Hello Jenna,
The original DAG system which relies upon a disposable chip attached to the back of the bib number was not originally optimized for the timing of triathlons. Their newer triathlon based system relies upon a chip attached to the shoe (called a foot DAG). It is still possible to time triathlons with the bib DAG; however, you must come up with some creative means of collecting swim times if you intend on providing separate transition times. If you are not providing separate transition times and instead are including transition times within one or two of the splits then split times will be collected outside of the transition area at bike-out/bike-in/run-out. Finish times will be collected at the finish line allowing for each competitor to receive 3 split times plus a final time for a total of four times.
It is important to remember that the bib DAG is completely waterproof and can be submerged without any ill effects on performance. It is feasible to have competitors wear the chips on their swim and to thus capture their swim time at some point before T1. It is also possible with smaller triathlons and/or triathlons which feature a long-distance swim to capture swim times using the Time Machine with all Select Times imported as Actual Times since no tags will be pulled using this method. This can be achieved only with low competitor densities at the water exit, consistent with smaller venues or races which have very long swims as this tends to attenuate the competitor density.
Another technique involves using the Badger's number pad without scanning bib numbers with the Badger paddle. Instead, the hand-held Badger number pad is used like the Time Machine number pad, and all times are entered just like Select Times on the Time Machine. In fact the Badger paddle can even be disconnected and removed from the number pad since you will not be using the paddle to scan any numbers. The Badger will still continue to communicate wirelessly with the DAG system, recording times for each competitor who is entered this way.
Stephen Carter
Director of Timing Services
TriTiming
P.O. Box 700
Mt. Marion, NY 12456