Webscorer PRO supports RFID readers from the following vendors:
Alien Technology - http://www.alientechnology.com
ACS - https://www.acs.com.hk
Chainway - https://www.chainway.net
Emit - https://emit.no
Feibot - https://www.feibot.com
Impinj - http://www.impinj.com
Invelion - http://www.invelion.net/
Motorola / Zebra - http://www.zebra.com
Nordic ID - https://www.nordicid.com
MyLaps - https://www.mylaps.com
RaceResult - https://www.raceresult.com
RFID Timing Systems - https://rfidtiming.com
ThingMagic - http://www.thingmagic.com
Thinkify - https://thinkifyit.com
If you have a reader that's not listed above, you’ll want to check from the manufacturer’s specs that the specific model includes support for the LLRP (Low-Level Reader Protocol) which is how Webscorer PRO communicates with the RFID reader. The LLRP protocol was invented in 2008, and adopted by the leading RFID vendors in the years following, so older RFID reader models may need a firmware upgrade to support it. The support for Emit, Feibot, MyLaps, RaceResult and RFID Timing Systems readers is implemented with their respective (proprietary) protocols.
The active chip timing systems (wire loop antenna & chips with a battery) supported are Emit, Feibot, MyLaps and RaceResult.
All readers will multiplex power to its antennas (if more than one antenna is used) such that only one antenna is active at any given time. Based on our latest testing, we would recommend the Impinj readers (R220 and R420) with multiple antennas. The Impij readers use a dynamic algorithm to cycle power quickly enough for a race timing applications. Motorola / Zebra FX7500 and FX9600 support software-set antenna switching which is set at 0.1 seconds per antenna. The other readers have a slow fixed length antenna cycling interval of 0.3-0.4 seconds which is too slow to reliably capture moving chips. They'll work fine with a single antenna which is the optimal setup for timing as that ensures the antenna is powered 100% of the time. You can use multiple readers - Webscorer PRO allows the addition of multiple reader IP addresses to the chip timing setup, no upper limit.
The setup is identical for all manufacturers, provided that the RFID reader is set to obtain its IP address automatically (using DHCP) from the WiFi router - which is the default settings for all new RFID readers.
COMPONENTS NEEDED
You will need the following components to setup the Webscorer app for RFID chip-timing:
- Any Android, iOS, Mac or Windows device capable of running the latest version of Webscorer PRO
- An RFID reader
- At least one RFID antenna
- RFID chips
- A WiFi router providing a local WiFi hotspot
- An Ethernet cable (or two - see below)
You can use an AC power supply which converts AC power to the reader's own voltage which is typically 24V DC. Or you can use a battery to skip the AC-to-DC conversion. Note that most new RFID readers support power-over-ethernet - which is a convenient way to provide power to the RFID reader over longer distances:
- You’d purchase an adapter such as this:
http://www.amazon.com/D-Link-DWL-P200-Power-Ethernet-Adapter/dp/B0002MH3HO
- Connect the power-over-ethernet adapter to an AC power source using its power adapter
- Connect the RFID reader to the POE port of the power-over-ethernet adapter via an Ethernet cable
- Connect the WiFi router to the LAN port of the power-over-ethernet adapter via another Ethernet cable
LIVE RESULTS
If you want to provide LIVE results, you'll need a WiFi router model that provides the internet uplink. The mobile device you'll use for Webscorer PRO chip-timing can only be connected to one network at a time (it is not an IP router) so when the WiFi connection is used to communicate with the RFID reader, the cellular data connection is off - unless you turn on the WiFi hotspot feature and purchase a WiFi router model such as https://cradlepoint.com/products/mbr95 that can use a WiFi hotspot as its own internet uplink.
An alternative is to run Webscorer PRO on a Mac or Windows, and use a direct Ethernet connection from the laptop to the Impinj or Motorola / Zebra reader - or via an Ethernet-to-Ethernet router - which will then free up the computer's own WiFi connection to be used for internet access and LIVE results.
HARDWARE SETUP
1. Power on your WiFi router
- Most new WiFi routers work out of the box without any additional setup steps
- The WiFi hotspot is typically available without a password, but you should add one
2. Create a WiFi connection from your mobile device to the WiFi router
- Check via the device’s settings that the WiFi connection is active
- Note that your device can connect to only one network at a time, i.e. WiFi or cellular
- For simultaneous internet connectivity (e.g. for LIVE results), the WiFi router must provide the internet uplink
3. Power on your RFID reader
- Using its own power adapter, or
- Using the power-over-ethernet capability described above
4. Connect the RFID reader to the WiFi router via an Ethernet cable
- Make sure to use one of the numbered ports
- I.e. do not connect the WiFi router to the port labeled “Internet"
WEBSCORER APP VERSION
Make sure you’re running the latest app version (presently v5.5)
If you don't have a PRO suscription, activate the free PRO Trial on the app
- The PRO Trial supports all features, including chip timing
- There is no expiration date for the PRO Trial
- The only limitation is that start lists are limited to max 5 racers
If you’re an existing PRO subscriber:
- Create a new Webscorer account
- Sign in with the new account to the app & activate the PRO Trial
WEBSCORER PRO SETUP
To turn the RFID feature on, set “Chip timing = On” in the “Hardware Setup” panel and select the type of RFID reader you have: