Pitch Tracking Interface: How do I to install MLB Statcast Pitch and Hit on Data Server to receive player metrics

Topic

  • How do I to install Daktronics Data Server for MLB Statcast Pitch and Hit Interface?

Environment

  • Product: MLB Statcast Interface
  • Components: Data Server
  • Control System: MLB - Basic, Power, and Super System User Bundles

MLB is using Statcast for Speed of Pitch data.  This feed exposes additional data fields that can enhance the overall production.  However, this will ONLY be available for MLB games. Please contact Professional Services or your Regional Application Engineer to determine the specific hardware and/or software needs that will enable this data for display use. They will prepare a proposal for the customer, and request the Data Server package file.

See More: Statcast Interface Speed of Pitch Talking Points

Steps

 If Venus Control Suite/VCS is installed then use caution; backup up VCS database first using How do I backup Venus / VCS / OOT / User Portal configuration and content?

Step 1: Install / Update Data Server

  1. Login to the appropriate computer, Data Server should be installed on the DSTI-P machine at each facility. 
  2. Installing
    1. Data Server is now in the Venus Device Updater.  See: Venus Device Updater: Device firmware schedule and deployment with Venus local environment
    2. Manual method- Download and run the installer: Link . Please ensure Data Server at least 21.10.2501.0 is installed as it is updated to read the most current addresses for data from MLB for StatCast.  Older revisions of Data Server may try to read from obsolete addresses.
  3. After the installer has run, reboot if prompted.
  4. New installs require a package file (not needed for updates)
    1. Locate the team's Data Server package/configuration file.
    2. Upload the team's file to C:\ProgramData\Daktronics\Data Server\Fusion Import
  5. After the installer is run, restart the DSvr service. 
  6. Launch Data Server from the desktop icon
  7. After installing Data Server, check to see if two iterations of fusion are installed (e.g. 1.3.1149.0 from 3.7.8 server install and 1.3.1281.0 from 3.7.9 server install), you may need to uninstall both and reinstall data server. 

For updates, move on to testing the system.  For new setups, move to the following steps.  

Step 2: Configuring Data Server for new setups

  1. Click the settings button in the lower-right of the StatCast Pitch Tracking tile.
  2. Input type should be set to Statcast.
  3. Default Blank time should be 20 seconds, Measurements: MPH, Cycle unchecked
  4. Click the settings button under StatCast Input Feature
    • Select the appropriate Stadium ID
    • By default, Include Practice Pitches is unchecked
    • StatCast username/password to be inputted
      • This should be the same as previous years.  If this is a new customer or is lost, check with Escalated Tech Support or BAM.  Example of the Username and password.
    • Click Save
  5. If using a Radar Gun backup, Enable (On) Radar Gun Input Feature
  6. Click the settings button under Radar Gun Input Feature
    1. Select JUGS/Stalker
    2. Select appropriate COM port, 1200, 8, None, One
    3. Click Save
    4. If having issues when testing, see Unable to get radar gun serial data to pass through Data Server and output UDP
  7. By default, Radar Gun output feature should be Off. This is only needed if outputting to an All Sport to go to a fixed-digit display.

Step 3: Configuration of Radar Gun Setup for new setups

Note: This work will need to be done onsite and cannot be done remotely

  • Teams can elect to have a Radar Gun as a backup source for MLB games or primary source for non-MLB events. This is optional.
  • Existing setups prior to 2016 likely have a radar gun output wired to an All Sport controller, and then to a signal converter at rack and into DSTI.
  • To convert this setup to have the Radar Gun be a direct input to DataServer, at the All Sport J-Box, the wire pair at pins 22(+) and 7(-) (Venus RTD, Data TX, Rack) can be moved to pins 9(+)and 10(-) (Radar Gun in). The All Sport is no longer needed and can be removed.

Step 4: Update the ITF / DID files and profiles for the players and Show Control.  
Venus 7000 (if used)

  1. Download the appropriate ITF files from Dakfiles/data/itf.  For this, you will need the DataServer Statcast Pitch and Hit.itf.
  2. Upload the new ITF to Venus 7000 folder in- D:\V7000 or C:\V7000
  3. On each Venus 7000, edit any existing Speed of Pitch input to use the settings in the table below.  By default, Input #9 for Venus 7000 will be for Speed of Pitch.  (0r use whatever input is available).
NameDataServer Statcast Pitch and HIt
Source TypeUDP / IP Socket
Source21003
ProtocolEnhanced
Sizeleave default
Default Input TemplateDataServer Statcast Pitch and Hit


 (With no Show Control) Follow this article for setting up RTD inputs in the Venus 7000 and creating content.- Venus 7000: How create RTD messages

 

Show Control (if used)

A new profile will need to be created for the new DID file. This only has to be done on one Show Control, it will sync to the other machines once created. Details on this process can be found here: How to Configure the Profile Editor.
  1. Download the did file from here: https://dakfiles.daktronics.com/downloads/Data/DID/
    1.  DataServer MLB Pitch Tracking.did
  2. Open the Profile Editor and login. From the Start Menu -> All Programs -> Daktronics -> Utilities -> Profile Editor
    1. Profile: Baseball: MLB (DakStats)
    2. Under Manage Inputs and DIDs, create a new input 
    3. Name: Statcast Pitch and Hit
    4. Number (DMP-7000): 9 (or the appropriate DMP-7000 input number)
    5. Offset (DMP-3000): 0
    6. DSRC File Name: DataServer Statcast Pitch and Hit
  3. Import the did file.
  4. Create a new pair by selecting the Statcast Pitch and Hit input and DataServer Statcast Pitch And Hit.did
  5. Create a DSRC file to be used on the DMP-8000s (if in system) by selecting the DataServer Statcast Pitch And Hit.did.  Use UDP port 21003.

DMP-8000 (if used)

  1. For each DMP-8000, add the did file to C:\ProgramData\Daktronics\DDS\DID folder
  2. For each DMP-8000, add the DataServer Statcast Pitch and Hit.dsrc file to the C:\ProgramData\Daktronics\Vnet4\Data folder (In versions older than 7.x, add the file to C:\ProgramData\Daktronics\Vnet4\Content).

Step 5: Show Control should now be ready to create/edit content.  

Testing the System

  1. Use the Daktronics Data Monitor application to verify the desired statistics are being sent out.

Related Resources

KB ID: DD3299974


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