This article explains the two methods to connect to the RFID reader and how to configure the IP address for a successful connection from the Webscorer app.
Most RFID readers have an Ethernet port to transmit the chip detections to the timing computer. The Webscorer app communicates with the RFID reader using a protocol that flows over TCP/IP over Ethernet. While the RFID protocol can vary from one reader to another, the hardware setup and the IP addressing steps are the same across all readers.
Whereas most “scoring” software packages typically work in offline mode where the scoring software is supplied with a file containing the chip detections (time & chip ID) from time to time during the race, Webscorer receives the chip detections in real time which has the following benefits:
1. Provides an immediate verification that each chip was detected
2. Allows switching to manual timing if reader stops working in the middle of the race
3. Supports a mix of chip timing and manual timing to cover for occasional missed detections
4. Provides real-time LIVE results
Webscorer supports RFID readers from the following vendors for passive & active chip timing:
Of these, the Chainway model supported is the handheld C5 reader where the Webscorer app runs directly on the reader (which has an Android operating system). The Thinkify reader supports an USB connection from a Windows computer only.
METHOD #1: Router in between the timing computer and the RFID reader
Connect the RFID reader to the router with an Ethernet cable
Connect the timing computer to the router via WiFi or with an Ethernet cable
The timing computer can be running Android, iOS, MacOS or Windows
The router must have at least one local Ethernet port for connecting the RFID reader
The router can be any Ethernet router, WiFi router, cellular hotspot, Starlink terminal or equivalent
The router does not need to have an internet connection unless you want live results
The router method is required if you want to connect multiple readers to the app
METHOD #2: Direct Ethernet connection from the timing computer to the RFID reader
No router required
Suppored only on Mac and Windows computers
If your computer does not have an Ethernet port, you can use an USB-to-Ethernet adapter such as:
CONFIGURING THE IP ADDRESS
Once all the cables have been connected, and all the devices have been powered up, the next step is to setup the IP address in the Webscorer app and then test that the connection works:
When using a router:
A. The router will assign an IP address to the RFID reader via DHCP
The router’s own IP address is (typically) 192.168.1.1
The router will assign an IP address to the RFID reader anywhere from 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.255
You can configure your router to always assign a specific IP address to the RFID reader
Or you can set the DHCP address range on the router to be early on so the scan will find the address more quickly
Open a browser tab and type is 169.254.1.1 to open the router’s config program
B. Next step is to tap the “Scan for reader” button on the Webscorer app
This will step through all the local IP addresses from 169.254.1.2 to 169.254.1.255 looking for the reader
The app is checking each address for a known open port (e.g. for RFID-LLRP readers the port is 5084)
Once the app finds the open port, it will stop at that IP address
You’d then tap “Done” to accept this IP address for the RFID reader
If you know the IP address, you can also enter it manually by tapping the “Specify” option
The app will remember your previous chip timing settings and will propose those for a new race
C. You can then tap the “Test connection” toolbar button
The app will open a session with the reader and then immediately close the session
Note that this goes beyond looking for the open TCP port on the reader
If the port is open but is in use by another device or application, then the “Test connection” will fail
When using a direct Ethernet connection:
A. The RFID reader will use a pre-configured / known IP address
For example, Impinj readers use 169.254.1.1 as the reader’s direct-connect IP address
Some readers allow you to configure the IP address on the reader itself (e.g. Race Result Ubidium)
B. You’d tap the “Specify” text next to “RFID readers” in the Webscorer app
The app has built-in options for adding the direct connect IP address for Impinj and Zebra readers
For all other readers, tap the [+] Add button to enter the IP address
You can specify just one IP address when connecting directly
Use the router option if you use multiple readers
C. You can then tap the “Test connection” toolbar button: this works the same way as when using a router
COMMON PROBLEMS & TROUBLESHOOTING
When using a router:
1. Check that the router uses the same IP subnet for Ethernet-connected devices and WiFi-connected devices
Devices on different IP subnets cannot communicate with one another
You will need to connect to the router’s config program to check this, or try testing with a different router
Another workaround is to connect your timing computer to the router also with an Ethernet cable (vs. WiFi)
Open a browser tab and type in 169.254.1.1 as the web address to gain access to the router config
Check your router’s manual (or backside of router) for the admin userid and password
2. Ensure that there are no other devices or applications connected to the RFID reader at the same time
The port on the RFID reader can be used by only one application at a time
For example, if you have an Impinj reader, make sure you close the Impinj ItemTest application
You may have to reboot your timing computer to free up the port on the RFID reader
Only one timing computer can be connected to the RFID reader at a time
If you’re running timing software on another computer, disconnect that device
3. Other Ethernet issues
Make sure the Ethernet cable from the RFID reader is connected to one of the local ports on the router
In other words, do not use the Ethernet port labeled as WAN or Internet
Check the Ethernet cable: a loose connector or a kinked cable may cause connection problems
Note that the Ethernet cables must be connected before powering the reader
You must use a router, not an Ethernet switch as they cannot assign IP addresses to connected devices
When using a direct Ethernet connection:
1. Make sure that both the timing computer and the RFID reader are on the same IP subnet
Both Mac and Windows computers default to using 169.254.1.xxx as their own IP address
This means the IP address of the reader must also be of the form 169.254.xxx.xxx
2. Impinj readers are the simplest to use for a direct Ethernet connection
If not connected to a router, the Impinj reader will default to using IP address 169.254.1.1
You can select this IP address on the app by tapping “Specify / Direct ethernet connection to Impinj reader”
This works both on Windows and Mac computers
The reader will automatically switch back to the router method if connected to a router after powered on
3. Zebra / Motorola readers require both an Ethernet cable and a USB cable at the same time
The USB cable is required for the initial IP address setup, once connected, the USB cable can be removed
Because of the USB cable requirement, the direct Ethernet connection is supported only on Windows (not on a Mac)
Zebra readers use a built-in IP address of 169.254.10.1
4. Invelion readers require that you use their NetModuleConfig.exe tool to configure the direct IP connection
You must first connect to the Invelion reader using the router method
This is because the reader is configured to get its IP address using DHCP by default
Once connected, you can then use the NetModuleConfig program to configure the reader for direct connection
Make sure to also configure the IP address of the reader to be on the same subnet as your Windows computer
An IP address starting with 169.254.1.xxx should work
Be sure to write down the IP address somewhere safe as it’s then the only way to connect to the reader
To switch back to connecting via a router, you must first connect to the reader with the direct connect IP address
Possible issues that apply both methods:
1.. Check that the TCP port number on the reader has not been changed
Webscorer assumes that the reader is configured to use the following port numbers which are the default ports but some of the readers allow you to configure the port number using the reader’s own configuration tool or on-board reader menus.
Any reader that supports LLRP: port 5084
Feibot A400 and A800: port 3333
Invelion YR3300, YR8700 & YR8900: port 4001
MyLaps Active: 5403
RaceResult Decoder 5000: port 3601
RaceResult Ubidium: port 443
RFID Timing Systems Ultra, Joey & Echo: port 23
2. Check that the reader is not loaded with resident software
This can be an issue if you purchased the reader used
Most readers allow you to side-load your own module directly on the reader, replacing the reader interface
The fix is to reset the reader to its factory settings (see reader manual how to do this)
EXAMPLE HARDWARE SETUPS
Impinj R220 reader with one antenna attached
Power provided to reader using POE switch
Blue Ethernet cables
UGREEN Ethernet-to-USB C adapter
Netgear Nighthawk WiFi router
MacBook Air running the Webscorer app
METHOD #1 - Using a router in between
METHOD #2 - Direct Ethernet connection