Timing on Race Day
Once checkpoints, races, segments, and participants are configured, and timing devices are assigned to checkpoints, your race is ready to be timed.
This article explains how to operate RRM on race day and how the system handles passings before and at the official start.
Preparing Devices and Races
Before the start, ensure the following:
Activate device reading → Devices must be switched on and collecting data.
Activate device process passings → Devices assigned to checkpoints must be set to process passings.
Activate checkpoint process passings → Checkpoints must be active to accept passings.
Activate race process passings → The race must be set to process passings.
You may leave the race process passings option off until the last moment before the start.
Passings recorded while a race, device, or checkpoint is inactive are still saved but marked as:
RACE_CLOSED
DEVICE_CLOSED
CHECKPOINT_CLOSED
These passings can be reviewed later in the Event Control View.
Mass Start and Standing on the Antennas
In mass starts, participants often stand on the start mats before the official gun. This can produce TIME_INVALID passings, because the race has not yet begun.
A common concern is that when the race starts, some of those first participants may already be leaving the start zone. Their chips were already recorded as TIME_INVALID, and due to device bounce windows, they are not read again as they leave.
How RRM Handles This
RRM resolves this by automatically creating lap_0 passings (synthetic starts) when needed.
If a participant has only TIME_INVALID passings before T=0 and no valid START, the system generates a synthetic start at race start time + 1 ms.
This ensures that all participants receive a proper start time, even if their chip was last read just before the official start.
Device bounce rules do not prevent the creation of this synthetic start.
This guarantees that the first runners to leave the start zone are not left without a recorded start.
Starting the Race
You can start a race in two ways, depending on whether you know the start time in advance.
Option 1: Pre-Defined Start Time
Enter the official start time in the Race Dashboard.
Activate the Process Passings option for the race.
Passings before the official start are marked TIME_INVALID.
At the official start, the clock begins counting up, and passings are processed normally.
Option 2: Visual Confirmation at Start
Enter the start date in the Race Dashboard, leaving time as
00:00:00.Keep the race’s Process Passings option disabled.
At the actual start signal, enable Process Passings and note the time of day.
Update the Race Dashboard with the actual start time.
RRM recalculates rankings on demand. Adjusting the start time later does not affect data integrity — rankings always remain consistent.
Final Checklist for Race Day
Verify all devices, checkpoints, and race settings are activated.
Use either the pre-defined start or visual confirmation method.
Keep devices active and processing passings according to race requirements.
Remember: TIME_INVALID at T=0 is automatically resolved with synthetic lap_0 starts.
With these guidelines, you can confidently manage accurate race timing for both small and large events.
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