Punch Method Guide
Punching is the action that records that you reached a spot or checkpoint. The organizer configures the punch method for each category. This page explains how each method works and how you use it.
Punch basics
These rules apply to all punch methods.
- Punch range - You can punch when you enter a certain distance from the center of the spot. The organizer sets the distance in the category's "punch response distance" (10 to 60 meters; when unset, 20 m for Manual Punch and 40 m for Auto Punch and Camera Punch)
- Feedback on success - When the punch is recorded, the app notifies you with vibration, sound, and a notification (Sound and vibration)
- Recorded information - Punch time, location, split time, and traveled distance
Auto Punch
When you enter the punch range of a spot, the visit is recorded automatically. No button tap is required.
- You do not need to take your phone out as long as you approach the spot
- The finish spot is also punched automatically
- When a punch is recorded, you get a long vibration and a sound. You can choose from three sounds, including a voice that reads out the control number and your time (Sound and vibration)
Control spots are punched automatically, but you still need to tap the finish button manually at the finish spot. This prevents accidental finishing.
If you start playing in battery saver mode, the location update interval becomes longer, so Auto Punch is not available and punches respond more slowly.
Manual Punch
When you are inside the punch range of a spot, tap the button at the bottom of the screen to record the visit.
- The button becomes active when you get close enough to the spot
- The visit is recorded as soon as you tap the button
Camera Punch
Camera Punch combines Manual Punch with photo taking. While inside the punch range, tap the button to open the camera, take a photo, and record the visit.
- Approach the spot until the button becomes active.
- Tap the button to open the camera.
- Take a photo. A thumbnail of the reference image for the spot may be shown.
- Tap OK to record the punch.
You can review the photo later from the results screen.
Re-taking photos on a photo-required course
On a course where photos are required, each spot shows whether its photo is complete or incomplete, and you can act based on that state.
- Incomplete spots - Spots you have not photographed yet can be completed by taking a photo
- Completed spots - Even spots you have already photographed can be re-taken. Re-taking updates the photo to the new one
If you are not satisfied with how a photo turned out, or if you took it at the wrong moment, you can simply take it again.
Uploading right after you take a photo
After you take a photo and tap OK, the button changes to an "Uploading..." state so you can see that the photo is being sent. The punch is confirmed once the upload completes (the same on iOS and Android).
Where the signal is weak, the punch is confirmed without waiting for the photo to be sent. The message "The photo will be sent automatically once you have a good connection." appears, the photo stays saved on your device, and it is sent automatically when you are back online (the app keeps retrying at intervals until it succeeds). Photos still waiting are marked "Upload pending" in the spot list.
If it still cannot be sent, you are told "The photo couldn't be uploaded. Please re-upload it manually from the visited spot list when you have a good connection." Choose the spot from the visited spot list (during play) or the result screen (after finishing) to pick a photo from your device and upload it again. See Playing an event - What happens where there is no signal for behavior out of coverage.
Camera Punch records visits at spots defined by the organizer in an event. If you want to keep a free-form photo record outside event spots, see Rogaining Camera.
Beacon Punch
Beacon Punch uses Bluetooth beacons, specifically Eddystone-UID, to detect arrival. It judges arrival based on beacon signals instead of GPS.
- Useful for indoor events or places where GPS accuracy is poor
- Punching is recorded automatically when the beacon is detected
- It can also be used together with GPS
QR Code Punch
You punch a spot by scanning a QR code posted at it. This is available when the organizer has enabled QR punching for the event or for a specific spot.
- On a course with QR punching enabled, a scan button appears at the bottom of the screen
- Tapping the scan button opens the QR code reader
- Scanning the spot's QR code records the punch
How GPS is involved depends on the organizer's setting (QR mode).
| QR mode | How to punch |
|---|---|
| QR only | Getting close with GPS alone does not record a punch. You must scan the QR code |
| GPS or QR | The punch is recorded automatically by GPS, and you can also record it by scanning the QR code |
| GPS + QR (both required) | The scan button becomes active when you get close to the spot, and scanning records the punch. Scanning has no effect while you are away from the spot |
What happens after you scan the QR code is the same as when you punch with the button (with Camera Punch, the camera starts on a course without quizzes and the spot's details screen opens on a course with quizzes; with Manual Punch and Auto Punch, nothing opens). For a finish spot, a confirmation screen appears before the punch is recorded.
Start spots are not subject to QR punching; you start with GPS as usual.
When you press the normal punch button at a QR-only control
If you press the normal punch button near a spot set to "QR only" or "GPS + QR (both required)", a guidance dialog appears: "Punch this control by scanning its QR code." Tap "Scan" to open the QR code reader, then go ahead and scan the QR code.
When scanning the QR code does not punch
Even after you scan a QR code, the punch is not recorded if it does not fit the situation, and the reason is shown in a message. The common messages and what to do are as follows.
| Message shown | Meaning and what to do |
|---|---|
| This QR code is for a different event. | This is a QR code for a different event. Scan the QR code for the event you are taking part in |
| This QR code is not part of this course. | This is the QR code of a spot that is not part of your course. Scan a spot that belongs to your course |
| This control does not support QR punching. | This spot is set not to use QR punching. Punch it with GPS or manually |
| This isn't the next control to visit. | On a course you visit in order, it is not yet this control's turn to be visited |
| You've already punched this control. | This spot has already been punched |
| You haven't started yet. | Scan after you start |
| The start time hasn't arrived yet. | This is a mass-start event and it is before the start time. Please wait until the start time |
| Please resume before punching. | You are paused. Resume before scanning |
| Get closer to this control, then scan its QR code. | This is a "GPS + QR (both required)" spot. Get closer to the spot, then scan |
| Punch at least one control before finishing. | You need to punch at least one control before the finish |
| Could not verify this QR code. | Shown when the QR code cannot be read, is damaged, or is not the correct QR. Check that the print is not smudged and that it is not a different QR |
The level of detail in the messages shown may differ slightly between iPhone (iOS) and Android (on some devices, QR codes that cannot be read are all shown together as "Could not verify this QR code."). The meaning is the same, so use the table above as a guide.
What is described here is the QR punch that records passing a spot. Score courses may also offer a Bonus QR that adds points only, and it can be read at any time regardless of your distance from a spot (the proximity rules for the QR modes above do not apply). Messages about scanning a Bonus QR (such as "You have already received this bonus." or "This bonus QR code is not currently available.") are collected in Bonus points (QR & combo).
Even somewhere indoors where GPS is hard to receive, scanning the finish spot's QR code lets you finish without any check of whether you got close (this also works for a "QR only" finish).
The QR punch described here is a feature for recording that you passed a spot. It is different from the QR code used for check-in (matching against the participant roster), and the two cannot be scanned interchangeably.
Quiz Punch
You answer a quiz from the Quiz button on the spot's details screen. Whether the details screen opens by itself depends on the category's punch method.
- Camera Punch (Manual Punch & Photo) — Right after you punch (including punching with a QR code), the spot's details screen opens automatically. It has a Take photo button and a Quiz button side by side, and you can use either one first. On a course with quizzes, the camera does not start automatically
- Manual Punch and Auto Punch (including Auto Punch & Manual Finish) — The screen does not change when you punch. Tap the spot on the map, open the spot's details screen from the callout, and tap Quiz
Choose your answer from the options. If your answer is correct, you can earn additional points. After you answer, an explanation is shown if one has been set. You can answer only once per spot, and you cannot change your answer.
For a spot you have already punched, you can answer even after you leave it. For a spot you have not punched yet, tapping Quiz while you are near the spot also records the punch. In permanent (no time limit) events, you may not be able to answer once you leave the spot, so answer while you are near it.
You can review quiz results from the results screen.
On a course with quizzes, if the start spot has a description, the start spot's details appear right after you start and you can take a photo there (except for mass starts). Quizzes cannot be set on a start spot, so there is no quiz to answer here. For details, see Join and Play an Event.
Shake Punch
If you enable "Punch by shaking" in the settings, you can shake your phone instead of tapping the punch button.
- It can be used in place of button taps for Manual Punch and Camera Punch
- It only works while you are inside the punch range of the spot
- With Camera Punch, shaking the device opens the camera
- On Android, "Adjust shake sensitivity" in the settings lets you adjust the shake sensitivity (from light to very strong) to suit your device (iOS has no such setting)
Even when it is hard to tap the screen, you can still punch by shaking the device.
Sound and vibration
When a punch is recorded, the app notifies you with vibration, sound, and a notification. How it sounds depends on the punch method set for the category.
| Punch method | Vibration | Sound |
|---|---|---|
| Auto Punch (including Auto Punch and Manual Finish) | Long vibration | The sound selected in "Auto punch sound" (three options) |
| Manual Punch and Camera Punch | Short vibration | A short electronic "beep-beep" sound. This cannot be changed in the settings |
- Notification - Even when you are not looking at the screen, your device's notification tells you your score, the number of spots visited, and your time (OS notification permission is required)
- With Manual Punch and Camera Punch, the same short vibration and beep also play when you enter the punch range and the button becomes available
- When you punch by scanning a QR code, the sound still follows the category's punch method
Choosing the Auto Punch sound
In "Auto punch sound" in the settings, you can choose one of the following three. The default is "Short (Beep) & Voice".
| Option | What you hear |
|---|---|
| Long (Chime) | A chime repeats (about 8 seconds). Good when you want to be sure to notice it |
| Short (Beep) | Only a short electronic tone |
| Short (Beep) & Voice | After the beep, the control number and your time are read out |
Tap "Test auto punch sound" to hear the sound you have selected. Tap "Test auto punch notification" to check in advance that notifications reach you.
What the voice reads out
When you choose "Short (Beep) & Voice", the voice follows the beep.
- Controls - The control number and the time elapsed since the start are read out, for example "Control 7." "Time: 12 minutes 30 seconds."
- Finish - Only the time is read out
- Start - Nothing is read out
The voice uses your device's text-to-speech feature. If your device does not support the app's display language, it may read out in English.
While you play with a past record set as your reference time, a short electronic tone plays at each punch, followed by the difference from the reference (ahead or behind). The sound selected in "Auto punch sound" is not used. See Results and Route Review - Playing against an existing record for details.
Error sound (a warning when you skip a spot)
"Error sound" in the settings (on by default) uses a long vibration and an error sound to tell you that you have entered the punch range of a spot whose turn has not come yet, while you are playing a Fixed Order course with Auto Punch.
- On a fixed-order course, a spot is not punched until its turn comes. Check whether you have skipped an earlier spot
- It does not sound on Score courses, which you can visit in any order
- If you turn it off, this warning vibration and error sound no longer play
Where the settings are
The sound settings are gathered under "Play settings" in the app's settings screen.
| Item | What it does |
|---|---|
| Auto punch sound | The sound played on Auto Punch (choose from three) |
| Test auto punch sound | Play the sound you have selected |
| Test auto punch notification | Check that notifications reach you |
| Error sound | Turn the skipped-spot warning on or off |
The app has no volume or vibration settings. If you cannot hear the sound, check your device's volume, silent mode, and whether headphones or earphones are connected.