Reader Mode

Platform: 📱 Mobile only

See also: Results, Connection & Reader Setup, Mobile App Setup

When you need this

You're at the start or finish line of an event and need to manually record times as participants read their chips — controlling exactly when each start or finish time is saved, reviewing participant details before confirming, and handling edge cases like unknown chips or manual participant lookup.

Reader Mode is the most common way to time events with the mobile app. You're in control of every save, which makes it ideal for situations where you need to verify each participant before recording their time.

Entering Reader Mode

From the event list, tap the event you want to time. A menu appears with the available modes. Tap Reader to enter Reader Mode.

The screen shows the event name in the header bar and three tabs: Start, Finish, and Results. Before your first chip read, check the footer bar at the bottom — green indicators mean your USB reader and cloud connection are working. If either is red, see Connection & Reader Setup for troubleshooting.

Registering starts

You're at the start area and runners are about to head out. Each runner needs their start time recorded so the system can calculate their elapsed time when they finish.

  1. A runner places their chip on the reader
  2. The app reads the chip, plays a confirmation sound, and shows the runner's details (name, class, bib number)
  3. Glance at the screen to confirm it's the right person
  4. Tap Register to record their start

The reader unlocks after you register, ready for the next runner. At a 1-minute interval start, you have plenty of time between reads.

If you accidentally read the wrong chip, tap Clear before registering to discard it and wait for the next read.

Recording finish times

Runners are coming back from the course. As each one reaches the finish and reads their chip, you confirm their result — or flag issues like missed controls or disqualifications.

  1. A finishing runner places their chip on the reader
  2. The app identifies them, shows their name and elapsed time (calculated from their saved start time), and automatically switches to the Finish tab
  3. The system auto-calculates the result status — OK if all controls are punched, DSQ proposal if controls are missing. You can change the status if needed:
    • OK — normal finish
    • DSQ — disqualified (e.g. missed a control, wrong course)
    • DNF — did not finish (e.g. retired mid-course)
  4. Tap the status button twice to confirm and save the result (first tap selects the status, second tap saves)

The reader locks after each chip read until you confirm — so process each runner before the next one reads their chip. The finish time is calculated from the chip's internal data, not from when you confirm.

The result syncs to the cloud immediately when you have connectivity. Anyone watching results online — other officials, spectators, the announcer on the desktop client — sees it appear in real time.

Reviewing and correcting results

Between finishers, or after everyone is in, you'll want to check that all results look correct. The Results tab gives you an overview of everything recorded so far.

  • Scroll through the list to see each participant's name, time, and status
  • If something looks wrong (e.g. you saved a DSQ that should have been OK), tap the result — it loads back into the Finish tab where you can change the status and save again
  • To remove a result entirely (e.g. a test read that got saved accidentally), swipe the row to delete it

On tablets in landscape mode, the results list is always visible on the right side of the screen, so you can monitor results accumulating while still recording new finishes.

Finding a participant manually

A runner's chip isn't working, or someone forgot their chip at home. You still need to record their time — so you look them up by name or bib number instead.

Tap the search icon in the header bar (or tap the footer bar). The search panel slides up from the bottom of the screen.

  • Type a name or bib number — the list filters as you type
  • Tap the correct participant to select them
  • Their details load into the active tab (Start or Finish), and you can save as normal

This is your fallback for any chip-related issue. When in doubt, search by name and select manually.

Handling unknown chips

At training events or informal races, it's common for someone to show up with a chip that wasn't registered during sign-up. When this happens, the app shows an alert: "unknown chip."

You have two options:

  • Search from registrations — find the person by name, select them, and the chip read gets associated with them. This is the most common response.
  • Cancel — dismiss the alert if it was a stray read or someone from a different event.

This also happens with rental chips that haven't been assigned yet. The search lets you match the timing data to the right person even when the chip isn't pre-registered.

Checking connection status

The footer bar shows two indicators that tell you whether your setup is working:

  • WiFi/Cloud (left) — Green means results are syncing to the server in real time. Red means you're offline — results are queued locally and will sync automatically when connectivity returns. You won't lose any data.
  • USB Reader (right) — Green means the chip reader is connected and communicating. Red means no reader detected — check your OTG cable connection and USB permissions.

If the USB reader disconnects mid-event (red indicator), unplug and replug the OTG cable. The app reconnects automatically without losing any data.

Using landscape mode on tablets

If you're timing on a tablet, rotating to landscape gives you a split view: Start/Finish tabs on the left, results list always visible on the right. This is the ideal setup for a finish line where you want to see results accumulating while recording new finishes.

All features (search, chip reading, saving) work the same way — you just get more information on screen at once.

Scenario: Timing a 20-person training event

You're running a Tuesday evening training session for your orienteering club. Twenty runners are doing a short course in the local forest. You have one phone with a USB reader at a combined start/finish area.

Setup (2 minutes before start)

  1. Open the Navisport app and find today's training event in the event list
  2. Tap the event, then tap Reader to enter Reader Mode
  3. Confirm the footer shows green indicators for both WiFi and USB reader
  4. You're on the Start tab, ready to go

Starting runners (first 5 minutes)

  1. The first runner places their chip on the reader — their name and class appear on screen
  2. Confirm it's correct and tap Register. The reader unlocks for the next runner.
  3. Repeat for each runner. With a 1-minute interval start, you have plenty of time between reads.
  4. One runner's chip isn't recognized — the "unknown chip" alert appears. Tap Search from registrations, find them by name, select them, and register their start.

At the finish (30–60 minutes later)

  1. Runners start returning. The app switches to the Finish tab automatically when a started participant reads their chip.
  2. The first finisher reads their chip — you see their name, elapsed time (e.g. "34:12"), and the auto-calculated status.
  3. Tap OK twice to confirm and save. The result appears in the Results tab.
  4. A runner tells you they missed a control — read their chip, then change the status to DSQ and tap it again to save.
  5. Continue until all 20 runners have finished.

Wrapping up

  1. Check the Results tab to verify all 20 results are recorded.
  2. Notice one result looks wrong — tap it to load it in the Finish tab, correct the status, and save again.
  3. All results sync to the cloud automatically. Participants can check their times on the Navisport results page immediately.

The entire timing workflow took one phone, one reader, and one person. No desktop setup was needed beyond creating the event and registrations beforehand.

Editing participant details

When you register a new participant at the start, the form shows fields for their name, club, chip number, and other details. A few things to know about the chip field:

  • The chip field supports two chip numbers separated by a comma. If a participant has both a primary and secondary chip (e.g. a backup card), type them as 12345,67890. The system matches on either chip when reading.
  • When a chip is read from the reader, it fills in the primary chip number automatically.
  • The rental chip toggle next to the chip field marks the chip as a rental — the system will clear it from the participant after the event so it can be reused.
  • The hide name toggle next to the name field marks the participant as private — their name won't appear in public results.

These same fields and behaviors apply in the Registrations page when editing participant details.

Tips

  • Keep the phone charged — Reader Mode with an active USB reader and screen-on drains battery faster than normal use. A power bank at the timing station is a good idea for longer events.
  • For events with separate start and finish locations, use two phones: one in Reader Mode on the Start tab, another on the Finish tab.
  • Use landscape mode on tablets for the best overview at the finish line.
  • The search panel is your fallback for any chip issues. When in doubt, search by name and select manually.