Best Design for Urban Control Units?

[Slowtochide]

We are looking to upgrade the secure control units that SLOW uses for urban events, especially the City of London Race. What we have used in the past has worked but there have been some issues and I am sure that we can do better. The main points that we have to cover are:
• We use SI boxes
• Some landowners are unhappy with metal fixing onto their painted surfaces but plastic cable ties are too easily cut
• There can be problems with sensitivity/speed of punching if the unit gets turned around and any competitors dib from the back of the box
I have my own ideas for a unit design but would be interested if anyone out there has used any units that they think particularly effective – along with the reason why

[andypat]

No, but I cant wait till someone designs an SI unit with an extra hole through the middle so noone needs to put metal ties through the bit where the SI Card goes!

[graeme]

Have you actually had cable ties cut?

Might be worth contacting STAG, they run zillions of events in Glasgow and (last time I asked) had never lost a unit.

Our experience is irrelevant because obviously there are no ruffians in genteel Edinburgh who would consider such behaviour. (We use cheap padlocks and steel wire)

[Slowtochide]

At the 2009 event we had a box secured with a metal cable tie twisted around repeatedly (we think) until the tie broke (fortunately the punch clip was left behind). In 2010 we had a number of metal ties that didn't engage properly resulting with boxes on the floor. The bigger the evnt gets the more concerned I am about the impact of a stolen control...
IIRC the Didcot event had a plastic tie cut and a box 'relocated'

[DaveR]

No, but I cant wait till someone designs an SI unit with an extra hole through the middle so noone needs to put metal ties through the bit where the SI Card goes!

What you want is a:

BS8 Fitted Metal Bottom Security Plate 1 – Allows a base station to be securely wired to an immovable object

which when attached to an SI unit looks like this
http://www.flickr.com/photos/clydeside_orienteers/5331224576/
and can be attached to street furniture without obscuring the hole for your SI d****r

[andypat]

Yeah Dave! I hadnt forgotten thats what ours are like......

All the same if the unit had an extra hole we wouldnt need the plate - besides does the plate work for the normal sized SI units?

[AndyC]

• Some landowners are unhappy with metal fixing onto their painted surfaces but plastic cable ties are too easily cut
•

The cable I use to secure my bicycle is plastic coated over steel -would that help (and it has a built in combination lock)

I've just remembered helping retrieve controls for LEIOC that were fixed that way!!

[GregHawthorne]

Here in Hobart (Australia) we had a bunch of stainless steel wire cables made up (I think around 2mm diameter) with loops swaged at both ends, and keyed-alike padlocks. The SI boxes are secured through the punch hole, but that doesn't cause any problems with such a narrow wire - I think even a 3mm wire would be OK, especially with the latest SI cards.

No system is idiot-proof, but wire cable is difficult to cut without the right tool; likewise anyone persisting in trying to punch from the reverse side would probably DNF anyway.

We haven't had any problems with anyone worried about scratched surfaces, but you may be able to get some coated wire, or simply wrap the wire in duct tape if such a situation arises

[Marco Polo]

LEIOC have been using travel padlocks similar to these (look out for sales and special offers..)
http://www.completeoutdoors.co.uk/produ ... ts_id=5201

LEIOC also have some wire cables (1m * 2.5mm) similar to those described by Greg Hawthorne. A local Chandler (Sawley Marina) was able to crimp the ends (into loops) for cost of materials. These are also useful for extending the length of the combination locks to attach to large objects.

None of these will stop someone if they are determined enough, but have stopped casual vandalism/theft.

[redkite]

we use plastic coated wire and gripples. As long we remeber to take a release key with us when collecting in works fine.

[epocian]

From memory I think LOG used specially made boxes to hold the SI unit at last year's Lincoln event which meant there was no wire through the hole to impede the SI Card
- perhaps email them for their ideas

[NeilC]

I think GO did the same for their Guildford City Race

[Slowtochide]

Thanks to everyone for their input.
I shall follow up on the Lincoln connection.
The metal base plates look good but the problem of course is that you have 4 screws to fix/unfix each time (unless you go to the expense of 2 sets of SI units) rather than just clip on and off.