Chip Bib File

[Shawn McAfee]

I'm timing a turkey trot with 2k+ runners. 

The registration is hosted on RunSignUp and they will be using dynamic bib assignments. 

Only the bib number will be assigned to participants meaning that no chip data is included when I download the participation file. 

Is there a place to upload the bib/chip match file so that it can be used in the software? 

How do I get the chip data to match up in Webscorer timing software as I do not know of a way to upload a bibtag or chip/bib file. 

[Vesa Suomalainen]

Do your chip IDs match the bib numbers?

If the chips are programmed to match the bib numbers, you can use the “Chip ID = Bib” setting and no bib-to-chip match file is needed.

If that is not the case, can you explain what type of start list / data will you get from the organizer? There is a way to time the race with bibs only., and after the race is over, merge the bib-only results with the final start list.

https://www.webscorer.com/blog/post/HOW-TO-MERGE-START-LIST-BEFORE-DURING-AFTER-RACE

In other words, your start list would include the “Bib” and “Chip ID columns only.

[Vesa Suomalainen]

If all you need is the raw chip detections, and you want to generate the results from the raw chip detections with the Race Day Scoring software, this functionality already exists.

Follow these steps on the app:

Click on “Race with start list”
Click on “Create start list on the app”
Set “Start type = Individual”
In “Chip Timing” panel
- Chip start time = On
- Set “Do not redirect same chip after start for = 10 mins”
Leave “Start List” empty
On “Race Start” panel
- Click on “Race clock adjustment”
- Set race clock = Time of day
Click on “Activate reader for chip start”
Click on “Start race clock with adjustment”

The app has logic to record only one “Chip start” detection and only one “Chip finish” detection per chip ID.

The detections are shown on the “Fast-tap list” and are saved automatically as part of the “Taps recorded” data. You can be download the data from the app as follows:

Navigate to “Results” panel
Click on “Taps recorded” toolbar icon
Click on “Save taps” toolbar icon

Or you can post the (empty) results to Webscorer.com, and click on “Download taps recorded / Excel XLSX file”.

> <Screenshot 2025-11-18 at 2.58.13 PM.png>

[Tony Owens]

I time a lot of races that are originally in RunSignup, and you are right, unfortunately you can't load a bib/chip file in either RSU or Webscorer. What I have done is beforehand get the bibs and associated chips and put them into a Google Sheet, which essentially becomes my bib/chip file. Then day of race I'll export from RSU, open that export, copy the columns, then paste them into the Google Sheet. I have preset a VLOOKUP function to match the chip(s) with the bib number, then I'll export that file as a CSV and it becomes the Start List that I import into Webscorer.

I know that is a lot of detail -- here is a recent sheet I used for a 25K/50K race -- feel free to copy the sheet to your Google Drive and modify to suit.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GJLOKsZV7FjELoyx2bA4DirytPbZaKk5BwYqi0Xlpgw/edit?usp=sharing

Hope this helps! Turkey Trot races can be hectic.

Tony

[Shawn McAfee]

Thanks Tony, that is basically the workflow that I came up with. Glad to know it works in practice and not just theory.

Vesa, it may be a feature to consider for future versions, the ability to upload a bib/chip file that automatically associates chip ID based on bib number. 

[Tony Owens]

I agree -- that would make the RunSignup / Webscorer integration basically perfect. Thanks for considering this addition, Vesa. :)

[Vesa Suomalainen]

Can you send me one of your chip files (that has the “Bib” and “Chip ID” columns), and the related start list file that includes the “Bib” column but does not (yet) include the “Chip ID” column?

[Tony Owens]

Sure thing Vesa -- in the attached shared Google sheet, I've created a new sheet at the end called 'Original RSU Export' which contains the raw data that I massaged with data in the VLOOKUP sheet and imported into this start list:

https://www.webscorer.com/startlist?raceid=411794

If we had the ability to pre-load a bib/chip file in Webscorer, we could utilize the existing RunSignup integration (which does not give you ChipIDs) and have a quick race day solution. As it stands now, if I'm timing a short race (5K for instance) I barely have time to get through all the steps I outlined earlier before the first runner is crossing. Vesa I went ahead and added you as a director for the race on RunSignup in case you want to check it out from that end.

Thank you again!

[Vesa Suomalainen]

Would the following flow work?

Post the start list to Webscorer.com

Start list would include Bib but no Chip ID for each racer

Click on “Edit race info” menu button on the start list page

Click on (the new) “Upload bib-to-chip file” menu button

Upload the chip file

Click on “Save changes”

Extra bibs on the chip file would be ignored

If the start list has a bib that’s missing from the chip file, this must be corrected in one of two ways:

- Either add the missing bib to the chip file

- Or delete the extra bib from the start list

A racer missing a bib number on the start list would also result in an error

The chip file could have “Chip ID” and “Chip ID2” columns (two chips per Bib)

All bibs and chip IDs would be checked to be unique

This feature would not be specific to start lists from RSU - this would work with any posted start list.

[Shawn McAfee]

I believe uploading a chip/bib file there would be a great solution and sounds like a good model. 

One thing that would be needed is a notice or alert of any bib#'s that did not get assigned a chip for various reasons. That could be duplicate bib#'s, not recognized bib #'s, etc. 

[Tony Owens]

Vesa I'll be happy to test out your solution, got a ton of races coming up or I could test with one of our smaller races that we don't chip time (only tapping the screen). Sounds like a great solution to me!

[Adam Engst]

Slight change of topic, Tony, but I’m curious about what size of race causes you to switch from tapping the screen to chip timing?

We’ve resisted buying into chip timing gear because of the expense and extra work of associating chips and setting up the gear, but most of our races are under 150 people. 

Thanks!

cheers… -Adam

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[Shawn McAfee]

@adam My experience... tapping is fine for either A) small races or B) simple races. 

If a race is fairly large but very simple, tapping should be fine. For example, doing a 400-500 person event with just one timing line and slow moving racers (walk/run) where participants are adequately spaced out between each other. Tapping can easily handle it. 

Conversely, a really small race (25 people) where participants are fast moving, doing multiple laps or passing in dense groups would be next to impossible to time just with taps. 

[Tony Owens]

Shawn beat me to it. :) For example, we put on a 50K/100K ultra, so the finishers are very spread out by the time they get to the finish. We tried chip timing it a few years ago and it was just more trouble than it was worth. On the other hand we put on a couple 24 hour races where there are individuals and teams, and the runners run a 5K loop all day and all night -- that would be impossible without chips. (Lol we tried it the first year and right after that race I started putting together our first RFID timing system, 10 years ago.)

[Adam Engst]

Thanks, guys! That more or less matches our experience (our club has some larger and more complicated races for which we work with Leone Timing)—but I’m always on the lookout for better/easier ways to time.

cheers… -Adam

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[Victor Gonzalez]

We've been using chip timing for over 5 years. For XCO, marathon, and trail running races. From 60 to 400 runners.

It's a huge advantage because sometimes more than one person crosses the finish line at the same time, and the chip system, using antennas, detects them beforehand. I don't rely solely on the chips; I also use a backup system to manually record the times in case of any problems.

If, for some reason, a chip isn't read, I can mark it manually. That's a great advantage.

Furthermore, I'm so confident in the timing that we offer live timing via a QR code or a direct link on social media. We also have a screen at the kiosk displaying the results in real time. This shortens the awards ceremony time, and I can know when I have the podium finishers for all categories. Then we decide to award the prizes before everyone has finished, depending on the number of runners who have already crossed the finish line.

It's a setup process that takes more time, but for a race timing company, it's a great advantage to offer customers.

Victor Hugo 

https://www.guatemalaoutdoors.com/

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[Adam Engst]

Nice to hear, Victor, thanks! Do you have cellular access at all your races? We seldom use live results because too many of our trail races are in places where cellular is weak or nonexistent. 

I’m curious what you use for a results kiosk screen. I’ve been pondering having an iPad out and syncing results to it via Bluetooth, but the woods isn’t a great place for an iPad at times.

cheers… -Adam

[Victor Gonzalez]

Hi

I have always cellular access all the time.

I'm Sharing you what we use for the timing booth,we use a TV that is connected via hdmi to a mobile telephone that is connected as an ANNOUNCER. via Bluetooth or via webscorer.com

Best regards

Victor Hugo González