The Wasatch 100 runner tracking system is made up of a packet radio network, with equipment installed specifically in support of the Wasatch 100.
Four packet nodes provide a relay of 1200 baud VHF packet traffic from the checkpoints via a 9600 baud UHF backbone to the finish line where the database computer system is located. These nodes are located on Clayton Peak and on the Cummings Parkway near the finish line.
Two packet nodes provide relay of 1200 baud VHF packet traffic via a UHF backbone to a relay in North Salt Lake which then connects to the finish via an internet TCP/IP tunnel. These are located on Antelope Island and Ensign Peak.
One node, at the Mountain Dell golf course, provides 1200 baud connection to the finish line by TCP/IP tunnel.
One node on Clayton Peak connects 1200 baud traffic to the finish line via 3G cell phone service.
Each checkpoint has reasonable access to one of the nodes. The Clayton Peak nodes provide the primary radio access for the finish line station and are essential for the operation of the system. For this reason, two nodes physically separated by about half a mile are installed to provide redundancy. Each Clayton Peak node connects to the finish line on a separate UHF frequency.
The three Clayton Peak nodes are hiked to the top of the mountain above the Brighton ski area on the day before the race begins and are battery powered. All of the nodes are a low power running 2 to 3 watts on both the VHF and UHF transmitters. Antennas are dual band fiberglass enclosed collinear. The Cummings Parkway node is installed the day of the race as it is only used by stations near the finish line. Mountain Dell, Ensign Peak and Antelope Island nodes are permanently installed but not always powered on.
System software, except for the packet node software in the node TNCs, is located on the system computer at the finish line. Checkpoint packet stations use any terminal software capable of handling ASCII text. The system program consists of a packet engine capable of multiple simultaneous connections coupled with a database management, display, and control program written in Delphi running on a Windows computer. The database is shared with other terminals on a LAN at the finish line which provides display and entry screens for the voice operators, and a system that provides web access to the data.