in: Orienteering; Gear & Toys;
| # Posted 2008-07-02 21:30:10 | |
| jingo6390: | I am considering buying an SI-Card. I notice there are 4 models 5,6,8 and 9. Which model do most orienteers use and why? |
| # Posted 2008-07-03 14:13:17 | |
| andrewd: | http://www.sportident.com/likecms.php?site=site%2E... 5 - old, probably not worth getting one of these 6 - basically the top of the range 8 - aimed at schools and such like, wouldn't recommend 9 - the new alternative to a '6', slightly less capacity, slightly faster, slightly cheaper go for a 6 or a 9. Might be best to find out what type of SI stations are used in your area, if they are the older ones then I'd recommend against a 9 as they only work in version 7/8 of the stations. |
| # Posted 2008-07-03 17:04:03 | |
| jjcote: | There's also the 6* (six-star), which is what I have. Fast response, biggest capacity, so many digits in the ID (eight) that registrars think that something must be wrong, and older download equipment can't read them correctly (the right data appears to be on the stick, and the elapsed time is right, but with older download stuff, the control numbers and splits come out as gibberish). Basically the same as a 6, except that it holds 192 records and doesn't work with the older equipment. |
| # Posted 2008-07-03 17:52:26 | |
| Nikolay: | JJ how much does the 6* model costs? |
| # Posted 2008-07-03 19:34:14 | |
| jingo6390: | I checked Scarborough Orienteering and didn't see a six-star. Where did you get yours? |
| # Posted 2008-07-03 20:13:24 | |
| jjcote: | I got mine from some internet mail-order supply place (located in Seattle, I think) that was selling them pretty cheap (don't remember exactly how much), but I went to their website later and they had stopped selling them, but were still renting them for certain adventure races. I don't remember what the website was, nor how I found it. I have never seen a 6* other than the one I have. |
| # Posted 2008-07-03 20:33:26 | |
| vmeyer: | I think it is safe to say that J-J has the only SI-6* card used regularly at A-meets in the US.
And, andrewd is correct that you should consider that there are some clubs putting on local and A-meets in the US where only SI-5 and SI-6 cards will work. |
| # Posted 2008-07-03 21:29:03 | |
| tomwbil: | I've discuss this issue with my local SI guru and the unofficial USOF SI guru (Val) and they recommend SI 6, not 6* and not 9. There are still going to be a number of clubs using old boxes for the foreseeable future. You'll save yourself and some poor epunch volunteer a lot of hassle by paying the extra $20 for the SI 6 card. |
| # Posted 2008-07-03 22:10:53 | |
| vmeyer: | And, the SI-5 card is not a bad choice either. It has plenty of capacity and speed for the majority of orienteers, and it is less expensive. |
| # Posted 2008-07-03 22:21:43 | |
| cedarcreek: | I understand there are some limitations of the SI-5, but I'm not really sure what they are.
I know from Val's recent post that SI-5s are limited to 30 punch splits. Is there a 12-hour limit that might affect adventure racers? |
| # Posted 2008-07-03 22:58:45 | |
| vmeyer: | The SI-5 card does have the 12 hour limitation, as well as the 30 punch limit (with 6 more with no time). It is also slightly slower. But, for most people, I think the speed of the SI-5 is more than sufficient.
That being said, if you have the extra $20 per card, then I would buy the SI-6 card. |
| # Posted 2008-07-04 00:44:25 | |
| AlanH: | Card 6* is discontinued as far as I know. Instead there is an option when programming the stations that can be turned on to allow any Card 6 to register 192 punches. Card 6 is still the card of choice, but the most expensive. You won't notice the extra 15ms that it takes over a Card 9 :-) |
| # Posted 2008-07-04 01:58:36 | |
| Nikolay: | a friend of mine which has the SI9 card mentioned that the SI9 has longer range. The punch boxes would register a punch with the new SI9 card even before he puts the stick in the hole.
From your experience, JJ Is this an urban legend kind of thing or does it seems to have larger detection range as well as the 15 ms advantage? |
| # Posted 2008-07-04 02:07:43 | |
| jjcote: | I don't know, I've never seen an SI9. |
| # Posted 2008-07-04 07:28:31 | |
| fossil: | Is the SI9 what Greg Balter has? He was waving some new card around the clear and check boxes at West Point, testing to see if it would work with them.
Also, is it true that SI cards have a battery in them and have a limited lifetime measured in only a few years? A well-known vendor has lately been heard telling people this, yet other folks I've asked insist that couldn't possibly be true. Might as well get to the bottom of this. It could potentially affect US WOC runners. |
| # Posted 2008-07-04 09:09:03 | |
| AZ: | I *think* one of the differences between SI & Emit is that SI has battery in the Unit (not the finger stick) and with Emit it is the other way around.
But in either case, not to worry for the WOC runners - they don't get to use their own cards. At every WOC I've been team leader at, the organizers provided the punching device (Emit or SI) that is to be used in each race. |
| # Posted 2008-07-04 13:44:27 | |
| bubo: | AZ>> Youīre correct in both cases. For SI the battery is in the control unit while the stick is 'dead' (or sleeping) while EMIT has it the other way around, i.e. battery in the 'brick' while the control unit is 'dead'.
And yes - at major championships itīs common to have the organizers provide whatever punching equipment they are using. |
| # Posted 2008-07-04 14:13:10 | |
| Jagge: | Emit control unit has battery. Should last 8 - 10 years. Some seem to have changed batteries themselves:
http://phl.wippiespace.com/mods/emit_paristonvaiht... |
| # Posted 2008-07-04 14:18:34 | |
| bubo: | OK - my mistake - I didnīt know that... Do you know about batteries in 'brick' - there have been questions about how long they will last? |
| # Posted 2008-07-04 14:38:57 | |
| Jagge: | Those should last about 10 years, 5 years warranty. But 10 years is a long time, who really knows... once a year I put our emit cards to freezer and test with a clear unit if they still work. If battery has enough power to work in -25C it will most likely work happily one more year.
I am on my second card, changed some years ago to new one with lcd screen - the first card from 90's is still in use, but not by me. Some do the same freezer test regularly with control units too. |
| # Posted 2008-07-04 17:39:30 | |
| fossil: | Ok, so back to SI sticks, then we've established they have no batteries and the vendor who's telling his customers they do is misinformed? What is their expected lifetime? |
| # Posted 2008-07-04 19:44:05 | |
| jjcote: | According to the SI website, for the models being discussed, "endless". |
| # Posted 2008-07-05 06:43:00 | |
| kadley: | Actually, less than endless. I snapped the tip off my SI card at West Point a couple years ago. I can also see a stress fracture in my new card at the same point. You might want to carefully look at your card before you head out blissfully on that race you've been peaking for all season. And of course, be careful how hard you drive it into the control box. |
| # Posted 2008-07-08 02:29:39 | |
| AlanH: | Cards 6 and 9 have a stronger casing than a Card 5. Can't promise you won't break it though.
Nikolay asks if Card 9 can punch slightly outside the hole, actually this works for Card 6 as well but only in the newer stations. But the distance we're talking is quite small, maybe 1/8" above the hole maximum. One reason for this is the chip is closer to the end of the stick in the Card 6 and 9 than in a 5 (because of different casing). |
| # Posted 2008-07-08 04:38:52 | |
| Nikolay: | Thanks, Alan. |
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