Power for Antennas

[Phillip Hiom]

Just curious what percentage of power people are using for their antennas, Does this matter based on the distance across your finish line. I am currently having about a 12 foot wide finishline. I am running 2 antennas on each side all running into an Imjini powered reader. Is there any reason not to run the antennas at 100%? What is ideal and how do you know?

Hopefully I have provided enough info for someone to give me an idea.

Thanks

Phil

www.dirtyfeet.ca

[Vesa Suomalainen]

Typically, you’d want to run the antennas at 100% power for best detection rates in a race. Use reduced power (say 10%) if you’re testing indoors or when programming tags with the app.

If you’re using side antennas (angled towards the incoming racers), 100% antenna power will detect the chips at some distance away. Some organizers move the antennas back such that most detections happen on the finish line. But the detection distance will vary so side antennas are not the best for accuracy.

Overhead antennas pointing down or mat antennas (pointing antenna energy up) are better at detecting the chips right below / above the antenna, improving timing accuracy.

[Bubilo Chiban]

I often lowered the intensity to 80% or 70% because it detected tags from too far away, or some tags that were stored close to my equipment.

But this was generally in small MTB or motorcycle races.

For running, I always set it to 100% with top and side antennas, because many runners stop their GPS watch at the finish line, covering the tag they wear on their chest.