Comparison · school & fun run timing
JagTrax by ITS vs. Orbiter
Orbiter sells you a rental and a laptop. Its whole model is built around shipping equipment for an event, running the timing off a computer, and selling bib tags — event by event. JagTrax by Innovative Timing Systems is a different generation of product: a phone-driven, all-in-one RFID system you own and reuse all year, controlled entirely from the ITS app over Bluetooth with no laptop to boot up or babysit. And it doesn't stop at the finish line — JagTrax wraps every event in a connected platform with roster management, a live shareable scoreboard, CSV and PDF reporting, and long-term per-athlete analytics, achievements, and an athlete self-view. Orbiter times your event; JagTrax runs your whole program.
Feature comparison
| JagTrax by ITS | Orbiter | |
|---|---|---|
| How you run it | Driven from your phone via the ITS app over Bluetooth — open the case, connect, and start timing in under a minute. No laptop required. | Built around a reader paired with a laptop and timing software for event-day operation. |
| Own vs. rent | An all-in-one system you own outright and reuse every season — no per-event rental logistics. | Heavily oriented around equipment rentals and bib-tag purchases for individual events. |
| Live, shareable results | A live scoreboard that spectators, parents, and per-lap donors can follow during the event via a shareable link. | Centered on on-site event-day timing rather than a shareable live spectator scoreboard. |
| Long-term athlete analytics | Pace, consistency, percentile-vs-peers, personal records, and tiered achievements that build month over month, season over season. | Focused on event-day lap counting and split times rather than a long-term, per-athlete analytics history. |
| Athlete & roster experience | Bulk CSV roster import, QR-code chip assignment, reusable reassignable chips, and an athlete self-view of progress and achievements. | Built around timing hardware, with no real year-round roster or athlete-engagement layer to speak of. |
| Reporting | Automatic results dashboards, CSV exports, and branded PDF reports for faculty, parents, and students — zero data entry. | Produces results and exports, but reporting is geared to event-day output rather than an ongoing program record. |
| Designed for | Purpose-built for schools, coaches, fun runs, fundraisers, and PE — accurate RFID timing without the complexity. | A general race-timing toolset retrofitted for schools — its center of gravity is event-day timing and equipment rentals, not the classroom or the fundraiser. |
Why schools, coaches, and PTAs choose JagTrax over Orbiter
- Phone-driven over Bluetooth — no laptop to set up, run, or troubleshoot at the finish line
- An all-in-one system you own and reuse all year, not a per-event equipment rental
- A live, shareable scoreboard for spectators, parents, and per-lap fundraiser donors
- Long-term per-athlete analytics — pace, consistency, percentile, PRs, and achievements across seasons
- Year-round roster management with CSV import, QR chip assignment, and an athlete self-view
- One integrated ITS ecosystem — hardware, mobile app, cloud results, reporting, and analytics together
Bottom line
Orbiter will rent you gear and a laptop to time an event. JagTrax gives you an all-in-one system you own, run entirely from your phone, that turns every event into a live spectacle for your community and a growing athlete-analytics history for your program. For schools, coaches, and PTAs, it isn't a close call — JagTrax is the modern system, without the laptops, the rental logistics, or the event-day-only thinking.
Frequently asked questions
How is JagTrax different from Orbiter?
Orbiter is built around event-day timing: rented equipment, a laptop, and bib tags, event by event. JagTrax is a phone-driven, all-in-one system you own and reuse all year — no laptop, no rental to coordinate. And JagTrax goes far beyond timing the event, with roster management, a live shareable scoreboard, CSV and PDF reporting, and long-term per-athlete analytics, achievements, and an athlete self-view in one integrated platform.
Do I need a laptop to run JagTrax?
No. JagTrax connects to the ITS mobile app over Bluetooth and you control the entire event from your phone. Open the rolling case, power on, and you are timing in under a minute — nothing to boot up, plug in, or configure on a computer.
Is JagTrax a rental or do we own it?
JagTrax is an all-in-one system you own and reuse all year. Timing each participant uses a JagTrax Annual Participant License (which includes a reusable JT-Chip), and you can keep spare chips on hand a la carte — but there is no per-event equipment rental to coordinate.
Does JagTrax track student progress over time, not just one event?
Yes. Every participant builds a performance history from day one. JagTrax tracks pace, consistency, percentile ranking against peers, and personal records, and automatically unlocks achievements as students hit milestones — so each event adds to a season-over-season record, not just a single day's results.
Is JagTrax easy enough for first-time volunteers?
Yes. JagTrax is built for coaches, PE teachers, and PTA volunteers with no timing background. There is no laptop and no technical training — assign chips by scanning a QR code, let runners cross the line, and results appear automatically.
Considering switching from Orbiter?
Our team has walked dozens of schools, coaches, and PTAsthrough the transition. We’ll scope your event mix, project costs honestly, and tell you if JagTraxis the right fit — even if the answer is sometimes “not yet.”