Greetings.

After flying 3 seasons I have decided to get an electronic clock. I have been told recently that Victory and Bricon clocks seem to be working well with Winspeed so I am going to look into them.

I want simple operation, compatible with Winspeed and and WindowsXP. I would like an economical system also- which does not sound like an option.

A couple other club members have unikon but one of the clocks does not want to work with some computers- and unikon says they need dos and ASCII printers- I run a late model plug n play PC and I dont want to have to fight problems with making a clock work.

ALso the club is about 60 miles away, and I think I want a club base so I can enter birds and generate a race list on paper, or on a floppy disk, and take it to the club house on basketing night for verification of the birds. Then after clocking the race I want to dump the data into winspeed and email my winspeed file to the club secretary to merge into the race report and emial or bring him whatever clock report is needed for authentication of the merge file so we can operate AU legal.

If anybody has any tips on these clocks pros/cons or knows a website for Victory clocks I would appreciate it. I found Bricon on the web.

It is hard to throw nearly $1000 into a hobby but I dont have time or enough local support from club to operate a manual clock so it is the only option- its is a crime though that they cost so much! I bet the manufacturer cost is about $250!

Have a good season
Brad

By Mreyesign (152.163.252.98 - 152.163.252.98) on Thursday, April 08, 2004 - 02:07 pm: Edit

May I suggest that you look into obtaining a second hand one? They have no moving parts so can't wear out and the savings are humungus. E mail Terry Gilmore of the FVC Snowbird Classic Race, he may know of a couple in California.

By Marvin (139.55.151.169 - 139.55.151.169) on Thursday, April 08, 2004 - 02:13 pm: Edit

Brad, I can verify the info about Unikon. They just came out with a Windows version to enter the birds but as far as I know we are still stuck with the ASCII printers. I tried my HP printer a couple years ago but it would not work. They have upgraded the software since then but I don't recall anything being said about printers. I use an old Cannon hooked to my Unikon for printing. Otherwise the Unikon works great! I can't help you with other systems. The advertisement from Jedds about the Tipes sounds like it has more options and advanced features.

By Marvin (139.55.151.169 - 139.55.151.169) on Thursday, April 08, 2004 - 02:18 pm: Edit

Brad, there is one on the auction site and the bidding is up to $350.00 http://pigeonauction.com/lot.cfm?lotID=7928

By Mikev (142.140.249.222 - 142.140.249.222) on Thursday, April 08, 2004 - 04:10 pm: Edit

Hi Brad. I do not know of any system that allows you to register your birds or print race results at your home. E-timers are no different than manual clocks in that sense. They are just clocks that register the arrival time of the birds, nothing more. Also, you would need a complete club kit as well as a flyer kit to be able to do that, so add at least another $1000 to your costs.

In my opinion, your only choice is to use what the rest of the club is using. To try and introduce a different system adds double to the work of the club. Again in my opinion only a very selfish person or someone completely ignorant of what they were doing would create this headache for their club race secretary and clock committee. You have now been informed so no longer qualify in the second category.

To me, the cheapest clock is the one that causes the least amount of work and the most reliable service. You are talking about a life time investment so the price difference becomes negligable. Would you buy a car for $10,000 that is going to let you down off and on and wear out in 5 years if you could buy one for $15,000 with a life time warranty and proven track record to give you maintence free uninterrupted service for 25 years along with superior performance and comfort? Any price difference on the capital investment of an e-timer is purely psychological.

The other really important consideration is after sale service. Will you be able to get a ready and reliable source of e-bands. If something does go wrong, can you get quick satisfaction. Is there a long term reliable dealer that will keep you informed of upgrades and up-to-date.

The two systems you mention in my opinion are the worst choices on the market, but if cost is all you are concerned about, I wish you luck.

By Louis (216.209.18.145 - 216.209.18.145) on Friday, April 09, 2004 - 08:20 am: Edit

Hi Brad, I agree with Mike whole heartedly on what he has posted above. His initial point being a big one! Have you even asked your club if this is OK with them? As I'm sure it's not, nor would it be fine with the combine your club would be flying in, as they know you even less than your own club members. You could record absolutely anything you want at home.

Yes, a $1,000 dollars in to this hobby. I could barely imagine the cost of equipment if I decided to take up recreational hockey, and I'm a goaly! I'd be damn lucky to get away with a $1,000.

By Roly (62.253.32.7 - 62.253.32.7) on Friday, April 09, 2004 - 03:03 pm: Edit

In ANY hobby or Past time!!!!
Or the Kids etc.
Even the Local Pub!


Any way I have paid all the fees I ned to Four Nationals, two Clubs A fed and a Amalgamation.
Am eligeable for way over 20 Channel races with distance and many 3 - 4oo milers both ways.
790 milers and over 800 milers.
Shall fly the International race point, but like most - if not all - won't bother will the $2 entry fee for that shower.
So this week races.. 70 miles.. didn't bother.
Next weeks 100, 112 milers. shalln't bother.
Week after will train my birds hardish AFTER loft training shalln't race. Week after well rest birds and onlittle toss ... then into 'Channel Races' and 250 milers inland.
Have first and only round of youngsters hatching this week and next ... So old birds away 14 to 16 days. leave a few hens chosen for the distances races with them! Cocks will be like hens conditioned in NEXT two weeks Loft training and then Road work .. rested both sexes then apart WITH appropiate time out for OPEN loft with a kinda rounder - a - bout system.
Always have birds then 90% race fit.. just extra Sun and od toss for appropiate races.