Speedstack timer

[Radu]

how many of you use this? is it necessary? right now i'm using an internet timer and 'm registering my times into excel.
i remember dan harris' recommended this timer, for any speedcuber. but what are the main advantages of it...instead of using the pc? another minus against the pc, is that it doesn't generate scrambles for example?
should i buy one?

 

[TimMc]

Pros:
- It has two touch sensitive pads to start/stop the timer
- Some of them can store up to 3 solve times with the date/time you solved it
- It costs about as much as a 5x5x5
- It's the only timer WCA use in their events, afaik

Cons:
- Flashing LEDs are annoying, IMO
- It can only store up to 3 solve times and can't calculate averages
- It wasn't intended to be used with Rubik's Cubes
- It requires two hands on the touch sensitive pads to activate it

---

An ideal timer IMO would be:
- Better accuracy than a digital watch
- The ability to store thousands of solve times under various catagories (3x3x3 2H OH BLD etc)
- A single touch sensitive pad to start/stop the timer
- USB connectivity to upload the data to some non-proprietary format
- TFT screen with backlight

Then again, I'd settle for a touch sensitive pad to place the cube on that's hooked up to my computer

I guess WCA only condone the use of SpeedStack's Timers because they're the only timers they could get "cheaply" and even if better timers came along the old-timers (pun) might not want to upgrade (cost, not liking "change") etc. Why else would someone condone the use of a timer that's not specifically designed for use with Rubik's Cubes?

So if you've money to throw away I'd highly recommend getting one. I like the one I purchased for what it is. I just don't think it's the best timer to use while solving a Rubik's Cube. *shrug*

 

[masterofthebass]

Tim... I almost completely disagree with you. The timer that you are talking about entails almost building a primative PC. The dual touch pads is something that almost essential for solving. A single pad allows a second hand to be free to do whatever it wants. I'm going to argue all of you're Cons:

Flashing LEDs are barely noticable, or if they are, then you should be focusing on the cube more (It will probably help your time). You can have your opinion on them being annoying but I haven't heard anyone, even sport stackers, complain.

The timer wasn't made to store averages. I have my timer almost always hooked up to my computer thanks to the makers of CCT, allowing me to record averages of any amount of times I want. This works way better, for puzzles like magic. I only have used the save feature to record a PB for each cube (3, 4, 5) when I wasn't at my computer.

The fact that it wasn't intended to be used for cubing is negated by the fact that it serves us ideally. In competition there is no need for a TFT screen or a reason to store averages. The speedstack timer is not made to be used alone for timing. pablobaluba said he is using excel right now to keep track of times. This would work with the stackmat as well, or you can even just enter times into you're favorite timer (Jnet, CCT, etc.).

The two pads offers the exact time that it takes for someone to solve a puzzle. With one hand, people could accidentally stop it, or many other things that would have to be determined by a judge. There will be so many variables that would mean disqualification and I personally don't have 100% confindence in judges (I haven't had personal experience that was bad, but I've heard of things in European comps).

Anyway, I would highly recommend getting a timer. I use mine constantly and if Apple didn't do something completely annoying, it would work perfectly. If you have a Mac, let me know of JARs just randomly quit in the developer's release of java 1.6

 

[Todd]

You dont really need one, i ordered one a few days ago - mostly because it was reasonably priced.

My reason for getting one is just that I can accurately time solves away from the computer, or if i can be bothered hooking it up .. more accurate timing at the pc too.

 

[hdskull]

the only reason u should get one is to get used to it for competition and to show that u'r pro, lol.

 

[zigzagchris]

I would get one. I want one and there only 20$ off the website

 

[hdskull]

I would get one. I want one and there only 20$ off the website

yes with $8 shipping.

i suggest that you buy it with someone else, because i think everyone single one after the first the shipping would be $4 instead of 8

 

[clincher]

I would get one. I want one and there only 20$ off the website

yes with $8 shipping.

i suggest that you buy it with someone else, because i think everyone single one after the first the shipping would be $4 instead of 8

what do you mean?

 

[hdskull]

I would get one. I want one and there only 20$ off the website

yes with $8 shipping.

i suggest that you buy it with someone else, because i think everyone single one after the first the shipping would be $4 instead of 8

what do you mean?

If you buy one, shipping to the US is $8, which makes it a total of $28 approx.

if you buy 2, shipping is around $12, which makes it a total of $52.

52/2 means each one is 26 which is better than 28. if you buy more i think shipping is still $4 for each additional.

 

[Radu]

ok ..thanks guys for the answers. they were really nice. masterofthebass almost convinced me
but i still have a few questions question
"The timer wasn't made to store averages. I have my timer almost always hooked up to my computer thanks to the makers of CCT, allowing me to record averages of any amount of times I want."

so how do you connect it to the pc? what will i need?

where do you get it that cheap...on cube4you it's http://www.cube4you.com/233_StackMat.html 60$.

 

[adragast]

I think that the speedstack should store at least the five times of the competition and that for one-hand competition it should be possible to start/stop the timer with one-hand.

 

[masterofthebass]

Speedstacks.com is where I bought mine. That's where the $28 price tag is including shipping. Here Is the link to the CCT readme with directions on how to set it up. It's really simple, except for the fact that it apparently doesn't work on Vista...

 

[icke]

i got my timer two weeks ago from cube4you for $36. unfortunatly i m using vista as well and i couldnt get it to work with cct. i allready had a timer but i wonted the new one because of the fact, that i can use it with a pc and the saving possibility. if you are looking for a real timer that is made for the cube you have to go to rubiks.com
https://secure.rubiks.com/lvl3/inde...l1=produc&lvl2=rubbrn&lvl3=rbkshp&lvl4=rubtmr
i got my first timer with the speedstacking set, which i think is better to get, not only because of the timer. i use the timer when ever i m not on the pc (bus, train, outside, in my bed ...)
hope cct can fix the bug so that i can use my timer on vista as well.

 

[optakeover]

Ahh yes.. The Rubik's timer. There is a problem with it though....

It is not WCA-endorsed.


Well.. There are stuff we need that are absent in the StackMat, like >10 minutes timing as the StackMat turns off at 10 mins mark. We may need it for blindfold solving. Also by itself, the timer is okay(due to some problems with the Rubik's Timer, see below), but what we spend $ on what we dont need: the mat. The Mat was designed to prevent slipping of the stacking cups, and does not serve a purpose for cubes. IMO, we don't need the Mat. But to complete the package, throwing in the Mat is alright. The Rubik's Timer may also solve the problem of StackMat hiccups.

However, as the timer is not WCA-endorsed, I can see the point of why so. Firstly, a description of a photo detector. When you lift the cube, the timer starts. When you put the cube down, it stops. Because of this, cubers may break a WCA rule concerning Ending the Solve:

"A6e) The competitor must not manipulate the puzzle until the judge has inspected the puzzle. Penalty: disqualification of the solve."

The cuber might twist the cube when the cube is on the timer surface, and it probably won't get detected by the timer(I don't think it was designed to detect that) and a careless judge might qualify the solve. The timer is also not compatible with solving with feet, as for the WCA rule,

"D1b) During the inspection and solve the competitor must only use his feet (with or without socks) and the surface(floor)."

As the cube is in complete contact with the floor most of the time(or in any case, all the time), it cannot time the solve as the time only starts when the cube is removed.

It may also suffer from problems when the cube is accidentally dropped by the cuber. If it is dropped onto the timer surface, it will prematurely stop the timer. This can lead to confusion, as an 'accident' led to the stopping of the timer, the judge can give a re-attempt, but it can be interpreted as a premature stopping of timer, and it may result in a DNF.

To me, the best solution is to ask SpeedStacks to make a cube timer with the normal two hands touch pads(to me, they are okay) but for the Mat.. Well it could use a cushioning surface as we release our cubes(sometimes from a height) to stop the timer, and maybe make the length shorter.

 

[SkateTracker]

where do you get it that cheap...on cube4you it's http://www.cube4you.com/233_StackMat.html 60$.

http://speedstacks.com/content/?p=39

It's out of stock at the moment but I think they'll be getting more in.

 

[AvGalen]

I owned one of these Rubiks timers untill I lost it at the US Open 2007. I liked it very much, most because it also supplied scrambles and calculated averages.

But it is indeed not WCA-rules-compatible and doesn't work for Magics (Clock would also be difficult, but possible)

 

[fourdown00]

I have one and enjoy it a bunch, extremely portable