Frequently asked questions
Below are listed the most interesting additional questions about our products.
Climbing hold 'Minute'
Does the hold have a battery and how long does it last?
It requires 3 batteries type AAA. It is necessary to take off the hold to replace them. One set of batteries lasts about 5000 10-minutes cycles of operating, when inactive more than 10 years.
How can the stopwatch be turned on and off?
To turn on just press the Start button. It turns off automatically after some period of inactivity.
Can the magnesium and moisture be harmful?
If it is put on the wall then no. The buttons are very good quality and waterproof. The moisture could do harm only if it reaches the hold from behind.
Yes because there are 9 different sound signals available. Just set a different signal to each of the holds and that’s it.
Measuring system 'Stopko'
How should I start to choose my system?
As there are many possible configurations of the system, we have prepared a form - a questionnaire which helps customers to choose exactly what they need. You can download it here. Even better and more descriptive tool in our small application - Stopko configurator.Is the usage limited to speed competitions?
No, Stopko can be used on boulder and difficulty-lead competitions too as down-counter of allowable amount of time. So the audience will have an excellent overview of what’s going on.
How the competition is managed?
The competition is managed by an operator sitting behind the computer or, what is more practical, by using remote controller which is held and operated by the referee just beside the climbing wall.
Why is the handy remote controller useful?
For faster and easier handling. The referee can use it and most of the operations can be done without direct contact with computer.
Can Stopko operate without computer support?
Yes it can. It is intended to be used for competitive purposes as well as for simple daily non-competitive use without computer support. In addition, it can manage parallel timing of two competitors or individual for each climber separately.
What is the counting resolution and what is the maximum time Stopko can count?
The user chooses between three modes:
| Resolution | Maximum time |
|---|---|
| 1/100s | 9min, 59s, 99 hundreths of second |
| 1/10s | 99min, 59s, 9 tenths of second |
| 1s | 9hours, 59min, 59s |
My computer doesn’t have a serial port.
In this case the solution is using an additional card (for desktop computers) or USB-serial converter (especially for notebooks).
What is the purpose of Demo mode and is it suitable for displaying competitors’ names?
Display is 7-segment based so it can not show all of the characters in a perfect way. It is suitable for displaying short messages, name of the climbing hall per example or some advertisements.
What about LOG file?
All results are saved in LOG file.
Is it possible to import a start list with names of the competitors?
The list can be imported in the mode Speed-qualification. When the competition is finished a new file with competitors ranked by result is created.
What is the purpose of Foot pads?
Foot pads have a built-in sensor, which senses when a person stands on them. At starting signal the sistem can determine if competitor started too early. Additional attractive feature is measuring of the competitors' reaction times.
I don't like built-in sounds.All sounds can be replaced by any other sounds, chosen by the user. Just properly name your sound file(s) and overwrite the existing one(s).
I don't know how to use USB-COM converter.
To use USB-COM converter, follow these guides:
1. Install converter's driver, which is supplied together with converter.
2. Connect converter to USB port. Check Control panel->System->Hardware->Device manager->Ports(COM & LPT). There must be at least one COM port visible (COM 1 per example).
3. Connect Central unit to converter. Turn its power on. Wait 15 seconds. Launch the program.
4. If after several attempts you get error message (entry in Demo mode), try to: 1. restart your computer, 2. use different USB port.
After dealing with certain initial setbacks succesfully there were no more errors or problems. The measuring system was tested appropriately and complies to all standard normatives.
Can Stopko be used in outdoor environment?Stopko is primarily designed for indoor use. However, according to customer’s specific needs some parts of the system can be modified to meet the requirements for outdoor use. So send us a request and we will offer a suitable solution.
What about future?
The system is open and it can be upgraded according to the users' needs. Like this, we have implemented our last addition: Internet multimatching feature. Download a brochure or contact us for more details!
Do you have any international distributor?
Yes. Our official distributor for Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Greece, Cyprus, Scandinavian countries and United Arabic Emirates is Vertigo company.