Installation: BBT

To start timing using the BBT timing software it must be installed on your Windows computer. This enables you to use your computer as a client allowing you to connect to other servers (see System overview).

To be fully operational you will also need to install a database server on one of the computers in your timing setup for storage of all event data - and you need to get a valid license for the software.

Follow these steps to install the BBT timing software and get ready for timing your first event:

1. Have the installation file BBTinstaller.exe ready. If you do not have the file, please use this link blackboxtiming.com/contact and follow the steps until you reach this screen where you find a link to download the installer. On this page you will also find the license key which you will need later in the installation process
2. Establish an Internet connection
3. Start the installation (please note that the installer will update itself if needed)
4. Follow these simple steps to complete the installation

Note: It is a requirement that you have Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8 on your computer. This is normally handled by Windows itself and is most likely not something you have to worry about. Otherwise you can download the runtime here.

Note: This step can be skipped if you only use your computer as a client to connect to other timing servers

If you need to store all event data you must have a database server available on your computer. BBT supports the commonly used and free MySQL server.

If you already have MySQL server installed on your computer, you can skip the installation of the server - if not, please press this link install_mysql to install a MySQL server

Please remember the administrator (root) password you selected during installation

Note: This step can be skipped if you only use your computer as a client to connect to other timing servers

Please press “License” and input the license key The license key can be found on bbtiming.com where you log in using your profile (see further above).

A valid license key has this format: XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXX

Each key can be bound to a limited number of computers, depending on your license conditions.

Please contact us at info@blackboxtiming.com if you can not find your license key.

When the MySQL server is installed, we need to tell the BBT timing software how to connect to this new server. This is done from the 'Database' menu.

We recommend to let BBT configure everything for you by choosing to create a new empty database.

Enter the username and password you chose during the MySQL installation. When you press “next”, BBT will create and set up a new database.

For the best experience using the BBT timing software, you should enter a MySQL-user that has access to creating new databases. This will happen automatically to the default user when installing MySQL using this guide.