Most Often Asked Questions About
Winning Time U.S.A
Attention all Race Directors
Winning Time has been evaluated and approved by the USATF Road Running Technical council. As such it complies with all requirements of Rule 36 paragraph 4 of USATF Rules of Competition for transponder timing systems.
What best describes the entire system?

The Technology:

The Winning Time system is designed around the TIRIS RFID (radio frequency identification) technology developed by Texas Instruments, which offers a proven, highly reliable performance.
Other applications include pay at the pump technology "Speedpass", automotive security, and building access systems.

The Winning Time system consists of 3 main elements:

  • Transponder Chip
  • Antenna Mats
  • WT Controller Boxes

The WT system operates in the following way:

  1. The antennas incorporated in the mats are driven by the WT boxes to generate an electro-magnetic field that sends an energizing signal to the transponder.
  2. Within 60 milliseconds the chip is fully powered and ready to send its unique identification code back to the antennas.
  3. The chip ID code is then passed through the antenna to the WT box that records it together with the relevant time. These data are then read through the WT box serial link via computer into the scoring software.

The Chip:

The Winning Time chip is a TIRIS transponder moulded into a plastic weather tight capsule. The passive Winning Time chip is worn on an adjustable, easy-on…easy-off Velcro ankle bracelet. The Winning Time chip can be used under all climatic conditions.

The Mats:

The Winning Time mats are made of plastic and covered with a robust non-deformable rubberized material. A single Winning Time module (mat) measures 160 cm long by 120 cm wide. Because of this special design the Winning Time mats are lightweight, easy to transport and non-deformable.
They are easily joined together through Velcro links so to create any required configuration for start, finish or intermediate check points

The WT Controller Boxes:

The controller boxes house the TIRIS RFID modules (chip readers), the modules are controlled by the Wining Time designed CPU. They also contain long-life internal batteries that are easily recharged between events. The boxes connect to the antenna mats to capture the chip data (ID code & time) once activated. An RS 232 serial port provides the communications between the WT boxes and the host computer. The robust construction of the boxes allows them to be easily transported and withstand all modes of transportation.


What are the components of a typical Winning Times System ?

Code Description Qty
WT6B Timing Box, 6 mats capacity
4
WT2B Timing Box, 2 mats capacity
4
Mat BS/BL Double mat , complete
16
Network system RS 485 network kit, complete 6 WT box connection
1
Chips Winning time chip, complete with strap
2500
Other Accessories Synchro cables, small scanning mats, power cables
1

How many systems do you need to do a main start and two finish lines operating separately from one another?

This would include primary and backup systems. The number of systems you need for a start and two separate finish lines depends on the width requirements of the specific areas, and how many participants are in the race. I need more specifics here to be sure, but in general for one start and two finish lines, I would say 1.5-2.5 systems.

What is the maximum read rate across your antenna?

The maximum speed across the antennas is 70Km/hr. For speeds faster than this, use 3 rows of mats.

How high off the ground does the field read the chip and does the distance diminish with higher speed across the mats?

The height at which you can read the chip is generally between the waist and the chest. There is some interference with a large number of people crossing the mats all at once, but the solution to this is having two to three rows of these dual antenna mats.

How is the data available off the reading system?

The results data are stored in a simple .dat file by the system. This file is available at each box via RS232 or via a RS485 multiple-box network connection .

Over the three-year period will the system be upgraded with new versions or improvements? Will these upgrades be passed along to lease holders?

We will make upgrades to the system whenever appropriate, cost effective, and feasible. We performed an upgrade in the Spring of 2001 on a series of old boxes, mat improvements, the splitting of power box and CPU box on the WT6B, etc. Winning Time will always bear the costs for the upgrades unless a licensee requests some very specific functionality or modification.

Is this the system the Italian Cycling Federation is using this year for it's domestic events?

Winning Time has been using this system on more than 120 cycling races over the last 4 years.
Winning Time is also partner of UCI (International Cycling Federation) for the Golden Bike events.
Among these, Winning Time has provided the timing service at the Cape Argus in South Africa for the last 3 years (42,500 participants in 2001)