Contemplating starting a middle school quiz bowl and looking for good recommendations for a buzzer system.
Never having run a team before, here's what I think I want ...
1) Ideally one that could support up to six teams
2) I would be happy with one buzzer for each team (as opposed to one buzzer per player)
(Would this work? Or is the standard to have a buzzer in each kid's hand?)
--AC
User was reminded to enable a signature. --Mgmt.
Recommendations for Buzzer System
Recommendations for Buzzer System
-- AC
Parent Volunteer
St. Gregory's
Parent Volunteer
St. Gregory's
- Important Bird Area
- Forums Staff: Administrator
- Posts: 6136
- Joined: Thu Aug 28, 2003 3:33 pm
- Location: San Francisco Bay Area
- Contact:
Re: Recommendations for Buzzer System
Welcome to the quizbowl community!
You will definitely want a system that provides one buzzer per player (which is the standard for almost all quizbowl formats). "The Officiator" from Anderson Enterprises is a popular choice for a first buzzer system.
You will definitely want a system that provides one buzzer per player (which is the standard for almost all quizbowl formats). "The Officiator" from Anderson Enterprises is a popular choice for a first buzzer system.
Jeff Hoppes
President, Northern California Quiz Bowl Alliance
former HSQB Chief Admin (2012-13)
VP for Communication and history subject editor, NAQT
Editor emeritus, ACF
"I wish to make some kind of joke about Jeff's love of birds, but I always fear he'll turn them on me Hitchcock-style." -Fred
President, Northern California Quiz Bowl Alliance
former HSQB Chief Admin (2012-13)
VP for Communication and history subject editor, NAQT
Editor emeritus, ACF
"I wish to make some kind of joke about Jeff's love of birds, but I always fear he'll turn them on me Hitchcock-style." -Fred
Re: Recommendations for Buzzer System
Is the standard format to have only two teams compete against each other at a time? When I was in school (admittedly a long time ago ), I seem to remember 5 or 6 teams simultaneously competing.
Thanks in advance to the community for all your advice.
--AC
Parent Volunteer
St Gregory's
Thanks in advance to the community for all your advice.
--AC
Parent Volunteer
St Gregory's
-- AC
Parent Volunteer
St. Gregory's
Parent Volunteer
St. Gregory's
- dhumphreys17
- Wakka
- Posts: 150
- Joined: Sat May 23, 2015 3:16 pm
Re: Recommendations for Buzzer System
Yes, in standard quiz bowl, two teams of four players apiece compete. We have competed in three-team matches, but only once a year and for a Diocesan function far outside the mainstream of good quizbowl. Long story short, although there are some weird exceptions, two-team matches are the norm.
Devin James John Humphreys
Sacred Heart Academy High School (MI), Class of 2017 - 2015 HSNCT, 2016 NSC, 2017 NSC
Michigan State University, B.A. Class of 2020
University of Notre Dame, J.D. Class of 2023 - standby 2023 ICT-DII; coach 2023-24
Sacred Heart Academy High School (MI), Class of 2017 - 2015 HSNCT, 2016 NSC, 2017 NSC
Michigan State University, B.A. Class of 2020
University of Notre Dame, J.D. Class of 2023 - standby 2023 ICT-DII; coach 2023-24
Re: Recommendations for Buzzer System
The Anderson system above is the standard (and the cheapest, not coincidentally), but it is restricted to 5 players per team. (Oh, it looks like there's a more expensive one that expands to a total of 32 players.)
If you're looking for something for 6 players per team, there's also Quizco. (This happens to be based out of my town, although I am not associated with it. It is somewhat popular locally because of that, and this is why I'm familiar with it.) It is modular, so you can expand it beyond just 4 players per side by purchasing additional units and connections. It is pricier, though, so unless you know you'll want more than 5 people per team (or 10 players, total), the Anderson should be fine. (The base unit (controller + 2 sets of 4 buzzers + necessary cables) is $100 more, and the extra buzzer units are $25 apiece.)
http://www.quizco.com/
There are also other buzzer systems, but I am less familiar with them.
If you're looking for something for 6 players per team, there's also Quizco. (This happens to be based out of my town, although I am not associated with it. It is somewhat popular locally because of that, and this is why I'm familiar with it.) It is modular, so you can expand it beyond just 4 players per side by purchasing additional units and connections. It is pricier, though, so unless you know you'll want more than 5 people per team (or 10 players, total), the Anderson should be fine. (The base unit (controller + 2 sets of 4 buzzers + necessary cables) is $100 more, and the extra buzzer units are $25 apiece.)
http://www.quizco.com/
There are also other buzzer systems, but I am less familiar with them.
Colin McNamara, Boise State University
Member, PACE
Idaho Quiz & Academic Teams
Member, PACE
Idaho Quiz & Academic Teams