Timer R3

The chipless timekeeper R3 is designed for universal timekeeping with photocells in training and competitions, especially in athletics. The special feature of the timer is the possibility of recording up to eight intermediate times (depending on the type) and the gradual evaluation of the change in the athlete’s speed between the intermediate times. The device is based on the previous types of timekeepers R and R2.

One of the typical applications of the R2 timer is therefore logically the measurement and evaluation of short running intervals and explosiveness: for these purposes, the timer is used by football clubs FC Nitra and MFK Karviná, for example.

The timer is available in wired and wireless versions. One or more large LED displays can be purchased for the timekeeper.

• version for wireless connection of photocells: guaranteed range 60 m photocells, actual approx. 350 m in the open,
• version for wired connection of photocells: pressure-resistant cabling, cables are led only to one side of each sensing gate (to the photocell; on the other side there is a reflector).

Common characteristics: start signaling by siren, automatic start or manual start by a button on the timer panel, or by a start gun (optional accessory); when starting by siren, it is possible to set the start with one tone, multiple successive tones at one-second intervals or with a random delay, when the player cannot “cheat” the reaction time by watching the operator’s hand on the start button; for an extra charge, it is possible to install a speaker and a voice module with pre-recorded starter instructions.

One photocell is always placed at the start. It is used for measurement with a soft start or for measuring the reaction time (from the start of the siren/gun shot to the passage through the photocell). It is also possible to fit a maximum of 7 target photocells (one is placed at the end of the track, the other photocells are used for measuring intermediate times). The photocells always capture all of them and are used to measure the times at all tracked points simultaneously (of course, it is not necessary to use the start or intermediate photocell if only the start-finish time is sufficient).

It is also possible to use the target photocells separately for individual lanes and measure multiple people at the same time during a joint start (please specify your request when ordering).

The timing unit itself has a memory of 90 measurements (1000 measurements at extra cost) identified by player number, which can be transferred to a PC via USB cable after the training session.

Parameter setting and data reading is done by PC. It is possible to export the results table to MS Excel. Software for Windows XP and higher allows:

• enter the player’s name and ID number,
• measurement of different length sections, calculation of speeds, percentage speed loss in individual sections compared to previous sections (when measuring with intermediate time),
• averaging from multiple repeated measurements, discarding faulty measurements,
• optionally simple comparison with the average of the current measurement or with past measurements.

The sensors are mounted on conventional tripods, always with photocells on one side of the track and reflectors on the opposite side. The photocells are available in wireless versions for a beam range of 1.5 m, 6 m or 10 m, which determines the maximum possible width of the measured path.

Simple 1.5 m and 6 m photocells work in the infrared spectrum, 10 m photocells are laser with a red beam (this is a safe design – the transmitter has lower power than a laser pointer), which makes it easier to adjust the reflector, just find the position of the reflector so that the red dot emitted by the photocell is visible.

The wireless photocell units are battery powered, the operating time per charge is more than 8 hours with a standard battery. The wired photocells are powered from the device control unit.

The timer control unit receives signals from the photocells, controls the start and stop of the measurement and records the data for display and transfer to the computer. The unit’s display also indicates fault conditions (e.g. low battery, uncontrolled reflector, photocell unit off or out of range on wireless versions).

The control unit can be connected to a computer via a standard USB interface and the measured data can be downloaded to the computer. The control unit is connected to a starting siren, (optionally) a starting gun, an antenna for communication with wireless photocells and a power supply.

On the control unit there is a button for manual start of the measurement and a keyboard for setting the start parameters, player number and possible viewing of saved records.

The time measurement is controlled by a thermally compensated crystal oscillator with a deviation of up to 1.3 ppm and is performed with a resolution of 1 ms, the accumulated measurement deviation for a 10 s section is less than 0.023 %, for a 100 s section is less than 0.004 %.

The complete price list of the timekeeping elements is available for download below. Generally the simplest, wired versions are available from 40 thousand CZK, wireless timekeepers with display from 80 thousand CZK.

If you are interested, please contact us and we will be happy to prepare a detailed offer and calculation.

• R3 Timing application for working with the R3 timer, version 20170509 (EN) (zip, 7,9 MB)
• R3 Timing application for cooperation with the R3 timer – instructions (EN) (pdf, 668 kB)
• R3 Timing application for cooperation with R3 timer, version 20180910 (EN) (pdf, 11 MB)
• R3 timer price list – pre-filled set with six wireless photocells, display for spectators and laptop (pdf, 14 kB)
• Instructions for PC SW for R3 timers (pdf, 356 kB)
• R3 timer manual – basic version (pdf, 890 kB)
• Price list of the R3 timer – pre-filled set with six wire photocells, without display (pdf, 14 kB)