Timekeeping

The timekeeping is fully integrated with our computer software Equipe. Equipe controls the timekeeping hardware. This means that changes in the regulations only require a change of the settings in Equipe, not a hardware update.

The timekeeping´s base station, Equipe ATU, is connected to the computer with an USB interface. The ATU has a two-way radio communication with the photocells at the start and finish lines. The base station also has a built-in display that shows diagnostics from the photocells, for instance battery levels or radio disturbances. Each photocell has a unique identity and a 100 hour+ battery life.
The setup in Equipe is easy and there is a built in redundancy if the photocells are disturbed by officials on the course, or if the timekeeper laps in concentration.

The radio pulses from the photocells are forwarded from the base station to a comprehensive interface on the timekeepers computer. The timekeeping can be controlled by a separate computer or directly on the results-input computer. In both scenarios, the times can be stored directly to the database in Equipe over a network.

There are several types of displays that can be connected to the system. The basic display shows Bib, running-time, penalties and, after the finish, rank.