JK TracTrac

[Big Jon]

Tracking on the women's race appears to be not working properly - some do not start, some have tracks that bear no relation to anything, it is impossible to do a mass start. What is going wrong? Am I being even more incompetent than usual with computers (hard, but possible) or is the system badly set up?

[housewife]

The first thing I knew about GPS was when I got to the start 5 mins before I started. I was told it was not mandatory so I didn't take it - didn't want the faff of getting undressed and dressed. My GPS track seems to have started the race though, and gone around a lot of the course.

[Paul Frost]

It wasn't really intended to be promoted, it was more part of the ongoing testing and getting familiar with the process. But they thought it was worth letting people see the experiment but not hype it up in case it didn't happen.
Contact Ted F or Brian B for more details.

[harry]

Why did the JK use this system rather than the system which almost every other O event now uses for GPS tracking? The system I'm thinking of -I think it's a Finnish system is designed for this purpose and has loads of functionality you might want wheras the JK system seems to have been designed for sailing.

I can guess what the answer to this is and I think it's poor and I really hope the WOC2015 organisers will do a decent evaluation of the available systems before deciding.

I assumed the GPS tracking was mandatory because it is in most races. To be honest if the organisers have gone to the trouble of having tracking and setting it up online I think the least we runners can do is to wear the device. Orienteering is not a good spectator sport but one thing that has vastly improved this aspect of the sport is gps tracking.

[graeme]

Why did the JK use this system rather than (the well known) Finnish system ...
I can guess what the answer to this is ...
I really hope the WOC2015 organisers will do a decent evaluation of the available systems before deciding.

That would be the answer then.

[andypat]

I suppose the obvious question is why do we "trial" these things at our 2 most high profile events (6day and JK)? Is it too expensive to set it up for an actual low key trial?

[Rockaldo]

Lets not forget who brought GPS tracking to the UK. A bunch of students with no money.

http://www.tulospalvelu.fi/gps/2011harvesterA1/

[orienteeringUK]

I also thought it was compulsory, so just wore it. I'd assumed they were testing it for WOC so wanted to help. Although I'm not sure what they were trying to test.

GPS Seuranta is by far superior, and as harry said, is used at pretty much every major event. It's a tried and tested system that works well. If ShUOC can afford it, I'd hope WOC 2015 would be able too.

[andy]

I can guess what the answer to this is and I think it's poor and I really hope the WOC2015 organisers will do a decent evaluation of the available systems before deciding.

Yup. Remember that WOC2015 isn't just 2015, there may well be an international event next year (Euromeeting has been bandied about) and there will be lots of events in 2014, so expect to see things happen sooner rather than later with GPS tracking especially.

When someone first approached the usual brand for use at the Scottish 6 Days last year they didn't get that great a reception so money was spent on the system used on Sunday so it's still being used. I don't really like it either, so unless they are willing to develop it...

[Big Jon]

OK, thanks for the answers - I heard it being mentioned at the assembly on Day 3 and assumed it was a full scale use rather than a trial.
Good luck with the assessment.

[Adrian]

The tracking available from the JK is giving a poor impression of a system (TracTrac) that usually works well. Have a look at the previous events at http://www.tractrac.com/index.php?page=events&limit=8 e.g. World Games 2009

[harry]

GPS Seuranta is by far superior, is used at pretty much every major event. It's a tried and tested system that works well. If ShUOC can afford it, I'd hope WOC 2015 would be able too.

Why do British orienteers always have to think they are so clever and can find a "better" way by "testing" a clearly much inferior system when there is already a very nice solution available. It would have been brilliant to have decent GPS tracking of Jk2012 as well...

On wearing the tracking: I find this very odd as well. Isn't it a brilliant privilege to be selected to wear the tracking, more than worth the faff of briefly whipping your top off in the pre start. You get to show all the nerds who are interested how awesome your orienteering is and on days when you are not so awesome you get to clarify out where you were when you were haemorrhaging time. ..another benefit could be helping to vindicate your opinions about a dodgy bit of map or misplaced control...

[mharky]

..another benefit could be helping to vindicate your opinions about a dodgy bit of map or misplaced control...

Aye, but you'd need accurate GPS for that...

[andy]

Why do British orienteers always have to think they are so clever and can find a "better" way by "testing" a clearly much inferior system when there is already a very nice solution available. It would have been brilliant to have decent GPS tracking of Jk2012 as well...

It's a sensible way of approaching things, if some other system comes along and you don't know if it's better or not, you need to test it. The 'problem' with the testing of this system, both at 6 days last year and on Sunday was it was being tested by people who had other time investments in the event (controllers!) and nobody else had come forward to take it on so it was very much 2nd string to the controlling job. I'm going to make sure this won't be the case in the lead up to woc. If whatever system can't provide what is required not just for online viewing but for live TV then it won't be used. Simple.

On another tack (and probably not saying this for the first time) if anyone reading this is interested in being involved in WOC then please get in touch! It won't work without a team of dedicated, enthusiastic and skilled people behind the scenes.

[Street]

It's a sensible way of approaching things, if some other system comes along and you don't know if it's better or not, you need to test it.

You are completely right. Testing a system is very important.

However, GPS Seuranta has been tested at events such as WOC, 2011, Jukola 2011-2007, Nordic Orienteering Tours, Harvester Relay, World Cup Races, Finish Champs, Swedish Night Champs.