NFC sits in the LF/HF part of the RFID spectrum and has been increasingly adopted for timing and runner identification in trail and ultra races. Two RFID tags by Smartrac: the very popular UHF DogBone Monza R6 for use on race bibs (left), and an NFC Circus tag that can be read by smartphones (right) NFC vs RFIDĪlthough technically a subset of RFID, NFC technology (short for Near Field Communication) deserves special mention amongst RFID technologies. UHF RFID systems use frequencies in the 860-960 MHz range and can be used to detect as many as 1,000+ tags per second as far as 10-15 meters from the reader, making them ideal for wide and busy finish lines where several tagged participants may be crossing in a short space of time. Ultra-high frequencies are the most widely adopted in race chip timing systems. However, this is still not enough for most race timing applications. HF has a longer range that its LF counterpart (typically up to a meter or so), can handle a higher read rate and be used to transmit larger data payloads. High frequency RFID uses frequencies in the MHz range. It’s widely used in industrial applications and pet IDs, where scanning rates are low and objects are scanned through contact or with the use of handheld RFID readers. LF RFID can only handle low read rates, making it unsuitable for most race timing setups. Low frequency RFID uses frequencies in the 125-134kHz range to identify tags in close proximity (usually less than 10 centimeters) to the tag reader. There are many different types of RFID frequencies and technologies in use commercially, and not all are suitable for race timing. And it has become affordable enough to bring it within reach of most every race out there. Today RFID timing is considered the golden standard for race timing and can be relied on to provide near-100% accurate results for even the largest races. But progress has been swift and RFID has come a very very long way. The very first RFID race timing systems were like any other new technology: very expensive and - let's face it - quite rubbish. It was during the 90s that RFID was first adapted for use in mass-participation sports. RFID technology was originally developed for industrial applications, where it was used to provide easy tracking of objects as they moved through warehouses and manufacturing plants. Use an RFID reader to scan the tag and read back the information you have programmed on it.Attach the tag to the object you want to track.Take an RFID tag and program on it information about the object you want to track (e.g.Pick an object you want to track (e.g.The basics of an RFID tracking system go something like this: RFID (short for Radio- Frequency IDentification) uses radio technology to identify and track objects through the use of radio tags. In the rest of this article you'll find everything you need to start your race timing career, from understanding your options and choosing the right tools for the job to thinking through common race timing challenges and sorting out your backup procedures. And it can give you great control over your timing costs as well as provide a stepping stone into race timing. If you're the kind of hands-on race director who doesn't shy away from a challenge, you may have considered building your own RFID race timing system.īuilding a race timing system from off-the-shelf components is a lot easier than you think. Get more great tips from our podcast: Listen to Building an RFID Race Timing System with Agee Race Timing's Brian Agee.
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