The ChampionChip

What is a ChampionChip?

A ChampionChip is a miniature transponder in a specially designed housing, marked with a unique identification number. The transponder is a waterproof glass capsule that contains a silicon chip and an energizing coil. The ChampionChip can be used under all weather conditions, wet and dry, cold and hot.

How does the ChampionChip work?

There are no batteries in the ChampionChip. The transponder is inactive until moved into a magnetic field, generated by a send antenna in a mat. When the ChampionChip enters the magnetic field, the energizing coil produces an electric current to power the chip. The transponder then transmits its unique identification number to a receive antenna in a mat. The entire process takes approximately 60 milliseconds.

Where can a ChampionChip be used?

The ChampionChip can be used in many active sports events. Thousands of event organizers around the world are using ChampionChip timing for running, triathlon, cycling and mountain biking, in-line skating and cross-country skiing. One chip can now be used in all these sports worldwide.

How to use a ChampionChip during events

• When you bring your personal chip to an event, make sure the organization knows the chip code. This is the 7-digit code, marked on the outside of the chip.
• Make sure no one else uses your personal chip, or the chip issued to you by the event organization.
• Make sure that you have only one chip in an event.
• Bear in mind: no chip, no time. Only athletes wearing a ChampionChip will be timed.
• In some countries the distributor offers chip/barcode labels with the personal chip. Use these labels on the entry form. This prevents errors during reading, writing, or typing the code by both the owner and the organization. When you register online, make sure the chip code is entered correctly.
• Chips issued by the event, should be returned after crossing the finish line, or sent to the event's office as soon as possible after the event. The event brochure or information package will include instructions for returning the ChampionChip

How to attach the ChampionChip

The reading distance of the ChampionChip System is limited. The antennas are embedded in the red mats on the road. Therefore the chips should be located as close to the mats as possible on the body of the participant. In cycling events the chips should be located as close to the mats as possible on the frame of the bike.

• The chip should preferably be attached to the shoelace or attached to the ankle with a strap. Loop a single lace through the square holes of the ChampionChip and pull it tightly to the shoe. When using a strap, attach the ankle strap with the chip around your ankle. Make sure you do not attach it too firmly because your ankles will swell up during the event.
• When you own a personal chip you can leave it attached to your running shoes. This way, you make sure you will not forget to take your chip to an event.
• For your personal chip, the best position is the lowest part of the shoelace, as close as possible to your toes. When you do not use your personal chip, use the upper part of the shoelace, close to the knot, for easy removal and return of the chip after the finish.
• Do not tie the chip into the lace; when this comes loose, the chip may easily be lost.

• Preferably the specially designed clip should be used. With this clip the ChampionChip can be mounted to the frame (central tube or front fork) of the bike, or attached to the front fork via the quick release of the wheel.
• When participants are allowed to change bikes during cycling and mountain biking events, the chip should preferably be attached to the ankle with a strap. Only in this situation all chips should be worn on one side.

To make it work

There are a few guidelines to make sure the chip will be charged by the magnetic field, generated by the red mats:

• When attached to the shoelace, the central tube of the chip should be pointing in the "running direction". When attached on the ankle or on the frame of the bike, the tube should point downwards.
• The chip housing and the chip-clip for bikes are both designed to bring the chip automatically in the right orientation.
  When the chip is attached to the shoelace, event organizers often offer small bands or wraps (not the ankle straps), to simplify chip return. This might cause a wrong orientation of the chip. Please look at the pictures to see what is right and what is wrong.
• The chip should not be mounted on the metal of bikes, ice-skates or in-line skates directly. The central tube of the chip housing must be separated from metal by at least 7 millimeters. When the chip is on the bike instead of the ankle, do use the chip-clip. Only the clip guarantees proper functioning of the chip.

Do's & Don'ts

• The chip can be damaged by extreme shocks and by cooking it in a microwave oven.
• Remove the chip before putting the shoe in the washing machine.
• Do not give your personal yellow chip to event volunteers at the finish line area. Volunteers may not be aware that you own the chip and it can be used in other events.
• If you cannot finish the race, return your chip only to designated race officials or volunteers.
• Do not cross the systems by walking on your hands. Your chip will not be read.
• Do not attach the ankle strap too firmly to your ankle: your ankle will swell up during the event.
• Do not mount the chip directly on the metal of the bikes, ice-skates or in-line skates.
  

Chip Concepts

Chips for every taste…

• Yellow
• Black
• White
• Blue

Yellow

Participants can own a yellow chip and use it in ChampionChip timed events around the world.

Some events using ChampionChip timing offer yellow logo chips for sale. These chips have the event logo in full color as an insert.

In some European countries only yellow is used. All ChampionChip timed events in these countries offer yellow chips for sale and for rent. This means on the entry form all participants can choose between:

• bringing their personal yellow chip
• buying a chip
• renting a chip.

When a yellow chip is rented, a deposit is required to make sure the chip will be returned. If participants do not return the chip in time, the chip will be considered sold.

Your personal yellow chip, bought in your country or abroad, can be used all over the world, in almost any event we time.

Black

Some events use black chips in combination with yellow logo chips. In these events you can buy a logo chip with the event logo, or bring your personal yellow chip. All other participants will receive a black chip that has to be returned after the finish. This is often done in the USA. This means on the entry form all participants can choose between:

• bringing their personal yellow chip
• buying a yellow logo chip
• receiving a black chip from the event, which must be returned

White

White logo chips are issued by the event for one time use and can be kept after the race as a souvenir. They cannot be used in other ChampionChip timed events in the future.
White is only used in a few events.

Blue

Blue chips are issued at events and are kept by all participants after their first use. The price/deposit is much lower than the yellow chip price. When used again, a fee must be paid. Depending on the country, the fee must be paid per event or per year.
Blue is only used in a few countries.

Blue chips can only be used in one specific country and cannot be used internationally.

Information for chip owners and buyers

A personal yellow chip can be used all over the world, in almost any event we time, independently of the chip concept used in the specific country or event (black, white or blue). Make sure you give your chip code to the event organization. Never use two chips in one event.
Both the classic yellow design and the yellow logo chips with embedded event logos, are called yellow chips.

We cannot guarantee that all events using ChampionChip timing will accept personal yellow chips: the events make the final decision.

For a list of ChampionChip timed events please visit our calendar. You can also visit the site of your local ChampionChip timer or distributor.

If you want to purchase a yellow chip outside of an event offering yellow chips, please click here. Select the country you live in and you'll find a list of sites that offer chips for sale. In case there is no distributor or timer in your country, select a country nearest your own.

Chip Owners Database

All yellow and blue chip owners are in a national and/or worldwide ChampionChip database. The Chip Owners Database is used by events to help identify chip owners.
A typing error in the chip code during the event registration process will result in your chip being timed without a name. These so-called "orphan chips" cannot be part of the final results. The Chip Owners Database can offer the solution. In this database the recorded chip code will lead us to the rightful owner. This owner can be found in the event database too, when he/she officially entered the race. Now the correct chip code can replace the mistyped one, and the recorded times will end up with the right person in the final results.

It is important that your personal data are correct. You can update the data with the ChampionChip distributor in your country.

Chip code info

All chips, except the white ones, have chip codes. All chip codes are unique and consists of seven (7) digits. The possible number of chips is unlimited. In theory each person worldwide could have his or her own personal ChampionChip.

When you bring your personal chip to an event, make sure the organization knows the 7-digit chip code. Some distributors offer chip/barcode labels with the personal chip. Use these labels on the entry form. This will prevent errors during reading, writing, or typing the code by both the owner and the organization. When you enter online, make sure the chip code is correct.

The chip code has 7 digits. The possible positions of the digits are: