VSM Automatic Switch from Foil to Epee

[CChang]

During my club's last practice, while some clubmates unhooked their body cords from the VSM V-reels, the weapon selection on the program automatically changed from foil to epee.

We tested this multiple times and the same thing happened. All cords, etc were properly plugged in.

A and B fencers are plugged to the strip
A fencer unplugs. Foil switches to Epee when B fencer is plugged.


We've used it some 8 or 9 times, but this is the first time we've seen this happen

[Purple Fencer]

It SHOULD go to epee after one of the foils is unplugged....stops that ^%#%%# irritating beeping....but it should also reset to foil when a new one's plugged in.

I'm up in San Luis Obispo right now and have no access to my VSM paperwork...PM JSHart....he should be able to tell you what's going on.

[SJCFU#2]

Did it always happen while one fencer was still plugged in on one side, and was it always the same side, or did you try switching sides so as to eliminate the reel as a possible source of the problem?

I don't have my manual for the VSM handy right now either, but IIRC the VSM is designed to automatically switch to 'epee' if there is an extended break in the normally-closed foil circuit (B-C) however to be honest I don't recall whether it will happen with one circuit being open or it both circuits have to be open, nor do I remember how long the break has to last before the VSM switches to 'epee' (maybe 30 seconds).

I also believe that you can toggle the auto-weapon-select feature off. If that doesn't eliminate the problem then it sounds like there's a fault somewhere in there (at which point you should probably document everything, then contact Shawn Hart, maker of the VSM).

[JS Hart]

The software works fine everywhere else; if there's a problem it's either in the weapons, the reels, or the floor cables. As a last resort, there could be a problem with the interface, but that should preclude the normal functioning of the system and be obvious.

One likely culprit is a reel/floor-cable/weapon that for what ever reason has a high (over 100 ohms) combined total resistance.

For the record:

1) Yes, "Auto Weapon Switching" is an option that can be turned on and off.

2) If you have foil selected, and only one fencer unplugs, it will not switch to epee. This was intentional, as any of the common weapon/blade failures that happen in foil would cause auto switching and confuse-the-crap out of everybody, and prevent trouble shooting. So I programmed it to take both sides to have the B-C lines continuously not-connected for 8 seconds (default setting) before auto weapon switching.

3) If you can't figure it out (but I'd bet on cables/reels/weapon resistance), I'll gladly exchange that interface for a new one just to look into it. The interfaces have so far been to be extremely reliable, and I guaranty them absolutely.

-- J S Hart

[CChang]

Thanks all for your posts. I will retest it out this weekend and post results