1. Electronic punching system
The SPORTident contactless punching system was used.
Each control was equipped with one BSF8 unit or in case of a split time control with a BSF8-SRR to ensure receiving a punch in cases where a SIAC is not in active mode.
Each competitor received during the accreditation a SIAC used for all competitions at WOC2023. All SIAC’s used for WOC2023 were tested beforehand carefully based on the battery production date: Batteries with a production date older than 3 years were not used (checked with SPORTident Config+). During WOC2023 we had no issues regarding mal functioning SIAC’s.
One person was responsible to prepare all the BSF8-SRR units for the upcoming competition: correctly programmed control codes and correctly labeled. Labels with the control numbers were not sufficiently stuck on the units. During the long distance competition at one control our label was detached, and the control was given a different control number for a very short time. Make sure that there is no number from a previous competition under the temporarily label. It is worth using a few centimeters more tape to make sure that the label does not come off.
2. Timekeeping
2.1 Start timekeeping
For the Middle-distance qualification race the start times according to the start list were used.
For the two individual race finals a start gate was used. Where the athletes were allowed to start within +/- 3 seconds to the dedicated start time according to the list.
The output A of the start gate is connected using wires to a modified BS11-BS SPORTident unit: when the start gate opens, the antenna of the BS11-BS connects with the unit (which sends/receive data from/to the SIAC). This way the start time was written to to SIAC. Furthermore, we have programmed to BS11-BS to tell the SIAC «send last record» this way the real start time was feed into the live data system (OOIS). The BS11-BS (working range 1.8 m) and a SPORTident LTE-Modem is placed 1 meter after the start line.
For the B-System we are using a SPORTident BSF7 (Sprinter-System) wired with a 10 m cable to the start gate output B and via RS232 cable connection to a mobile network-based radio: When the athlete leaving the -1’ start-box he punches the Sprinter-Unit which sends via radio (chip number & punch time around one minute before the start time). Additionally, as soon as the start gate opens a chip number «0»-& the exact start time are transmitted. These two records are used as the start time of the B-System.
In start areas without mobile coverage, it is needed to setup a dedicated radio network to transmit the start times.
2.2 Finish line timekeeping
3. Split times
4. Software
A dedicated cabled IP network was used for the described systems setup. All the computers were time synced using a local NTP-Server.
5. Procedures
ISSUES
The mobile network coverage in the middle qualification arena was weak. During tests on the day before the competition, we were able to successfully provide the data online with our infrastructure. For the competition it was planned to use other routers with better bandwidth. On the day of the competition, it became apparent that there were unusual delays in data transmission. As a result, the arena speaker could not communicate the current intermediate results and the online ranking lists updated very slowly. Once more not tested not working tests shall always be done with the real equipment and setup.
VIP & Media Race
Version 2023 / 10 / 30 – LEI