IP address.
How to check what IP addresses your computer has
You can use the Command Prompt application on your computer to check your network settings.
- Search "CMD" from the Windows start menu.
- Select Command Prompt from the list of searched programs.
- Type in the command ipconfig and press enter
- You will receive a list of network adapters and the various settings for each.
Note, it is possible for a computer to have more than one network adapter. Often, laptops will have a WiFi adapter as well as an Ethernet adapter. Make sure that you are looking at the correct network adapter (for a direct decoder connection you should be using the Ethernet adapter).