Troubleshooting

This page covers common hardware issues with the Time Machine V3 and their solutions.

Quick Diagnostic

Before detailed troubleshooting, perform this quick check:

  1. Is the unit powered on?

  2. Does the LCD show any error messages?

  3. Does the test tag cause the tag activity indicator to flash?

Common Issues

Unit Does Not Power On

Symptoms:

  • No display

  • No indicator lights

  • Power button unresponsive

Solutions:

  1. Check battery charge - connect external power

  2. Verify power adapter is connected properly

  3. Check power socket/outlet is working

  4. Try holding power button for 5 seconds

Escalate if: Unit still does not power on after connecting confirmed working power source.

No Tag Activity When Chip Crosses Timing Line

Symptoms:

  • Tag activity indicator does not flash

  • Test tag produces no response

  • Chips are known to be good

Solutions:

  1. Check antenna cables are connected at both ends

  2. Disconnect and reconnect antenna cables firmly

  3. Verify transmit is active on LCD

  4. Check antennas for visible damage

  5. Try different loop sockets if available

Escalate if: Problem persists after verifying all connections.

LCD Shows Network Disconnected

Symptoms:

  • LCD shows no network connection

  • Cannot connect from laptop

  • Ethernet indicator off

Solutions:

  1. Check ethernet cable at both ends

  2. Try a different ethernet cable

  3. Try the alternate ethernet port on Time Machine

  4. Verify laptop network settings

  5. Restart the Time Machine

Escalate if: Cannot establish network connection with known good cable.

WiFi Connection Issues

Symptoms:

  • WiFi keeps disconnecting

  • Cannot find the Time Machine on WiFi

  • Intermittent connection

Possible Cause:

The onboard 3G WiFi router may be misconfigured.

Solutions:

  1. Switch to ethernet connection if possible

  2. Check router is in correct mode (3G Work Mode)

  3. Move closer to reduce interference

  4. Check for competing WiFi networks

Escalate if: WiFi required and cannot stabilise connection.

Intermittent or Weak Reads

Symptoms:

  • Some chips read, others do not

  • Reads only when chip very close to antenna

  • Inconsistent tag activity

Solutions:

  1. Check antenna positioning and alignment

  2. Verify antenna cables are fully connected

  3. Check transmit power setting (Low/Med/High)

  4. Look for sources of interference (metal objects, electronics)

  5. Inspect antennas for damage

Escalate if: Problem persists after repositioning antennas.

Logging Not Active

Symptoms:

  • LCD shows logging stopped

  • Reads appear in RaceDay but no file backup

  • File name not displaying

Solutions:

  1. Check SD card is inserted (if applicable)

  2. Verify storage is not full

  3. Restart the unit

Escalate if: Cannot get logging to activate.

Reads Not Appearing in RaceDay Scoring

Symptoms:

  • Tag activity flashes on Time Machine

  • No reads appear in RaceDay Scoring

  • Test tag confirms chip detection working

Note: This is typically a software/network issue, not hardware.

Solutions:

  1. Verify network connection

  2. Check stream status in RaceDay Scoring

  3. Verify correct IP address/stream configuration

  4. Check laptop firewall settings

Escalate if: Hardware appears working but reads not reaching software.

Error Codes

If the LCD displays an error code:

  1. Note the exact code or message

  2. Check the official Time Machine manual

  3. If not resolved, escalate with the error code

Firmware Issues

Do not attempt firmware updates on race day.

If you encounter an error mentioning firmware:

  1. Note the error message

  2. Continue with backup timing if available

  3. Escalate to advanced staff after the race

Firmware updates must only be performed on Windows systems (not Mac/Linux). Never perform firmware updates during a race.

When to Escalate

Escalate to advanced staff when:

  • Power issues that cannot be resolved

  • Hardware appears damaged

  • Error codes you cannot find documentation for

  • Multiple systems showing same issue

  • Any issue affecting race timing

Preventive Measures

Before race day:

  • Fully charge battery

  • Test all connections

  • Verify firmware is current

  • Check cables for damage

  • Test with known good chips

Additional Resources