Hitmate Wireless System

[oiuyt]

http://www.hitmate.co.uk/index.htm

Anyone have experience with this?

There was an earlier thread where someone mentioned using an older version that didn't cancel hits to the bell. And a thread a couple of months ago about a different Hitmate product (testing device).

-B

[Sean Butler]

If it works, it sure is a cheap and portable practice box/reel.

[DHCJr]

Doesn't say anything about blocking piste hits.

[acarter]

it did on the website.

[oiuyt]

Doesn't say anything about blocking piste hits.

Hitmate implements all the timing conventions for lockout, simultaneous hits and debounce periods, and does not indicate a hit when the weapon tip makes a touch to the opponent's guard or a metal piste.

Note that the website also mentions a foil system coming soon.

-B

[DHCJr]

it did on the website.

Thank you, I missed that.

I wonder how they do it. They could have a grounding cable from the box to the piste, but I don't see that in the picture.


Thank you oiuyt for posting this. I am curious also.

The problem is there is nothing in the manual.

http://www.hitmate.co.uk/EpeeHitmateUserGuide.pdf

I am wondering if the person doing the copy for the advertising, knows what they are saying.

[wahrman]

If you look at the more info about Hitmate link, is it just me or does the photo of the person with a hitmate in his/her pocket look incredibly fake?

[telkanuru]

Is that a Hitmate in your pocket or are you happy to see me?

Unless I'm going mad, that's McKay vs. K-Picot

[migopod]

Thank you, I missed that.

I wonder how they do it. They could have a grounding cable from the box to the piste, but I don't see that in the picture.


Thank you oiuyt for posting this. I am curious also.

The problem is there is nothing in the manual.

http://www.hitmate.co.uk/EpeeHitmateUserGuide.pdf

I am wondering if the person doing the copy for the advertising, knows what they are saying.

Looks like it shouldn't get set off from hitting anything that's grounded to earth, so presumably just grounding the strip should do the trick.

I think there's some issues that might not make it ideal for competition, like failing to go off on sweat-soaked uniforms and presumably also having unreliable results on masks that have lots of missing paint, but for the price, it sounds like a great deal for po' clubs.

[SJCFU#2]

Isn't this the same device that was discussed in this thread a couple of years ago?

Edit: Never mind - the previous thread was for their tester - the epee system looks to be a new item.

[telkanuru]

Isn't this the same device that was discussed in this thread a couple of years ago?

No. (extra)

[DHCJr]

Looks like it shouldn't get set off from hitting anything that's grounded to earth, so presumably just grounding the strip should do the trick.

Doesn't sound like a good answer.

1) The weapon is not grounded to earth. It is grounded to the person through capacatance.
2) How does the machine know something is grounded to the earth? There is no connection to earth by the box.

In reading the manual more, especially the part about not needing a piste. I am of the opinion that the advertising copy is not true.

Wasn't there someone from the company on Fencing.net?

[telkanuru]

Does it claim FIE approval? Because if not, then it prolly uses RF...

I agree that the part about not needing a piste is shady at best.

[migopod]

Doesn't sound like a good answer.

1) The weapon is not grounded to earth. It is grounded to the person through capacatance.
2) How does the machine know something is grounded to the earth? There is no connection to earth by the box.

In reading the manual more, especially the part about not needing a piste. I am of the opinion that the advertising copy is not true.

Wasn't there someone from the company on Fencing.net?

No idea how it's supposed to detect earth grounding, but in the troubleshooting section on page six of the user guide they say that it shouldn't go off on things like faucets or radiators as well as on bare skin of either fencer. If either fencer is providing a true earth ground, then they're definitely doing something wrong (possible exception for pasatta soto).

The manual is a bit awkwardly written, so I'm guessing it's maybe a translation from some other language in which the physics might make more sense.

@telk, it makes no claims to be FIE anything, and it does use the RF tubes.

[DHCJr]

I seem to be batting 2 for 2.

The trouble is it's all strike-outs.

I should read more and talk less.

[bb43]

I just used one of these yesterday. it cancels out hits to the bell.
The fun new trick is it also cancels out hits to my sabre mask, and sometimes the mesh on dry masks.

[Dev]

I seem to be batting 2 for 2.

The trouble is it's all strike-outs.

Actually, that's about the very definition of 0-for-2.

Look at the bright side; at least you didn't ground into a double play.

[Hitman_2211]

A few words from the company that makes Hitmate:

This is a new version of the Hitmate that was discussed on Fencing.net a couple of years back. This one DOES detect when there's a hit to the bell-guard or grounded piste and doesn't score a touch for that. It's truly wireless, and it uses capacitance to determine whether the hit is to the (insulated) target or the (grounded) bell guard.

Epee Hitmate isn't seeking FIE approval, even though we observe the rules for timing, double hits and lockout.

Hitmate is exactly a low-cost training aid to enable more clubs and more individuals to do plenty of fencing practice. Too much time is wasted waiting for a turn on an expensive shared piste. With Hitmate, it's not essential to fence on a metal piste. A wooden floor works fine. No problem in practice. Keep the spools for tournaments.

Everybody who's used it likes it. Really, there's no reason not to.

[Gav]

I've used the earlier version - which was fine for having a knock about in the club. I am very curious about how well it performs for detecting guard hits.

[ejemyr]

A few words from the company that makes Hitmate:

Any forecast on when you might have a foil system out?