ACTIVE 2.4Ghz RFID System

[Tanvir Ahmed]

Has anyone used an active system with ART? or is it even supported? I am thinking of adding Active RFID to my system for high-speed sports.

Regards

Tanvir

[Brandon Daniels]

I haven't yet.  But if there's an active system out there from one of the manufacturers that are already supported (e.g., Impinj, Motorola, etc.) then I don't see why it wouldn't work. 

If not, then you'd have to connect Brian together with the manufacturer you're looking to buy from... so that they can get Brian the info he needs to update ART with their version of SDK.  However you might find that some manufacturers might want to keep their active systems proprietary, so they might not want their systems to be used with third party developers.  But this is something you're going to have to look into with Brian, especially before the race timing seasons start picking up again.  Hopefully we can get more active systems tested with ART.

[JK Race Timing Systems]

Hi Lads

Race Result are happy for race timing companies to incorporate their USB timing Actice box into their own systems, They also supply all the information required to make this happen.

I purchased one last year and it is simply unreal, a full series of Cycle races down and not one single issue, In fact on some races I was so confident I left the timing station on multiple occassions knowing that it was all in hand.

The Con, Not cheap

I have the best of bothe systems now, Agee for running, Race result for Active requirements

Best regards

JK

[Craig MacIntyre]

What software did you use with the RRUSB box?  I have looked at them but having yet another system to support has kept me back.  Currently we use ART for running and fondos, Crossmgr for crits and cyclocross.  I would love to add an active system for crits, road races and maybe large fondos but don't really want to have to master another race software!

Lazy I guess ....

[JK Race Timing Systems]

hi

i use their own race result 12 software with the usb box

it takes time to get faniliar with, art is easier to use no doubt, so for cyclocross i use this system, for all else ART is my go to software, of course art integration of the usb box would be a dream come true

best regards

[Brandon Daniels]

What about active transponders? Did you buy those direct from RR?  And on average about how many do you use per race?  Thanks

[JK Race Timing Systems]

Hi

Yes you absolutely must purchase RR active chips , in fact you cant purchase the system without first signing a contract saying that you will only use RR chips. I use them for Cyclocross and may have 7 races in a day but none would be more than 50 per race  so yes I have some logistics to handle so that my day goes well,  Registration for some races does not open until a previous race has been completed and the chips have been collected after that race and reassigned for the later race while interim races are going on in between, works really well as it is a series and the same riders and clubs are always the same so they know the story and work well to implement it. I am only a tiny outfit and cant afford for a single chip to go missing so strict collection of chips is a must (these work out to be approx 60 euro each (close to 100 if you factor in the cost of replacement incl postage of a single 1) , and I lost one this season so not happy.  I have 99 now.

when you get home store them in a cold shed without electricity and in a tin or aluminium box to keep them asleep. 125Khz (which is absolutely everywhere) will trigger them to wake and spring to action, you dont want that !!

Battery wise they are supposed to last 5 years, I had one fail after a few months but it was absolutely quibble free replacement, their service is great to be fair.

If you want to be able to absolutely walk away from your post for 10 minutes during a race and come back knowing that everything will have been captured and it is guaranteed , then active is  great but be prepared to shell out big bucks every 5 years, It wasnt an easy decision for me but Im glad I made it.

With CX you may see a rider 6 to 7 times per race, If one passing is missed the race results are screwed, I just didnt want the chance with that using passive plus the chance of close finishes are common too.

All the best

JK

[John O Mahony]

Feibot do an active chip timing system for 1900.00USD, chips cost 15.00 and are expected to last for 3 years.

[Craig MacIntyre]

John - have you attempted this with ART?  If it works that is a game changer.

[John O Mahony]

I am part of a not for profit organisation that runs open water swim races in Dublin Ireland. This year we decided that it made sense to buy our own timing kit. Up to now we have been using a local timing company that uses Race Results kit. So for the last six weeks I have been trying to put my arms around the options available. Active systems are very attractive to us as in some cases we would like to have the finish in the water. Draping a loop cable along an inflatable arch is so much simpler than hanging mats or antenna off one and the active systems seem to guarantee a read every time. I was browsing the feibot passive systems when I literally fell over their active one. Considering what other vendors are charging for active chips this looked too good to be true. Anyway I starting corresponding with them (Gia). They sent me a sample of the output from the decoder. Basically three fields, chip number, time and signal strength. They claim that the system is being used for ski events in Russia and Italy. That is as far as I have got Hope that helps.