active loop troubleshooting guide

8/18/2019 Active Loop Troubleshooting Guide

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Copyright ROC Timing Systems LTD. All rights reserved.

Active Loop Troubleshooting Guide

Situation: No karts are not registering on the Timing PC

Step 1

Determine whether it is a hardware or software problem.This guide will help eliminate the hardware.

Step 2

Try passing different transponders over the loop to check all karts. Ensure transponder position has not changed and follows recommendation by manufacturer.

Step 3

Check Loop has power – Activator should be warm.

If the activator was supplied after Jan 2004, it should feature a Green LED on the

activator unit between the loop wires.

Check this is ON.

ON – Stable – means loop is powered and loop is correctly tuned in – the problem must

be elsewhere

ON – Flashing – means the loop wires in the track are incorrectly installed or broken /

bad connection – try remaking the loop and check with manufacturers handbook. Ensureall wires connected are clean soldered joints

OFF – Either a bad power supply, bad wiring from Power supply or a bad activator unit.

Step 4

Check Coaxial cable is secure, undamaged and bypass any loop switcher units andconnect directly to AMB Loop Input.

New TranX -3 decoders, these include a LCD display that indicates when a passing of the

transponder is received.


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All decoders – feature a headphone socket that allows a small set of “walkman” typeheadphones to be connected. You will hear a “beep” when a transponder passes the line.

The LED on the front of the decoder will blink RED when a transponder passes. It also

blinks RED every 5 seconds as a self test

Step 5

If you are receiving a signal on the Headphones / decoder, the problem lies with:

Serial cable between decoder and PC (check it is correct type and correctly fitted)

Serial cable is connected to the correct COM Port on the PC

The timing software is correctly set to match the Com port the decoder is connected to

(Check under Timing Software Configuration -> Hardware -> Decoder)

Common Solutions to loop / Timing problems:

Loop wires have become broken – due to crash incident at the loop point / poor user

installation – check and remake them with the loop not powered

Loop Power supply has become disconnected or gone faulty – check output of loop power supply with a Voltmeter – should read 12V or more.

Loop Activator has failed – replace as soon as possible

A re-boot of the Loop Power can sometimes help tune the activator (to turn LED from

Blinking to ON Stable)

A reboot of the Decoder power can sometimes solve problems, where the Decoder can

lock up due to power spikes – especially where decoder LED is constantly RED and not

blinking as part of self test every 5 seconds.

Check COM PORT has not gone bad in PC. We recommend using COM 1 for the

Timing. Try using a different COM port if available.

Check the timing software is correctly configured to the Correct Com Port.

If you are still having difficulties, please contact ROC Timing Systems TechnicalSupport. You may be required to have a support contract in place before we can

proceed with your call. Your hardware will be covered by statutory and

manufacturers back to base warranties. Please contact us for details.


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active loop troubleshooting guide

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