How To Use Generic Transponders with Core Software

[briankstan]

Well, since Core has gone the way of the Dinosaurs and the Dodo. I figure I'd help with supporting those that are still running the system. Hence the tutorial below.

How to use Generic Texas Instruments Tag-it Transponders with Core Speedway Software & Hardware. This is a simple process, but there are a few steps involved that need to be taken.

Things you will need:

Core System Hardware.
Core Software (version 2) First version operates similar but a little different, my instruction are for version 2, because that is what I’m running.
Standard Tag-it Transponder # RI-102-114A-S1 (Standard Core Transponders)
Small Tag-it Transponder # RI-103-114A-S1 (Small Core Transponder) These are the F1 Size for the front wing.
Racing Timing Software developed by Pinwc4 available here. http://www.flipsideracing.org/downloads/fsraceWin.zip
Label Paper

You can also use Flipside UID Reader that Jeremy put together for this. http://www.flipsideracing.org/downlo...DInventory.zip

Image of the standard Tag



Step 1: Cut out label paper so you have a label that will cover the transponder. Adhere a label to both sides of the transponder. This is more of a protection than anything. It also gives you a place to write the UID on later.

Step 2: Using the Flipside racing Software with Core Hardware hooked up, read the transponder and write down the Unique ID # (UID) on the transponder. Continue to do for all your transponders.

Step 3: Open the Racers folder under C:\Program Files\Corespeedway\lib\Racers. In this folder you will see other folders you will notice that the folders are the UID of the transponders.

Step 4: Make a new folder and name it the UID of the transponder that you are adding. Make sure all letters are lowercase. Now open one of the existing folders and copy the .info file from it into the new folder you created. This is the information that the software would have read from the card. you can edit it by using notepad. I’ll post up a picture later of what is what for this file.

Step 5: Open the Core software, now by using the race management portion, by selecting manage at the top of the page you can add the tags to your races and they operate as normal.

Step 6: Repeat for each tag needed.

Notes: The new tags CAN NOT be scanned in, Core won’t recognize them. You must use the race management portion of the software to setup the races. You can create the appropriate file and take with you on a memory stick, to move from computer to computer. I store all racers in my laptop so once it’s setup once it’s done.

I’m sure this will work with version 1, but you won’t have the folders in the Racer folder. You will have a bunch of files that use the UID, simple replicate the info with the UID of the new tag and away you go.

I’ll create some generic files to download, that you can simply rename the folder, edit the name in the .info file to keep is simple

Let Me know if you have any questions regarding this, I'm using these generic transponders for several of the members of our club and have had great success with them. I'm even using them in my cars.

here is a picture of ones that I have made.



ok, here is what you will see when looking at the racers folder, see notes in picture.



Now when you look in the folder of the transponder you will see this.



and lastly you will be looking for the info file, this is the ones you will need to modify with the racers info, etc.



One you have everything done, simply fire up core, use the manager to setup your races and all will work.

Let me know if you don't understand any of this and I'll help the best I can.

[byebye]

Brian I've stuck your thread. I'd like to have the smaller F1 transponders for my car. Do I just order them then follow your instructions? Will the timing system pick them up as easy as the larger ones? I may consider running the smaller ones taped flat to the bottom of the chassis instead of the inside top of the body.

THanks!

Kris

[arch2b]

awsome, not sure i follow 100% right now but i have a bunch of these that i bought to test already (regular size).

does flipside software work on vista? does core? i bought a new laptop nad vista was the only choice

another question, the previous post on generic tags listed the following tag:
595-RI-I02-112A-03
Tag-it HF-I Plus

does this one work as well or do i have to order the ones listed in your post?

btw, you can follow up this in an email if you don't wish to clog up this thread.

[briankstan]

Originally Posted by byebye

Brian I've stuck your thread. I'd like to have the smaller F1 transponders for my car. Do I just order them then follow your instructions? Will the timing system pick them up as easy as the larger ones? I may consider running the smaller ones taped flat to the bottom of the chassis instead of the inside top of the body.

THanks!

Kris

the smaller tags work fine, they are the same ones that core used, I have had really good luck with them on the F1's, all of us that race F1's in Salt Lake are using the smaller ones. We do have random missed laps occasionally, but it's more my laptop than anything. it's getting some more ram, and a new battery so hopfully this is a thing of the past on the missed laps. When my laptop was new and the battery was at full strength we never had this issue.

I will say the large ones are more reliable as they have more antenna area than the small tags.

Originally Posted by arch2b

awsome, not sure i follow 100% right now but i have a bunch of these that i bought to test already (regular size).

does flipside software work on vista? does core? i bought a new laptop nad vista was the only choice

another question, the previous post on generic tags listed the following tag:
595-RI-I02-112A-03
Tag-it HF-I Plus

does this one work as well or do i have to order the ones listed in your post?

btw, you can follow up this in an email if you don't wish to clog up this thread.

those tags will work as well, these were slightly cheaper if I recall correctly and were the Tag-it HF-I Pro tags. I actually had several different tag and they all worked fine, especially since you aren't writing anything to the tag, as long as it will read the UID, you are good to go. the most important thing is they are the right frequency for the core hardware to read.

the Flipside software does work with Vista just fine, I have tested it on my Vista desktop and it worked flawless. the flipside software is great, simple to use, but is still lacking a few things that we like at our races. I like the race director calling out fast laps, and lead changes, I also like the race management portion of the software.

I haven't been able to run core on Vista, but in all honesty I haven't really tried.

[pinwc4]

Very interesting find.

To make this a little easier I made a quick program out of some of the debugging code I used that will give you just a list of uid's. While I find it awesome that you guys are using my app for this the app I linked below should be quicker to use.

http://www.flipsideracing.org/downlo...DInventory.zip

Just select the COM port and click the inventory button. The bottom field will list all the UID's it finds.

Oh and I will have a new build of my software that will include audio callouts for fastest lap and time remaining within the next few weeks. The race day management stuff is still a ways off though.

[briankstan]

Originally Posted by pinwc4

Very interesting find.

To make this a little easier I made a quick program out of some of the debugging code I used that will give you just a list of uid's. While I find it awesome that you guys are using my app for this the app I linked below should be quicker to use.

http://www.flipsideracing.org/downlo...DInventory.zip

Just select the COM port and click the inventory button. The bottom field will list all the UID's it finds.

Oh and I will have a new build of my software that will include audio callouts for fastest lap and time remaining within the next few weeks. The race day management stuff is still a ways off though.

thanks for this. It'll come in handy for those that need to do this. I really like your software, but I mainly use the race management at our races.

For those of you that just want to setup a simple race and run, give the flipside timing software a try if you haven't. it work great.

[briankstan]

I have added some more detailed instructions to the 1st post, including some pictures of some that I made.

again, let me know if you need any assistance.

[arch2b]

thanks for the added detail info.

do i assume correctly that you can not rename the generic transponders? i don't think i'll find much use for them if we can not. i've raced with a bunch of numbers on the screen and it did not work out well in terms of understanding who is who, etc.

[briankstan]

Originally Posted by arch2b

thanks for the added detail info.

do i assume correctly that you can not rename the generic transponders? i don't think i'll find much use for them if we can not. i've raced with a bunch of numbers on the screen and it did not work out well in terms of understanding who is who, etc.

you can rename them, you can change the name in the info file, where it says name. you would simply change that to Arch2b ore whoever and that is what will be displayed in core.

[arch2b]

excellent. confirmed for me that the name in the info file is what core displays.

fyi, i try to load drivers via race manager whenever possible. it's much quicker than scanning drivers in. so this whole thing works well for me.

[briankstan]

thanks exactly how I use it as well. That's why once the transponder is programed and in your system there is nothing else that needs to be done. it's just a little more work up front, but considering the price it's really worth it.

[arch2b]

yep, a bit of work up front but more than pays off in time saved during racing. scanning in takes forever... prereg also lets you setup races before hand vs. day of race.

requires core tag responsibility on club drivers part though i printed hfay core transponder stickers for our club, one transponder per driver ONLY for hfay (both classes).

[briankstan]

I require that everyone have 1 per class. so if they change cars from one racer to another they move the transponder with it. it keeps things simple. With the price of the generic transponders there is no reason not to have one per class.

[arch2b]

i did too, unitl replacing lost transponders became expensive and tedius to aquire. now that the generics are viable option, it may be worthwile to go back to one for each class.

tip (to other race managers), name the transponders uniquely and consistently. we use the following format: [Name][Event][Class]
this makes it much easier when pulling tags from the manager menu.

[Slipstream]

Thank you Brian!