Buzzer Systems

[Ugoogalizer]

OK, so I'm guessing this has probably been done before, but if you actually think I'd check deeply enough to see if it has then your grossly underestimating my laziness. Anyway, what are your opinions on various buzzer sets (i.e. stick thingys, box-n-button type majiggers, or pad whosiwhatsits). By the way I realize those names I just gave were totally lame, but it's like 1:30 am & I haven't had coffee since like 8:30 pm so yeah. I'll just start this out by saying that I absolutely detest "The Judge" . I've only heard this from a few people until recently when State College A almost unanimously agreed that they would prefer substandard buzzers [the bell thing wasn't working] to "The Judge" ). And yes, I will put devil things surrounding the crappy-buzzer-system-which-must-not-be-named everytime I'm forced to write it. Anyway it was just nice to find a significant group of people who share the same sentiments that I do. Personally I like the stick buzzers (which by the way make it infinitely easier to spew out euphemisms in rapid succession when your friend has given up that's-what-she-said-jokes for Lent). Anyway just give me your thoughts & comments on your favorite or most irksome buzzers, praise of my ridiculously goodlookingness, etc...

P.S. For the poll, I'm using the official names for the different types of Officiators (just go to Anderson Enterprises for the pictures/clarification, blah, blah, blah...)

P.P.S. I'm not intentionally dissing anyone who has "The Judge" , but I mean really... "The Judge" ?

P.P.S. As a side note (or rather post post script), "The Judge" may not be the worst buzzer system I've encountered. Sophmore year at Cave Spring (which by the way is an amazing tournament) there was this system where each buzzer was a gigantic pad with a tiny button in the middle and a tiny light at the top. That would have been weird enough, but no. When someone buzzed in, his/her light would come on no matter what with the buzzer of the person who first buzzed in flashing the fastest and so on. So yeah, I may hate that one more than "The Judge" . By the way let me know if you've encountered that one too.

[Blackboard Monitor Vimes]

I'm also not fond of the paddle buzzers, whether it be the Judge or the distinctly crappier version we have that lived for less than a season. I would agree that the ones that flash at different speeds are the worst I've seen, although I strongly dislike the strobe light ones (I refer to them as seizure buzzers). So far I've only seen those at college tournaments.

I prefer the handheld ones to the ones with just buttons; those get annoying, especially in a long game. However, my personal favorite may be the "cash register" buzzers which make a little toy cash register-esque dinging sound. The noise amuses me, and the buttons are bigger than most sets/harder to miss if your hand slips.

One advantage to the button sets is that they're slightly harder to reaction-buzz on, but those are usually irrelevant unless you're startled by, say, an air conditioner (cough cough Quint cough). Although Will used to buzz if someone sneezed, whether he had a buzzer or not.

[the return of AHAN]

My school owns a few different systems, including a QuikPro (with hand-held buzzers... my kids call them joystick-style, despite the inaccuracy of such a moniker), as well as some table-top styles (an old Zeecraft, and two QuizMachines from Quizco.com). My kids prefer the handhelds to the point that a few kids will pick up the Quizmachine buzzer completely in their hand to achieve the same effect as having the handheld buzzer. To be sure, I can't help but think this is a slight advantage in a buzzer-beater situation when the opponent is unfamiliar with the system. In 3 matches against our archrivals this year, our only victory was at a tourney when where we were using the QuizMachine. Our opponents were taken aback by the QuizMachine to the point that the coach even remarked how off-putting the 'quacking' noise was! Since that time, we've used 'their' system and had our butts whipped both times.

[DrakeRQB]

I would agree that the ones that flash at different speeds are the worst I've seen, although I strongly dislike the strobe light ones (I refer to them as seizure buzzers). So far I've only seen those at college tournaments.

We have the Classroom Challenger, which is the one that lights up at different speeds depending on buzz order. That is a great system to use IN PRACTICE; you can gauge how fast players are relative to each other instead of just seeing who was fastest. That said, I would never consider taking it to use at a tournament.

We recently ordered an Officiator with hand-held buttons as that's what our players seem to prefer at tournaments.

[Bigfoot isn't the pr]

I voted for the Judge, again, for some reason.

[mceschermaniac4]

i prefer and held stick buzzers too. i really hate those ones where the light for the buzzer is on top, but the button is on the bottom. it seems really pointless to me. we have three judges and two of them are broken (not surprising to anyone i hope). I dont see whats so bad about them. you can actually press them down a little while listening the question so you can have an advantage over the other guy.

[Bigfoot isn't the pr]

i prefer and held stick buzzers too. i really hate those ones where the light for the buzzer is on top, but the button is on the bottom. it seems really pointless to me. we have three judges and two of them are broken (not surprising to anyone i hope). I dont see whats so bad about them. you can actually press them down a little while listening the question so you can have an advantage over the other guy.

I always felt like knowing how to prime the judge was a rewarding technique that definitely gave you an advantage, perhaps unfair, over those unfamiliar or unskilled with the judge.

Opinions?

[cdcarter]

I always felt like knowing how to prime the judge was a rewarding technique that definitely gave you an advantage, perhaps unfair, over those unfamiliar or unskilled with the judge.

Opinions?

It gives no more of an unfair advantage than reading "You Gotta Know Lists".

I hate the Zeecraft handhelds because the grooves don't align with your fingers at all. Thoughts?

[Warbourne]

I used to hate handpads because our rival school used to use them on every home match, but now that it's a required thing for all teams in our league to have them, I've grown used to them.

But handheld ones are the best, despite the fact that they're banned now. D=

[Maxwell Sniffingwell]

It gives no more of an unfair advantage than reading "You Gotta Know Lists".

Sarcasm, right?

[Tegan]

I used to hate handpads because our rival school used to use them on every home match, but now that it's a required thing for all teams in our league to have them, I've grown used to them.

But handheld ones are the best, despite the fact that they're banned now. D=

Huh? Your league forces particular styles of lockouts for all members? Is there a reason for this?

[Warbourne]

I think the decision was based on the premise that since different teams had different buzzer system, it created an 'unfair advantage' for the home team for a particular match.

[Auks Ran Ova]

I think the decision was based on the premise that since different teams had different buzzer system, it created an 'unfair advantage' for the home team for a particular match.

Absolutely absurd.

[cdcarter]

I think the decision was based on the premise that since different teams had different buzzer system, it created an 'unfair advantage' for the home team for a particular match.

Absolutely absurd.

QFT

[First Chairman]

Maybe it would be true if the argument was, "hey they use 100-Hz AC electricity when our system should be using 60-Hz." Or it's unfair that we have to be accustomed to the metric system.

[Warbourne]

I don't get it either. xD
We used to use those handheld buzzers for our home meets and now we're stuck with...'The Judge'.

[Wall of Ham]

I don't get it either. xD
We used to use those handheld buzzers for our home meets and now we're stuck with...'The Judge'.

Wow.

Add some Chip Beale and that's like, quizbowl hell.

[Maxwell Sniffingwell]

I don't get it either. xD
We used to use those handheld buzzers for our home meets and now we're stuck with...'The Judge'.

Wow.
Add some Chip Beale and that's like, quizbowl hell.

What's with all the hate for "The Judge"? I just ordered one today...

[The Atom Strikes!]

I don't get it either. xD
We used to use those handheld buzzers for our home meets and now we're stuck with...'The Judge'.

Wow.
Add some Chip Beale and that's like, quizbowl hell.

What's with all the hate for "The Judge"? I just ordered one today...

I have to agree. While the Judge's cords are rather short, it's really easy to set up and there's less risk of dropping something like the Zeecraft personal light on the floor.

[Captain Sinico]

People who care about what buzzer system they're using have missed the point of quizbowl.

MaS

[BuzzerZen]

People who don't care about frivolous repetitive arguments have missed the point of the Internet.

MaS

Fixed.

[Maxwell Sniffingwell]

People who don't care about frivolous repetitive arguments have missed the point of the Internet.

MaS

Fixed.

I'm not sure I agree with this...