Comments on: Conference Call Minutes, 5/22/08

By: revo

revo — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 17:16:44 +0000

A former sweepstakes chair believes it was in the $1,000 ballpark each year for Runner’s High…so that yearly spend is what we should calculate any sort of return on investment against. Again, we’d still likely need to hire someone who is unaffiliated each year to run the system for raceday so we may not save much $, but we’d get the benefit of times throughout the year plus hill times that most of us (aka all teams not named Pika) don’t currently get except when we time off of tapes etc.

By: Shafeeq

Shafeeq — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 05:38:52 +0000

I’m waiting to hear back from ChampionChip.

I spent my 6 hours stuck in the airport reading manuals for the Tag & ALGE systems. The cheapest to do just the start &finish is around $5000, each additional split around $1200. And the simple clock display is another $3000. To some extent, one can mix & match between them and at the AMB systems.
And Radio Club already owns equipment that handles our biggest wireless n eeds, though there are issues with that.

By: Abby Sullivan

Abby Sullivan — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 02:49:15 +0000

Anne W is also trying to find out for us

By: revo

revo — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 00:20:56 +0000

Josh,

You are correct, Runner’s High uses the “ChampionChip” system.

I haven’t found what we pay Runner’s High yet, but have also inquired with a few minds that may know/remember.

By: Shafeeq

Shafeeq — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 03:55:34 +0000

All of these have the mats, so not good for the freeroll, unless we can modify the mats for our purposes.

The photocell systems have the potential to be cheaper, but you have to deal with all the false triggers of people walking between them..
The Chronosplit system seems to solve this by putting a recorder in the buggy so you know which one that buggy was responsible for. And as a bonus, each team’s split times are private to that team. You still have to keep people off the finish line, though. Is that too much of an issue ?
http://www.tagheuer-timing.com/products/standard-configurations/speeddown/cp520-basic-pc/index.lbl?lang=en
http://www.reliableracing.com/tag-heuer-timing.cfm

I’m travelling the next couple of days, but ‘ll make some calls when I get back.

By: josh

josh — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:35:48 +0000

If a system of this price is still regarded as worth pursuing someone else should look into an alternative to AMB, so we can compare prices and features.

Options are:

*ChampionChip – I think this is what Runner’s High uses
*Ipico Sports
*Winning Time
*RFID Race Timing Systems – only accurate to 0.1sec, so not a good option

By: josh

josh — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 01:13:51 +0000

I sent a followup email asking if the ChipX system would work, and if there is any loss in accuracy with that system.

I also asked about wirelessly networking the different decoders, to simplify setup at rolls, and the cost of cabling if wireless isn’t an option.

I’ll keep you all informed when I find out more.

By: Shafeeq

Shafeeq — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 23:49:42 +0000

Hmm, it’s not clear from reading the specs what each of the more expensive transponders add, except that the model number corresponds to the maximum speed in kph they’ll work at.

At least additional timing points can be added later, so we could get the minimum system now and add a new point every year or so.

In the unlikely event that the $3k software cost makes the difference between affording it or not, I’d volunteer to write buggy specific software to do everything we want. It’s not a stretch from what I do at work, but there are plenty of reasons why this isn’t the ideal solution. They will release the necessary specs for the RC system, unclear about the ChipX.

By: josh

josh — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:06:41 +0000

I assumed the guy said ChipX, but he had a pretty bad southern accent and I think he was actually talking about TranX, made for go-kart and car racing. Those transponders look a little more substantial.

http://www.amb-it.com/tranx160-transponders-c-4_6.html

Maybe the other type would work for us though and cut down on the transponder cost. I’ll follow up with them again and find out.

By: Carl Nott

Carl Nott — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 20:56:30 +0000

They have transponders at crappy $20 entry 5k’s that fatasses like me ‘run’ in. I find it hard to believe they cost $250 each.