Photo Finish: Getting Started


A minimal setup and use of the AthStitcher/Recording suite.

About the Apps

The Photo Finish solution consists of two applications:

  1. AthsVideoRecording - A .NET MAUI application for Android devices that captures video of the finish line during an athletics race
  2. AthStitcher - A WPF application for Windows that processes the captured video to create a photo finish image by stitching together the middle column of each video frame. The finish time of athletes is then determined from their relative position on the stitched image.

If you want to build the apps from source code, you can find the repositories here:

Runtimes

Instead, you can now download a built version of the AthStitcher WPF app and you can also sideload the built AthsVideoRecording APK file onto an Android device:

Desktop Install

  • AthStitcher WPF App Installer Download
    • Some instructions on that page.
    • Note that this requires acceptance of a developer signed certificate
      • There are some details on the next post for creating an install package and installing the cert if needed.

        Phone Install

Nb: The APK has been updated Dec 2025 to v1.2.0 to fix some issues with receiving the program. Its location was moved to /apps/athsvideorecording/apk and so the QR was regenerated too.

QR Code

Scan the QR code on your Android phone to download the APK file directly to your device.
OR use this link:

The QR Code image was created using CreateQR. Code available on GitHub.

Running the Phone app

Once installed, run the AthsVideoRecording app on your Android phone. You will need to provide permission for the app to access the camera and storage on the device. Also there is a password to use but you can paste it in the 3 spots as the default password is on clipboard automatically. Await the message that “Database All good!”. As part of the installation you might be requested to:

  • Scan the app by Google Play Protect (can take a while).
  • Permit “take pictures and record video”.
  • Permit “record audio”.
  • You then get a message “Admin Created”. A temp password shows but its already on clipboard.
    • Paste it into the Current Password on new dialog
    • You can then enter and confirm the new password , or just paste the temp password again.
  • Finally you get the “Database All good!” message. Nb: Wait for that message every time the phone app starts/restarts.

You might get prompted that camera permissions were denied first time. Just restart the app.

To record a video finish line:

  • Use default setting.
  • Enter a Video Filename and accept by tapping the tick bottom left.

You can now record a video

  • Tap the (Capture) button (bottom right).
  • Press (Start) the white button, bottom right.
  • When ready press (Stop) (same button, now red).
  • Press (Return), the red cross button to the left of the capture screen.

To send the video to the desktop the desktop app will need to be running. For now:

  • Press the (Send) button bottom left
  • You may be requested to allow access to photos and videos
  • Close any file popups for videos that show.
  • You should now be on the SendVideo page.
  • Examine the options for now and then press (Done)
    • You will later need to enter the IP address of the desktop running AthStitcher.
    • You then press (Send Movie File) to send the video which will be in the Movies folder on the phone.
    • For now, use file explorer on the phone to locate the recorded video.

Running the Desktop App

Once installed, run the AthStitcher WPF app on your Windows desktop. You may need to give permission for the app to access storage on the device.

  • Explore the File menus there. Note:
    • You can get direct access to the QR code page for the phone APK file.
    • Initiate the video download
    • Open a downloaded video and “stitch” it.

Download and Stitch the video

  • Ensure the AthStitcher app is installed and running on the desktop.
  • Click File-Download Video from Phone.
  • You wil get another Permission to accept
  • Note the desktops IP address and the port being used.
  • Click (Listen)
  • On the phone app, enter the IP address of the desktop running AthStitcher in the Send Video page there. Also, check that the ports are the same (5000).
  • On the phone (Rescan Ips) may be needed to find the desktop IP address, making sure the range of HostIds is suitable (that is the last digit of the IP address of the desktop).
    • Now Select the Ipaddress of the desktop.
  • Press (Send Movie File) on the phone app.
  • Select the video to send from the Movies folder.
  • The video will be sent to the desktop and saved in the Videos folder.

    PROBLEM AT THIS POINT ATM with sideloaded apps. Can send videos from phone to desktop now.

  • Close the download page on the desktop app.
  • Open Menu-File-Open Video File and Stitch

Later Work

  • Determine finish times.
  • Use DBMS to setup send program and use for results
  • Use other settings.
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