Thanks for the ideas everyone!

The problem I face here is unit cost, adding more and more hardware to the
in-car device will increase the overall cost of such a system dramatically.
The clubs that are looking at purchasing or funding this system don't want
to spend more than approx $1200 for 25 in car beacons, plus trackside and
timing room hardware.

This limits me to about $30 - $35 per unit for the in car beacons, which I
can do using IR and RF. I think a system such as this, with the IR telling
the RF when to transmit, will be sufficiently accurate and reliable, far
more so than the current person-with-stopwatch system. I also checked and
our insurance coverage for the event prohibit us from modifying the track
surface in any way, especially mid corner...

I definitely cannot install any permanent hardware or make structural
changes to any facilities at the track.

I'll investigate my options with this, I'll let the list know when a
solution is reached :)

-----Original Message-----
From: pic microcontroller discussion list [mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU] On
Behalf Of Richard.Prosser@POWERWARE.COM
Sent: Thursday, 18 March 2004 7:32 AM
To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
Subject: Re: [EE]: Identifying cars


I guess it's too much to hope that there's a drain or duct line under the
circuit near the appropriate location? (For an RFID Loop)

Why not have the unit on the cars do the timing, triggered by a beacon at
the chosen spot, and then transmit the info to a PC. It could do the
transmit thing several times to minimise (data) collision oppertunities. A
32kHz watch crystal should be more than adequate for timing.

I see more difficulty in getting the beacon to trigger the device
appropriately at an accurate location.

Richar P

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