homemade scoring

[Falling Cow]

I read in another thread someone was talking about a homemade reel, does anyone have any other cost cutting tips? The club I'm in does not have any electrical equipment at the moment. I'm the only one who has fenced electric, and I'd like to spread the love. The main problem is that we are a collage club so we have no money. I figure we could all get our own personal stuff, I don't really want to try and make a lame. However, I can't see us affording much scoring equipment. Thanks in advance for the help. I wish I had found this website years ago.

Also, does anyone know of any dry tournaments in Missouri? That's another thing we haven't been able to do.

[neevel]

Given that you can get an Eigertek for $350 (and I think Fencesmart advertises the little Russian Amico RS-05 for $255, though I'd recommend the Eigertek over it), I personally don't see much use in building your own scoring machine any more, unless you're doing it for personal edification. I'd recommend putting efforts into fund raising. When I was in college, the club went directly to the college president to request $400 for a new scoring machine to replace an antedeluvian Kessinger box that was on its last legs, and got it.

As for dry tournaments, Missouri is where Nick Evangelista & associates live (if you could put up with the self-righteous bluster).

-Dave

[Purple Fencer]

Originally posted by neevel
...for personal edification...

Sounds like someone who was trained as a referee by Ed Richards!

"I just passed my director's practical test!"
"Who taught your class?"
"Ed Richards."
"Congrats....you've just been Edified! What are you gonna do next?"
"I'm goin' to Greenville...'cause Orlando's done!"

[Sud]

Falling Cow,

If you can wait a month or so, a friend and I may have a solution for you. We've built one that works, now we're refining the design. Once the revised PCB schematic is finished and we've tested it, we'll write the manual and post it to the web.

The cost of parts is about $50 US. Our preliminary testing indicates the design complies with FIE regulations for foil and epee. The initial release may not support sabre, largely because my friend and I don't fence sabre

You'll need some electronics knowledge to build one, though. (basic soldering, and be able to upload a program onto a PIC microprocessor)

Sud.

PS: neevel's right, we're doing it because its fun.
We'll be posting it to the web in case anyone else can make use of it, or improve it.

[Prefab]

The St. Louis Division has a dry beginer foil tournament twice a year. The next one is November 24th. It is for fencers with less than 1 year.

Here is the link
http://members.aol.com/usfasl/StLoui...gSchedule.html

The cheap solution for you is to get buzz boxes for your foils. It won't show off target, but it's better than nothing.

[Falling Cow]

$50!!! Sign me up!

I thought about the buzz boxes more than once, the only problem is that I'll probibly need a little more insentive to get the people in my club to buy their own electrical equipment. It's certainly not a bad idea as a back up though. I should get one myself, just to see if my stuff still works at all.

I can't believe I forgot about the St. Louis division tournament. I fenced in it myself a few years ago. I got beat like a red headed step child, but that doesn't matter. I will have to look into that. Thanks.

[neevel]

I'll hazard a guess that Sud has access to basic electronics prototyping equipment (e.g., a university electronics lab) that most people don't have ready access to. If you have to pay for that fundamental equipment yourself, it becomes considerably more expensive than just the parts cost. For example, a PIC programmer can easily cost US$200. Just something for folks who aren't university students or working at a company with both an electronics lab and a sufficiently relaxed use-of-resouces policy to consider.

-Dave

[Sud]

Dave is right, this will not be a project for someone who knows nothing about electronics.

I'm been a DIY electronics enthusiast for over 10 years, so I already have much of the gear. Everything is homebrew, including etching the PCBs using photoresist boards.

We deliverately chose a PIC that is compatible with cheap (USD$20) programmers, such as those available from DonTronics.com

Even so, I fully agree with Dave. If you're not already into electronics (ie you own a soldering iron, can make PCBs or build circuits using veroboard, etc) it will be far less grief, and possibly less money, to buy an Eigertek box.

[Falling Cow]

I don't know much about electronics, though I can set the clock on most VCRs, however my roommate does. I'm going to run this my him and see what he thinks. I'd be interested in seeing the plans even if I can't build it myself. It sounds really interesting.