ELECTRONIC |
PUNCHING |
SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS 17TH/18TH
JUNE 2000
As in 1999,
we intend to use electronic punching to record the times of teams at each
checkpoint. The system is provided by a company named SportIdent and many of
you will have already used the system at orienteering events throughout Europe.
When
you register, your team will be given a small plastic Electronic Card (Ecard)
and a length of cord so that you can carry it around your neck. The card has a
5-digit number which is related to your team number. These cards cost £14 each and we have hired them for the weekend.
Should you be unfortunate enough to lose your card and are unable to hand it
in at the end of Day 2, we will have to charge you £14 for the lost card. A
Control Box and Ecard will be on display in the registration tent so that you
can familiarise yourselves with the system.
At
each checkpoint, you will come across a Control Box, which is a very small red
'brick' with a cylindrical hole in it. It will be labelled with the 3-digit
code of the checkpoint and this MUST MATCH the code provided on your checkpoint
descriptions, otherwise you are at the wrong checkpoint! At most locations it
will be on the ground beside the kite and attached to it by a piece of string.
Dip the tip of your Ecard into the cylindrical hole and providing the box is
working correctly you will see an LED flash and hear a 'beep' which confirms
that the checkpoint number and your time has been recorded on your Ecard.
If
You Have A Problem
The
Ecard replaces the Control Card that you would normally punch at each
checkpoint and the data from it is used to verify that you have visited the
correct checkpoints. If a Control Box fails to 'beep' and the LED does not
flash, it is possible that the Control Box is malfunctioning. In this case, use
the needle punch placed at each checkpoint as a backup mechanism to make an
imprint on the corner of your map. This will prove that you have visited the
checkpoint. Also use the needle punch if you lose your Ecard.
Saturday
When
we hand you the Ecard at registration it will need to be cleared of any previous
data. Just before you start on Saturday you will clear your Ecard at a special
Control Box. Then you will dip your
your Ecard in a Control Box as you start to record your start time. At the
finish on Saturday you will record a finish time on your Ecard. We will process
the data from your Ecard at the finish and hopefully will be able to hand you
back the Ecard almost immediately, cleared and ready for use on Sunday. Please
be patient if things don't always run smoothly.
Sunday
At
the start on Sunday, you will NOT use your Ecard to record your start time as
this will already be recorded elsewhere. At each checkpoint, use your Ecard to
record a time and also record a time when you finish. We will collect your
Ecard from you and should you be unfortunate enough to lose the card, we will
record your team number and you will need to tell us how/when you will pay us
the £14.
Results
The
information from the Ecards will prove that you have been to each checkpoint
but it will also hopefully provide us with split times at each checkpoint. This
may not be displayed during the event, but it will allow us to publish the
splits on the web site on Saturday and Sunday evening.