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Exploring Active vs. Passive Chips: Which Timing System Tracks Your Every Step Better?
In today's sports events, accurate timing is becoming increasingly important to players and spectators. With the advancement of technology, transmitter timing technology is gradually replacing traditional manual timing and recording systems and becoming the new standard for recording sports performance. Transmitter systems are usually composed of two main forms: active chips and passive chips, each of which exhibits different technical characteristics and applicable scenarios.
Basic concepts of active and passive chips
Active and passive chips work differently. An active transmitter is a battery-powered transmitter that will actively transmit a unique identification code when it receives a signal. In contrast, passive transmitters do not carry batteries, but instead enable themselves to send signals through electromagnetic energy emitted from their surroundings.
Whichever system is used, the timing equipment will usually have antennas installed at the start, finish and other timing points as needed, which will help record the athletes' passing times.
The evolution of technology
Since its first application in motorsports in the late 1980s, RFID technology has gradually found its way into more and more sporting events, including long-distance running, swimming, and triathlons. The technology gained popularity in the mid-1990s with the introduction of low-cost 134kHz chips and readers from Texas Instruments. Although active chip systems are more expensive, they still have a place in high-speed sports, especially in large-scale events such as the Olympics, where their high read rate and precise time stamping make them dominate the market.
The timing requirements of large marathons and triathlons have led to the rapid development of chip timing technology, because the accuracy and efficiency of manual timing cannot meet the needs of such large events.
Usage and development trends
As the number of participants increased, traditional manual timing could no longer cope. Many races place antennas or timing mats at both the start and finish locations so that each competitor's net time can be calculated more accurately. In some races, awards are based on “gun time” while others use “net time”, which shows the diversity in how events are run.
ConclusionBy placing transmitters on shoelaces or race numbers, organizers can more effectively improve the reading rate and ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of timing.
With the further development of UHF systems, more and more events are beginning to use temporary transmitters, which not only reduces costs but also provides participants with a simpler experience. Today, both active and passive chip technologies have significantly improved timing accuracy and participant convenience. However, when considering which technology to choose, the needs and budget of the event are still factors that cannot be ignored. In the future, this technology will continue to evolve as demand changes, but how will contestants make the best choice?
