ScoreBox Hardware

Live scoreboard data, zero IT involvement.

A small Linux box that sits in your press booth, plugs into the stadium scoreboard controller's serial port, and pushes every clock tick and score change to the cloud over a Tailscale VPN.

Order a unit Specs

How it works

Three cables and a power adapter. No port forwarding, no firewall changes, no IT department.

Plug into the scoreboard

Serial cable from the scoreboard controller's console port (the same port the scoreboard operator already uses) to the ScoreBox via a USB-to-serial adapter.

Plug into the network

Ethernet to the press-box drop, or WiFi if Ethernet isn't there. The box auto-joins our Tailscale VPN — no firewall rules to open.

Power it on

The unit auto-detects the scoreboard protocol, normalizes the data, and starts streaming. Your controller in the booth sees scoreboard updates within a second.

Supported scoreboards

If your stadium scoreboard's controller has a console port (most do — that's how the official scorekeeper updates it), the ScoreBox can read it.

Daktronics

All Football, Basketball, Hockey, and Baseball variants. The ScoreBridge-style RTD protocol the All-Sport family emits.

Electro-Mech

LX/MP series scoreboard controllers (most common high school football boards).

Fair-Play

MP-/MV-/MS-series boards with the standard Fair-Play data protocol.

Spectrum / Nevco

Console-port serial output supported. Protocol detection is automatic on boot.

OES / Other RTD

Any scoreboard controller emitting an RTD-compatible serial stream — even custom or refurbished boards.

Don't see yours?

If we can get a sample of the serial output, we'll add a protocol parser at no charge before you buy. Email web@clickingspree.com with the make/model.

Specifications

Form factorCompact USFF box, ~6"×6"×2"
OSDebian 12 minimal, headless, read-only root
CPU / RAMIntel Celeron / 4GB (more than enough for serial + WS client)
NetworkGigabit Ethernet + 802.11ac WiFi
SerialUSB-to-serial adapter (FTDI, included)
Power12V DC adapter (US plug)
VPNPre-authenticated Tailscale, joins on boot
UpdatesPulled automatically from the SpreeSports update channel
Warranty1 year hardware, lifetime firmware updates
Price$299 / unit (one-time)

Network & security

Tailscale VPN — outbound only

The unit only opens an outbound connection to the SpreeSports tailnet. No port forwarding, no inbound rules, nothing the school's IT department needs to approve. Works on any network with internet access.

Encrypted serial-to-cloud

Serial bytes from the scoreboard are parsed locally, normalized, and sent over a TLS-encrypted WebSocket. Raw scoreboard data never touches the public internet.

Tied to your account

Every unit ships pre-paired with a unique serial+key. Only the account that owns it can route its data to a game instance. Lose the box and revoke its key from the admin panel.

Health monitoring

Each unit heartbeats every 60 seconds. The admin Devices tab shows online/offline state, last-seen timestamp, and assigned tailnet IP across every unit you own.

Setup walkthrough

From box-open to live data on the controller — takes under 10 minutes the first time, < 2 minutes thereafter.

1. Unbox

The kit includes the ScoreBox unit, a USB-to-serial adapter, a 6-foot serial cable (DB-9 male to whatever your scoreboard controller wants — confirmed at order time), a power adapter, and a quick-start card with the unit's serial number.

2. Register the device

In the admin panel under Devices, click "Register" and paste the serial number from the card. Pick the scoreboard type (Daktronics Football, Electro-Mech LX, etc.). Save.

3. Plug it in

Serial cable from the scoreboard controller's console port to the ScoreBox's USB-to-serial adapter. Ethernet (or WiFi setup) to the press-box network. Power adapter to the box.

4. Power on

The status LED is solid amber while booting (~30 seconds), blinks green while joining Tailscale, and turns solid green when it's online and pushing data. The Devices tab in your admin panel shows it as Online within 60 seconds.

5. Bind to a game instance

When you start a game from the dashboard, pick the ScoreBox unit from the dropdown. From that point on, every clock tick and score change on the stadium board flows directly into your scorebar.

WiFi setup: The first boot creates a temporary WiFi access point named SpreeSports-Setup-XXXX. Connect any phone, open http://192.168.4.1, and pick your stadium WiFi + enter the password. Box reboots and joins normally.

Order in time for next Friday.

Units ship same-day from Florida. UPS Ground arrives in 2–3 business days for most US zip codes.

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