Gym Wi-Fi drops, a phone switches towers, a laptop goes to sleep. When the scorekeeper's connection wobbles, you need to know whether the score on air is still right. The status dot at the top of every Control Dashboard answers that, and ScoreCastr holds on to the changes you make while it's yellow or red.
Where to find it
The dot sits at the top left of the Control Dashboard, above the scorebug preview, with a word beside it. Hover over it on a computer to see a longer explanation.
What each state means
| Dot | Label | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Green | Live | Your changes are reaching the broadcast. |
| Yellow | Slow | Your changes are delayed. They're saved on this device and will send automatically. |
| Red | Offline | Your changes aren't reaching the broadcast. They're saved on this device and will send when the connection is back. |
ScoreCastr doesn't flag every short blip. The dot turns yellow when the dashboard has been disconnected for more than about 3 seconds, or when a change you made hasn't been confirmed after about 3 seconds. It turns red after about 10 seconds without a connection.
What happens to your changes
When the dot is yellow or red, keep working. Your changes are saved in the browser on your device and sent automatically once the connection comes back. The overlay in OBS then catches up to the dashboard.
While you're offline, viewers see the last score that got through. That's why it pays to watch the dot during a big moment.
What to do when it's yellow or red
- Keep scoring on the same dashboard. Don't refresh the page over and over.
- Check the device's connection: Wi-Fi joined, phone signal, airplane mode off.
- If the venue Wi-Fi is weak, switch the scorekeeper's device to a phone hotspot or a wired connection.
- When the dot goes back to Live, glance at the scorebug preview and the Live Preview to check they match the game.
If the dot stays red for long, see the studio guide on streaming with bad internet for ways to set up a more reliable connection.
The dot covers the dashboard, not OBS
The dot is about the scorekeeper's connection: whether changes from this dashboard are getting through. It doesn't tell you about the computer running OBS. If the dot says Live but OBS isn't changing, the problem is on the OBS side. See Add your overlay to OBS to refresh the browser source.
"Change not saved"
A different message means the server received a change but didn't accept it. You'll see Change not saved with a reason, for example that the match changed while the update was being sent, or that the match has ended. Make the change again, or see End a match if the match was ended.
Tips for a steady connection
- Plug in the scorekeeper's laptop, or keep a phone charged, so it doesn't go to sleep mid-game.
- Use one dashboard per scorekeeper, on one device, for the whole game.
- Test the connection at the venue before the game, in the spot where the scorekeeper sits.
- A phone or tablet browser works for the dashboard. See Run the dashboard from a phone.
Checklist
- Status dot shows Live before you go on air
- Scorekeeper's device charged and on a steady connection
- Dashboard left open on the same device if the dot turns yellow or red
- Score checked on the preview once it's back to Live
- OBS checked separately if the dot is Live but the overlay isn't changing