Setting Up Tag Types for RFID Readers
Last updated
Last updated
The RUFUS Timing App allows you to configure the types of RFID tags that can be read by your RFID sled, giving you the flexibility to adapt to different chip formats. This article will guide you through setting up the available tag types, including RUFUS Tags, RUFUS FREE, and Custom Format.
Launch the RUFUS Timing App and navigate to the Settings menu.
Select the RFID Zapper option to open the tag type configuration screen.
RUFUS Tags are encrypted tags specifically designed for use with the RUFUS Timing systems. These tags ensure secure and accurate readings, as they can only be read by authorized RUFUS devices.
RUFUS FREE tags are non-encrypted tags. This means that their information is openly stored, making them readable by any UHF RFID system, not just RUFUS-manufactured equipment.
In the EPC memory of these tags, participant numbers are stored without encryption. For example, if you read the EPC memory of a RUFUS FREE tag for chip number MC00978, you might see the following in HEXA format: 3030 3030 304D 4330 3039 3738, where:
30 = 0
4D = M
43 = C
39 = 9
37 = 7
38 = 8
The Custom Format option allows for more detailed configuration to accommodate various freely encoded tags. This provides flexibility for users who wish to adapt the RFID reader to specific tag types.
EPC Length: Set the length of the EPC memory of the tags to read. You can choose between 8, 12, or 24 bytes.
EPC Value: Specify the format of the data in the EPC memory. Options include DEC (decimal) or HEX (hexadecimal).
Race Filter Activation: This allows you to filter the tags read by the sled based on specific race criteria. By enabling this filter, the system will only recognize tags that meet the criteria set.
Filter Type: Choose the type of filtering to apply. The options are:
Raw Data: Apply the filter directly to the raw EPC data. Use the # symbol to denote the variable part of the bib number.
Processed Data: Convert the EPC data from HEX to DEC before applying the filter.
Filter: Define the mask for the filter using the # symbol to represent the variable bib number. For example, for an EPC memory of 12 bytes with data stored in DEC, if you want to only read chips from timer 3 and event 10, the filter could look like:
0003 0010 0000 0000 #### ####
In this example, the system will recognize only those tags whose EPC memory is 12 bytes, the data format is DEC, and starts with 0003 0010 0000 0000, with the bib number stored in the last four bytes.
If the variable bib number is at the beginning of the data, it could be represented as:
#### #### 0003 0010 0000 0000
To ignore specific filtering for race and/or timer, but still analyze the beginning of the data as the bib number, it could be represented as:
#### #### 0000 0000 0000 0000
For Processed Data filtering, the system first converts the data from HEX to DEC and then applies the filter. For example, for an EPC memory of 12 bytes with data in HEX, to only read chips from event 3 of year 19, the filter would be:
1903#####
The data saved in the memory EPC for bib number 1 in HEX might look like: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0B57 BF61, which converts to 190300001 in DEC.
Filter Application: The RFID sled will ignore any chip whose format does not match the configured settings. Make sure the filters applied are correct to avoid missed readings.
By configuring the tag types correctly, you can ensure that the RFID sled reads the tags that are most relevant to your event, providing accurate and reliable timing data.
