Orbiter Hardware Quick Start

Key tips for successful hardware setup and operation. These tips are useful to first-time users:

At a minimum all you need to remember is (1) turn on the Orbiter Spire (2) know who you gave the tags to (3) make the Orbiter beep or light flash as runners pass.  You will have 100% success.  Thus, there is no need to worry because doing the above gets you 100% success. 

Even if your tablet / computer is turned off, broken, and can’t be used during the event you will still get 100% results.  You can set up the computer after the fact.  This is because the Orange Spire detector is your event.   The data is localized inside the Orange reader, and only deleted on a FIFO basis so you always have the original data inside.   You can even configure and load  your participants into the computer after the event.  This is why we can rent our equipment to first time users.  Over ten years of proven results, we have built the software code to be a versatile tool.  No one in the world has completely the same design that we are aware.  Just do the three items above for success and relax!

Here are other less important tips:

Keep in mind that a passive RFID timing tag operates similarly to barcodes. The tag must be seen for an instant by the reader to operate. Thus, shadowing should be avoided. This means hiding the tag from view, the same as with a barcode. The difference is that a passive tag may have a greater range versus a barcode.  Thus, do not hold the tag in your hand while running.  The tag then won’t work.   The tag must dangle from the wrist in free air.   If used for school PE call out to the student to let the tag go and dangle.  “Wave at the reader” when running past.    This is overkill but will ensure 100% tag detection.   

If the detection is gained with an LED light flash and/or buzzer sound, then 100% the time the time-stamped tag detection can later be recovered. Why would the tag not show on the results? This can be because the “min lap time” was set correctly. For example, if min lap is set to 1 minute but a runner runs a lap in only 40 seconds, then every other lap will not show. By changing the min lap time to 30 seconds, and clicking “reprocessing,” then all the laps will show. Reprocessing is found on the Software Quick Start link here… https://www.orbiter.com/how-it-works/software-quick-start/ Min Lap Time is used so participants don’t stand in front of the reader to gain free laps. However, the setting can cause confusion if set wrongly. Min Lap Time is found under the “Tracks tab” in the Orbiter4 software.

The good news is that all the settings may be changed at any time using Reprocessing to fix problems.  The reprocessing button is found within the green “Start and View Event” button.  This is because all tag detection are stored inside the reader, whether used or not, for the race results. This means that almost anything can be fixed after the fact, and your race is safe.  Tag detect data is never deleted within the orange Spire Orbiter.  This allows you to recover your race.

For 100% success, focus on gaining a tag detection. Once an event starts do not get distracted from focusing on getting tag detects.  This should be your only concern because everything else can be fixed after the fact.  Tag detects are seen when the RFID reader LED blinks, OR/ AND the buzzer sounds. There is a buzzer switch just under the lower antenna corner.  The buzzer “on / off” switch is a small and narrow black switch under the bottom left corner of the check-a-board large rectangle antenna.

Be sure to point the Orbiter at the on coming runners at a 45 degree angle.  This ensures getting the best tag reads because the RFID integrated circuit get pre-energized and very responsive.    The antenna creates a “line” at the 45 degree angle as shown.  Tag detects are on the line per US Patent 11,839,803. 

1. Charge the battery the night before the operation. It does not harm the batteries to keep them charged all the time. However, leaving them uncharged for longer than 30 days does harm them. This is because the clock inside constantly operates, draining the batteries completely over time.  The batteries last 2 years or 200 recharges.  They are purchased at most hardware stores, Battery+, or online. They are common AGM scooter batteries and are approved for airline travel. They are NOT lithium Ion so you do not have to worry about them combusting and burning your building down.

2. The “on / off” power switch is in the black metal box on the side of the SLING.  It is a momentary switch which means it has to be held for a second and let go to work.  This is to prevent kids from flipping the switch and turning the machine off easily.

3. There are three LED’s inside the black metal box. When turned on two are Green. One of these is the power level indicator (Green is 10 hours battery life, Yellow is 4 hours, and Red is 2 hours), and the other signifies if the system is “on” or “off”. A third LED is “white” when the RFID reader is operating. After turning the system “on” it takes a minute for the RFID reader to start operating. This is similar to a Windows computer that takes time to boot up. The RFID reader is also “on” when the LED and / or buzzer beeps when a tag is shown.

4. A standard AGM 18 amp-hour battery is used with an F2 connector.  They are found at hardware stores around the world and places like Battery Plus. They are rated safe approved for shipment on airline travel the same a luggage.   They will not start fires like Lithium-Ion.  Your school is safe!  The weight of these LED acid batteries is an advantage because they create stability for the SPIRE in high winds. The battery may be removed and reinstalled to lower shipping costs by purchasing locally. Because AGM batteries are low-cost, removing them when moving many Spires worldwide is a good strategy. New batteries are then easily purchased anywhere. Removing the battery is done by simply using a crescent wrench to remove the battery like a cassette tape.

5. For lap counting place the SPIRE on the Inside of the track and shown in the video below. It is best to place the reader at a 45 degree angle from the side facing the runners. This is better than placing the reader perpendicular to the runners.  The read range is very wide so the kids do not have to clump up next to the reader.  In the video the kids are directed to run between the orange reader and the line of cones.   The actual read range is twice as wide!  This way hundreds of kids can run past because the detector reads 450 tags per second.   

The easiest way to set up a school fundraiser with many class events is in the software to setup one event on chip time start and place the reader on the far side of the track.   This way you do not have to turn the software on and off for each event.  You can run one continuous event and separate them when you publish reports.   If you use an HDMI Display sort by Most Recent Tag Detect to show the most recent tag detect event on top.   To show the top leaders click on “Laps” column to sort high to low in number of laps. 

6. Before the event, after placing the reader into position, it is always best to double-check the read distance. Take one sample tag and show it to the reader as  you move in an out of range.   The actual distance is typical quit far like 40+ feet.   This varies depending on whether the SPIRE detector is placed on concrete, asphalt, dirt, or grass. Metal also impacts the read distance so placing the reader on top of rail road tracks with dampen the read range.   Worse are tracks that are made from recycled black rubber tires.  The black rubber has carbon in it!  Carbon absorbs radio waves and kills the read zone by more than 50%.  The good news is that Orbiter is so powerful that even a 10 foot read range works.  However, this is the reason you want to double check your read distance so you can direct participants to pass the reader correctly.   This is precisely why buying the powerful Orbiter is better than buying a cute looking little small reader is important.  You never know when you need the extra power of Orbiter. 

7. Understanding where a tag will not read is as important as knowing where it will read. When you map the read distance using only one RFID tag, you will find the read zone looks like a baseball field, where home plate is where the SPIRE is located. The radio lobe shines out forward toward the outfield, and the detection zone has a first baseline and third baseline of about 18 feet.   These lines emanate out at a 45-degree angle, similar to how a baseball field looks with a first base line and a third base line.   Directly forward, you will find the read distance to be 30 to 65 feet. The total area provides an expansive and powerful read zone for lap counting.  This allows the capture of hundreds of people running past in near real time.  The reader only needs to glimps a tag within this broad read zone for an instant (speed of light) in order to capture a lap.  Thus, as long as the participant does not “cup the tag” in their hand and hide the tag from the reader, you will get detection and perfect lap counts.

8. There are advanced software controls the first time user does not need to know.  These are how to enable full, half, and low power operation.  Also, first tag, last tag, and corkscrew detection.  Plus, under the Oriter4 software under “Tracks” how to connect many readers so they operate as one reader, or place way points so they can be leap froged for economy.    The software impacts how the RFID tag is read and is for advanced races like 100 mile ultra runs and others.   Normally, keeping the systems on full power and first tag detect is best and easiest.   As a note, Corkscrew tag detect is used only when there are more than one reader working at the same time. Corkscrew allows tags to be read anywhere on the body. Normally, setting the reader to “first tag detect” seen is best. This is the default when the system is rented.  Lastly, no worries in getting your software setup wrong. This can be changed during or after the race to correct mistakes by using the “Reprocessing” button.

9. Placement of RFID tags on the participant. Please understand that RFID does not like to be placed directly on the human body because the body is like a sack of water.   Thus,  RFID requires an offset form the body, and with bibs this is done with foam strips.   The exception is using a Hu-Tag which is designed for direct placement on the human body.   Orbiter is proud because we helped innovate this tag by providing the first $ 50,000 USD  funding for it’s manufacture.   For bib tags Orbiter uses foam to create an offset of the tag from the body.  Placing tags like stickers on Helmets work well.  When placed on helmets it is best to use two.  One stuck on each side of the head so the tag may be read when pacing the reader regardless if the head is turned in the opposite direction.

10. Click on the video below.   This is about quickly double checking that all the tags work. Before the event line up the students and have them pass one by one. If you get a “Beep” or “LED white light flash on the side of the Orbiter, your tags are good. If for some reason lap counts are then not shown, this means the tag was not associated to the student in the Orbiter4 software. No worries as all lap counts can be recovered after the event easily. See the “Software Quick Start” here… https://www.orbiter.com/how-it-works/software-quick-start/ The following video is how to quickly test all tags before an event.

Set up of the readers into events is done on the “Schedule Event” tab.  Keep the Orbiter readers  8 feet apart with physical separation from each other otherwise there is cross talk and they will jam each other.   Other than that the orange RFID SPIRE reader may be placed anywhere, but here are the best locations:

a. For 5K runs, the disposable Bib RFID tags are placed on the bibs and pinned to the chest.  For chip time starts use two readers one on the right and one on the left and pointed into the runners at a 45 degree angle.   For gun starts the reader at the start is not important because everyone gets the same start time.  Only the finish time is important on a gun start.  The small SLINGs work well with small 5K races using gun start.

b. For School Lap Counting:  These tags dangle from the wrist and should not be cupped in the hand. Thus, it is important for a volunteer to police the tags and call out to runners to let the tags dangle. Also, the wrist tags should be placed on the wrist closest to the body.

c. For School Cross Country:  Place the reader at the finish.  With many runners you may want to create a shoot to ensure proper order of finish.  The smaller SLINGs work equally well for school cross country races too.

d. For Triathlons, the software allows moving the start detector to the finish for economy.   Three detectors are best although Triathlons can be done with only one per the instructions.   Orbiters are ideal for pool side reading where participant starting in Lane 1 “snake” through the pool.  Also, rugged Hu-Tags may be used and are excellent for Triathlons. d. Orbiter is optimized for high school cross country and is the most economical approach.  Scoring is automated for Teams and Place of Finish just like Cross Country rules demand.

e. For Bike events, use two tags placed on each side of the helmet; Or, a Placard on the front of the bike but in front of the metal brake cable. may be placed on helmets or placards on the front of bikes. placing tags on the ankle can be problematic. One must remember to place the ankle tag on the far side of the gear derailleur. An alternative it to place two label tags on each helmet. One on each side of the helmet so when the bike rider turns their head the tag is always seen by the reader.  The following does not apply for bike events where few people finish at the same time.   However, for Bike events with mass numbers of people, placing the Orbiter Spire on top of a barrel like that used at Rodeos works well.  This allows the reader to read tags on helmets.  Bikes have metal and carbon that block RFID thus getting the reads up high is nice.  Plus, this avoids having to build an overhead arch.  Did you know that Fire Marshall rules require 18 feet of height for arches over roads?  Arches work off roads and Orbiter system will work with Arches too. 

A major benefit with Orbiter is that “any human powered event” may be timed with the same equipment.   Typically, a timing manufacture will recommend purchasing two systems called “active” tags AND “passive” tag.  With Orbiter you do  not need to do this because for human powered events our one system does it all.  For the speed of motor powered events Orbiter also has active tags.   Engines on motor events cause EMI and thus with high motorized speed active tags needed.  Our active tags are unique because they don’t need to be recharged.   It turns for human powered events with Orbiter the Hu-Tag works better than an active tag.  This is because our readers have three times the power as typical passive readers, and the antennas are not placed on mother earth like a mat.  The earth greatly dampens radio signals and is not good.  This is another reason why Hu-Tags work better with Orbiter than when times with mats.   Thus, Timing with Orbiter side antennas is more accurate,  easier, and more profitable.