Discussion: SI Event Software

Shopping for software for our new equipment. What do people recommend for event software?

Thanks....

The software I would like to run isn't out there yet. Not quite anyway. I don't want a computer at the event. I want easy download of the SI box afterwards and simple conversion to publication format and splits format for RouteGadget. Or has the world changed since I last looked?

Not sure if the "easy download of SI box afterward" is the way to go. Now that we got rid of the infamous pre-race box programming stage with SI, I dont want to come back with a post-race box reading stage, especially since box reading is not always reliable (had a couple of problem this summer when reading control boxes to detect DNS runners). I dont know if the Emit box logs chips?

If you go without a computer right now, this means:
- everybody must have chip with personalized settings, or have registered in advance, or on a sheet of paper (luckily without mistake)
- you have to check their control and get the result by hand if you want immediate result (and THEY want immediate result in general).
- you still have to program courses, categories, registrations anyway
- in case of mistake in chip number, courses or other, it's just better to correct it on place than having to wait that you come back home

The softwares in place have been sufficiently polished and field tested so that once in place, you dont have to do much to run it during a race.

The only thing which is better with a no computer solution is that's simple, lightweight and does not require big batteries, waterproof tent or a generator.

As for the original question, well it depends on the type and frequency of races you plan to organize, and the hardware you have (I mean, sportident, emit...)

Must say that I'm quite dissatisfied with the current state of the art too, so that I began to program my own solution.

http://www.sportident.co.uk/autodownload/index.php in the UK is very user friendly. Not sure how events work on the other side of the Atlantic, but worth a look.

For the big multiday 100% preregistered events the SKramer SportSoftware OE offering seems to be an Ok solution. We have learnt to tolerate its clunkiness. For local events (~ 100 people, all registering on the day) we find OE too cumbersome in terms of competitor handling at the front end of the event (especially with 95% rental SI sticks). There seem to be several other options out there such as SIME , Autodownload etc that need only name - stick number association to be entered (with some autoseek) and the rest is taken care of.

Does anyone have real time experience with these options for smaller "100% day of reg" "high rental stick %" events? (assuming equipment of a laptop computer and small printer plugged into a 12V Dc power source/inverter ).

I have used SKramer SportSoftware extensively. If you need more info, contact me via email for my review.

My stated preference was for events of 50-75 people. OE is the only solution for large events, or for complex Hageby formats. But for aour small standard events, it is like using a sledge-hammer for a peanut. SIME as software is fine, as long as you are happy with the logistics of batteries/generators etc. The software built into the box that comes with the SI school set is fine for running the event on the day. No computer needed. The remaining issue is getting data from that for publication of splits and results. There is one piece of software that is aimed at that, but I had problems getting it to work. The idea is great though.

>The software built into the box that comes with the SI school set is fine for running the event on the day.

Yeah but that school printer to put it bluntly sucks! Has anyone tried running the school kit with a different printer?

We too would like a simpler system for training events and club training without going with the on-site computer. Never used SIME though. Like mentioned above we still have a high percentage of SI-stick on-day rentals.

The standard has been SportSoftware's OE for single day events and MT for multiday events. Although it is not particularly intuitive, and there is a relatively steep learning curve to become familiar with it, on the whole it is a powerful program and can do pretty much what you want to be done, if not necessarily in the most elegant fashion. For our local events, our EP group has been having some vigorous discussion about what to use. I personally like OE, because once the event is over, you have your results and only have to post them to the web. However, it does require a lot of setup, tent, printer, computer, battery, inverter, paper, etc. With direct entry, using a master station to put in the SI chip number, it only takes a minute or so to enter rentals. Most of the regulars own their own sticks, and so it takes just a few seconds to put the stick in the unit, confirm what course they are on, and hit enter. One of our members has been working on a program to try to eliminate the big computer set up, and just use the SI Gebe printer. It is still in the process of development, but so far, it requires manually entering names of competitors after the event from hand written scribbles on the print outs. I have been reassured that this is going to be eliminated, but for now, I would rather spend a few minutes entering people before they go out rather than hours later after the event deciphering names and entering them manually.

Have a look at Ór http://orienteering.ie/or . I found OE very cumbersome to use & I wasn't always sure that it was doing what I thought it should, so I wrote my own. Most of the clubs in Ireland use it. All the reports that I have received say that it is easy to use.

It should do all the main tasks that you would need for a reasonably small single-day event. It also has a nice feature where you can download your track from a Garmin Forerunner & have your route printed on the course along with your split times.

Martin

One advantage of 'no computer on the day' that hasn't been mentioned is keeping event organisation open to those intimidated by OE or computer-based event management in general. Whilst most scribblers on this site are unlikely to fit into this category, there are more than a few in our club. The easier it is to run events, the more volunteers you will harvest. Next year we plan to convert most of our 80 club events to SI timing. If we have to have a computer at the event, then the number of events will decline.

Ór looks very interesting, especially since it can run on many platforms.

Is there a possibility to download the source code and participate in the effort? For example, import an archive from a different country.
I might tweak it for some special event.

Open sourcing the code for Ór is on my to-do list but it will be some time before I get around to it.

Importing another archive should be quite easy. It's just stored as a csv file in the Ór database directory. The original archive was lifted from the OE Archive Manager so it should be possible to generate one from OE data.

We only use the Gebe printer at our meets. No computer! No printer! and intend to stay that way as far as I can tell. Everyone gets the grocery slip splits, we manually record total time result and post it. Splits are left for the individual to post on AP if so inclined.

I tried to extricate splits using SI-Config a couple times, got haphazard results and totally frustrated. If anyone comes up with a nice download program from the Print box, it would be most welcome.

So its not just me. I likewise got haphazard results trying to extract the splits and was also totally frustrated.

Autodownload is just brilliant - try it
http://www.sportident.co.uk/autodownload/index.php

I have used OE to do the timing at World Cups, Scottish Six Days all the way down to little local events with 20 competitors. Autodownload beats it hands down.

Mark Stodgell
http://www.stodgell.co.uk

@martin: I sent you an email using your profile address (which is, I guess, a .com address). Can you check it?

martin, thanks! I've only played with Or for a couple minutes, but I like it.

I am working with the Canmore Nordic Center (in Alberta) to create a permanent orienteering course. There will be three foot-O courses (beginner to intermediate) and one mtbO course. The courses will be changed three times a year. We are putting 100 stands in the park and will buy 50 SI control units to move between those stands as the courses are changed.

We are hoping these courses will get lots of use from locals wanting to try orienteering & develop navigation skills, and from tourists who are interested in a fun way to spend time in the park.

We are looking for software that will support these courses. The main thing is that the "event" will take place over a long period, the same (rental) SI card will be used for multiple competitors, we should allow teams. Ideally we'd like to have a print-out of a diploma (with split times), plus an automatic upload to a website of all splits. And competitors will be able to run the course more than once.

Any suggestions for software? Oh, and if it could run on a Mac that would be really nice (since this is what is in the shop that will be administering the course).

(ps: I'm also interested in any suggestions / experiences with Permanent Courses that would help make this a success. I will start a separate thread for that)

http://www.sportident.co.uk/si365.php

should be exactly what you are looking for

Stodge
http://www.stodgell.co.uk

That does look to be exactly what I'm looking for - but does it really exist? Or is it just a write up on a webpage??

AZ: emailing Martin Stone is your best way to get the answers you need! (address on the link above)

I tried emailing Martin (and a number of other addresses at sportIdent.co.uk) but I get no response. Possibly something wrong with my email?

Here they have 250 permanent controls/courses with epunch and control locations changed once per year.
http://sommar.idrefjall.se/aktiviteter.asp/lid/319...
http://www.kart-bosse.se/idrefjall/index.php?optio...

They have had it going for years. It might not bad idea to ask Idrefjällens Orienteringsklubb what they think about it.

For the record, Martin just called me about SportIdent365 - which does do pretty much exactly what we need. The lack of communication was a problem with my email not arriving, but I do feel a bit sheepish that for some reason it never occurred to me to pick up the phone and call. Anyway, thanks andrewd for making the connection. I'm going to go and practice calling people on my phone.