PocketTimer

Chapter 7: Operating Tips

Raceday Preparation

The one thing that can go "wrong" when you are recording times is that your screen is improperly calibrated (which means that the handheld unit incorrectly senses where you tap the stylus, which may cause you to "miss" a button or even in the worst case to trigger the wrong button). Calibration is generally fairly stable, but it can be temperature sensitive, so if you've been using your unit indoors and then show up on race morning on a cold (or hot) day, it can easily be incorrect. We strongly recommend that one of the first things you do on raceday is calibrate the screen. Tap the Applications button on your handheld unit, find the Prefs application, and select Digitizer from the popup list in the upper right hand corner. Tap on the crosses as indicated. Now you can use PocketTimer with confidence.

Recording Times Most Accurately

Like the buttons on most computers, the Start button in PocketTimer only activates when you lift the stylus up, not when you tap the pen down. Starting the timer by moving the stylus down and then up is therefore a two-step, slow process. For extremely accurate timing (in our experience, within 0.02 seconds or so), just before the start of the race (like when the countdown begins), tap the stylus on the Start button and hold it down. The button will "invert" (turn to white letters on a black background) to indicate this. When the gun goes off, lift the stylus (in most cases, your arm will naturally jerk back at the start anyway) and the timer will start.

Capturing Bib #'s

The most common cause of "error" with PocketTimer is missing bib#'s, and this almost always results because you can't read the bib# at all. Some racers have them covered over with a T-shirt, others have them facing backwards, etc. You will minimize the number of missed bib #'s if you station an assistant perhaps 100 yards away from the finish, whose task is to shout "show your bib #" to anyone approaching without a visible bib#. Most people want to be timed correctly, and will make sure their number is visible as long as they are reminded.

Capturing All the Times

When a group of people approaches at once, it will be impossible to record all the bib #'s with PocketTimer. If you are doing finish line timing, then in most races the racers will have some kind of "tear-off tag" on their bib# which will be collected at the end of the finishing chute, which will show the order of the finishers. Since you can use these numbers later to enter the bib#'s into PocketTimer, the most important thing is to record the times of the finishers. The best way to do this is when you see a group approach, enter the bib# of the lead racer in the group (but don't tap on Record yet), then start counting the number of people. When the group reaches the finish line (or other point at which you are timing), tap on the Record button once to record the bib# of the lead racer along with the time, then tap on the Record button by itself as many times as necessary to record the times of the rest of the racers in the pack. It is important to try to get the first bib# correct, as this will help immensely in editing the results later, but if you don't, don't worry about it.

Dealing with "Bandits"

If a racer without a number approaches you, they may be a bandit (someone who is racing without paying the entry fee), or they may be a legitimate racer whose number is hidden (or fell off). You should assume the person is legitimate, and tap on Record to capture the time of the person. However, if before the next finisher has come in, you realize the person was a bandit, just tap on the Del. Last Time button to delete that entry. If there is any doubt at all, leave the result alone; you can always delete it after the race is done.

If you are sure the person is a bandit as he or she approaches you (for example, they pull off the race course before reaching the finishing chute), you shouldn't record their time.