Favero vs. Eigertek vs. Triplette

[Tomas N]

Our club is in the market for a scoring machine. We'd like something that is sturdy, dependable, upgradeable, and serviced easily. Oh yeah, and cheap. So we're looking at the Favero, Triplette, and Eigertek machines, both in the $350 range. I know there was a thread on this topic a couple of years ago, but was wondering if anyone has any recent impressions. In particular, can we upgrade the Favero machine if there are rule changes?

Tomas

[Mergs]

For the money, especially if you go directly to them, the Favero is the best bet. If you watch the exchange rate, you can still get them for under $300US. Also, you get a pretty good break on the exchange rate when you use a credit card. IMHO

[JEC]

I just went through the similar decision four months ago and bought the Favero with its case for $325. I was told that it is upgradeable.

[EricS]

On the other hand, we at Eigertek will be soon releasing inexpensive universal extension lights that will work with our Eclipse scoring machine as well as most other machines on the market, except for the Favero.

Favero uses a strange nonstandard extension lights signal system; unfortunately, it's not possible to build even a set of homebrew extension lights--you're locked in with Favero's special extension lights. Just something to keep in mind when you are planning your purchase.

Later,

Eric

[R. Exnicios]

We have made several machine purchases and we have always ended up spending more money and purchased the St. George (SG 12). Mainly based on the fact that it was in a metal case and the students in the club break just about everything we just couldn't chance a plastic scoring box so that ruled out Eigertek & Favero. The Triplett machines have all sorts of quirky problems.

The decision is a little different now that the Saint George machines have changed. The new lights extend beyond the machine and I am worried about the durability.

I haven't seen one yet but the Blue Sky machine (http://www.blueskylabs.com/fencing.html) looks like a pretty durable machine so we may be considering one of these if we cannot get the old style SG 12. The concern with the Blue Sky is that the company may fade away and we would be stuck with a machine that we cannot get serviced and the machine though durable looking looks a little less than professional. If the price is right we may get one of these. I’ll post a review of the Blue Sky if we get one.

Now Eric's (from Eigertek) comment about extension lights is very enticing. Inexpensive extension lights for tournaments would be a definite must have.

Oh, By the way the Favero reels are still holding strong.

Cheers

Richard Ex
Tulane University Fencing
& New Orleans Fencing Academy

[Agent_V]

My club has had some very annoying problems with one of the newer Tripplette machines, specifically, the non-registering of flick attacks.

However, we are very satisfied with our eigerteck machine. I believe it is the cheapest of the 3, and I would say it's definitely superior to the tripplette machine.

-Alexander

[EricS]

(Responding to Richards comment)

Our Eigertek scoring machines have been through quite a beating over the years. They've survived it all--including the time a frustrated fencer ripped the box off the wall and threw it across the room. Since the machine is pretty lightweight, I find it causes less damage to itself and other stuff when it falls/is thrown.

Later,

Eric

[Dee EffEll]

Originally posted by Agent_V
My club has had some very annoying problems with one of the newer Tripplette machines, specifically, the non-registering of flick attacks.

This is a real problem, and not associated with a specific machine. I have made *numerous* flick attacks, and very few of them register on the machine. I don't know why this is, especially when my opponent's flicks do register. I think it has something to do with the circuitry - my weapons are all somehow incompatible with all machines. I would suggest you make sure you get weapons that are compatible with the Tripplette machines if you continue to use them.

[damianip]

We have both the Favero and The Eigertek at my old club. Both are good machines but the Eigertek is just better.

How:

Smaller
Auto silencing
BRIGHT LEDs
Works a long time on batteries if necessary
Easily upgradeable
Very durable

You won't go terribly wrong with either, but I prefer the Eigertek.

As an aside, my current club has just moved to a beautiful, large, new facility (BCAF, which, ironically enough, is no longer in Bucks County).

The strips there are equipped with the new SG boxes which are also quite nice.

Paolo

[MyraTrue]

Hmm... my advice is to go with the Eigertek box- my primary club has used the Eclipse boxes for as long as I've fenced with them. The lights are MUCH easier to see than many other boxes than I've seen. They're also loud enough (and the volume on ours is adjustable if you want to), and as said above, you unclip from your reel and they SHUT UP very quickly, unlike other boxes.

When you fence team events where everyone brings their club box, you see a lot of different boxes. I've rarely if ever run into a problematic Eclipse, but everything else under the sun has given trouble.

I'll also admit that our club hasn't been kind on the 4 we have, but they've survived. The one time we had problems was when someone overturned a table on it with a bad fleche at a tournament. We sent it out to be repaired, and got it back in I THINK a week and a half from Eigertek.

AND, they play "Daisy" if you turn them on and hold the weapons button down. Don't ASK ME WHY... I just know they do.

Myra

[neevel]

I can vouch for the durability of the Eigertek. Over the course of 3 years of continuous use at my club and getting hauled around for use at tournaments, and quite a number of falls from tables, mine is holding up just fine and has only one noticeable bit of damage: the black top of the power button was taken off by an errant sabre blade (you can still easily push the button with your finger, so there's no functional problem).

The Favero would be a fine choice for a permanent installation, but its plastic casing is noticeably thinner than the Eigertek's, and I don't think would stand up to a beating nearly so well.

As has been noted here and in previous threads, Triplette machines have picked up a reputation for flaky behaviour. There are plenty of "war stories" among the national armory staff about them.

I like the SG-11 my club also has-- you wouldn't have the benefit of free upgrades, but otherwise it's a solid machine.

-Dave

[Tomas N]

Thanks for all the information folks. I'll take it to the club and let them make a decision.

Tomas

[EricS]

Glad you enjoyed 'Daisy,' Myra. Time for me to explain the how and why:

To hear 'Daisy', turn the machine on while holding down the weapon select button. Keep holding it down until you hear the music...

Why "Daisy"? It's the very first song sung by an artificial intelligence--namely, the IBM computer in '2001: A Space Odyssey.' I thought it would make a cute 'easter egg' for the Eclipse...

Later,

Eric

[MyraTrue]

I sometimes wondered WHY, but I think its just too funny to ask. We didn't know until one day when someone was watching people hook up, and was holding the button. It started to play, and we all ran over because we couldn't believe the box was PLAYING MUSIC?????

And then people were singing to it. Also unexpected at practice. We finally figured out how to make it play again...

Yes, fitting.

Myra

[Wizardly]

Easter eggs in scoring boxes....WHERE will they hide them next?

[KC]

We have the Eigertek machine at our club and we love it... Just to see how well it did with a 9volt battery, we put one in over a month ago... The machine is still running on that battery. Keep in mind we only use the machine 3 hours a week but hey its a nice feature...

We have Favero Millennium reels and love them also. We don't even tape them down, they stay in place pretty good. They also have a retracting brake that if someone lets go of the cord, it stops the cord from whipping into reel. Very nice feature...

[Inquartata]

Even funnier when you have a fencer named Daisy around.

[Barry Paul]

Price $390.
Run from large battaries giving over one year life used three times a week.
Fully F.I.E. except only one bulb per shade.
Visable 360 degree and therefore usable in competitions with visability for fenceres referees and spectators.
A buzzer sound that can be heard and is kind to the ear.
Microprocessor driven, re-programable. Barry Paul M.D. Leon Paul.

[hpfencing]

We use the Eclipe and Favaro boxes at my club. Both are great machines! I like the easy portablity of the Eclipse box but we have not been about to find a way to change the tone to make them sound different when they are back to back. the Eclipse box is excellent for tear downa nd set-up though as they are small and run off a simple 9 vole battery.

I had some TCA boxes and they are now in sorage as they do NOT have a consistant machine and they do weird stuff.

[esskreemr]

We have two Eigerteks, they're small, portable, and will run on an 9 volt battery. We've had ours for several years with no problem other than the coach broke the on/off button on one of them while carrying it around in his bag.

I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned this, but they offer chip upgrades as well for rule changes.