Setting Up a Tag Checking Station using an RFID Block and TagChecker

Introduction

In some instances, you may find it necessary to set up a tag checking station to verify that tags are working and to verify athlete information at packet pickup. This guide spells out the simplest/quickest method for setting up a tag checking station with an RFID block and TagChecker, but there are other settings within TagChecker that you may find useful. For a complete run-down on TagChecker and its settings and capabilities, click HERE.

Setting Up

The simplest way to set up a tag checking station is by using the RF2400 RFID Encoder block and a laptop running the TagChecker software (Found on the Timer Portal under Downloads > Firmware > RFIDBlock). The encoder block can be ordered from ChronoTrack through the standard equipment order form.

10. Download and install the TagChecker software onto your computer.
11. Plug the RFID block into your laptop. You should hear a long low tone beep followed by a short high tone beep and see a green LED light on the block. With newer models, the RFID block driver should install automatically. For older versions, driver install instructions can be found HERE.
12. Open the TagChecker software. You should see a green block next to the RFID Block Status field at the bottom left of the window.
    
13. Click File and select Settings.
14. You will be prompted to enter a password to access the settings. The default password is chronotrack. Enter the password and click Enter.
15. On the General Settings tab, you can alter the Clear Data Timer which will determine how long athlete data remains on the display after a tag is scanned. You may also choose to Use Grid to Display Data which will display athlete information in list form rather than one athlete at a time. The Clear Data Timer feature only works for the Standard Display.
    
    Standard View
    
    Grid View
    
    The Standard View only supports 10 data fields not including Bibs. Create your athlete file accordingly.
16. When you are finished with all changes, click Save and Quit. This will close the settings window. Next, you may specify a custom message to display under the Display Settings tab.
17. Next, navigate to the Data File Settings tab. You must upload a Participant File with the Bib number in the first column. If you're exporting data from CT Live, the Standard/Announcer report will already be configured for this pattern. This file can be a CSV or tab-delimited TXT file. Selecting the relevant delimiter under the Data File Field Separator heading will automatically open the file explorer. You can select CSV or TXT from the dropdown next to the File Name field.
18. Click Select File. 
    
19. Once you have selected the file, you can check the Autoload File box so that any time TagChecker starts, it will load that participant file. This is useful for expediting the setup process on race day.
    
20. Next, you may specify a custom message to display under the Display Settings tab.
21. When you are finished with all changes, click Save and Quit. This will close the settings window.
22. You can now run tag across the RFID block. Tags must be 2 inches or less away from the surface of the block for tags to be read.
23. At the bottom of the window, you will see the Timer Code, Event Code, RFID Number, Tag Count w/ Data, and Tag Count w/o Data/. If a tag is scanned, but no information appears, verify that the Athlete is assigned the correct bib/tag and make any necessary corrections.