Countdown timer for 8 position 10 meter air pistol range?

[MGBOB]

Looking for suggestions as to a good count down timer for an 8 position air pistol range using returning targets.

Would like to have one up front where it can be seen by all shooters. Would need to be settable via a remote control.

Champions Choice had one but it has been "out of stock" (item B-115) but the price was right (under $150).

Any one have one they recommend? We run ten shots in ten minutes for our relays. At times we would use it for 60 shots in the regulation time.

[Chris__Colorado]

Any android telephone or tablet can run a "Countdown timer" application. My samsung smartphones and tablet have one built into it's clock so I don't need to download an app.

If the android device has HDMI output, it can be plugged into a TV for a larger display.

If you have a smartphone, then all you would need is the cable and a TV/monitor. Pawn shops often have LCD TV which are light and inexpensive (just make sure it has an HDMI input).

Amazon branded cables and adapters are pretty good values but don't come in the length you need.

HDMI cables are generally good for 40 to 50'
Here is a great (expensive cable), made in the USA, and certified to work at 45'
http://www.amazon.com/Series-1-Cable-Be ... eldon+hdmi

but amazon does have alternatives that are well under $50, but aren't necessarily certified, but often work "good enough"

http://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-ULTRA ... im_sbs_e_6

Hope this helps


Chris

[Beevo]

Any android telephone or tablet can run a "Countdown timer" application. My samsung smartphones and tablet have one built into it's clock so I don't need to download an app.

If the android device has HDMI output, it can be plugged into a TV for a larger display.

If you have a smartphone, then all you would need is the cable and a TV/monitor. Pawn shops often have LCD TV which are light and inexpensive (just make sure it has an HDMI input).

Amazon branded cables and adapters are pretty good values but don't come in the length you need.

HDMI cables are generally good for 40 to 50'
Here is a great (expensive cable), made in the USA, and certified to work at 45'
http://www.amazon.com/Series-1-Cable-Be ... eldon+hdmi

but amazon does have alternatives that are well under $50, but aren't necessarily certified, but often work "good enough"

http://www.amazon.com/Mediabridge-ULTRA ... im_sbs_e_6

Hope this helps


Chris

Sorry Chris - good idea but I would think smartphones on the firing line would contravene most competition rules (even in airplane mode) unless you have local club rules that will allow them. This being so then yes, the timers available are perfect.

maybe a tablet (non wiFi)? mini PC or macmini?

HDMI over 5m is not guaranteed especially at high resolution and many phones and tablets are 1080p in this mode. Even an expensive HDMI cable will let you down at some point - usually the worst. Some kind of reputable HDbaseT extender will give you the best extension over a CAT type cable (5E or better - shielded cat 6 even better)

I work for Crestron (disclaimer to ignore advice as biased) and we make the best gear for HDMI distribution but (assuming rules allow etc...) almost any reputable brand extender should be OK for this.
My professional choice would be Crestron HDEXT3C set but this will exceed your budget of $150 for sure.

[Spencer]

...Sorry Chris - good idea but I would think smartphones on the firing line would contravene most competition rules ...

for this type of use???
6.7.5.4 Only sound reducing devices (hearing protection) may be used.
Radios, iPods, or any similar type of sound producing or communication systems are prohibited during competitions and any training, except when they are used by competition officials.

[Gwhite]

The MIT Rifle Team has one of these at rear of the range:

http://magnumclock.com/4-inch-LED-6-Dig ... Timer.html

The pistol team is trying to get a grant to pick one up as well. Nothing can stay down range, so if we put it there, we'd have to put it up & take it down a lot. The range is also wide (15 points), with support columns that might block the view a bit from some points. We've always made due with a clock on the back wall. It's visible from all the firing points, although some shooters have to twist around a bit to see it.

The Magnum Clock timer is quite nice, but a bit pricier than the Champion's Choice version the OP mentioned. I just looked, and CC actually also sells the Magnum Clock for a bit less money that the manufacturer's list price.

[Rover]

Gee, ten minutes for ten shots...just like NRA slow fire.

If we don't get the shots off in ten minutes, it's too damn bad; we count them as misses.

[MGBOB]

Follow up:

Purchased the following
http://www.amazon.com/ECVISION-Lattice- ... ital+clock

It was $81 with free shipping (took about 3 weeks from China).

As received it exhibited two show stoppers; remote would only work at 2 - 5 meters distance, and the display was hard to read under the bright range lights.

Contacted vendor and they suggested the following:

Remove the front panel (pops off with a little judicious prying) and set the brightness to maximum using the remote. This solution in fact fixed both problems. The display is now visible to all shooters (8 position range) and for some reason the remote now works at 8-9 meters (but not at 11 meters). We set the display about 2 meters forward of the target traps on a small table about 3 feet off the floor.

We can now set and start it from the slightly behind the firing line and it is visible to all shooters.

For us it seems to be a cost effective solution (until someone puts a pellet into it).

Thanks for all the suggestions (even Rover's)!