Emit

[graeme]

Or maybe even if it is the right control!!!

That's an interesting one. EMIT does tell you the number of the unit you just punched (as does the new SI). This should be the same as the control code. but...

If this is allowed information for the competitor to use, it means you have to get the units in the right place, unlike now when if you put out the wrong box (or a replacement) you can sort it out in software.

Graeme

[streaker]

emits NO.1, and who gives a jobby about the software for both anyway. nope it lets just leave that to the old men organising.

[surferboi]

As the person who started this thread, I'm pleased that it has generated so much discussion.
I've waited a week now to cool down after the Caddihoe but EMIT ruined my weekend. After reading the suggestions, I decided to try holding the EMIT thing in my map hand, rather than my compass hand (remember I use a protractor type compass to take accurate bearings and use the magnifyer).
At the first control, I realised that this was not going to work for me so I set off down a track on the next leg transferring the EMIT thing to my right hand and trying to figure out which finger to put it on and which way it should face.
By the time I had done this, I realised that I had no idea how far I had gone and, to cut a long story short, I lost 10 mins at control 2 which ruined my whole weekend (I didn't bother turning up on Sunday as I was so uncompetitive).
So, can all clubs please agree to use SI - we've been using this for many years now at the British, JK and most Nationals - we're all used to it, it's convenient for competitiors and most of us have our own. PLEASE DITCH EMIT - PLEASE!

[gross2004]

Sorry to say so but I don't think you can blame EMIT for spoling your weekend. It was your navigational error that cost you 10 mins at control & it was YOUR decision not to turn up on the day 2.

EMIT is used successfully in many places throughout the orienteering & even if EMIT is not your particular favourite it does offer comepition to SI which is a good thing...... consumer choice & all that:)

[FatBoy]

I'll agree with you Gross that it's not EMIT's fault. I was a little distracted myself with the new toy in the hand but it never made me make a mistake. There wasn't enough difficult orienteering to make anything other than a hunting around in the grot type mistake was there?

I will however not disagree exactly but offer up an alternative point of view on the "consumer choice" thing. It's not us as orienteers that get the choice is it? Even if I get the final choice in what my club does or doesn't buy I'd never get the choice what other clubs buy. The only way I get true consumer choice is to pick which events I run at by which punching system that's in use, which is just silly.

[brooner]

maybe events should start using both emit & SI to provide consumer choice

[pyrat]

great idea,

i think SI would win the consumer market no problem at all. Much easier to use, only people that were "not quite right" and mac users would use the emit units.

[Simon]

i think SI would win the consumer market no problem at all. Much easier to use, only people that were "not quite right" and mac users would use the emit units.

And the Linux users will be using the old faithful pinpunches

[pyrat]

no they would be writing their own system which was non profitmaking, supposedly "better". but would impossible for anyone except 'experts' to setup.

or maybe just pinpunches

[FatBoy]

no they would be writing their own system which was non profitmaking, supposedly "better". but would impossible for anyone except 'experts' to setup.

...and then in time there would be 14 different versions which different groups had developed in their own special way, none of which is quite compatible with any of the others...

[Mr. Furness]

you're telling me. i've been using solaris 9 unix in my new research jobby (usual use of word jobby) and its nuts. i only started using it 3 weeks ago and its a pain not being able to do some stuff because im unix illiterate. good job nope still works fine

[pyrat]

yeah apart from web servers and web applications (which it is the holy grail for) linux is crap.

[Ed]

hmm. the "I can't use it/don't understand it therefore it's jobby" school of thought...

rtfm. lot of times.

[Simon]

yeah apart from web servers and web applications (which it is the holy grail for) linux is crap.

To quote gross: Bollocks

[pyrat]

this is from joe bloggs point of view im talking. the general public of the uk here, not experts.

ive rtfmd a lot of times in the last 8 years but it has brought me to that broad statement i made.

not that i dont understand - it just begs a lot of effort for the average user to understand. effort that shouldnt be necessary. right back to emit apologies for tangent, im at work.