The Easiest Swim Timing System - Period.
Finally you can get rid of manual stopwatches, paper slips and wire harnesses for good! Just hand out our small, easy to use wireless buttons to the timers, and your swimming timing system is ready in minutes
Just push the button!
Our wireless buttons don't need explanation. Just push as the swimmer touches the pool wall. Nothing to configure, reset or clear
Multiple start options
Our start adapter works with common swim start systems from major vendors. Or, just use an extra button to start the race
NEW: Our wireless mini-starter can drive an external powered speaker and can both serve as a bullhorn and integrated start beeper.
Touch-screen control
The whole system is controlled with an easy-to use touch screen interface from a tablet. The tablet works wirelessly, so you can move to the best position where you can see the pool
Hands-off operation
Once the meet program is loaded into the tablet, the meet can be run mostly without any intervention. Only touch the system in case of false starts, last-minute added swimmers and other exceptions.
For the timers
Just don't take them with you as you leave!
- Single-button operation: Just push the button as the swimmer touches the wall
- Races are started centrally by the starter, only push as the race finishes
- No need to use a phone, just pass the button to the next timer when you change shifts
- All buttons are managed centrally from the controller. Nothing to configure, pair or set up
- Easily move to the far end of the pool for short races
- Runs for years on a single coin cell
- Soft-touch button with well defined tactile feedback
- Waterproof and lightweight (~ 1 oz)
- Color-coded, comfortable lanyards
- No on or off switch, power is managed automatically
Once the meet starts, you can relax!
The Time Drops® system knows all the details of your meet, so your only job is to watch the meet progress and make adjustments, if there are last minute changes.
- No need for per-heat paper slips or runners. The results flow automatically to your laptop for import in the meet management system
- The system knows if there are empty lanes, you only need to mark unscheduled no-shows
- Fix early or missed button pushes with a simple swipe
- Control your meet from a wireless tablet with touch screen interface
- Automatically progress to the next heat or event
- The buttons are always armed and will never miss a start or finish
- Smart logic detects the most common errors and fixes them on the fly
Stay informed at all times
Time Drops supports both LED video scoreboards and traditional numeric boards.
No scoreboard? Use the Time Drops Live! mobile app to follow the meet in real time.
- No need to wait for 'official' results
- See personal best times and unofficial records right away
- Easy accessible meet program
- New - Scoreboard mode lets you convert your phone into a miniature, real-time scoreboard
- Get automatic notifications for your favorite swimmer's results
- Protect your swimmer's privacy with PIN protection
- No ads, no in-app purchases. App usage included in your subscription
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| Don't want to install an app? Try our instant web app! | |
Set up in minutes
No wires or harnesses. No heavy console.
- Just pass out the color coded lanyards with the buttons to the timers
- Flexible configuration: traditional 3-button operation, or 2 or even just 1
- Support for any number of lanes up to 10
- Wireless start adapter can be mounted semi-permanently
- Wireless scoreboard connection
- Your swimming timing system can be set up in minutes
Timing System Features
Works with popular meet management software
Connects wirelessly to:
Hy-Tek Meet Manager
Swimtopia's Meet Maestro
Splash Meet Manager
Swimcloud Meet Manager
EasyWk
CPS-Schwimm
Imports the full meet program including lane assignments, seed times, standards and records.
TV scoreboard interface
Turn any TV into a live scoreboard using Fire TV Stick or Android TV (sold separately). See how it works.
New! Our multiplatform scoreboard app now works on any desktop or mobile device.
Accurate Times
Swiss-made temperature-compensated precision clock with <0.01s/hour deviation. Buttons sync to the central clock within 1/10,000th of a second. Central race start eliminates manual stopwatch delays.
Mobile app included
Team members access the meet program and live results on their phones at no extra cost. Unlimited meets included in your subscription. Available for Android and iPhone.
Exceptional Battery Life
Ultra-low power, long-range radio modules. A single CR2032 coin cell lasts 500+ hours—good for several seasons. The app monitors battery health and alerts you before replacements are needed.
Predictable cost
Low upfront investment. No surprise repair bills—replacement of broken or damaged parts is covered by the annual subscription. Ideal for recreational, summer league, and competitive swim teams.
Support for LED scoreboards
Use your existing LED scoreboard (numeric or matrix) with our adapters. Matrix systems can display time improvements, records and standards. Supports RS232 numeric boards and matrix displays from most vendors.
What Our Customers Say
Teams across the country and around the world trust Time Drops for their swim meets
This past weekend, I had the pleasure of utilizing your Time Drops system, and I am delighted to share that, for the first time in my 15-year tenure of running meets, I did not need to rely on a single manual stopwatch time! The convenience and reliability it provides have significantly improved my role as a meet organizer.
We've been using TimeDrops for our school galas, and it's made running events more efficient. The system is reliable, user-friendly, and showcases results beautifully in a clear, professional format. The support team has been excellent whenever we've needed assistance. TimeDrops has really helped us streamline and elevate the quality of our meets.
We ran our first home meet last night. It went really well and we had no issues at all. The team we were racing showed up with a bunch of stopwatches and sheets of paper. I would love for you to have seen their faces when I started handing out the timing fobs. There was a minute or two of us assuring them that the system is just as easy as we're telling them it is.
The Time Drops system has revolutionized how our summer swim team runs its meets. Gone are the days of printing hundreds of timer sheets and manually entering times by hand. The system is very robust, and we've never had any issues. I can't recommend the system enough. The company is ultra communicative and supportive throughout.
We ran our meet using the TimeDrops app on the scoreboard. It all worked perfectly. Swimmers loved seeing the time they dropped on the screen after their race, and they all loved the record animation. We had such great feedback—even grandparents in Paris were following along with the live results!
We have been using the Time Drops system for almost a year now and are in love with it. It has made running meets so easy. I think this is definitely the future of swimming!
Small to medium sized team? Use this timing system. Personalized support, easy to use, easy to setup. Shaking up the rec swim timing game. You won't be disappointed.
TimeDrops simply picks up all the slack in an environment where there are any missing elements for the running of a meet. This was the first time the Zone IV Championships had a solution like this, and it really elevated the level of competition in terms of timing, look and feel, and overall efficiency. Many countries came down to see TimeDrops and were keen to look at getting it into their countries and clubs.
Read the full case study →Swim Timing System FAQ
- What is Time Drops®?
Time Drops is a semi-automatic or fully automatic timing system for swimming. The system is activated by a starting device and stopped at the finish by buttons pushed by the timers.
Instead of traditional plungers which are plugged into a cumbersome harness or deck plates, Time Drops uses small, keyfob-style wireless buttons. Our sophisticated software turns these buttons into a precise, reliable timing system which is affordable for everyone, even small recreational teams.
- How can your prices be so low? What is the catch?
Time Drops uses commercially available wireless keyfobs which are otherwise sold as "Key Finders" similar to a Tile or Apple Tag. We repurpose them with a specially programmed firmware. The custom-built controller provides them with an extremely accurate reference clock, and all they have to do is to report if and when they have been pushed by the timers. The intelligent Time Drops app does the rest.
These buttons are made in factories which produce thousands of them each week. Because of this, we can achieve economies of scale which are unheard of in the low-volume swim timing market, and we pass the savings along to you!
Despite the affordable price, the smart design of the system guarantees a level of accuracy and reliability that is equal to or even better than other, much more costly alternatives.
- How does the system work?
The Time Drops controller uses a proprietary radio protocol to get exact times from the buttons and the start adapter. The buttons and start adapters record every push and start trigger with a precise timestamp and send them to the controller. The system is not affected by transmission delays or interference as the time is latched in the moment the button is pushed. Any delay which may occur after that will only affect how soon the result is displayed on the screen, but will not affect the result itself.
The controller then uses Wi-Fi to transmit the times to the Time Drops app which runs on the tablet. This app will evaluate the events and will convert the time measurements into start times, splits and finish times as appropriate. Because all events are recorded, the app can recover from various user errors, such as a new race being started before the previous race is finished. The app will report the discrepancy and will let you start the race after the fact.
Once all swimmers have finished, the Time Drops app will transfer the results via Wi-Fi to a laptop computer, where they can be imported into your meet management system.
We have a YouTube video explaining how it works in more detail.
- Why a subscription fee?
Other systems with similar (or less) functionality sell for many thousands of dollars. Instead of relying on a large up-front payment, we sell you the hardware nearly at cost and provide the software and support as a service. We want to establish a long-term partnership with your team. This way our revenue is tied to your continued satisfaction with our products and services. The subscription covers any hardware repairs or software support you may need, there are no long-term contracts, hidden cost or surprise repair bills.
Even with the subscription fee, the total cost of ownership over a 10-year period is significantly less than competing systems.
- What kind of Tablet do I need?
The Time Drops app works on most Android tablets with Android 7.1 (Nougat) or higher. We recommend at least 8 inch screens for pools with up to 6 lanes, and 10 inch tablets for pools with 7-10 lanes. This includes Amazon Kindle Fire HD tablets manufactured after 2019 (FireOS 6 or higher). See the list of recommended tablets.
- Can Time Drops replace my old/broken/obsolete timing system?
Absolutely! We have many customers who successfully replaced their aging timing system with Time Drops. You can keep using your existing scoreboard. The complete Time Drops system may be more cost-effective than replacing e.g. a broken wire harness or corroded deck plates.
We recently had a customer who found that their (wired) timing system was broken beyond repair on a Wednesday, received a Time Drops system on Friday, and was running their next meet on Saturday, including scoreboard! It's that easy!
- How do I start the races?
Time Drops offers a wireless start adapter that works with commonly used swim starters such as CTS Infinity, CTS Championship, Daktronics Omnisport, IST or SST. This mode of operation is considered 'semi-automatic timing' as specified in USA Swimming rule 102.24.2B and is compliant with USA-S and FINA regulations.
If you do not have a start system, you can start the race manually with the included 'Start' button and a bullhorn.
Because the start is applied centrally in the Time Drops app, the timers do not need to push the button at start like manual stopwatches.
NEW! Introducing our new Mini-Starter. This starter is a great alternative for teams who do not have, or cannot afford a full-featured swim starter. This starter is the same size as the SA-1 start adapter, but comes with a microphone with built-in start trigger. Compared to a full starter, the mini-starter does not have a strobe flash and no speaker. It will require an external powered speaker or PA system. The mini-starter will send the start official's voice command to the PA system and also generate a beep when the start is triggered. The timing system is started wirelessly.
- What kind of repairs are covered in the subscription?
Your annual subscription covers most common situations, so you will not face any unexpected repair bills. Certain exclusions apply. Please see this table for examples:
Problem What is covered in the subscription A button breaks and becomes inoperable Send the defective button in and we will repair or replace it at our discretion A button no longer works due to an empty battery Spent batteries can be easily replaced. Please try replacing the battery first before sending a button in for repair. We will charge a $10 battery replacement fee if we determine that a button which was sent for repair only needed a new battery A button is lost To qualify for a free replacement, the defective part needs to be sent in. Replacement buttons can be ordered for $30 ea. The rechargeable battery of the controller no longer holds a charge Send the defective controller in and we will replace the battery The start adapter falls down and the case is cracked Send the broken adapter in and we will repair or replace the adapter at our choice A lanyard is torn or soiled New lanyards can be purchased for $3 ea. The tablet screen is cracked As the tablet is purchased separately from the Time Drops system, it is not covered. - Can the Time Drops system be used with touchpads?
Yes! The SA-1 start/touchpad adapter can be used with most touchpads on the market.
You will use one SA-1 adapter for each pad, and you no longer need a cable harness or deck plates to connect the touchpads to the system. With touchpads, the Time Drops system will become a fully automatic timing system per USA-S and FINA definition.
We support up to 12 lanes with touchpads on both ends.
If you wish to order a Time Drops system with touchpad support, please contact sales@time-drops.com to obtain a quote.
- Which meet management systems do you support?
Our system currently supports Hy-Tek Meet Manager*, SwimTopia's Meet Maestro, Swimcloud's Meet Manager and Splash Meet Manager.
All these Meet Managers are supported on Windows. Swimcloud is also supported on MacOS. The Time Drops app connects wirelessly to the Meet Management computer.
There are some YouTube videos demonstrating the integration:
* Please note that with Meet Manager, the "Timing Console INTERFACE" license is required to import results back into Meet Manager.
- Do I need Internet connection at the pool?
Because all of the devices in our timing system work wirelessly, a stable Wi-Fi connection at the pool area is required. In most cases, a mobile hotspot or mobile phone in Hotspot mode will be sufficient.
The most reliable option is to install a separate Wi-Fi router close to the pool deck which is separate from the pool's public Wi-Fi and used exclusively for timing and meet management. Internet connection is recommended, but optional. Our timing controller has a basic battery-backed Wi-Fi access point which can be used in case of power outages. If you want to publish your meet program and live results to our mobile app, an internet connection is required.
- What is the range of the buttons?
Despite their small size and low power consumption, the buttons have range of about 1,000 ft in open terrain. The range can be reduced by obstacles such as walls or crowds of people. For best operation, it is recommended to place the timing controller at the long edge of the pool in an elevated position, from where it has a direct line-of-sight to the start and finish areas. The timers should not completely enclose the buttons with their hands as this may reduce the signal strength.
- Is the system waterproof?
Our new PB-2 buttons are IP67 rated. They will sink to the bottom of the pool if dropped in but will be fine if retrieved within a few minutes. The start adapter and the timing controller are IP65 water resistant and will not be affected by splashes or short drops into the pool (they float).
- What is your return policy?
We are confident that the Time Drops system will exceed your expectations and will outperform other systems which cost many times more.
Because we are so confident in the quality of our product, we do not charge outrageous "restocking fees" like some vendors. Should you not be satisfied for any reason, you can return the system within 30 days. Just ship it back in like new condition for a full refund (less Shipping and Handling).
If you are not happy with the system after that, just do not renew your annual subscription.
- Where do I find the instructions to use the system?
We have some great documentation to help you use the system:
See the User Manual for detailed instructions. For initial setup, start with our Quickstart Guide.
We also have a YouTube channel with how-to videos.
Lastly, there is a handy Meet checklist with helpful hints.
Swim Timing System Pricing
No need to spend many thousands of $$$ to obtain a state-of-the-art swim timing system. Each package includes the subscription for the first year, from $200/year thereafter.
Important: The subscription is required. After the first year, the system will not work without an active subscription
Basic
$670 startup cost
- 6-lane pool (2 buttons/lane)
- Start system adapter
- Manual start button only
- 1 Controller
- One extra spare button
- First-year subscription included
Standard
$950 startup cost
- 6-lane pool (2 buttons/lane)
- Start system adapter
- Manual backup start button
- 1 Controller
- 2 extra spare buttons included
- Custom carrying case
- First-year subscription included
Pro
$1,130 startup cost
- 6-lane pool (3 buttons/lane)
- Start system adapter
- Manual backup start button
- 1 Controller
- 2 extra spare buttons included
- Custom carrying case
- First-year subscription included
Annual Subscription
(Seasonal use)
$200 / year
- First year included in package purchase
- Technical support
- Software Updates
- Free repair or replacement of defective parts
Annual Subscription
(Year-round use)
$300 / year
- First year included in package purchase
- Technical support
- Software Updates
- Free repair or replacement of defective parts
Annual Subscription
LED Matrix Add-On
$50 / year
- First year included in package purchase
- LED Matrix screen support
- LED screen software driver updates
- Remote technical support
Timing System Specifications
STC-1 Controller
- 2.4 GHz ISM band, GFSK modulation, frequency-hopping spread-spectrum
- 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 802.11 b,g,n
- Built-in Wi-Fi AP
- Power supply: 5V DC 500 mA
- Power connector: USB-C (charging-only)
- Battery: rechargeable Li-Poly, 1,200 mAh
- Battery life: 10 hours
- Time to full charge from empty: 3 hours
- Overcharge protection
- IP rating: IP65
- Time reference: factory-calibrated TCXO < 3ppm
- Maximum deviation: < 0.01 s/hour
- 125 x 79 x 21 mm (5 x 3.2 x 0.9 in)
- Weight: 120 g (4.3 oz)
PB-2 Button
- Soft-touch pushbutton with precise tactile feedback
- Optional beeper feedback for click and radio transmission
- 2.4 GHz ISM band, GFSK modulation, frequency-hopping spread-spectrum
- Battery: CR2032 lithium button cell (user replaceable)
- Range: 1,000 ft LOS
- Battery life: 500 operating hours, > 5 years standby
- Automatic power control
- Color-coded lanyard, 23''
- IP rating: IP67
- Timing resolution: 0.00003 s
- Clock drift: < 0.0001 s relative to controller
- 49 x 42 x 12 mm (1.9 x 1.7 x 0.5 in)
- Weight: 32 g (1.1 oz)
SA-1 Start/Touchpad Adapter
- Compatible with all commercially available swim start systems
- Can connect to most touchpads and transmits their activation wirelessly
- 2.4 GHz ISM band, GFSK modulation, frequency-hopping spread-spectrum
- Battery: CR123A lithium cell (user replaceable)
- Range: 1,000 ft LOS
- Battery life: 2,000 operating hours, > 5 years standby
- Automatic power control
- Dual Banana Plug, floating high-impedance input
- Input protection circuit guards against accidental insertion into speaker output
- Standard operating mode: Normally Open (NO), automatic detection of Normally Closed (NC) mode
- IP rating: IP67
- Timing resolution: 0.00003 s
- Clock drift: < 0.0001 s relative to controller
- 88 x 59 x 36 mm (3.5 x 2.4 x 1.5 in)
- Weight: 105 g (3.7 oz)
SBA-1 Scoreboard Adapter
- Only required for 3rd party scoreboard with a serial interface
- Connects wirelessly to the Time Drops system
- Serial interface to the scoreboard
- Supports these features:
- Up to 10 lanes
- Event/Heat display
- Team scores
- Lap/Distance
- 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi 802.11 b,g,n
- Power supply: 5-12V DC 200 mA
- Power connector: 2.1 mm barrel connector
- Compatible with CTS LED-R or Otter scoreboards
- RS-232 serial interface
- Scoreboard interface connector: ¼'' TS connector
- 115 x 65 x 35 mm (4.6 x 2.6 x 1.5 in)
- Weight: 85 g (2.9 oz)
ST-1 Mini-Starter
- Comes with a handheld microphone with 2 buttons
- Button function: 1) PTT, 2) Start trigger
- No built-in speaker, requires an external powered speaker or PA
- Sends a beep to the speaker when the start is triggered, and starts the system simultaneously
- Integrated Recall function
- Pitch, volume and duration of start tone adjustable
- 2.4 GHz ISM band, GFSK modulation, frequency-hopping spread-spectrum
- Battery: CR123A lithium cell
- Range: 1,000 ft LOS
- Battery life: 500 operating hours, > 5 years standby
- K-type connector for microphone (included)
- 3.5 mm audio jack for line out (to PA)
- Clock drift: < 0.0001 s relative to controller
- 88 x 59 x 36 mm (3.5 x 2.4 x 1.5 in)
- Weight: 105 g (3.7 oz)
Waterproof Carrying Case
- IP68 waterproof
- Impact and abrasion resistant ABS plastic
- Signal yellow
- CNC machined high density EVA foam protects contents
- Custom compartments in two layers for:
- Time Drops® controller
- Start Adapter
- Buttons with lanyards, up to 10 lanes (3 buttons ea.)
- Various cables, adapters and batteries
- Additional space for tablet (up to 11'') on top
- Durable latches, padlock holes
- Outer dimension: 355 x 272 x 166 mm (14 x 10.7 x 6.5 in)
Contact Us
If you have any questions about our swim timing system, please send us a message.
Email us
support@time-drops.com