HP Printer for Pact

[PistolJim]

Im thinking about getting a printer for my timer but I have a couple of questions.

Does it print everything? Shots, splits, transitions, reloads, etc. Or just the time for everything?

I know you have to hold the timer within 18 inches of the printer and push the print button but how long does it takes to send the info to the printer? 10 seconds? A minute?

I just got the Mark 5 timer from our host. I like it. I knew it was bigger so thats not a problem. Im a little miffed at why it has to be so loud. Im looking into Eric W's fix for that. The screens being 2 feet apart makes a problem for storing the bar in my second range bag. I tried a dry fire practice but quickly went back to my pocket pro for that. Ouch next time I'll have to wear my muffs

It also causes some extra tension in my wife

EricW's fix looks fairly easy to me. I wonder how much the tone of the timer changes? Has anyone else tried it? What were your results. I've soidered quite a bit back in my RC days so thats not a problem.

I know I drifted a little.

Thanks,

Jim

[Flexmoney]

Jim,

Just tape over the speaker opening in the case. Sound will be muffled.

The print-out gives shot#, split time, and total time...for each shot. You should be able to figure out (using the shot # and looking at the split times) what was a target split, a transition, a reload, etc. (There is no way the timer could know if a 1.50 second difference between shot 5 and 6 was a reload or not.)

Printing isn't fast (likely due to the printer), but doesn't take a minute...more like 15-20 seconds.

There is a way to set the chrono up for different distances between the skyscreens. i know the bar doesn't pack easily, but, I have never found a need to change it. (Let me know if you set your's to 12-18 inches and if it works just as well as 24in. with pistol loads.)

[EricW]

Jim,

The timer tone is altered only on lower settings with the volume knob. All the way up it sounds just like it came from PACT. The tape trick didn't work for me. The speaker on mine (and others it seems) is so loud that it triggers the timer as the first shot. The only way I could get the first shot feature of my timer to work reliably is with the volume control.

The printer is, like all HP products, slow but reliable. Plenty fast for chronoing purposes, though.

E

[JD45]

Do they all do that? Dang! I had that timer in mind for my first timer purchase, but I definitely don't need one that records the beep as the first shot.

[EricW]

JD,

It's a minor nuisance at best. The Pact MKIV with the chrono is the absolute best deal going and has been for years. All timers have their own little quirks. The CED's have the nice habit of recording every single echo until you "calibrate" the microphone with the exact amount of masking tape necessary - which is, of course, never the same two days in a row, so you spend 15 minutes dorking around with it at the start of every session.

I'll take the Pact over that crapola - at least I can PERMANENTLY FIX the Pact for $3 and 15 minutes of my time. The CED will be a PITA forever.

[short_round]

The speaker on mine (and others it seems) is so loud that it triggers the timer as the first shot.

This only happens to me when I tape over the speaker/microphone to muffle it. The tape causes an echo to be sent to the mic so I get a .1 first shot. When timer is used in the field it works like a champ.

The HP printer prints a A LOT faster than it takes me to write down 20 shot velocities and the other data during chrono. Maybe most people don't need to record the individual shots, but I like to play with the statistics.

During practice it's not a big deal either because as it's printing I do other things like load mags or change/patch targets so I'm not really sitting around waiting for it.

Pact MK IV rules ... if they made a shirt I would wear it.

[PistolJim]

Im starting to think I'll be the first to try the Martell MCP8850B printer. Im tired of scewing around on ebay for used out of production stuff. Plus from what I've read the Martel is quite a bit faster than the HP. It prints 6 lines per second compared to 1 per second for the HP. At least its in production.

Thanks Eric from what you said Im going your way with the loud beeper thing.

Flex You mean this damn $250 timer/chrono can't tell the difference between a reload and a transition? What a piece of sh**!

All joking aside I think Im going to get alot more info. with this timer alot easier and faster than I've been getting out of my Pocket Pro. The few complaints I've listed are minor to me with the exception of the loud beeeeep. Im going to fix that tommorrow and it looks pretty simple. I'll post when I get it done. I alreay sold my Competion Electronics Chrono but I may keep my Pocket Pro for matches I RO at.

Thanks

Jim

[PistolJim]

Flex - When you say it takes 15-20 seconds to print do you mean you have to hold the timer next to the printer for 15-20 seconds or does the timer transfer the data (quickly) to the printer and then it takes 15-20 seconds to print?

Thanks

Jim

[snokid]

Jim

you have to hold the timer next to the printer for about 10-15 secs. when the display is back to timer mode you can remove it and the printer will finish....

Bob