Frequency Asked Questions:
What's the difference between ORBITER LLC and Allaura?
ORBITER is the sports, nonprofit event, parks and school LAPCOUNTER product line. ag-griffin.com is the Real Time Locating RFID vehicle and asset tracking product line. Between the two Brands there are four product lines: (1) passive mobile ORBITER for schools and non profits, (2) active mobile ORBITER for cross country, bike, military and extreme sports (3) active fixed base system for Parks and Campus Schools
(4) Allaura's PayPortal for real time locating and asset tracking, driver payroll, and electronic bill of lading with GPS options.
What was the guiding philosophy behind the development of the ORBITER LAPCOUNTER?
To provide a simple, economical RFID lap counting system that is so easy to use for non profits, physical education teachers and sporting event organizers. Thus allowing our customers to save and/or earn substantial amounts of money while promoting physical fitness. Additionally, the ORBITER LAPCOUNTER takes advantage of new low cost but high smart microprocessors technology to keep the costs down. Our goal is to have an ORBITER LAPCOUNTER in every school in the United States and at many small and medium sized non-profit events.
- Easy to Use
- Low cost
- Rugged
- Fun for participants
Where are you based?
We are based in Tacoma, Washington yet we are a global company. We have successfully sold products in Europe, Asia, South American, China, Japan, Canada and the USA. We are able to support our customers from our headquarters in Tacoma, and since it is not a customer requirement, we found that it is not necessary to have remote offices as this increases overhead. We keep our costs and overhead low so our customers can save.
What is your target market?
Our target market is focused on Schools, Non Profits and Parks.
We have a full system that we easily ship in a box to you. This includes our easy to use advanced ORBITER software that allows "point to point" races and "lap counting". Our system may be operated in "real time" or "logging" modes. Our readers are battery operated so that power need not be present at the event. The ORBITER may be placed in "Rally" mode so that more than one leg of a race may be timed. This is excellent for extreme sports.
We offer a choice of three tags, one of which may be placed on the wrist for swimming, another for reuse on the wrist which is used by schools, and then an advanced long range tag for bikes and cross country runners.
The speed which "reports" are produced automatically in "Excel" format which is a big advantage. No data base specialist is required and most people knowledgeable with Excel can produce a custom report. We also assist in making custom reports when needed.
We offer standardized proven RFID tags which have a long history, over 8 years of operation, to keep costs low and reliability high. Our long range tags have been used in our Allaura products since 1996. Both tags are designed to work in a wet, cold environment and when placed on the human body.
We offer proven out of the box working software. You do not need to worry about tuning the antenna, device integration and management interface (DIMI) middleware as with expensive systems. Our systems are not complicated.
Can you provide customized tags?
Yes-for volumes of 300 or more the price includes two side custom full color art and logo included in the price of the tags. This is an excellent way promote your company logo or event.
Who else is using the ORBITER LAPCOUNTER?
We are a global company. We have sold our products to the military, private businesses, other countries, non profits and ski areas throughout the United States. Our RFID expertise dates back to 1996.
What about support and service?
We provide 24/7/365 day service.
How reliable is this system?
Very reliable. When an ORBITER "beeps" the tag is sent to memory. The logging mode allows for storage of 130,000 tag detects and time stamps. This may be queried by the computer respectively. This is a standardized RFID product with microcontrollers and integrated circuits which have been used for over 8 years. The anti-collision software, antenna and circuitry are custom to ORBITER. The system has been used by the military, schools, non profits and parks.
What about software?
The software is an accumulation of requirements requested by customers over the years. As new additions are added, these are made available to all customers. For example, "stair climb" was added and included in our latest version. Software export is done by .csv files.
What are the networking capabilities?
Communications from the reader to the lap top or server are made via RF LAN and data cellular. Software for each is proven. RF LAN is Wi-Fi or proprietary, and Ethernet data cellular. ORBITER has experience operating in military and ski area high electronic magnetic interference environments.
Are back-up timing mats necessary?
We do not use mats. When the user gets a confirmation "beep" the tag has been detected. This ensures accuracy. Mat systems by their nature have an error rate. This is why back up mats are required to run across. The mats allow a second and third chance to capture the tag ID in event of a miss.
A key advantage to the ORBITER is that mats are not used for small and medium sized events. Not using mats for small and medium sized events and having an upright bollard such as the ORBITER, makes life easier. The ORBITER is rolled out on it's self contained wheels and placed at the start / finish line.
Are the tags owned by the participant?
Yes. This allows the users to have a memento to take home of the event. If 300 or more tags are purchased, the two sided custom full color feature may have sponsor information or event information of any kind printed. Schools may want to reuse the tags which have a last up to 5 years.
What are the battery back-up duration/options?
The system uses a simple 12v battery. The on-board batteries are designed to last 36 hours in real time mode, and 72 hours in logging mode. The Reader has an LED to display the voltage. Once it falls below 11.5v, the LED changes from Green to Yellow. And once the voltage falls below 10v, the LED turns RED. There is also a power LED and the system operates on 120 v and as well as 12 V. The battery automatically recharges when plugged in.
What are the support services and warranty?
We provide a 12 month warranty on equipment, and a support department to answer your questions, 24/7. A service policy may be purchased for year two which includes battery replacement.
What are the equipment training requirements?
We provide www.gotomeeting.com training. Even though the system is easy to use, putting on an event or school PE class is more involved that just hardware and software. One must learn how to register, set up and enroll people and hand out tags. Therefore, it is a requirement that the purchaser have three training sessions of 3./4 hour duration each prior to using the system out of the box. Each session is a repeat of the prior. The first session we show you how to set up the ORBITER out of the box, and then to operate the ORBITER. The second session you set up and operate the ORBITER. The third session you operate the ORBITER and then we show you the advanced features such as real time mode, and point to point. Training is available free at no cost to you.
What are the equipment/tag rental options?
The system is so low cost, you own the system. We do not rent the system. We will loan the reader for the purchase of 600 tags.
Will the products be available to anyone in a geographic area?
Yes.
Can you explain the terminology?
We currently have a passive system (tag without battery) for non profits and schools. We also have a long range "active" system for bikes, cross country, kayaks, skiing and the like. Data cellular for long range communication to bollards and fixed base readers is a working option.
How does it work?
The system is very simple. The tag contains a microchip and depending on active or passive a patch antenna or loop antenna. The tag comes into the RF field range from reader the unique identifier is reflected back to identify the users. The tags use two methods of communication called near field and far field. Near field is electromagnetic and for short range communication. Far field uses radio frequency for long range communication.