Hi all,

I thought it might be helpful to share our experiences of using PACER on the Punchbowl Marathon.

Surrey challenge events typically use outside checkpoints where the use of laptops are problematic both in terms of protecting them from the weather and keeping them powered. At the checkpoints on the PBM (and the WT the previous month) we used tablets and smartphones (a mix of iOS and Android) with bluetooth connected barcode scanners. Critical to the success of PACER is a good comms signal and being outside this meant for us a good cellular signal (we had no wifi - even at HQ). At one CP we took numbers about 200m away from the CP itself where a good signal was to be found. At all three CPs PACER performed perfectly with HQ kept fully informed of the event's progress and CPs updated in real time on the numbers they were expecting.

As a backup to PACER we used a simple commercial app called Scan to Spreadsheet and costing less than £3 (iOS and Android) which simply records the barcode with a time stamp. This is purely local with no signal required. We wanted to move away from paper even as a backup since the most common source of error usually results from erroneous manual entry which can then take a long while to sort out.

We also stuck a small piece of sellotape (pre-cut Scotch pop-up strips) over the barcode itself to prevent problems with rain (or sweat) making the card difficult to read. Although dry on the PBM it worked effectivelyl on the WT which, as some will remember, was a little damp!

At HQ we used an auto-detecting barcode scanner (one that turns itself on when a card is presented) attached to a Mac laptop to scan starters and finishers . The 'Event Controller' whose task it was to oversee the event, arrange pickups for retirements etc used a windows laptop running PACER Admin. As on the WT we used a separate person to print certificates. He had set up his laptop and printer prior to event so arrived ready to roll. For a smaller event (less than 150 or so) the Event Controller could take on this role but with bigger events the smooth production of certs which resulted from a dedicated person was well worth while.

The PBM has a mass start which was handled by scanning all card at registration then bulk changing all times to the mass start time. Those who elected to start after that time were rescanned as they left to update their start time.

We only had one minor issue. At one CP we missed one scan but this was readily picked up by the close down marshal from the Scan to Spreadsheet backup. On both the WT and PBM the close down marshal commented how much PACER eased the task of identifying who was still to come at a given CP since PACER displays this stat as 'outstanding'. With only 2 or 3 to come PACER makes its easy to identify just who these are without resorting to paper lists.

We used a mobile wifi unit with a data SIM to connect the 3 laptops at HQ to the network. Between them (start/finish scanning. Event Control and cert printing) we used 500Mbytes of data. At the CP's and for the close down marshal we typically used up to 50Mbytes - although on the WT where a laptop was used from within a car 80Mbyte usage was recorded.

I hope these comments might be useful if you are contemplating using PACER on your event.