10K Race with a 5K Split

[Melissa Gresham]

I'm not finding in the discussions, so I'm sorry if it's already been discussed. I'm timing my first 10K in January. I purchased a 2nd set of equipment (reader, mat, and computer). How do I set this up in the software? I assume 2 laps, but then how do I get the reads from the 5K turn around point? 

[Brian Agee]

You'll set both computer up to track only 1 "lap" (or split) since during the actual race, that's all that they should track. When you import the 5K turnaround split after the race, the software will automatically increase the number of "laps" to 2.

If there is any concern about the turnaround point getting triggered by those warming up before the race, then go ahead and set the turnaround computer up to track more than 1 lap (with at few minute gap time set on each split) because the software will not import any 'splits' that occurred before the race actually started (according to the finish line PC) or that occurred after the participant actually finished.

[Steve Hudson]

Brian, I presume the time on both computers must be synchronised? Also, would it be acceptable for the turn around 5K computer be set up to simply read Chip Start ?

[Brian Agee]

Good point! I forgot to mention that it is important to ensure the Windows Time is the same on both computers. When importing the data, the software pulls in the date/time stamp of when the tag reads occurred. So that's why syncing the windows clocks is important.

[Pete Wareham]

do the computers need to be synchronized to the second?

[Patrick W]

They should be close. A little drift on the split isn't the end of the world, but the further off it is the further it skews the split time(s).   I'm obsessive so most of my "remote" computers have a USB gps (you can get them very cheap online... sub 10 USD from ebay / aliexpress) attached and run an app that syncs to gps time.  My main network though runs a time server that automatically very accurately syncs the time on the entire network.  It's not quite as accurate as an atomic clock, but it's very light and fits in your hand so much better for mobile use ulol.