Active Loop Troubleshooting Guide

Situation: No karts are not registering on the Timing PC

Step 1
Determine whether it is a hardware or software problem.
This guide will help eliminate the hardware.

Step 2
Try passing different transponders over the loop to check all karts. Ensure transponder
position has not changed and follows recommendation by manufacturer.

Step 3
Check Loop has power Activator should be warm.
If the activator was supplied after Jan 2004, it should feature a Green LED on the
activator unit between the loop wires.
Check this is ON.
ON Stable means loop is powered and loop is correctly tuned in the problem must
be elsewhere
ON Flashing means the loop wires in the track are incorrectly installed or broken /
bad connection try remaking the loop and check with manufacturers handbook. Ensure
all wires connected are clean soldered joints
OFF Either a bad power supply, bad wiring from Power supply or a bad activator unit.

Step 4
Check Coaxial cable is secure, undamaged and bypass any loop switcher units and
connect directly to AMB Loop Input.
New TranX -3 decoders, these include a LCD display that indicates when a passing of the
transponder is received.

Copyright ROC Timing Systems LTD. All rights reserved.

All decoders feature a headphone socket that allows a small set of walkman type
headphones to be connected. You will hear a beep when a transponder passes the line.
The LED on the front of the decoder will blink RED when a transponder passes. It also
blinks RED every 5 seconds as a self test

Step 5
If you are receiving a signal on the Headphones / decoder, the problem lies with:
Serial cable between decoder and PC (check it is correct type and correctly fitted)
Serial cable is connected to the correct COM Port on the PC
The timing software is correctly set to match the Com port the decoder is connected to
(Check under Timing Software Configuration -> Hardware -> Decoder)

Common Solutions to loop / Timing problems:

Loop wires have become broken due to crash incident at the loop point / poor user
installation check and remake them with the loop not powered
Loop Power supply has become disconnected or gone faulty check output of loop
power supply with a Voltmeter should read 12V or more.
Loop Activator has failed replace as soon as possible

A re-boot of the Loop Power can sometimes help tune the activator (to turn LED from
Blinking to ON Stable)
A reboot of the Decoder power can sometimes solve problems, where the Decoder can
lock up due to power spikes especially where decoder LED is constantly RED and not
blinking as part of self test every 5 seconds.
Check COM PORT has not gone bad in PC. We recommend using COM 1 for the
Timing. Try using a different COM port if available.
Check the timing software is correctly configured to the Correct Com Port.
If you are still having difficulties, please contact ROC Timing Systems Technical
Support. You may be required to have a support contract in place before we can
proceed with your call. Your hardware will be covered by statutory and
manufacturers back to base warranties. Please contact us for details.

Copyright ROC Timing Systems LTD. All rights reserved.

Copyright ROC Timing Systems LTD. All rights reserved.

Tips and Recommendations

We recommend you check your loop(s), cabling and equipment once a month to ensure it
is in perfect condition, and has not been tampered with or is not exposed to elements or
public.
We recommend you have installed a spare activator. As this is a high powered electronic
(active) device, it does contain sensitive components that can go down, which will render
the system non-functional. We recommend you have a spare loop assembly in-stock as a
spare part item, should this go down, you can deploy the loop without having to get the
old one repaired and be up and running with the minimum of delay. For enhanced
security, we recommend you have a spare loop activator and coaxial cable in place, ready
to connect to the track loop, should the original unit fail.
Loops should be powered using surge protected power outlets.
Only use the original supplied parts as approved by ROC and AMB
We recommend you carry spare AMB Loop power supplies as these can go down too.
When testing the loop, you may be able to use a power pack from a spare loop (e.g. Pit
Loop) or decoder to test the suspect loop activator unit.
All power supplies and decoders etc should be installed in well ventilated areas. When
installed in cupboards, e.g. below the Monitor and Keyboard at Race Control, we
recommend these units are well ventilated and have inlet / outlet fans and filters to pass
air.
DC and Loop cabling can run side-by-side
It is possible to locate the loop activator DC power supply nearby to the actual loop
activator, rather than run this cable back to the race control. Be aware, that this outlet
may not be battery-backed up by a UPS, so should the power fail, no transponder
passings will be detected by the decoder / PC.
Please contact ROC Timing Systems Limited for price and availability of spare parts and
replacement cables and delivery times.
Please note that all hardware warranties are normally back-to-base, i.e. customer to send
damaged item back to ROC for repair. It is then repaired and returned to the customer.
We recommend customers purchase a spare loop / loop activator if this is suspect and
then later return the original unit for repair.

Copyright ROC Timing Systems LTD. All rights reserved.