Guide
Weather and race timing: protecting electronics from rain, frost and heat
· 6 min read
In short
- Batteries in phones and readers lose a significant share of their capacity in freezing conditions — at temperatures around the freezing point, they may last considerably less time than at normal room temperature.
- Water and moisture can significantly weaken radio signals, particularly in standard UHF RFID systems, and may damage unprotected electronics — phones and readers should be kept in waterproof cases or bags.
- Heat, by contrast, increases the risk of a phone overheating. At high temperatures, the device may slow down or switch itself off for protection.
- Wet mud can reduce the readability of some UHF chips, while dry dust does not normally block the signal — off-road events should anticipate more missed detections and have a backup procedure.
Electronic equipment on a racecourse works perfectly under laboratory conditions. The reality of running, cycling or motorsport events is different: rain, frost, heat and mud.
Frost and batteries
The chemical processes inside batteries slow down at low temperatures, reducing their usable capacity. A phone or reader that lasts all day at room temperature may report a depleted battery much sooner in freezing conditions. The solution is to use power banks kept warm, such as in an inside jacket pocket, and have spare devices available.
Rain and moisture
Water weakens radio signals, particularly in standard UHF RFID systems, and may damage unprotected electronics. Phones and readers should be kept in waterproof cases or bags that still allow the touchscreen to be used. Moisture particularly weakens the UHF RFID signal on a runner's body; read more about this effect in How an RFID chip works in running.
Heat
High temperatures can cause a phone to overheat. If it gets too hot, it may automatically slow down or switch itself off to prevent damage. Shade, an umbrella over the timekeeper's station and a spare device ready for immediate replacement all help.
Mud and dust
Wet mud can reduce a chip's readability, while dry dust does not normally block the signal. This also occurs in motorsport, as explained in Cross-country and enduro: motorcycle race timing. Off-road events should expect more missed detections than races held on clean roads.
Practical checklist for an event in bad weather
- Waterproof cases for phones and readers,
- Fully charged power banks stored somewhere warm,
- Spare devices ready for immediate replacement,
- A backup recording procedure, such as paper records or a second phone; read more in Backup timing systems,
- A pre-race equipment test in conditions as close to reality as possible.
Offline operation also works in bad weather
TAQIO stores records directly on the phone, so a signal outage caused by the weather or a remote location does not affect timing — the important thing is to keep the device charged, dry and within the manufacturer's specified operating temperature range.
Frequently asked questions
How do I protect a phone from rain on the racecourse?
Use a waterproof case or bag that still allows the touchscreen to work. Keep the power bank and spare devices dry, ideally in a sealed box or tent.
Why does a battery run down faster in winter?
The chemical processes inside a battery slow down at low temperatures, reducing its usable capacity. A device therefore shows a shorter battery life in freezing conditions than it does at room temperature.
What should I do in extreme heat?
Protect the phone from direct sunlight with shade, an umbrella or a cooling case, and keep a spare device ready in case the original switches off or slows down because it has overheated.
How does mud affect RFID chip timing?
Wet mud can reduce a chip's readability by weakening its signal, while dry dust does not normally block the signal. Off-road events should anticipate a higher risk of missed detections and have a backup recording procedure ready.