Running race with RFID as tracking

RFID Race Timing Systems was used this year to time the 27th annual Mt Kinabalu Climbathon on the island of Sabah, Malaysia on October 18-19. The event was timed by RFID Race Timing Malaysia based in KL using Ultra and side antennas with the re-useable UltraTag. After 12km the runners reached Mt Kinabalu at 4095m above sea level and returned to the finish line for a total of 23km. The course is one of the toughest around with temperatures ranging from very hot and humid at the start/finish to near freezing at the summit. Almost 600 hardy trail runners competed this year and an in-depth race report with photos can be found here.

Comparison Garmin GPS vs PDA Integrated GPS

2 units are used here : Garmin unit (average unit, eg. GPSMAP 60CS, 76CS) and PDA with integrated GPS (eg. Asus A636 )
When choosing there are PDA, there are many choices, eg. integrated camera, cellphone, with BT, WiFi. Also, choice of the newer (better ?? no definite conclusion yet) SiRF III chip and OS (WM 2005). So, make your comparison of several PDA and choose wisely.

The Pros and Cons of using the PDA Integrated GPS is given below.

Pros
All-in-one ; carry one for all functions (at least PDA+GPS, +camera+cellphone depending on model)
Bigger screen (compared to average Garmin unit)
Touch screen (compared to average Garmin unit)
Most come with SiRF III chip (Garmin catching up…)
Lovely voice (nRoute) ; easily changeable to other voice sets (foreign language – French sounds kinda sexy, male/female voice)
Unlimited memory (well… depends on memory card)
Unlimited tracking/tracklog (GPSProxy)
Form factor smaller and thinner (compared to average Garmin unit)
PDA functions (eg. MP3 music) + cellphone (PDA dependent) + camera (PDA dependent)
Ability to use other maps (eg. MapKing) but who needs them when we have Malsingmaps
Ability to load/select different basemaps (but who really needs them ?)
Ease of manipulating different file/map sets and versions
Last longer on single battery charge (generally)
VGA mode (PDA dependent)
Won't get branded a Geek if spotted with alien-looking Garmin unit (worse still, to those uninitiated, may think it's outdated cellphone model)
Can have Gps trackable maps for anywhere in the world using OziExplorer(CE), Gps navigation usage is not limited to availability of Gpsr device compatible maps.

Cons
Not as rugged - if no external antenna, have to expose to the sun to get good signal - not sure if PDA's were built for this. Think about leaving your PDA exposed to sunlight from say, KL to Singapore.
If your PDA fries in the sun, all your data on it is fried as well ... the more data you have on your PDA, the greater the pain if this happens!
Not waterproof (unless enclose in ziplock or pay for one of those special cases)
Not as shockproof (test at your own risk)
No barometer/altimeter, compass features
No proximity warning
Not as user friendly for Geocaching
Totally useless if your car having a V-kool tinting (and some other brand) with no external antenna or SirfIII.

AirAsia needs to update inflight snacks with POS

On the pipeline, after launching web-check ins and kiosk check ins, AirAsia will later introduce PDA check-ins. Great! Will Air Asia launch their mobile POS for inflight snacks where flight stewardess key in the items in PDA according to meals order by passager and issue a print receipt using mobile printer? Some experts (FAA rules and regulations) say that some Avionics equipment may incur harmful interference from Portable devices, especially if you use a GPS devices on board an aircraft (it will radiate RF energy). Hey, why allow laptops on board then...We just have to wait and see.