old timings in new eigertek chip?

[Chafunkta]

We recently got the newest chip for the Eigertek box from American Fencers Supply. The newest chip is supposed to have the Doha foil timings as well as fix the Sabre static problem (where you rub blades together and get a light). The chip is labeled with "DOHA 1.3".

We installed the new chips in all our boxes, and I noticed last practice that I was landing all of my flicks in foil (I rarely land any), and just thought I was getting better. Then I noticed that the lockout timing seemed to be a lot longer. Could it be that the DOHA 1.3 Eigertek chip has the old timings for foil?

Also, when the box is set to foil, the foil light no longer blinks like it did with the Doha chip.

[SJCFU#2]

Did you adjust the timing potentiometer when installing the new chip?

[Chafunkta]

huh? Apparently not...

I just took out the old chip and plugged the new chip in.

[Inquartata]

And did you bypass the flux capacitor first?

[SJCFU#2]

Open the back of the case. Look for two dials (potentiometers). The upper one is labeled "R9" and adjusts the tone of the buzzer. The lower one is probably labeled "R10" and adjusts the timing. If it is still at the original factory setting then it is probably half-way between the two stops (more or less horizontal). IIRC you need to rotate the dial all the way clockwise to engage the new timing.

The replacement chip should have come with instructions on this, so feel free to double check me (especially if it is clockwise or counterclockwise). Or contact Eigertek directly.

[peet]

IIRC you need to rotate the dial all the way clockwise to engage the new timing.

And if you want to have fun, you turn it all the way the other way!
(or maybe that would require adjusting that flux capacitor Inq was talking about so you can go back in time)!

ok sorry, for the thread drift....

-p

[Chafunkta]

I just got an e-mail from American Fencers Supply. They told me that the top white dial (a term much easier than "potentiometer") must be horizontal and that the lower one, labeled "R10" must be rotated clockwise until it stops moving.

I think the biggest lesson of this experience is how to sabotage Eigertek boxes should I ever find myself in a tournament with some.


The thing that confuses me is that we were using the first Doha chips and they worked fine. I don't believe we made any potentiometer adjustments for those. When we put in the Doha 1.3, the timing changed without us touching the potentiometers.

[darius]

how to sabotage Eigertek boxes

You misspelled "improve".

darius

[DieterS]

Open the back of the case. Look for two dials (potentiometers). The upper one is labeled "R9" and adjusts the tone of the buzzer. The lower one is probably labeled "R10" and adjusts the timing. If it is still at the original factory setting then it is probably half-way between the two stops (more or less horizontal). IIRC you need to rotate the dial all the way clockwise to engage the new timing.

The replacement chip should have come with instructions on this, so feel free to double check me (especially if it is clockwise or counterclockwise). Or contact Eigertek directly.

You're exactly correct.

Dieter
Eigertek

[DieterS]

Did you adjust the timing potentiometer when installing the new chip?

FYI, R10 is simply a rotary switch.

Dieter
Eigertek

[Smyles]

FYI, R10 is simply a rotary switch

Not an adjustable resistor then?

[DieterS]

And did you bypass the flux capacitor first?

Har har. The Eclipse has only two controls on the outside: an On/Off button and a weapon select button. This keeps it simple.

On the inside of the case, there are two rotary dials, one to switch the program (each Eclipse can be set to one of three programs) and the other to control the buzzer pitch.

You can tease us, but what other scoring machine offers free upgrades to their customers?

Dieter
Eigertek

[DieterS]

Not an adjustable resistor then?

No, it's not. Thus, you can't make minor adjustments to the timings by rotating the dial slightly.

Dieter
Eigertek

[CrazyLittle]

You're exactly correct.

Dieter
Eigertek

Dieter, can you please update the instructions PDF on the Eigertek home page? It still references the "horizontal" mode and the pulsing foil light.

[DieterS]

Dieter, can you please update the instructions PDF on the Eigertek home page? It still references the "horizontal" mode and the pulsing foil light.

The information is correct for the 2007 Eclipse--see the announcement on the Eigertek website dated 9/7/2007. The instructions that you should have received with your free 1.3 upgrade gives instruction on replacing the chip and rotating the R10 dial.

In a nutshell, the microcontroller that we used for the past eight years is no longer being manufactured. So, we did three things:

1. We bought up the remaining inventory on the market, so we could continue provide free upgrades to the Doha 1.3 chip as long as possible. Even though the offer officially ended in December, we have continued to provide free upgrades to everyone who ever bought an Eclipse.

2. In September 2007, we redesigned the printed circuit board to accept a new, programmable microcontroller (and made several other improvements). This makes it less expensive for us to provide free upgrades.

3. We announced an upgrade offer in which we will swap out the old circuit board in an Eclipse for a brand new one at a very low price (see our website).

Now, there are people here who like to take potshots at Eigertek. That's fine, and we accept it with humor. Still, every time the FIE makes a rule change with the timings, it will cost you more money for your scoring machine, unless it's an Eclipse, in which case it's FREE.

I'll tell you plainly, I'm stressing this because, I'd like to see the other scoring machine manufacturers to follow suit and offer free upgrades as well.

Dieter

----------------
Dieter Schlaepfer
Eigertek

[SJCFU#2]

Now, there are people here who like to take potshots at Eigertek. That's fine, and we accept it with humor. Still, every time the FIE makes a rule change with the timings, it will cost you more money for your scoring machine, unless it's an Eclipse, in which case it's FREE.

Dieter, while I am generally fond of Eigertek's, this statement isn't entirely true.

Updating to meet the next rule change (whenever that comes) may be free so long as you have one of the new Eigerteks, however those of us who have the old model will be facing a rather expensive upgrade. Fortunately it should only be a one time expense and it certainly beats being left with an orphaned machine that is no longer supported (I'm afraid that I've seen too many of those over the years).

[DieterS]

Dieter, while I am generally fond of Eigertek's, this statement isn't entirely true.

Updating to meet the next rule change (whenever that comes) may be free so long as you have one of the new Eigerteks, however those of us who have the old model will be facing a rather expensive upgrade. Fortunately it should only be a one time expense and it certainly beats being left with an orphaned machine that is no longer supported (I'm afraid that I've seen too many of those over the years).

The microcontroller updates have always been free through several versions of the Havana, the Leipzig, and the Doha rules changes spanning eight years.

Sorry, I can't afford to give away free circuit boards, but I can make them available at the lowest possible price. I think this is pretty truthful and generous.

Dieter
Eigertek

[SJCFU#2]

Sorry, I can't afford to give away free circuit boards, but I can make them available at the lowest possible price. I think this is pretty truthful and generous.

I'm not blaming you for charging for the conversion (as I've already stated, it certainly beats having yet another obsolete machine lying about). I was merely pointing out one exception to a rather broad statement on your part.

I actually like some of the things I've heard about your new model (for one thing, the new. louder buzzer might spare me the trouble of adding an auxiliary buzzer to the extension lights that I've been working on). I'm just not looking forward to the cost of updating our older machines (each update may only cost about half of what a new machine would but when you have to update several machines it adds up rather quickly).

[DieterS]

I'm not blaming you for charging for the conversion (as I've already stated, it certainly beats having yet another obsolete machine lying about). I was merely pointing out one exception to a rather broad statement on your part.

I actually like some of the things I've heard about your new model (for one thing, the new. louder buzzer might spare me the trouble of adding an auxiliary buzzer to the extension lights that I've been working on).

Alright, fair enough. I'd estimate the buzzer will be perceived to be about 10% louder. For extension lights, I would guess that you will still probably want to add your own buzzers (I'd suggest also adding a volume control). To keep the Eclipse practical for running off a 9-volt battery, we needed to choose a buzzer that we felt was "just loud enough."

What we're happiest about is the filtering logic that eliminates virtually all non-registering touches in foil due to the so-called "micro-break" problem.

Dieter
Eigertek