SPORTident Station BSF9
Description
- The SPORTident Station BSF9 comes with a completely new housing that offers a number of significant improvements and new features compared to the older series of SPORTident Stations. The BSF9 station is compatible with the existing SPORTident system parts and can be used mixed with older equipment.
- The BSF9 station is designed as a smooth and compact device. It is about the size of a keypad based phone but still large enough to incorporate a number of future enhancements. Different mounting options allow the station to be used for a variety of applications in different environments. A special semi-transparent plastic is used to show off the insides.
- The BSF9 station is “always on” and works in a low power Stand-by Mode. There is no need to switch on the station or to make any special preparations before the unit can be used. Also in Stand-by Mode the station is ready to process SPORTident-Cards. The maximal wake up time is 1 second. The station is switched from Stand-by Mode to Active Mode when the first SPORTident-Card is inserted.
- Once the station is in Active Mode the reaction time to the insertion of subsequent SI-Cards is very quick. After an adjustable period without a SI-Card being inserted, the station drops back to Stand-by Mode.
- The BSF9 station features with an on-board service display visible from the top side only. The display shows quickly main stations’ settings like real time and code number. After a card has punched the card number is displayed for 3 seconds.
- From Stand-by Mode the station can also be switched to Service Mode. This is done by switching on the station with the Instruction card “Service/OFF”. In Service Mode the station’s LCD display offers additional information like the serial number, battery consumption and firmware version. Information about station’s battery is given both by measuring the battery voltage and by computing the station’s battery consumption in relation to the battery performance. Service Mode is automatically terminated after 10 minutes or earlier if the Instruction card “Service/OFF” is used.
- The SPORTident station BSF9 features with a very low power consumption. In typical application cycles a battery will serve for several years. This battery type does neither contain Cadmium nor Mercury. Other points of importance are improved environmental properties because there is no need to glue together.
- The station’s real time clock system is calibrated and temperature compensated. This offers higher accuracy also at very high and very low temperatures. The internal time resolution is 1/256 s, approximately 4 ms.
- The station’s backup memory is increased and stored more than 20,000 punching records.
- The BSF9 station supports contactless punching according to the latest IOF specification for foot-o. No additional hardware investments are required. In addition to the direct punching functionality beacon records are sent out by the station one a time slot base. A “mixed” usage of the station direct/contactless punching within one event is possible. To enable mixed working mode the station has to be programmed in a working mode with a prefix “BC_…”. The default working time for beacon mode should be set to 12 hours. The station explicitly must be switched into active mode by a direct punch. Stations backup memory does not record contactless punching records by default for power consumption reasons. Instead SIAC’s backup radio channel can be used together with a radio dongle or the SPORTident LTE Modem.
Power consumption
- BSF9 stations power consumption in general depends how often and how long the station is used. The station is always on but features a very low power consumption in standby mode. Within 5 years only 15% of the battery capacity are consumed in standby mode.
- In active mode the station’s power consumption is higher. But the biggest impact on the power consumption has the number of feedback cycles, flash and beep. In any case it should be avoided that a SI-Card is kept in direct punching contact with a station for a longer time.
- If a BSF9 station is used twice a month in a typical orienteering event with about 500 participants, the typical working time of the station before battery exchange is minimal 5 years.
- A station in BC_… mode consumes about five times the energy compared to direct punching mode only. But the total impact to stations life time is less significant. In contactless punching the station does not emit feedback signals. As a rule of thumb the life time of a station becomes shorter by 20%. But after the end of an event it becomes much more important to switch off the station from active to standby mode by using the Instruction card “Service/OFF”.
- The BSF9 station features an in built working time counter and a battery voltage measurement unit. The working time counter considers the different consumption elements like standby, active, beacon and feedback. SI-Config+ should be used to monitor stations life cycle.
Handling and service
- The BSF9 station only needs minimal services. In typical application cycles only the station’s real time clock has to be monitored.
- The station’s settings can be changed by using PC-software SI-Config+. In the inductive coupling process between a SPORTident master Station and a slaved station a coupling stick can be used to improve data transmission.
- To achieve highest synchronism in the station’s real time clock it is recommended to adjust station’s real time by using the SPORTident Station BSF8 SI-Master (coupling stick needed).
- The battery has a capacity of 1000 mAh. This value should not be changed in the setups.
- SPORTident Station BSF9 features with an easy firmware upgrade mechanism. Station’s firmware can be uploaded by the user via simple inductive coupling. This feature keeps the station up to date and enables the implementation of additional functionality. To upgrade the firmware a main station BSM8 in combination with SI-Config+ must be used. Please also refer to our User Guide with detailed information about the latest firmware features.
- The BSF9 is equipped with a total of 4 eyelets, one at each corner. These can be used to thread anti-theft devices, for example thin wire cables. The station can be connected to a tree or other objects.
SPORTident provides safety locks as add-on equipment.
Operating modes
This base station can operate in different modes.
Classic punching system
The following operating modes are available for the classic system using direct punching.
| Operating mode | Functionality |
|---|---|
| CLR - CLEAR | Removes all data from the SI-Card. |
| CHK - CHECK | Verifies that the SI-Card is empty. |
| STA - START | Verifies that the SI-Card is empty and writes the start time on the SI-Card if this is the case. |
| CN - CONTROL | Reads the competitor’s SI-Card and writes the control code and time on the SI-Card. |
| FIN - FINISH | Writes the finish time on the SI-Card. |
Contactless punching system AIR+
The following additional operating modes are available for the AIR+ system using both direct and contactless punching.
| Operating mode | Functionality |
|---|---|
| BC STA - Beacon Start | Start time will be written on the SIAC in the contactless way. |
| BC CN - Beacon Control | Works like a normal control station, but also in the contactless way. |
| BC FIN - Beacon Finish | Finish time will be written on the SI-Card in the contactless way. The SIAC automatically turns off after receiving BC FIN. |
| SIAC ON | SIAC’s AIR+ functionality will be activated. |
| SIAC OFF | SIAC’s AIR+ functionality will be terminated. |
| SIAC Radio Readout | SIAC will be triggered to send out all data records stored by internal radio. |
| SIAC Battery Test | Measured and shown the SIAC’s battery voltage. |
| SIAC Test | Tests the SIAC’s Air+ functionality is activated. If not already activated, the SIAC’s AIR+ functionality can be activated. |
Specifications
BSF9 meets the electrical parameters of the BSF8 in all relevant features.
| Property | Details |
|---|---|
| Internal power supply | 1 x Lithium ½ AA cell, no rechargeable |
| Battery capacity | 1000 mAh |
| Durability | typically 5 years |
| Battery exchange | by SPORTident GmbH and authorized service points; an instruction sheet for self service battery exchange will be provided by SPORTident |
| Operating range | -20°C to +50°C |
| International protection class | IP 64 (DIN EN 60529) Protection against penetration of dust Protection against splashed water from all directions |
| Dimensions | 112 mm x 57 mm x 21 mm |
| Weight | 85 g |
| Accuracy at normal temperature | less than +/- 20 seconds a month |
| Switch-on time from standby | < 1 second (standard) |
| Backup memory | maximum number of punches: 21802 maximum number of SI-Cards data records: 1022 |
| RFID | 125 kHz RFID system according to industry standards low power output |
Improvements compared to station BSF8
- The BSF9 has a new housing with a closed recess for punching. Two gutters ensure that rainwater can run off. Compared to the BSF8 with its continuous hole, the housing of the BSF9 does not have a sealing ring and is therefore even more resistant to penetrating moisture.
- The two halves of the BSF9 housing are held together with 4 screws. This makes the station easier to maintain compared to the BSF8.
- The production and disposal of the station is more environmentally friendly, as the adhesive between the housing halves like the BSF8 can be dispensed with.
- The housing of the BSF9 is compatible with the Mounting Holder and O-Stand for the BSF8.