RFID Timing System Suggestions

Look into Race Result from Germany. Does everything you want and a lot more. I am a fan of Trident, but they don't have side antennas. Chronotrack or RFID may also be a good fit for you.

Thanks for your response.
My concern with Race Result is their Sales Contact actually has a significant financial penalty if you don't use their timing chips. Not something I want to get involved in.

RFID has my interest right now, but I'm also interested in the DIY approach of Atlas RFID, although I'm not sure how well it would work in my application. I was also wondering if you could use RFID's side antennas with an Impinj Speedway Revolution R420.

Just seeing what's possible and practical, given the size of the events I would be timing.

I'm also concerned about the number of tags I can detect per second, given the speeds of your average criterium or other pack-oriented bike race. Even with a pack size of 20-30, the number of riders rolling over the line within that second could be significant. Like I said, we'd be using video for the finishes, but for getting accurate lap counts I was hoping the chips would take the manual tabulation out of the equation.

Race Result has options that allow you to buy the chips on the open market, you just pay more for the hardware upfront.

I know at least one company that has done extensive testing with side antennas. Results are not good. Lots of overlap and wide finishes / lap cause for lots of missed reads. This wouldn't be too much of a problem with a TT, but with a crit or mass finish/lap, you'd miss many and might as well just use the camera to do laps. Overhead antennas will solve the problem (no blocking of chips if properly mounted) or an active chip with a thin antenna (Race Result and MyLaps ProChip).

Basically, what you're asking for doesn't really exist, regardless of the hardware you choose. As an FYI, the hardware that reads RFID is all pretty much the same internally.

JG

Thanks for the input, Jenna. That's kinda what I was fearing. Unfortunately, the overhead option isn't feasible with manning and time constraints.

Would a mat option be a suitable substitute? RFID has one they think highly of for cycling applications.

Just trying to look at as many options as possible before I throw in the towel on the concept.

Hi Mike,

An active system would definitely be the best solution for transponder timing on cycling events.
race result will soon release a new timing device which will make active chip timing more affordable, so stay tuned!

If you would rather go passive, side antennas are not a good idea, as you will surely miss laps when a bunch of cyclists cross the line together. I would say the new race result mat is thin enough to be used on road cyclign. You may wan to try it with chips stuck at the back of an MTB plate.