Smoove wrote:
DQ'ing someone for missing a timing mat doesn't make sense. There was a post earlier on this thread about how nearly 2% of chips have defects and about how they require "line of sight" to work. I don't think that I have ever missed a mat in the middle of a race, but I know that I have missed a mat at the finish line of a race. It was a local race, and I am familiar with the race timing team, and they told me it was because of how I lifted my arms up in front of my bib to stop my watch as I approached the finish line - that was apparently enough to block the transmission to or from the timing mat.
No you cannot DQ for missing a mat, but as an insider (to timing), chip 'defect' (actually not responding) is less than 1 in 100,000
Chip 'failure to read' is different as it is due having the EM signal reach the chip (not line of sight), and is as low as 0.1% at the start of a 40,000 entrant race (mass of people) but they have multiple lines the more people you have, so again it is much less than 1 in 1,000.
Then, yes, the majority of failure to read finish line is due to stopping the watch, usually interference from watch/metal etc rather than straightforward 'blocking'.
These disposables are also pretty robust and can put up with a lot of damage, sweat etc, but as with bib identification of old, you have to wear the bloody thing in the manner the timing company advises otherwise it is your fault.
I usually have repeat offenders (which skews up your misread stats) and often I don't even bother making corrections for them, just leave them out of results, don't waste my time.